This column appeared in Femina Magazine dated Aug 7th. There stands a 12-storey building where my ancestral home in my “village” in Punjab used to be. At the entrance there is a watch man who needs your name in his sekutree (security) book- a pile of papers so filthy I can see the germs on […]
This appeared on the Times of India Editorial Page dated Aug 25th, 2014 My cousin is angry, they have taken away the bowl of water she keeps outside the building for stray dogs to drink out of under the pretext that it breeds mosquitos. “What about the two garbage cans right there- do those not […]
Disclaimer: This post may contain certain words that people conventionally find offensive. Rest assured they are being used purely in the context of description and not with the intention to offend. So, sue me I guess. The release of Sheryl Sandberg (COO of Facebook) book Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to lead came with […]
(My unedited column for Femina Magazine “The Devi and the Devil”. July 2014. Do pick up a copy!) Well, rape, as they say, is never out of season. In spite of the incident on Dec 16th, 2012 we are still waking up to brutal gang rapes coupled with hair raising murders. But, we’ve progressed. We’ve […]
(This is a column for the AWESOME Femina Magazine, (June 11th, 2014). I got a cover byline because obvi duh boobs. Do pick up a copy!) Breasts. Even the word has weight. The hard B, coming directly before the rolling R followed by an “-issts,” like you’re beckoning a dog towards you. They’re called […]
I met Naomi Dutta, when she was producing “Love 2 Hate U”, a show that aired on Star World. If there’s one thing I remember about her was that she was patient. She nodded attentively while I spoke, her eyes alert. She spoke with conviction about her vision for the show. In a consequent meeting […]
Come to bed with me tonight? Lie with me, on the hard mattress, just the way I like it. Put your head down on the hard pillow that resists my cheeks every time I put my head down. Let the covers slide over your bare legs. Now close your eye and let sleep take your […]
This might be more emotional than I would like it to be. I followed the Keenan-Reuben case as it broke in The Mumbai Mirror. It happened very close to my house, outside a restaurant I have visited several times with family. Every time I bring it up with someone, I end up meeting a friend […]
I have loved Sound of Music for very long now, and have fond memories of kneeling outside class, thrown out for attempting a yodel in the middle of History period. (You can’t not want to yodel after you learn the “Lonely Goatherd” in Singing period just before that). The night I saw the film, I […]
Three months ago I sat in the open air section of Candies, when the first drop fell on my arm I didn’t even bother looking up- a leaky AC in the building above, an over enthusiastically pronounced word from someone’s lips- it could be anything. Casually wiping it off my arm I continued the deeply engrossing […]