-
The Ceiling of Our Stories
I have stretched above you since the first dawn, silent and endless, a canvas for many of your stories. I am the sky; the boundless firmament that has seen millions of stories with every shift in the sands of time. My stars – some suspended, some descending towards the earth as my stalwart messengers –…
1–2 minutes -
Scribbles in the Margin
“Always carry a notebook.” A seemingly simple piece of advice has turned into an absolute lifesaver in the past year of my life. Whether it’s noting down half-thoughts, poems, or lines overheard from strangers, the notebook is a constant and stalwart companion. Here’s how I use my pocket-sized notebook everywhere: Poetry & Prose The world…
2–3 minutes -
Sargoshi: A Poem
Somewhere between scribbling into the margins of my notebook and staying up late in the company of words, I think I’ve fallen in love with the sentiment and intimate intonation Hindi and Urdu poetry. The following piece is an old, handwritten poem that I found written on a crumpled piece of notebook paper in the…
1–2 minutes -
An Ode to Paperclips
They’re tiny, inconspicuous instruments. Nobody remembers them until loose papers are scattered about like dried leaves on an autumn day. That’s when the humble paperclip steps in, uncomplainingly holding chaos together. Paperclips remind me of the people in life who aren’t the loud main characters but still keep everything from falling apart. The friend who…
1–2 minutes -
Finding Refuge in Routine
I’m at my most peaceful when I lose myself in the rhythm of tasks. I am a person who cannot sit idle for too long. There’s something almost pacifying in ticking items off a list, or burying myself into work, that helps me distract myself from the vicissitudes of my own mind. Sylvia Plath phrased…
1–2 minutes -
The Fail-Proof Recipe to a Perfect Gift
A great gift doesn’t say “I spent a lot”; it says “I’ve been paying attention.” The good part? Creating a truly thoughtful gift isn’t complicated. Here’s my infallible recipe to a perfect present: Prep time: However long your heart takesServes: One soon-to-be ecstatic personDifficulty: Easier than it looks Ingredients Procedure Have fun whipping up gift…
2–3 minutes -
The People I Carry in My Pockets
I am a patchwork quilt of memories. A hodgepodge of people. Tucked into the corners of my mind, occupying a permanent spot, are the people who shape my everyday decisions, stitched into my daily rituals. Like the spiritual aunt who I’m reminded of every time the clock strikes 11:11, or the boy who first complimented…
1–2 minutes -
Still, I Ask the Future [Poem]
To those peering in from the future–Is the world still imbrued in blood?Are we still endlessly warmongeringAre the doors to peace still shut? Does the knife still kiss your wrist,Does the rope still hang from the roof?Do you still dream of a better future,Or has the hope abandoned you? Does death still lurk in corners,Do…
1–2 minutes -
Romanticising Life: A User Manual for the Idealists
SCENE 1INT. LATE EVENING IN MY KITCHEN Golden light spills over the kitchen counter, gilding everything around me. My phone streams jazz music, not because I like jazz, but because it feels the moment feel intentional. I stir tea like I’m in a film. I look out as if something’s about to happen – a…
1–2 minutes -
A Sliver of Solace
Behind the miscellany of coffee mugs and tea sachets in my kitchen cabinet, there’s a worn-out white iPhone 11 box. It’s tucked snugly into the corner, yellowed with time. No one else touches it. I don’t offer it to guests. On those quiet nights with a congenial silence, when the world feels like the strains…
1–2 minutes
“There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.”
– Leo Tolstoy
