Sunshine during the day, oranges in the afternoon and a cosy fireplace in the evenings. That is how I have always known winters to be. That is how we spend winters in Assam. That is how I wish my winters to be each year. I grew up in the educational town of Assam, Jorhat (in …
Category: Reflections
Pigeons of Delhi
In the Indian capital, the common pigeon has a consistent presence across the city. The familiar grey pigeons, known as the blue rock pigeons, have a very special place in the city. It is believed that feeding them earns you brownie points to reach heaven. At many prominent traffic signals in the city, islands have …
The Cursed Relationship
It is a popular prejudice that a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law are meant to hate each other. If not mutual hatred, then it is one-sided ill treatment. Such notions have been reinforced in our society time and again by our beloved movies and soap operas. An innocent and simple DIL is mistreated by her …
Kai – The “Dog” Cat
Young Kai with his mother Kai was a tomcat with a soul of a dog. His mother was a stray who chose my parents' home as her home. She would come and go, but usually had her meals at home. She was not even a year old when she had her first batch of kittens. …
A True Feminist
In the recent years, "feminism" has become a buzzword. In general terms, women who believe that they are better off without men, or fiercely argue that men should do domestic chores, or who rebel against age-old notions about a woman's responsibilities and limits are understood as feminists. Feminism is actually defined as the belief in …
Maids and Visiting Mothers
We have two part-time maids at home, one for cleaning and one for cooking. The cook comes in the evening and cooks dinner only. She has been working at our place for four years now, from the time when the number of household members was 6-7 to 3 now. The cleaning maid keeps on …
A Personnel Letter
Dear Employee, I know you believe with your heart and head that HR (traditionally known as the Personnel department) is a good-for-nothing department. You think that we come to work just to idle away our time and get salaries for free. And that our only job is to hire people and making your salaries …
When You Care
I believe you can take care of other people only when you are truly concerned about them. An exception may be when you are a caregiver by profession. But again, you can truly be honest in the same when you empathize with those who need your care. Families spend years together under the same …
Looking Married
They - "You are married!"Me - "Yeah....."They - "But you don't look married at all!!!!" I get this a lot. From colleagues, acquaintances, salon staff to random people I meet. Many of my office colleagues assumed that I am single and are surprised when I mention my husband or in-laws in my casual talks. …
If You Have To Compare
The problem with most of us is that we always want to live someone else's lives. We set the so-called "happiness standards" based on the visible lives of others. We are haunted by their apparent "happy and happening" lives, thanks to the omnipresent social media. Based on their visible lives around us and on social …
