Once a humble grain of sand, now a broken bottle, it returns to Firozabad – the city that shaped it. Transformed into glass, it witnessed the packed factories and shimmering chandeliers. As it awaits a new fate, it sees how the city has evolved: cleaner streets, safer workers, and a resilient spirit. Yet, challenges remain. One day, it will break again. But in Firozabad, nothing is ever truly useless.

A retired man’s quiet mornings unfold into a vivid reflection on a city lost between memory and change. Through dreams, conversations, and everyday encounters, the fading spirit of Ongole emerges — trapped between nostalgia and modern ambitions. As a generational gap grows over questions of progress and tradition, a wistfulness lingers: can a city, like its people, find a way to belong without losing itself?

Ten years after the toxic gas leak in Thoothukudi, industrial safety in India remains a pressing issue. Despite regulations like the Occupational Safety Code, incidents keep occurring, often hitting workers the hardest, revealing gaps in implementation, enforcement, and risk management. As industries expand into smaller cities with evolving regulations, how prepared are they to handle potential hazards?