Sometimes, you’re the daughter craving for your mother’s approval. Sometimes, you’re the mother craving for your daughter’s approval. Sometimes, you are lonely and wish for companionship. Sometimes, you have too much companionship and wish for solitude. Sometimes, you’re stuck in an office and miss the calm of the trees. Sometimes, you have the trees but … More Both sides
She was turning into her own mother. Every day, chore by chore, her life began to resemble her mother’s at the same age. Brought up in the deserts of Dubai before the dunes of sand were processed into towers of glass, she’d watched her mother slave it out in the home, scrubbing dishes, vacuuming the … More God at home
So it’s been ongoing, this discussion with the Voice in my head. *** “Things have been really great around here,” I said. “All’s really quiet and calm and peaceful. Life is good.” The best of all monopoly profits is a quiet life, the Voice replied. The economist JR Hicks said that, not me. So enjoy yourself. … More Clarity despite the white noise
Some decisions suck the blood sugar out of you (this is research by the way) and some come so easily that you suspect something’s wrong. I’ve mostly always taken emotion-based decisions, which isn’t really a good idea, I know. I often regret it later, I often cry, I often go through difficult moments of doubt … More Decisions, decisions
One of the folktales about Krishna relates an incident when the teenage god, wont to flirt with the young women (gopis) in his village, hides amongst the trees when they’re bathing. Naughty as ever, he snatches up all their clothes and runs away to a corner. When they’re done with their bath, they look around … More Naked
The day we moved into our new home over a month ago, I lost my sleep. At first I figured it was the Vastu of the room – we shouldn’t be in the North-east of the house, and our heads shouldn’t be facing north. So we tried sleeping sideways. Then my brother wrote in about … More Sleepless in soul-searching
I spent the better part of my weekend morning sweating it out either at home or in crowded furniture markets in the blazing heat. We’re still not completely settled in — there’s some furniture we need to buy and some fixing up in the kitchen that’s awaiting an expert touch. And so, I’ve been rather … More Woodwork and self-work
Fitting into a new house is like settling into a new marriage. You adjust to certain ways of the house. The house changes itself for you in others. The bedroom door that doesn’t close properly — you learn to pull it in just the right way so as to solve your purpose with the least … More Home and heart
Today this song from the old film The Great Gambler was playing on the radio on my way home from work: Do lavson ki yeh dil ki kahaani / Ya hai mohobbat, ya hai jawani (The story of this heart has only two words / Either it’s [romantic] love or it’s [lusty] youth) I love … More Dil ki kahaani
On 16 February, I wrote this post, where I listed the ideal qualities I wanted from my new home. Today, after nearly two months, we signed the lease. I went back to read my post, just to ensure I’d got all that I wanted. (a) Three large rooms, a study and three bathrooms: No study, but … More House finding
If the kid hadn’t been marginally late to get ready in the morning, she wouldn’t have been home when I got the message from her school that their bus had broken down and we’d have to make our own transport arrangements. I was busy hollering at her to rush to the bus stop, when we got … More The luck of small things
I see You in that dream house I see You in the dried leaves in the balcony I see You in the owner’s good eye that holds my gaze The empty rooms (with large cupboards) waiting for me.
I see You in the large empty house for rent I see You in the shadowy trees I see You in the dark, crowded market roads As we stand by the curb eating Cocoberries. I see You in the busy prefrontal cortex I see You in the thoughts billowing like breeze I see You in the … More Paths 3-5
I was in a fury this morning. “I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to do this,” I muttered, as I went about doing a chore I hated. “I don’t want to be this kind of person.” My resentment and bitterness poured out into my actions as I tackled the work at hand … More Singing a different tune
Someone recently told me, “It’s very brave of you to be able to bring up two daughters single-handedly in a city like Delhi.” But I have never felt ‘single-handed’. I’ve felt overworked, yes, tired, exhausted, worn out and any other synonyms you can come up with. I’ve felt physically incapable of juggling all the ‘work’ … More Not alone
100 Paths 