If you don’t workout at all then this read is going to make you super happy to join the fitclub; If you’ve just started off, then maybe you can learn from my mistake; If you’re a crazy hardcore killer-of-workouts, breaker of PRs and mother of all flash diets then you definitely need to read this.…
Read More
Spinning on the dresser chair with half my body hanging in the air, I would eye my mother’s cosmetics, every time she was setting her room up: one of my time passing activities as a kid (because there were no gadgets and the television was timed). I loved fiddling with all her stuff, especially the…
Read More
ये पीली shirt पे लगे, चाई का दाग़ ने मुझे, वो याद दिला दिया। कई बार सोचा था, कि एक बार मिला लूँ; नम्बर याद तो था ही मुझे, पर डर ने उँगलियों को जकड़ा था, और सवालों ने मन को उलझाया। कई बार तो ऐसा भी हुआ की phone हाथो में लेकर, उसमें कुछ लिखती फिर मिटाती, फिर कुछ लिखती फिर भेजने की हिम्मत ना जुटा पाती। ये लिख कर मिटाने की जैसे, आदत सी लग गयी थी मुझे। ‘तुम क्या सोचोगे’ ये डर, मेरी network भी समझ रही थी जैसे। सुबह को चाई की चुस्की में गूढ़, इलाइची और तुम्हारे ख़यालों को भी घोल देती थी में; अधरक की अक्सर ज़रूरत भी नहीं पढ़ती थी। सुबह की अख़बार जब पापा पढ़ते, तो पीछे से सारे शब्द धुँधले से दिखते मुझे। माँ जब रसोई से आवाज़ देती थी—”बेटा!” तो ये कान, अपने ही कोई धुन को घूरती रहती। फिर जब cab आती, तो कुछ हमेशा पीछे छूट जाता; लेकिन, तुम्हारे किताब को कस के पकड़, हर दिन की शुरुआत करती थी मैं। Office में काम तो वैसे भी कोई नहीं करता, तो मैं फिर वो किताब खोल लेती। Boss आता तो computer की ओर नज़रें फेर लेती। Boss जाता तो तुम्हारे अदृश्य पन्नो पे; जो AC के हवा से आगे पीछे हो गयी थी। तो कहाँ छोड़ा था, वहीं से फिर शुरू हो जाती। इतने में दूसरी चाई के cup में, तुम्हारे ख़याल ताज़ा हो जाते। ऐसे पड़ते है शायद, किताबी कीड़े। उनको कहानी से इतनी आस हो जाती है, की कुछ भी समय मिलते ही उसमें गुम हो जाने को मन करता है। फिर एक दिन मेरी दोस्त रोशनी ने, मुझे कुछ पढ़ते वक़्त शर्माते हुए देखा, और मुझे कंधे से पकड़ हिलाया। तो मानो किताब थी ही नहीं जैसे; चित्र पर पानी फेर दिया हो वैसे। TV देखते वक़्त, कोई आकर बंद कर दिया हो जैसे। जलती मचिस को पानी में ढाल दिया हो वैसे। मेरी ख़यालों की क़दर— जैसे नोट बन्दी में पुराने नोटो की। कुछ चाई, मेरी office के shirt पे, ये दाग़ भी छोड़ गए उस दिन। रोशनी ने मेरे ख़्यालों को चाय में buiscut के जैसे डूबा कर, मुझे कहा– ‘सभ ख़यालों में ही हो जाता तो कितना आसान होता मेरी मानो चलो अभी बात करो’। उसने हाथ से phone झपटकर…
Read More
There were so many times, I recall, coming home from school I would run to get my hands on the remote before my cousins and siblings, just so I could watch National geographic on TV. It was slow with this deep voice saying something in an accent I didn’t understand, but it felt almost meditative.…
Read More
In one of those weekly fights with my elder sister (when we were really young), for a change my mom had taken her side. I was furious and not knowing how to channel my anger, I put some home-made scrub into the back pockets of her jeans, that were hanging behind the bathroom door. That…
Read More
I was in my single digit years where kids normally want to be treated older than their age. However, I was very content with, age not being a ‘thing’. My heart was like this butterfly fluttering at the slightest fragrance of fun, nature and outdoors. All this and my mind somehow felt stressed as years…
Read More
सोच ही जड़ है अगर तो नयी सोच की भूक जगानी होगी। सोच बदलोगे, तो हम अछे पूर्वज कहलाएँगे।फिर भी सिर्फ़ कहना “Remember your roots”;क्यूँकि समय के साथ नयी जड़ो की ज़रूरत होगी,नयी सोच की ज़रूरत होगी। हम नहीं रहेंगे पर, कुछअच्छा छोड़ जाएँगे। पेड़ों को काट दे, कचड़ो को जलाकनदियों में बहा दे;धुँआ की जैसे आदत ही हो गयी है,और जानवरों को खाना हमें सही लगे।क्या यही हम कर के जाएँगे?क्या इन जड़ो के साथ जी पाएँगे आने वाली फ़सल, और नई डालियाँ?कौन देख पाएगा लटकते आम,और हथेली पे महसूस बारिश के बूंद?क्या सोच…
Read More
Recently I was in a situation where I was so attached to the person, in conversation and obsessed about the relationship that I didn’t realise who I was being. I’m normally so chatty that I don’t realise I’m completely exposed emotionally. I give away too much of myself and only realise after I’m ambushed and…
Read More
Einstein’s theory of relativity states that light travels in the same speed in vacuum and air. It is not affected by the speed at which the observer is travelling. Sun being a constant and the biggest source of light, we took our relative movement in comparison to the sun and invented TIME. Earth is revolving…
Read More
I was in my teens, when it was five in the morning, still dark outside and suddenly I heard someone’s knuckles playing a band on the door of my cupboard (90s kids didn’t have the privilege of locking their rooms). I woke up irritated and it was my dad, I don’t know if he was…
Read More
Recently a friend of mine asked me, ‘how she can make her fiancé feel special by gifting something non materialistic’. I had so many ideas and immediately sent her a list of things. After some hours (it doesn’t hit me instantly, I’m a little slow) I had an epiphany after an argument. Yes, it takes…
Read More
When I was in school I would see some of my classmates clambering to get the teacher’s eyes on her. It was such a rush if you were told to read or get a special mention for just saying something smart. In college just flickering your hair around a lot or being loud would get…
Read More
Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted something desperately and someone you know is getting it? A car, a new phone, materialistic things, a vacation, a good friend, a great life partner, amazing parents (especially when you’ve been grounded by your folks), friendly boss, an enthusiastic team, great network, fame and the…
Read More
In India a girl child first fought to be alive; she faced a gender test when she hadn’t even taken her first breath. Then she faced Child marriage; forced arrangements at an age she didn’t even understand what it is to get her first periods. She fought for the right to education and learning. She…
Read More
I thought I heard this girl scream a name as she flung the ball at the bowling pins. On my recent bowling game, I was very intently watching a few teenage girls play on the neighbouring lane; reminding me of my teenage years. They were dancing after every shot and were cheering for the others…
Read More
(Serves 16 pieces) (Vegan) Cook Time: 45 min **HEALTHY Ingredients For the Filling1 cup brazil nuts (120g)2 tbsp peanut butter 4 tbsp desiccated coconut + more for sprinkling2 tbsp coconut oil (optional)3 tbsp Date syrup (or Jaggery Melted)½ vanilla pod, seeds scraped out/ few drops vanilla essence For the Chocolate coating½ cup Melted chocolate (any Vegan chocolate…
Read More
When I was in the middle school I used to car pool with my cousins and everyday, as soon as I got even half of my bottom comfortable on the car seat, I would start with — “You know what happened today?” I had to blurt out everything. People said I had a small tummy,…
Read More
Part I -“Heal-arious as can be“ (Part II) We all love adventures in our own ways and every time you put yourself out there, you learn something and you will dirty your hands, get hurt, break a limb and lose an eye (okay may be not that drastic). A cell is a world in itself…
Read More
Serves – 2 small Jars (no sugar) Cook time: 40 min **Healthy **Vegan Ingredients 1 box of strawberry 1/2 a lemon squeezed (no seeds)1/2 cup melted jaggery In a wide bowl, crush strawberries in batches until its completely mashed. transfer to a heavy bottomed saucepan, add melted jaggery, and lemon juice and set it boiling.…
Read More
When I was in school I fell on the field, in the corridor, on the paved ground, stoned areas, in the class and even tripped over nothing. The skirt and pinafore didn’t help with the knees either. My knees and elbows always had scratches and wounds. The school nurse even asked me once while applying…
Read More
