Founder of eShe magazine (eshe.in) and the peacebuilding initiative South Asia Union (southasiaunion.com). Features in and as 'The Unsuitable Girl', in episode 1 of 'Love Storiyaan' on Amazon Prime. Email: aekta@eshe.in
The Moon wanted to turn over to its side; A million years with its face down, its back was aching. It shifted and stirred in discomfort, oh, for a little stretch right there. But those on Earth glared up at the slightest sigh. The Moon cannot change face, they said. We’ve mapped it out, sized … More The Moon wanted to turn over to its side
I hollered at my elder daughter this morning, barely a day after she got back from a week-long teen camp in the Himalayas. (When the kids aren’t here, I miss them like mad. When they are back, I am irritable about the slightest things, sigh.) I had issues about various things, and it all just came … More Effective communication for dummies
The first time: My car lock has been stuck for months, and the situation is getting worse as the poor Swift ages. It now takes me at least twenty tries to unlock my car. The car company says it will cost me Rs 8,000 for a new lock-and-key set, which I am loath to spend … More Twice today
Every New Year, I end up making the same old resolutions – exercise more, eat healthier, get a promotion. But last year, prompted by an article I had read, I decided to create resolutions that would make me happy and not just stuff that I was supposed to. And so I added things like this … More Happy new resolutions
Yesterday, while driving past India Gate admiring the trees, a thought came to me: What does Life want from me? And the answer came immediately: To live through my eyes. To see the world as I see it. To feel the things I feel. To do the things only I could or would do. Suddenly, … More Showing up
The best thing I love about my job is meeting new people and having the opportunity to go really deep into their lives and understand what makes them tick. Most of the time, this is an extremely enriching experience. For instance, yesterday I met a woman who had rather large black pupils in her eyes, like … More Coffee with caring
Yesterday morning, a cat sat straight facing the sun with closed eyes in front of my parked car. I had been walking towards it with my office bag, and its posture — proud, elegant, poised — made me smile. I instinctively looked up at a woman having a smoke standing on her first-floor balcony, and made a … More Three things tonight
The flute said, I am merely a hollow piece of reed, with holes. I did not make the music. The wind said, I merely rush through the flute, going wherever passage permits. I did not make the music. The flautist said, I merely blow from one end of the flute, pressing its holes with learned … More Who made the music?
A lot of self-help articles that come my way dwell upon ‘quitting your job and following your dreams’. This is especially true of articles and books written by Western personal-growth gurus and authors. Whether it’s a piece about finding happiness in the moment, taking better decisions or just being more joyful, this phrase often turns … More Book of Job
An old dear friend visited me yesterday evening. We began talking at 6.15 pm and didn’t stop for two straight hours, all through a visit to a coffee shop, a drive to the metro station, and even outside the metro station in the car, until a policeman shooed us away. She and I share that … More Making a connection
If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough. – Meister Eckhart. The other day, I decided to adopt the Buddhist ‘attitude of gratitude’ and apply it to everything that came my way. I managed to get ready for work and leave home well in time. Thank you. I got three to … More Attitude of gratitude
Due to moving homes, I have found two more major sources of God. The first is driving to work. I have now been driving for 19 years, but there was a period of about six years recently when I had the services of my parents’ driver and didn’t need to drive every day. Now that … More Lessons in moving
Since my natural tendency has always been low self-esteem and self-hate, I’ve been pushing myself through a phase of self-praise recently, when I actively celebrate moments when I have done a good job of things. A post on Tiny Buddha set me up on an interesting questioning path: How did you behave when you last fell down? … More Fall girl
I am embarrassed to admit that I have not really crossed too many major roads in Delhi. Being the pampered daughter of NRI parents, wife of a wealthy real-estate dealer, and now a well-paid professional has ensured I have always had wheels under my feet. Most of the time, there is also a chauffeur to … More Crossing roads
By virtue of being a neighbourhood daily-essentials market, Sector 8 in RK Puram tends to don a festive atmosphere every weekend evening, unlike any other ‘high-end’ shopping centre of Delhi. I avoid it on weekends due to parking constraints but this Sunday, we stepped out to buy some groceries, eat street food and apply henna … More How RK Puram reaffirmed my faith in humanity
100 Paths 