Skip to main content

Invisible in the middle: Grieving a world built on injustice

This piece explores the emotional weight of living in a world that celebrates power and pities pain—but ignores those stuck in the middle. It’s not a rant or a solution. It’s a grief-filled, honest meditation on injustice, hypocrisy, and the quiet strength it takes to keep caring. 

There’s a kind of sadness that creeps in late at night.

Not because something went wrong. But because the world is working exactly as it was built—unfair, unequal, unkind.

I’ve been losing sleep over it.

Why is there so much injustice in the world?

Why do a few have everything, while most have nothing?

Why do we live in a society that worships power and pities poverty, but ignores the quiet millions in between—the people who keep the system running, who benefit from it just enough to stay silent, and who often cause the most harm without even noticing?

We live in a world that is starstruck.

Obsessed with winners. Fascinated by extremes.

Invisible in the middle: Grieving a world built on injustice

But if you're not on either end—if you're not the billionaire or the broken—you become invisible. Your voice is dismissed. Your grief is unseen.

And yet, ironically, it’s in that middle space where so much of the injustice is carried out. Not by villains in capes, but by everyday people choosing comfort over courage.

I sometimes feel like I’m holding a teaspoon, trying to paddle my way across a vast, raging ocean of cruelty, greed, and hypocrisy.

And to top it off—we talk about colonizing other planets, while we haven’t even learned to share this one.

I don’t have answers. I’m not a hero. I’m not a victim. I’m just awake. And it hurts.

But I still believe something can be done.

Not by saving the world. Maybe that’s beyond any of us.

But by refusing to play its twisted game.

By telling the truth, even quietly.

By helping one person, even anonymously.

By being kind in a world that rewards indifference.

By not letting this brokenness turn us cold.

Maybe that’s not enough.

But maybe that’s all we’ve got.

And maybe… that’s where healing begins.

---

If this speaks to you, you're not alone. Feel free to write back, or just sit with it. Not everything needs fixing. Some things just need witnessing.

---

We’re taught to look up at the powerful or down at the suffering, but rarely do we look beside us.

We are the middle. The workers, the dreamers, the silent enablers, the quietly aching souls.

Maybe we can’t burn the system down. Maybe we don’t even know how.

But we can stay human. We can still choose empathy in a time of numbness.

And maybe, in a world that thrives on cruelty, staying soft is the fiercest thing we can do.

Comments

Also read

Cutting people off isn’t strength—It is a trauma response

Your ability to cut people off and self-isolate is not a skill you should be proud of—It is a trauma response Cutting people off and self-isolating may feel like a protective shield, but it is often rooted in unresolved or unhealed trauma and an inability to depend on others. While these behaviors seem like self-preservation, they end up reinforcing isolation and blocking meaningful connections. Confronting these patterns, seeking therapy, and nurturing supportive relationships can help break this unhealthy cycle. Plus, a simple act like planting a jasmine plant can symbolise the start of your journey towards emotional healing. Why do we cut people off and isolate? If you’re someone who prides themselves on “cutting people off” or keeping a tight circle, you might believe it’s a skill—a way to protect yourself from betrayal, hurt, or unnecessary drama. I get it. I’ve been there, too. But here’s the thing: this ability to isolate yourself is not as empowering as it may seem. In fact, i...

Legions of Slave Women in the Mahabharata

Awakening to the Bhagavad Gita (series) - 1 For, taking refuge in Me, they also, who, O Arjuna, may be of sinful birth— women, Vaisyas as well as Sudras—attain the Supreme Goal! How much more easily then the holy Brahmins and devoted royal saints (attain the goal); having obtained this impermanent and unhappy world, do thou worship Me. The Bhagavad Gita, Chap 9, Ver 32, 33 So women are of sinful birth! As well as all kinds of workers, business men, entrepreneurs, most of the general population. The only people of virtuous births are priests — Brahmins — and royal saints, meaning saintly royals, meaning noble Kshatriyas. No wonder then that Yudhishthira — to reinstate whom this whole Mahabharata war has been fought — maintained hundreds of thousands of slave women! Take that number again: hundreds of thousands! He had so much gold, he could afford to. He had so much virtue, but he wanted more! Let's find the facts and figures from Draupadi's own wo...

House of elders: The new age community where independence meets care

Assisted living for seniors isn’t just about care—it is about rediscovering life. "House of Elders" explores the rise of assisted-living communities offering companionship, independence, and holistic well-being. From their impact on mental health to overcoming societal stigma, this piece sheds light on the innovative solutions catering to India's aging population, making retirement years golden indeed. First Published on 16/11/2024 16:27 Second revised edition Published on 25/07/2025 12:35 What is the house of elders? Imagine a sanctuary where elders can live freely, build meaningful connections, and receive essential care—all under one roof. The "House of Elders" concept epitomises this vision.  These assisted-living spaces are not just homes but vibrant communities. They blend independence with assistance, fostering a sense of belonging for India’s ageing population. In 2012, Royal Palms collaborated with global players to create retirement villages that riv...