​Modern dating isn’t just about relationships anymore—it’s about understanding the language that comes with them. From viral social media trends to shifting attitudes toward commitment, Gen Z has developed an entire vocabulary to describe the nuances of modern romance.. Many of these terms originate on platforms like Instagram and dating apps, where relationship experiences are constantly shared, dissected, and renamed. The result is a new romantic lexicon that captures everything from subtle relationship milestones to confusing dating behaviours.. Here are 10 Gen Z romantic terms defining dating in 2026.. 1. Soft launching. Soft launching refers to the subtle introduction of a partner on social media without explicitly revealing the relationship. This might include posting a photo of two coffee cups, of two people holding hands, or a cropped image of someone across the table—just enough to spark curiosity without confirming anything.. 2. Hard launching. The opposite of soft launching is hard launching: when someone publicly reveals their relationship in a clear, unmistakable way. This could be a couple photo, a relationship announcement, or a caption confirming the partner’s identity.. 3. Delulu love. Short for “delusional,” delulu love describes the hopeful mindset of believing a romantic situation will work out—even when the signs may say otherwise. Gen Z often uses the phrase humorously, especially in early-stage dating.. 4. Orbiting. Orbiting occurs when someone stops actively communicating but continues to engage with your social media—liking posts, viewing stories, or reacting occasionally. It creates a confusing dynamic where the person remains digitally present without committing to the relationship.. GenZ love language in 2026 (Photo: AI). 5. Breadcrumbing. Breadcrumbing refers to giving someone small amounts of attention—texts, compliments, or occasional messages—just enough to keep them interested without moving the relationship forward. The behaviour often leaves the other person uncertain about where things stand.. Story continues below this ad. 6. Main character energy. In dating contexts, this term encourages people to prioritise their own happiness and personal growth rather than centring their lives around a relationship. The idea is to approach love while still being the “main character” in your own story.. 7. Situationship. A situationship describes a romantic connection that exists somewhere between friendship and a committed relationship. There may be emotional or physical intimacy, but without clearly defined labels or expectations.. 8. Beige flag. Unlike red flags (warning signs) or green flags (positive traits), a beige flag refers to harmless quirks or mildly odd habits a partner may have. They aren’t necessarily deal-breakers, but they do add personality to a relationship.. ALSO READ | The rise of ‘career minimalism’:. 9. Love bombing awareness. While the term itself isn’t new, Gen Z has  

 ​Last evening in Mumbai, inside the hushed, hallowed hall of the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, a curious and quietly courageous thing occurred. A newspaper — that daily dispenser of declarations — invited its readers not merely to believe it, but to think with it. Not simply to consume truth, but to chase it.. Tesseract: The Geometry of Truth arrived with the promise of spectacle, and spectacle it delivered — dancers dazzling, music mounting, light leaping across the stage like lightning in a philosophical storm. But what lingered long after the applause subsided was not simply the splendour. It was the suggestion beneath the shimmer:. Truth is not a trophy handed down.. Truth is a task taken up.. I went to the theatre with Joyce Arora, who for years worked in the marketing and sales team of the Indian Express — someone who understands the ecosystem of newspapers from the inside, the delicate dance between editorial ambition and the practical machinery that keeps a newsroom alive. Joyce is also the mother of two women who have become forces of nature in their own right — Malaika Arora and Amrita Arora. Yet the Joyce I know is not one drawn to flashbulbs and fanfare. She, like me, prefers the anonymity of the audience — the quiet privilege of sitting unseen while ideas take the stage.. The truth is we went for a friend.. Our scribe friend from the Times of India, Vinay Mishra, had invited us. And insisted. And reminded. The sort of gentle persistence only journalists possess — the belief that a story matters enough to pursue. Joyce and I finally said yes because we trusted him.. A scene from Tesseract: The Geometry of Truth. How lucky we are that we did.. Because what Vinay brought us to witness was not merely a performance. It was a provocation.. Story continues below this ad. The evening opened with grace. Meera Jain stepped onto the stage to welcome the audience, her voice calm, composed, quietly compelling. Beside her stood Samir Jain, not rushing to speak but choosing instead to stand beside the voice that carried the room. In a world where power so often clamours for centre stage, the moment felt quietly radical.. Meera spoke of travel and theatre, of Broadway evenings and family journeys, of curiosity kindled across continents. It became clear that the inspiration for this ambitious production was born from experiences shared by the Jain family — the simple joy of watching stories unfold on stages across the world and the desire to bring that wonder home.. And here is where the conversation becomes interesting.. We live in an age addicted to accusation. Labels leap from lips faster than understanding. Someone is dismissed as elitist, someone else derided as entitled, another declared woke, another condemned as fascist. We fling these words like stones and call it discourse.. But sitting in that theatre, listening to Meera Jain speak, something else came into focus.. Story continues below this ad. Yes, travel is privilege. Yes, expo  

 ​It is possible for your blood sugar levels to spike even when you haven’t eaten anything (Image: Freepik). Many people believe that blood sugar rises only after eating sugary or high-carbohydrate foods. However, a Canadian naturopathic doctor recently highlighted that several everyday habits can increase blood glucose levels, even when you have not eaten anything.. Dr Rachel Vong recently shared on social media that certain lifestyle factors, such as lack of sleep, stress, skipping meals, and even drinking coffee first thing in the morning, can cause unexpected spikes in blood sugar levels. To understand in detail how these factors affect the body, we reached out to Dr Chirag Tandon, Director – Internal Medicine, ShardaCare-Healthcity, who explained the science behind these surprising triggers.. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.. 1. Not getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation leaves the body insulin resistant, making glucose stay longer in the blood (Image: Freepik). Poor sleep can directly affect how the body regulates glucose. According to Dr Tandon, sleeping for less than six hours a night can raise fasting blood sugar levels in the morning — even if a person has not eaten anything.. “Sleep deprivation leaves the body insulin resistant and therefore glucose stays longer in the blood,” he explains.. It also raises cortisol levels, which signal the liver to release more glucose into the bloodstream. In addition, the body naturally experiences a morning rise in blood sugar due to hormonal changes — known as the Dawn Effect — and poor sleep can make this spike stronger.. “To ensure consistent control of blood glucose, particularly in diabetic individuals, it is important to get a good quality sleep of at least 7-8 hours.”. Story continues below this ad. 2. Stress. Stress can trigger a rise in blood sugar even without food intake. When the body is under stress, it releases hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare the body for a “fight-or-flight” response. “These stress hormones cause the liver to empty the stored glucose into the bloodstream to provide quick energy,” Dr Tandon tells indianexpress.com.. Chronic stress can also increase insulin resistance over time. Additionally, stress may indirectly affect blood sugar by disrupting sleep patterns or reducing physical activity.. Practices such as regular exercise, meditation, relaxation techniques, and good sleep habits can help manage stress and stabilise glucose levels.. 3. Skipping meals or prolonged fasting. When the gap between meals gets long, it can cause the body to generate stored sugar, leading to a “rebound spike” (Image: Freepik). Also Read | ‘Is a blood sugar reading of 156 normal 2 hours after eating?’. While intermittent fasting is popular for weight management, it may not suit everyone. In some indivi  

 ​From vintage Rolex to Cartier: Decoding Vijay Deverakonda’s regal wedding timepieces (Express Photo by Naziya Khan). With his regal wedding ensembles, Vijay Deverakonda has set the bar pretty high for 2026 grooms. Looking like South Indian royalty for his wedding to co-actor Rashmika Mandanna, the Geetha Govindam star chose an array of exquisite watches to elevate his groom fashion.. Instead of the usual celebrity staples, the actor leaned into older, more characterful designs—from modern-retro watches to sculptural 1970s Cellini pieces to a classic ’90s Cartier dress watch that paired well with traditional outfits. A thoughtful rotation across the wedding celebrations, with a side of history attached to it.. For a temple visit right after the wedding, he chose a vintage Rolex Cellini with a blue dial, fitted in an 18k-white-gold square-shaped case, a truly unusual case shape for Rolex. The dial colour is dark blue with a fading black vignette, making it a neck twister in every room you enter. The beautiful bezel design with the engraved minute track is the icing on the cake.. View this post on Instagram. Gucci Grip Gold. For a visit to his hometown, he chose an offering from Gucci’s brand-new unisex watch line called Grip, in a unique design that blends timeless appeal with highly contemporary style. This 35mm quartz timepiece features a rounded square case with three windows, in which three white rotating disks indicate the hour, minute, and date, respectively. This particular edition brings together a yellow gold PVD case and a yellow gold PVD bracelet, both engraved with Gucci’s signature Interlocking G logo.. Rolex Cellini ‘Patcharavipa’. Deverakonda went for a classic yet timeless Rolex Cellini ‘Patcharavipa’ custom-made by the Thai designer for his wedding reception. Featuring an 18kt white gold case, bezel, and clasp, and a black crocodile bracelet, the 1976-made timepiece boasts a manual-winding movement and a sapphire crystal glass. As per their official website, the watch costs upward of 39 lakh rupees in the current market.. ALSO READ | ‘Introducing to you now ‘My Husband’: Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda tie the knot in traditional ensembles; first pics out. Vintage Must de Cartier Vendôme. During a lunch he hosted for fans with Mandanna right after the wedding, Deverakonda went with the Must Vendôme watch, which comes with a round case, symbol of timeless refinement. With its clean burgundy quartz dial, iconic Roman numerals, and crown adorned with a blue cabochon, it embodies the perfect balance between tradition and modernity. Designed in vermeil (solid silver plated with gold), the Vendôme quickly became a sought-after watch, offering subtle luxury for both men and women. It is now among the essential pieces in the vintage Cartier watch category, appreciated for its versatility and unique design.  

 ​What kind of photographer could make Kerry Washington look bad? Or turn an idyllic beach shot into a haunting nightmare? Make a candlelit dinner into a memory you want to hide?. Boyfriends and husbands.. Women across TikTok and Instagram have been sharing their partners’ not-so-faithful renditions of them. Felt pretty, then I opened my husband’s camera roll, many of them say. Other women contrast the offending shots with the much more cinematic photos they take of their partners. The photographer may be a boyfriend, a spouse or someone else, and the setting may be on vacation, at home or standing in front of the Eiffel Tower at golden hour.. Perfect light and pose notwithstanding, these men are proof that affection does not always come with an eye for angles.. Kian Lawley, who posts comedic and lifestyle content and lives in Los Angeles, has learned the hard way that many people already have the photograph mentally mapped out before handing over the phone: the pose, the background, the way the light falls just so.. His biggest mistake, he said, has been improvising.. “Listen to them,” Lawley, 30, said with a laugh. “Don’t try and do anything that you think might be better.”. Lawley admits candid photography is where he struggles most. Those spontaneous moments he finds authentic — someone laughing, eating or fixing their hair — are exactly the moments that get him in trouble.. Story continues below this ad. Do husbands really suck at taking photos? (Photo: AI). Blinks. Strange faces. Windblown hair.. A recent trip to France drove the point home. The backdrops, including Paris streets and the South of France, were postcard-perfect. Yet somehow he still botched the photos he took of his fiancee, while the ones she took of him looked “like they were shining in gold,” he said.. Though the worst photos never see the internet, Lawley and his fiancee’s sister sometimes laugh privately at them. The merely bad ones might appear, but only with the subject’s approval.. “Try your best,” he said. “Don’t take it too seriously. At the end of the day, at least you know your photos will come out good, because they’re in the hands of your wife.”. Story continues below this ad. Professional photographers say the problem is not love but geometry: Bad angles are a common culprit.. Jenn Ackerman, a Minneapolis-based photographer, warns against the classic mistake of holding the phone too low and shooting up toward the chin. Few faces benefit from that view.. Lighting is another issue. “If the light looks bad in real life, it will look bad in the photo,” she said, suggesting that subjects face the light rather than stand with bright sun behind them.. The stakes have also been raised. In an era when photos are often destined for public viewing, what counts as good enough has changed.. Story continues below this ad. Actress Kerry Washington recently posted about the phenomenon, sharing a series of images on TikTok that included a