I recall the launch of a book, “My Daughter’s Mum” by Natasha Badhwar. She addresses inter-religious marriages in her book. A sentence she spoke stayed with me: “There was so much silence around the topic at home that I needed to break it with a book.” Silence helps us buy peace by sitting on the … Continue reading Expressions
I commuted to college in the local trains of Mumbai, back when they were not closed and air-conditioned. A window seat was a morning prize; standing at the door in the evening, the wind rushing against your face felt like a release. Road traffic drifted below, and the rectangular windows in buildings became silent openings … Continue reading Windows
I painted the silhouette of a boat on the ocean of despair. Its outline was fragile, yet it carried the promise of passage. My hands found the oars, hesitant at first, then steady. Each stroke disturbed the depths, raking up opportunities, buried like pearls in the silt. The boat was no miracle; it was a … Continue reading Painted Boat
“In my mom’s house, the dining table did not groan with food when there were guests. We served the same simple meal that we eat every day.” This was an eye-opener about how deeply food is entrenched in our culture and actions. Given a chance, everybody in the family complained about her limited culinary skills … Continue reading Is it a fish or a culture?
Women pride themselves on being more intuitive than men. Then I read somewhere that they actually have strong lateral vision. It helps them capture expressions before people can resume ‘on guard’ looks. I sustain my innermost core on books and art. What would I do without vision? How will it affect my relationship with the … Continue reading Sensory
Can the Sun rise in the West? To the extent of our knowledge, No. We place immense trust in Nature. Sometimes we also trust human beings we see as infallible and supportive. I felt a pillar fall that morning when I saw a change in someone’s stance. More so, because the reason for it was … Continue reading The Compass is Me
Once upon a time, I made sure that doors did not close behind me. The future was exciting, but uncertain, and I wanted my support systems to stay intact. Today, I don’t turn back to look at the footprints I’ve left behind. Some are blown away by the winds. Some leave an impression on wet … Continue reading Letting Go
The body loosens its grip on struggling organs, and what we call death is but a shedding of cells. The soul, lighter than starlight, drifts beyond the familiar orbit of grief. Planets hum in their silent revolutions, each a reminder that endings are only pauses in a greater rhythm. Saturn’s rings shimmer like gateways, Jupiter’s … Continue reading Somewhere There
I see a fleeting shadow in the corridor, but there’s no one there. I get back to work, but those sounds of criticism reverberate in the room, and I feel tempted to scream with tight fists. There is someone who brings out the worst part of me – in retaliation, in self-defence, in expression of … Continue reading Devil’s Abode
I reprimand someone for carelessly unmuting themselves during an online training session. Deep down, I’m grateful for the sounds of music that streamed in, altering our states of consciousness. Frowns in open windows change to smiles, but disappear as quick as the sun between heavy showers. He switches on the camera to apologise and I … Continue reading Work-Life
Creative Experiments and More 