To my newfound religion called Veganism!

When we move to a different country, we get an opportunity to start afresh... on somethings at least. I never liked drinking milk as a kid. Not a fan of cottage cheese half of India is obsessed with. Never been a yes to cheese either. I have always shied away from wearing leather and animal fur. Hence, my interest in veganism was not a surprise to me or anyone around.

But I never had the courage to give up occasional filter coffees in quite little cafes. Also true to my south Indian origins, I love butter milk and curd rice. And did you know Gulab Jamoon is made of milk?

Well, I have started on this journey and hope to swim through all battles that come my way... welcoming 2019 on a healthy note!

To be born a girl

When would it be the right place, right time, right people for me to be born
A home where my people aren’t scared that I am born
A time when my people aren’t wishing that I were a boy
A time when my people aren’t praying that I be married
A society where my people won’t reduce me to a baby-making machine
A room where my people aren’t thinking of raping me
A country where a court doesn’t have to decide whether I can visit a temple
A kitchen where pickle won’t mind that I bleed

Don’t ask me why am I a rebel
You ask me to take a right,
I shall take an extreme left
That’s how my own teach me to survive

Ramblings of a woman in the 21st century India

It probably is an imaginary world where I suffer 

No one can see the reasons for my pain 

Does it mean that I don’t 

I am fighting my own monsters to find freedom and peace 

Freedom within to achieve my dreams, 

Freedom to chase my blurry vision of success 

Yes, I get distracted by every unkind word 

Yes, I get called out ‘petty’ to be hurt by ‘petty’ things

So the fault must be mine,

I wasn’t ready to be called nikammi for not knowing the difference between patheela and patheeli 

Fault must be mine... even after 30 plus years in this patriarchal world, 

I am still naive to be not okay with people inquiring if I contributed to the glory of Paratha making in the kitchen

I have always believed that everybody’s freedom ends at the tip of their nose. 

And how do I respect anyone who doesn’t respect their freedom or mine. 

If Parathas were all I wanted to make in my life, 

I know I can make better Parathas than most people around me. 

But I guess Parathas don't mean much to me after all!

Having seen the light within...

It's that Story of broken hearts...They get healed
With the kind words of dear friends,
With the silent prayers of loved ones,
With the loving touch of Mother Nature...
Above all, with the sheer willpower to live and let live.
Goodness of their heart to forgive and forget is what brings back happiness again and again
Having known heaven on earth, you can't not reach out to it again.
Having known solitude, you can't not fight for it.
Having seen light within, you can't go on closing your eyes.

Holi special

Tulip

Hibiscus