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

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

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

“You are my role model, mom,” said my 12-year-old yesterday evening, taking me by surprise. “How come babies and dogs all like you so much?” “I guess it’s because I like them too,” I replied. “Actually, to be honest, I didn’t really care about other people’s kids earlier. But ever since I’ve started on my … More An unlikely conversation

A friend and I were discussing our common love of writing. “I get depressed when I have nothing to write,” he said, while also sharing his insecurities about his work. “How come you’re never insecure about being a good writer?” he asked. “To be honest,” I said, “I really do not think I am a … More Just about write

I had an amazing morning today, which taught me three lessons, or rather, reinforced them. Accept reality I have two names, as most people know. One is my legal, marital one, the other my maiden one, which I also use for work and all public purposes. It’s an ego issue really. I didn’t want to … More Falling into place

My drive to and from work takes about 35 – 45 minutes every day depending on traffic conditions. It took slightly lesser time on my previous work route. On days that I have a driver, I use this time to chat on the phone or introspect, listening to mantras playing on the CD player. On … More Back of my mind

Today I scolded myself for not spending enough time on my spiritual pursuits and drowning myself in work instead. Due to recent changes in my lifestyle, I am constantly busy, and the first thing to get struck off the list is my chanting. And meditation is a distant memory. Yet, only a few minutes later, … More Working meditation

I changed jobs this month. Letting go of my former job was summed up when I turned back to look at my desk on the last day I worked there, last Saturday. Over the five and a half years that I had worked at that office and in that cubicle, I had accumulated a comfortable pouffe … More Resignation

It was fabulous to spend last week in Toronto. The town was alive with a joyful energy only summer can bring (mild summer, mind you, not the stifling Indian kind). Lots was happening — Bollywood’s darling IIFA awards, the Toronto Pride Week, a jazz festival. Plugged into phones or iPods, multitudes brushed passed me as I wandered the streets, taking in … More Right there, in the buildings

Coming back to your life after an extended holiday abroad is almost like waking up from a long dream. Everything is new, strange, surreal – and yet familiar and starkly real. As I drove from home to work on day one, there was a tremendous sense of peace and calm. A sense of belonging, a … More Riding high