-
This City Writes Poems in Exhaust Fumes
I’ve heard a lot of people complaining about the “unromantic-ness” of this city. The traffic, the heat, absolute disregard for personal space, and cacophony- but the truth is, it’s teeming with poetry. In the mornings, the city wakes up unevenly, like a sleepy child tugged out of a dream. Lights peter on before the sun…
1–2 minutes -
Surviving the Circus: An Honest Guide to Indian Weddings
I recently went to a wedding, so I thought I’d write a wedding-season special- how to survive the Indian Wedding. 1. Social Experiment Observe people like you’re a journalist writing a satire piece. It’s always incredibly entertaining to rate sarees, decode drama, and figure out comebacks to spiteful comments by aunties (which you’ll never have…
2–3 minutes -
The Mountain Cure
Mountains, definitely. I have nothing against beaches- the feeling of cerulean waves lapping against you, feet sinking slightly into sun-warmed sand, and seagulls cawing in the sky, dipping towards the water every now and then to skim their wings through it. It’s incredibly relaxing. But mountains hold a different kind of quietude for me. As…
1–2 minutes -
I Keep Old Conversations Like Souvenirs
Some people collect fridge magnets.I collect old texts and half-finished arguments. I have a habit of never deleting things (whether literally from a phone, or from my memory). Old texts, voice notes, compliments, letters, messages that made me smile or frown- they’re all tucked away somewhere. As someone with the memory of a goldfish on…
1–2 minutes -
#For the Record: The Little Things
Someone recently reminded me to enjoy the little things in life- a reminder I believe many of us are in need of. It’s easy to get embroiled into the quotidian problems of life: deadlines, traffic, society, expectations, and the constant noise that fills the in-between. Somewhere between trying to rewrite our mistakes in the past…
1–2 minutes -
Do Nigahon Ke Darmiyan: A Poem
Lab khaamosh the dono ke,Phir bhi sab kuch keh diyaAankhon mai toofan tha,Par ab bhi faasla reh gaya… Waqt kuch tham sa gaya,Saans bhi ruk si gayi,Kaynaat ki palkein takTawaqqo mai band ho gayi. Ishq tha dono taraf,Magar tahammul ki deewar thi,Nigah jo takrayi dono ki,Wahi dil ki izhaar thi!
1–2 minutes -
Lives Beyond the Glass
Across my tower, at a clear viewing distance, stands a small, dull building in the neighbouring society. It has a slate grey facade with unassuming balconies cluttered with ordinary articles from daily life – a cherry red watering can, a battered lawn chair, a string of coruscating lights. I often find my eyes catching on…
1–2 minutes -
#For the Record: Versions of Me
I’ve been so many people that I’ve started losing track. Sometimes I believe that I am a mishmash of different personalities; a person carelessly sewn together from various characters. I’ve begun to notice how I mirror the space I occupy- smiling and cracking one-liners at family dinners, and nodding and laughing on cue at school.…
1–2 minutes -
#For the Record: How “Productivity Culture” Seeps Into Teenage Life Before We Even Have Jobs
I’m starting a new series on my blog – “For the Record”, addressing the more sombre, often overlooked aspects of teenage life. Keep an eye out for more upcoming posts! What it Means “Productivity culture” is the mindset that your value comes from how much you get done – how busy or “grind-focused” you are.…
2–3 minutes -
Book Review: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Synopsis The book is set in a small cafe called Funiculi Funicula in a Tokyo back alley which has been serving freshly brewed coffee for over a century. But the unassuming cafe serves far more than coffee – it offers its customers a chance to travel back in time, with the impediment of several strict…
2–3 minutes
“There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.”
– Leo Tolstoy
