Preamble: T and I have a ritual of gifting books on each others’ birthday. (a few other friends and I also share it but that’s not the point). Last year around my birthday, I was shameless in telling T that I didn’t need a book yet because of the too big unread pile piling at home. I told her that I would let her know when I was ready for a new book. I read someone’s tweet about ‘The 10…
Like a lot of things, my reading habits and reporting underwent a change this year. I have stopped looking at things from a better vs poorer lens (something that 2020 taught me). It is what it is. I tried reading a book per week post-July with the target of posting my thoughts about that book on Instagram stories. For what it’s worth, it did not seem daunting and that target-oriented reading worked for me. It aligned me at a time…
This little person sings in the bathroom. She makes up songs. And then after the routine of washing her hands and feet struts into the room nagging me to help her wear her pajama. I am in an office meeting and she appears on my side to stare at the screen. In her signature gentle style she then asks me about all the icons on the dock. After a quick revision she vanishes. She then sits by aaji’s side when…
I watched Axone (pronounced – akhonee) on Netflix 10 days ago. It’s a quiet, satirical portrayal of feeling like an outsider – in this case in your own country – because of one’s food preferences. The story revolves around a bunch of North-east Indian friends living in the capital and trying to cook a traditional pork dish cooked using the ‘smelly’ akhonee to celebrate their roommate’s nuptials. It’s a story of friendship, heartbreak, and belonging tied together by food. The…
Writing this as part of a writing workshop I had the privilege to be a part of. The exercise was to write something inspired by a favorite song. I struggled a lot with picking a favorite song. Not only there are many, but in these times it’s tough to put a finger on what I am feeling at any moment. But I am ‘blessed’ with great friends. When I told P about this struggle, he told me, I had already…
We have a 3 yo at home. In this life (ves?) altering time, we tried to explain to her why one can no longer go out to play or walk. I don’t know how much she understood. But she seems to have caught on to the virus bit. The other day she was playing with her toys, reprimanding them to stay inside because there was a virus outside. Explaining to them why going out was not an option. How no…
I went to watch the movie Thappad today. It’s outstanding, well-written and made. Yada yada yada. Experts have already spoken truckloads about it. I don’t think I can add anything more. So I’ll instead write about my neighbors (a couple) in the movie hall. They reached late. Since I was in the aisle seat I was fine letting them through. Once the movie started, they kept discussing small things. Aunty would ask the obvious and uncle would explain things to…