On the outside, he seemed like the sort of man most people respected. Vishwanan had a stable job, a matching designation, and a wife named Neela, who was sharp enough to see through his curated charm and done pretending otherwise. Their daughter, Kartika, now in her twenties, lived away from…
Of John Abraham and the rejected Kaju Katli
In a country where Kaju Katli is practically a currency of affection—offered at weddings, festivals, and awkward family reunions—John Abraham has pulled off the impossible: he hasn’t eaten a single piece in 27 years. Let that sink in. While the rest of us are out here negotiating with our diets…
A Drawer Full of Yesterdays
There was a file in a drawer in my cupboard. It held assorted documents of value—certificates, photographs, letters, and receipts. Over the years, I kept adding to it. Quietly. Thoughtlessly. Until one day, it outgrew the drawer entirely. I could no longer shut it without a minor wrestling match. Once,…
The Chronicles of Sirimiri : When the Drafts Talk Back
(I thought it was time I shone the light on Sirimiri, my dear blog. So here is a blog post written with tongue firmly in cheek.) Writers talk to their words. Bloggers? We argue with them. There’s a special kind of relationship I share with my drafts folder. It’s not…
A Recipe for Audacity
They say confidence is quiet and insecurity is loud. But Audacity? Audacity is about not stopping to ask for permission and taking ownership of your space. So, you want to be audacious? Not loud. Not rude. Not “in-your-face.” But the audacious one who walks into a room and doesn’t need to…
7 Signs I am turning into my Mother (and honestly it’s not that bad!)
“I am never going to be like my Mother!” How many times have you said this to yourself, in your mind, aloud, and, you brave one, to your Mom’s face? Ah, youth! So bold. So confident. So wrong. One day, you are running down the stairs to escape her instructions….
The Five Stages of Raining on my Parade, and a bonus: A Monsoon Saga
It starts with a drizzle. A harmless, poetic sprinkle. I look up at the sky, contemplating my plans, my outfit choices, my destiny. And then, BAM, it’s a full-fledged monsoon madness. The rains have arrived, and so begins the psychological breakdown. Stage 1: Denial “It’s just light rain. Totally manageable.”…
Think. Rethink. 52 Times.
What others think of you is none of your business. Walk. Take the stairs. Dance. Move that body as much as you can. Good habits are as easy to form as bad ones. Both take the same effort. The latter ones are more fun, which is why we adapt to…
Z – Zen or Zero F’s given? (Finding balance between calm and chaos) #BlogchatterA2Z
Zen or Zero F’s given? The eternal seesaw between ‘let it go’ and ‘let me tell you why this is unacceptable.’ The struggle between meditating with a cup of herbal tea and flipping a table because someone chews too loudly. Finding a balance between calm and chaos is like walking…
Y – YOLO, but make it wise (Taking risks without regretting them.) #BlogchatterA2Z
“YOLO (You Only Live Once), but let’s not make it ‘You Obviously Lacked Oversight.’ Taking risks is great – life is too short for ‘what ifs’ – but let’s make them the kind of risks that lead to great stories, not cautionary tales. Jump into the unknown, but maybe check…