The sound of chainsaws trimming down trees on my street played through all of autumn last year. It seemed like an unnecessary, accelerated tree management programme, likely because the labour didn’t have much else to do during COVID-19. Nearby streets had the same scenes. They did leave my tree alone because it had been through … Continue reading The extended tree family
…of… ice cream with fresh mango bits in itlate night chat with momthe sight of gulmohar and bougainvilleacotton kurtas, chappals and silver jewellerymakki ki roti and sarson ka saagthe nephew jumping up and downthe annoying reminder of walking carefully past kids with water gunsSeeta aur Geeta on the tellyunlimited access to paranthascold water showerssmell of … Continue reading The joy
I watch Ye Jawaani Hai Deewani at least once a year. It’s far from being the greatest piece of cinema. In fact, it reinforces gender biases that don’t belong in 2021. But somehow it’s comforting like the bright sun on a cold winter day. I think there are a few reasons for it. The film … Continue reading Affection and the passage of time
We all know that the thing about growing old is that we find it hard to make new friends. In my case, it means that I write about the same friends Fuchsia has known for many years. Miss Jhun is one of them. She’s currently counting down to a milestone birthday. The one you arrive … Continue reading Celebrating a friend
I said to C, “I don’t have anything that gives me pleasure as football or cricket do to you”. He said, “well, you enjoy dancing at weddings”. My mother was clear that cooking need not be on my list of things to learn, even if I whiled away my late teens Orkut-ing. She did offer … Continue reading This thing, cooking
