Oblivion

We have to get our upper lips waxed and our eyebrows threaded And remove every single strand of stray hair and the world, the world calls it much-needed "self-care" Men in boxer shorts is totally okay and their ball sacks are free agents but a visible bra strap is a call for some chiding and our camel toes, ohh they definitely need some hiding Tanning is a very big problem and blackheads are the mortal enemy There are different creams as per the time of day Girl, without perfect skin, how ever will you slay? Looks are what “matters” the most for us Your beauty decides your worth   Honestly, no one cares if you are feeling fine Well, of course, the industry has 400 billion dollars on the line These double standards have become the norm boys will be boys, but girls gotta stay in form So buck up woman, it is time to dress, We've got the whole damn world to impress.  

In the realm of emotions, the animated film "Inside Out" brought to light the concept of core memories—those critical moments in life that shape our identities and stay etched in our minds forever. As I sit here during an office outing I helped organize, and yet find myself on the periphery of groups, I find companionship in a secluded sofa outside the main hall. I sit here in a reflective mood and scroll Instagram. Well ,that is my generation people. So, here I am scrolling Instagram , and I come across a story of a friend's dad retirement, who coincidentally was also my dad's colleague. I am suddenly transported back a couple of months ago to my own father's retirement. As I reflect on this memory, I know there is this one particular moment that I remember distinctly and fondly. And somehow I know that I am going to remember this moment for the rest of my life, till the day I die. The day was filled with speeches, photos, gifts, and a cascade of "thank you

Bite-sized Review:   Yellowface, picked up on my brother's recommendation, initially lingered untouched on my table. The narrative follows Athena and June, writers tethered by an unusual connection. As June gains success riding on her "best" friend's demise, the book explores themes of ownership and plagiarism. Despite a slower pace after 200 pages, it remains a riveting tale that unexpectedly jolts, leaving you intrigued. A compelling and engaging read. Full Review: I picked up Yellowface on my brother's recommendations.  Purchasing it on instinct during a shopping excursion with my childhood friend, the book rested on my table for several days, patiently awaiting attention.  I somehow did not feel like picking it up. It has not been a great book year for me, and maybe I wasn't ready for another disappointment. But after about two weeks, I decided to finally open the book and start reading. A mere five pages in, it showed the hint of a promise and seemed rem

Social Media is eliminating the need for us to use words and form full sentences. We can just like an update or applaud an accomplishment without so much as uttering two words or worse thinking two words. Our reactions have become standard and templatized either in the form of emojis or a chatbot writing things for you and you just have to press send.  The Emoji-fication of our lives. Gone are the days when loved ones would write pages over pages to each other or coming back to reality, those irritating and long messages on WhatsApp. The weight of our expressions and responses is now carried by little yellow digital icons and a variety of ways to express them. They seem to be creeping into professional conversations as well.  Chatbots speaking to chatbots. In the realm of generative AI and omnipresent chatbots waiting eagerly to finish your sentences, much like a head-over-heels love couple during their honeymoon phase, we are soon going to forget how to write. I remember last year I w

Last week, I had a really lovely dream and woke up nostalgic and happy, with almost a smile. Context: I took a week-long break from work, so my mind was quite at ease and not worrying about meetings and deliverables.  Alright, so coming back to my dream. I am in my college room (the one I lived in during my 3rd year). I was maybe visiting campus or coming back after a break, but that wasn't very clear to me. Alright, so I am in my room, and it is very cluttered and full of things such as books, photographs, clothes, guitars, harmoniums, pens, notebooks with a clothing line going right through the middle of the room, and whatnot.  As I took a closer look at the things in the room and checked the cupboard, it started returning to me. These are things that I have lost or forgotten about, all sitting in that room for me to discover and explore. There is a pile of books, and atop is a Manchester United book that I had gifted my husband last year on his birthday while we were in Goa. And

  I have finally identified the reason why most mothers feel that their sons' wives have "taken away" their sons. It has nothing to do with the wife, and everything to do with the son himself. I have realized that men are unable to maintain a good level of communication or conversation with their mothers and fathers after they get married. Also, in our society, a daughter and a mother often share a close bond. I know I am generalizing, but this is based on my experiences and those around me. The influence of patriarchy within society often leads women in the immediate family to stick together. They become each other's confidants from an early age. They come to depend on each other for moral support against the omnipresent force of patriarchy. Mothers, daughters, and sisters share a close bond, one that might be akin to soldiers at war. Oooh, trauma bonding maybe? Just speculating. Anyway, now that we have established that the bond a mother and daughter share is spec

It is about 8am on a Sunday and I’ve barely opened my eyes. I turn over to hug my husband and he says Matthew Perry is dead.  The last remnants of sleep leave me in an instant. I found my phone to confirm the news. Yes, it’s true. Mattew Perry, popularly known as Chandler Bing has passed away yesterday in his hot tub.  I open Instagram and it shows 1 new post for Mattew Perry. I open his account, it’s him in his hot Bub with headphones on and a mundane caption. Did he know? What was he thinking about?  All I have known of the man is through his character in Friends and his memoir I read last year. Which was a shocking revelation for me. His life has been, had been a painful one. Since his childhood and getting much worse since he became an adult.  We only see the sarcastic and funny man on friends, making us all laugh and introducing young kids to sarcasm. We don’t get to see the agony behind it. The mental and physical pain he has been in. He managed to make us all laugh when his hear

Bite-sized review: After months of anticipation, I finally read "She Said" by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, driven by my feminist perspective. It's a compelling and eye-opening exploration of the challenges women face when confronting harassment, even if they're prominent figures. This book is a must-read for all, prompting reflection on the urgent need for systemic change, particularly in the context of sexual harassment. It also sparked my interest in Indian sexual harassment laws, potentially leading to a future blog post. Full book review: I have been wanting to read the book “She Said” by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey for a long time now. It had been on my list for about 6 months. But it was only recently that I picked it up and finished it pretty quickly. Being a feminist, I knew I had to be in the right frame of mind to be able to read the book, hence the delay. The book is a riveting read from the very first page. It kept me engrossed throughout. Hence

Bite-sized Review: I recently finished reading Prince Harry's memoir, "Spare." I must say, the title is quite clever. The book is divided into three parts, exploring Harry's childhood, coming of age, and his life with Meghan. Unlike other memoirs I've read, I found a lack of relatability and meaningful insights. The second part provides a glimpse into the royals' life under constant scrutiny, emphasizing their detachment from the real world. While the third part doesn't bring many new revelations, it effectively conveys Harry's frustration. I would recommend this book to those intrigued by the royal family, but I'd caution against expecting an exposé or significant learning. It's more of a personal narrative from a widely known figure. Full Book Review:  I just finished reading the admittedly cleverly titled book “Spare” last night. This is Prince Harry’s (though I am not sure how long will that title hold) memoir of his life so far. And

 It is not very often that a book manages to act as a pensive and transports you to the lives of the characters. In this instance, Will Smith’s autobiography does just this. So, when Will is feeling anxious about his first-ever acting audition (an impromptu one at that), I am right there with him on that terrace, feeling anxious with him, for him. The book manages to engross you and invoke your emotions, whatever they may be. The book is not just a chronological description of the man’s life, unlike a few others I have recently read. Well, it is chronological, but not just a banal description of events. The book truly captures his personality and his mindset, so much so that you feel for the man. You understand his core values, his belief system, and pardon me for my lingo, but operating model in life. Now, just to be clear, I am not saying this is,, one of the best autobiographies I have ever read. There have been a few great ones like “Becoming” by Michelle Obama or Born a Crime

I have written a few blogs last year but published none. That is in part because of some "technical" problems and in part because last year was extremely busy. A lot changed. A lot happened. I got to meet my niece for the first time ever. I switched jobs and got into consulting, something I wanted for a long time and lastly, I got married. Yay! Anyway, I wrote this particular blog around September, when I was about 5 months into my new job.  I cannot believe that this is one of the few blogs I have written this year. You can totally and completely attribute this to my pre-martial bliss in life. That man makes me happy, and I cannot write. I recently saw a video of Ian McConnell singing a really nice song and there is a line that goes, “Wish I didn’t have to be sad a fuck to write my funniest jokes” And I felt that. I end up writing only when I am overwhelmed, depressed, sad, annoyed, or irritated. Sometimes the good kind of overwhelmed but mostly the bad kind. But getting