a memoir of etchings and wanderings
It just dawned me on a few days ago that this September marked three years of my move from India to Oman. It was a dizzying thought, to picture how the time had flown past. When most people ask me what it is like, here – I usually complain. I find myself harping over the 10 months of summer, the lack of public transportation, the general aura of apathy that … Continue reading “Counting blessings.” →
For years I have been intrigued by the largest and oldest inhabited continent on the planet, the melting pot of culture and civilization from time immemorial, the home to the wildest and the gentlest – Africa. The only time I have stepped in it was as a teenager, when my parents took me to Egypt, and I distinctly remember being stunned by all what it had to offer, even at … Continue reading “South African Sojourn” →
Oprah Winfrey once said, and I would like to quote and edit: “If friends people disappoint you over and over, that’s in large part your own fault. Once someone has shown a tendency to be self-centered indifferent, you need to recognize that and take care of yourself; people aren’t going to change simply because you want them to.” As I grow older, I see people drifting apart, little by little. Some friends … Continue reading “(Untitled)” →
They say that the friends you make at school and college are the ones who last a lifetime. I wasn’t so fortunate during school, but met the most wonderful people during my years in Pune and Gurgaon – and I am ever so grateful. When Ankita and I lived and worked together at Edelman, things were not always painless and tranquil, given our limited means, but I think of those … Continue reading “Paris of the East” →
I’ve always had it in for emotional advertising; so much that I still have a folder tucked away in my hard disk that contain the few that pulled on heartstrings. During the MBA, and through my personal reading, I realised that this was a deliberate strategy by brands into making us associate with them through the emotional connect. Lately, my favourite digital media specialist wrote about this societal dimension of … Continue reading “Wish” →
As the years are going by, most of us can find ourselves being absorbed in our lives leaving little time to reflect and lesser opportunities to do impulsive things. But those days were the best, weren’t they? The living on a hilltop, the pathetic excuse of food that the mess served us, the small joys of a cancelled class, samosa-pav, the absolutely random conversations and the people – who kept … Continue reading “A Wedding & A Reunion” →
To you who feels too much, loves too much, gives too much – I’m proud of you To you who is moved too easily, falls in love too easily, believes what you’re told – Thank you for your faith in mankind To you who knowingly lets someone get away with a lie, who performs random acts of kindness, who shares your last penny – I am on your side To … Continue reading “To You…” →
There comes a time where you’re on the brink of losing control, the edge of the cliff, a despicable wall of blankness in front of you. And then, suddenly there is daybreak, a cool breeze, a respite. Whoever said that new and exciting things were all about fun? They are much more about the fear of leaving behind the comfortable and stepping in to the unknown. Me and a lot … Continue reading “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” →
You would think that I would have heard all of the Coke Studio songs, being such an ardent fan. Today, I came across ‘Mujhe Baar Baar’ by Abbas Ali Khan from the series’ most recent episode and was mesmerised for the longest time. Among the languages that I know, there is no doubt that Urdu is the most beautiful. It is like art in words, emotions in writing – no … Continue reading “♪” →
I’m usually known to procrastinate specific things in life like exercise, collecting on finances and making phone calls among others, but I feel most guilty when I delay writing travelogues. From personal experience, I feel that the memories and trivia are most fresh within the week of returning from a trip, making it the opportune moment to pen it down for memory’s sake. It has been over two months to … Continue reading “A Ceylon Odyssey” →