True Stories
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What Makes up Your Home?
There’s something about the vibe of a house which makes it a HOME. You might live in countless number of houses in your lifespan, but what exactly makes it your home? Is it the old photo frames which are mismatched with your new decor, but still find a place in your living room? Is it that age-old creaking chair which still has visitors crib about its creak? Is it the old dresser which has a cartoon sticker stuck on its mirror with a story of its own? Is it the fragrance of the sandalwood agarbattis which has always been your staple across generations? Is it the smell of fresh ginger…
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How I Felt When I Completed 10 Years in the Same Company
I didn’t realise when it became 26-Sep-2021 and I had completed 10 years at Infosys just like that. Reliving Memories It felt like yesterday, when I was sitting in the induction program at the Multiplex in Infosys Mysore and was feeling on top of the world when the famous anthem of Infosys started playing – “This is my Infy. This is your Infy.” And it was a very well-known rumour in my batch those days that the singer of this Infosys anthem was Celine Dion. I still don’t know who the actual singer is. But yes, I remember the exact feels on that day in 2011. And I still get goosebumps on…
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Do we actually SETTLE DOWN?
For a couple of years, I have been exposed to this beautiful phrase called ‘settle down’. And honestly, it seems like ages now. Somehow, I never understood it well then. And I still don’t really understand it now. I would like to believe that people who keep giving this advice, have the best of intentions in their mind. But, please understand the fact that your ideologies can be different than mine. I respect yours. The least that you can do is respect mine. I am ready to listen to your perspective for sure. But, please stop judging me for politely refusing to take your advice and not ‘falling in line’.…
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The Unending Saga of Women and Their Love Hate Fascination With Hair
It is 2021 with an ongoing lockdown phase for about 1.5 years now and I just received my ’nth parcel from Amazon. And guess what it is! Another one of those organic, natural and ‘sulfate-free’ shampoo and conditioner packs, promising stronger roots and voluminous hair this time! I won’t mention names, lest it starts sounding like a sponsored post. But let us put it this way. My intense market analysis and product research, in between work calls, helped me zero down on this one product and then the heart said – “Let’s try it. Because, why not?” Mind you, this so-called analysis spans a cumulative duration of 5-10 minutes per…
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Is My Love Not Enough If I Do Not Fast for My Husband?
Says my Satyavan – “I will anyway live a 100 years just for you. For that, neither do you have to fast, nor do I.” And I fell in love yet again. Today, I am going to tread into an “unpopular opinion” territory. So, read with caution and without any judgement please. Recently, we just celebrated a festival, exclusively for married women – called Sabitri Brata in my home state and Vat Savitri at my in-laws. The essence is the same for both – it is based on the popular folklore of Savitri and Satyavan. Basically, the wife keeps a fast for the husband’s longer life on this day. Even…
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Festivals – Are They More Important Than a Global Pandemic?
Life has been so different since the year 2020. And so are the extravagant festivals celebrated in India. Gone are the days when festivals in India meant a surreal experience with fanfare at a different level. I still vividly remember how the first blow to Indian festivities was when the larger-than-life Ganpati celebrations were banned in Maharashtra, followed by the ban on the most-awaited Durga Puja in West Bengal. The pandemic was clutching its grip and the only way to fight it was – SOCIAL DISTANCING. It was a great feeling to experience the country coming together as one and fighting this nasty virus. It almost felt like we have…
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Corona – How Did This Contagious Virus Change Our Lives Forever?
The first time I heard about the corona virus was back in December 2019. China had reported the outbreak of the corona virus disease (COVID-19) from Wuhan and the original source of viral transmission to humans was still unclear. We had seen such instances before, so why would this one be any different? That’s exactly how we acknowledged the onset of an unforgettable pandemic beginning in 2019. After all, the only ‘Corona’ that I had heard of was the Mexican beer! It is already 2021 and the virus has almost become a part of our lives now. Rather, we keep hearing about the new mutants of the corona virus and…
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Birthday Surprises – the New Normal in COVID Times
With a nationwide lockdown in place and a birthday round the corner, our creative juices were bound to flow to make it a special day. Personally, I am not someone who is excited about her own birthday. But, birthdays of loved ones get my adrenaline rushing like nothing else. And then, the year 2020 changed it all. The last year has been very different from the rest of our lives so far. It almost feels like a reset button which life has involuntarily turned on. New set of rules, new way of life – and we just have to adjust and fall in line. Initially, the mindset was slightly delusional.…
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A Nationwide Lockdown – a Long Holiday Nobody Asked For
I still vividly remember the exact day – 15 Mar 2020. It was 4 PM on a Sunday afternoon and I was engrossed in every bit of Michelle Obama’s journey described in her book – Becoming. In the adjacent living room, the news channel was blaring with information on the rising COVID cases world-wide, and how we should prepare for an impending global lockdown. Yes, I heard that right – a LOCKDOWN. Honestly, this was a new word in my vocabulary base. I mean, I could obviously make out what it might mean, but it was the first time I was hearing this word in such a large scale. I…
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What Are Your Takeaways From the Pandemic Year 2020?
Needless to mention, the pandemic year 2020 has been tough. Having survived COVID-19 myself, I can confidently say that each one of us is a warrior in every sense – the ones who contracted the virus, the ones whose loved ones were infected, the ones who toiled hard to protect us, the ones who shielded themselves and the ones who succumbed. Each one of us fought our own battles, in our own mighty way. Time for a round of applause for self. The least that we deserve is a pat in the back for making it so far. It is March 2021, while I sit down and type this post,…
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An Inward Journey – Need Of The Hour
What exactly runs in a person’s mind just minutes before taking away his own life? Does he feel numb or does he feel angry? Is he agitated or is he absolutely calm? Does he feel alive or is he dead already? Amidst the chaotic mess of random speculations, a zillion thoughts cross my mind. But I can only find a deafening silence within. What state of mind exactly leads one to suicide will remain an eternal mystery. Perhaps, the best that we can do is – take a pause and head for an INWARD JOURNEY within. Recently, on a bright Sunday morning, we lost a very prominent young Indian actor.…
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The Bizarre People and Customs of South Korea
Here’s a personal essay by John Adams on the chain of events, which led to his experiences in a beautiful country called South Korea. “I had something special planned for our second marriage anniversary, but she gave me an even bigger surprise ten days prior to the big day. We started as friends in the first year of college and two years later, I was convinced that we were soul mates. Our wedding ceremony took place a month after graduation and it was absolutely perfect. Getting into an intimate relationship with a former best friend is something special and I was certain that this was meant to last. We shared…
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Learn to prioritise LIFE ~ A Personal Memoir from GOA
I could not have asked for a better sunset or better company, on this trip to Goa! Time froze right here. Undoubtedly, life has a zillion shades. Maybe, this is what is called ‘perfect’. As we grow older, it becomes more and more difficult to coordinate, find common timelines and plan a getaway with friends. But if you earnestly want to make plans work, they will work. Learn to PRIORITISE. No matter how reckless and spontaneous our 20-year old selfs were, the dynamics change at 30. We have more responsibilities, financial constraints and work load which definitely get tougher with time. So, impromptu getaways pave way for well-coordinated plans. Yes,…
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That first touch of a newborn baby on Day 1
Here’s a heartfelt short story on that feeling of the first touch of a newborn baby. It is an angelic touch indeed! “A happy baby has shining eyes. It walks open hearted into the world and spreads magic.” ~ Sigrid Leo 09:55 AM | It was a usual Friday at work. The floor was bustling with activity and each cubicle was getting started with its onsite calls. We had already started feeling the vibe of the upcoming weekend. That’s exactly how Friday mornings feel in an IT office. The managers were doing the rounds just to keep an eye on who’s getting into the ODC at what time. Wish early…
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Cruising For A Bruising In My Rocking 30s
As I sit to pen down my thoughts today, I realise that it is 10th August 2019. Tomorrow, I will officially turn 31. Yes, that’s my age for the records! I’m not too sure if mentioning one’s biological age openly, is within the brackets of ‘etiquettes’ or not. Honestly, I don’t even care. I have never shied away from telling my age, by giving a blatant excuse stating ‘you should never ask a woman her age’. I mean – duh uh! It is not a big deal. Anyway, all that matters is your mental age – what and how you feel from inside. It has been a strangely hot and…
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How I Turned My Life Around Even On A Depressing Dependent Visa (H4) in USA
Taking that decision to shift base to USA, without going to office at all – on an H4 visa, was not an easy call. And heading straight into a sudden break from a hectic corporate work schedule made that role transition in life, even more difficult. Backdrop of My Travel on an H4 Visa I travelled to USA on Nov 1, 2017 with an H4 visa. Back then, I was not quite a believer of long distance marriages (well, I still have my reservations there!) and was a flag-bearer of ‘no-matter-what-couples-live-together’ policy. Prior to this, I was working in Singapore, in a well-salaried and full-fledged role of a software developer-cum-analyst,…
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Mom, I celebrate you everyday, not just today – #HappyMothersDay
It was a regular sign off from a working day and I was on my way back home. My bus was filled with people from various walks of life and bustling with endless chatter. Luckily, the AC was a huge relief on a typical humid Bhubaneswar evening in the month of March. Just then, a friend messaged me about this beautiful campaign – “From Ma, With Love” by One Future Collective. It was celebrating recollections of feminist tales and lessons, passed down to us, by our mother and a beautiful tribute to moms on Mother’s Day. This reminded me of Ma’s glass of lemonade which must be ready by the…
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Those Lives Did Not Deserve This End – This is Personal! #PulwamaTerroristAttack
The 14th of February, 2019 : While the whole world was celebrating this beautiful day of love, India was bleeding red in the wee hours of the morning at Pulwama, Kashmir. I woke up, read about this ghastly incident, felt numb, gathered bits and pieces of my mind and penned down a post on ‘Love Yourself’ to give some sanity to my agitated mind. Yes, I did that, to divert my mind towards some sort of instant optimism maybe. Neither is this post a social media gimmick nor is this a claim to free publicity. I just feel the need to express my anguish as an Indian. I still get goosebumps…
