Thoughts On Confessions By Kanae Minato

Till this morning, I had neither heard of the Japanese movie Confessions nor the novel on which it was based. As usual, I came to know of the movie first. Described as a clever, twisted, revenge drama, I was curious. I could find only a poor print on YouTube but the book was easily available.…

All The Little Things, Bright And Beautiful

All it took was a walk in the campus of the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun for my sense of awe to awake. Set up by my favourite walking group, Been There Doon That (BTDT), a winding trail took us through a forest of green canopies, dangling vines, bushes and a carpet of brown…

Memories So Sweet And Dubai Airport Treats.

I love airports! There I’ve said it. As a veteran of Indian bus and train travel, I’ve pushed my way through countless narrow aisles, clutched my bag in a death grip and dragged my suitcase behind me. I have squashed myself on everything from ledges to perching on suitcase edges to corners of the seats.…

Pandemic And Its Panic Buttons.

“Mum, I tested positive for COVID!” I am numb for a second. The setting couldn’t be more unreal for I am in a taxi. The Knight and I are on our way to the airport. Just a few seconds ago we were congratulating ourselves on leaving the baby of the family safely in the big…

The House That Nana Built.

82 Araghar was my Nana's house, my second address all through my growing years. It was tall, white, double storey opposite the Araghar Post Office. In fact Nana's house looked like a slice of cake with pretty white trimming, served on a narrow platter. A gushing canal ran along its boundary walls for many years…

Skills I May Need Tomorrow-Hairdressing

If you are ever stuck at home with an exacting teenager whose idea of beauty is perfectly coiffed hair, you are in trouble . It begins innocently enough. "Don't these honey - blonde high lights against dark hair looks fine mummy? We can do it at home. One box is enough and it's easy too.…

Masked Emotions.

Recently I was called to school to update some records. You could say I was eager as my pet Sheru, featured in the header, to get out of the house. The school campus was deserted except for a few workers pottering about refusing to meet the eye. I suppose, after months of isolation and work…

Throwback To 2020.

January 2021 and time for the annual, "Where in the world did the last year go by?" 2020 was to be my 'Year of Travel'. I was in Aurangabad in Maharashtra, exactly at this time last year. I had explored the Ajanta caves but it was Cave 16 , also know as Kailash Temple at…

A Birthday Cake Story

I love birthdays; my own tops the chart. Come December and I start tingling with this crazy anticipation. The feeling is sweeter than the first sugar rush of a hot gulab jamun on a cold winter night. Or a cake. I remember the first year I was in college. Surrounded by my new friends and…

Now and then

Thanks to COVID-19, we have found ourselves in a pickle. Squashed at home, adjusting, adapting, remembering the pre-Corona days with plenty of time to do all the stuff we always wanted to. So pickling is one of the activities done with a gusto these days. Homemade Dalle Chili Pickle. Red hot, eat at your own…