How an Old Knitting Book Became a Thread to My Past I am browsing through a book on knitting. Knitting? Yes, knitting. Now, before you start picturing me with a pair of needles, clickety-clacking away at a sweater, let me assure you… I have never knitted a single stitch in my life. But as I … Continue reading Tangled in Time
The World Is Flat, But the Pavements Are Not
A Pedestrian’s Guide to International Relations… and Tripping Hazards Thomas Friedman wrote a famous book The World Is Flat, arguing that globalization has removed barriers and levelled the playing field. I’d love for him to stroll through Kochi before making such bold claims. Because here, the pavements tell a very different story. Take, for example, … Continue reading The World Is Flat, But the Pavements Are Not
THE THREE MEN I WISH WERE ALIVE TODAY
When Presence Fades, but Influence Endures For years, my approach to blogging was like my approach to fitness… enthusiastic in bursts, inconsistent at best, and largely unnoticed. I’d write whenever inspiration struck, toss a story into the void, and then carry on with life, assuming the internet would do the magical work of bringing readers. … Continue reading THE THREE MEN I WISH WERE ALIVE TODAY
A Fault-Finder’s Pilgrimage to the Confessional Booth
Finding Faults, Seeking Forgiveness, and Getting Bit in the Process It’s that time of the year again… the pre-Easter confession. Fifty days of Lent, a spiritual cleanse, and one mandatory session of baring my soul. Except, as I settle into a chair in the queue, waiting for the priests to arrive, I’m grappling with a … Continue reading A Fault-Finder’s Pilgrimage to the Confessional Booth
Of Puppies, Peanuts, and People Who Walk Past
A story about instinctive kindness and the lessons adults forget. My morning walks are usually well-planned… early start, steady pace, and a truce with the neighbourhood strays. But today, I step out late, throwing off my usual route and my carefully negotiated peace treaty with street dogs who take punctuality very seriously. I choose a … Continue reading Of Puppies, Peanuts, and People Who Walk Past
Lifting Spirits, Not Packages
A modern fable on strength, self-awareness, and the weight of changing times. Morning walks are supposed to be peaceful, but mine always seem to turn into existential debates about life, ageing, and why my knees sound like bubble wrap. I try to focus on my breath, my steady… well, relatively steady… strides, and dodging the … Continue reading Lifting Spirits, Not Packages
The War Outside, The Questions Within
Even when war makes no sense, a mother’s voice is enough. “There’s a war happening,” says Mummy. I stop chewing my banana. A war? Here? In our quiet little town, where the biggest battles are over who gets the crispiest dosa? That doesn’t make sense. Mummy was talking to Daddy about it while he read … Continue reading The War Outside, The Questions Within
One Last Slap
A moment of discipline, a lifetime of love, and a farewell too soon. I have lived a long life, stumbled through mistakes, taken wrong turns, and ignored wisdom when I shouldn’t have. And yet, if you ask me what I truly long for, it’s not another chance to rewrite those mistakes. It’s something simpler, something … Continue reading One Last Slap
A Long-Ago Summer in Alwaye
A Season of Stories, Surprises, and Sharpened Pencils Looking back, summer always meant Kottayam… Granny’s hugs, her endless stories, and the comforting rhythm of our ancestral home. But that year, fate had a different plan. My aunt and uncle in Alwaye invited me over, and just like that, my summer took an unexpected detour. Their … Continue reading A Long-Ago Summer in Alwaye
The Day My Daughter Ordered Heavy Machinery
*(Or: How a Teenager Schooled Her Logistics-Obsessed Father)* When your teenage daughter asks for a tipping chassis for her birthday, two things become clear: your work-life balance has gone terribly wrong, and your kid has developed an alarmingly expensive sense of humour. December is a big month in our family. My daughter’s birthday, strategically nestled … Continue reading The Day My Daughter Ordered Heavy Machinery
The Hazards of Junk Journaling
A Cautionary Tale from the Depths of My Bed There comes a time in every man’s life when he must confront his past. For some, it’s through old love letters. For others, it’s through embarrassing photos from the past. For me, it was a deep dive into the abyss beneath my bed… a Pandora’s Box … Continue reading The Hazards of Junk Journaling
The Teacher, the Tea, and the Timeless Connection
A Random Meeting That Taught Me Life’s Connections Run Deep Riding into Memories Life has a knack for surprising you when you least expect it. One moment, you’re out on a mission to escape the monotony of a shop counter, and the next, you’re knee-deep in an emotional reunion with your past, courtesy of a … Continue reading The Teacher, the Tea, and the Timeless Connection
Walk, Don’t Run—The Dogs Are Watching
Walking the Fine Line between Fitness and Foolishness When it comes to my morning walks, I don’t dabble in the conventional. Parks, jogging tracks, and treadmills? Pass. I’m a side-road connoisseur. Give me a narrow, potholed lane with a stray chicken or two over a smooth track any day. Who needs predictability when you can … Continue reading Walk, Don’t Run—The Dogs Are Watching
The Hole-y Grail of Truth
Why Life, Bagels, and Elevator Pitches Are Better with Gaps You know what’s brilliant about bagels and vadas? The hole. Without it, you’re left with something undercooked and downright disappointing. And that got me thinking. Why not apply the same principle to truth? Add a hole, make it lighter, and easier to chew on. After … Continue reading The Hole-y Grail of Truth
The Buzzing Negotiator
He came for blood, but stayed for the conversation Every evening, I light frankincense in a brass vessel, letting its earthy aroma drift through my home. It’s my peaceful little ritual, not just for the calming scent, but because it keeps the mosquitos at bay. Well, mostly. Last night, I’m mid-procession, wafting the fragrant smoke … Continue reading The Buzzing Negotiator
Why Every Living Being Deserves a Slice of Equality This New Year
A Delightful New Year’s Tale About Cake, Kindness, And Cosmic Balance As the final sunset of the year cast its golden glow, the ants, the world’s tiniest powerhouses, decided they’d had enough. Enough of being stomped, squished, and swept aside. They were done being ignored as life’s footnotes. On that final night of the year, … Continue reading Why Every Living Being Deserves a Slice of Equality This New Year
Santa’s Polar Portal: A Magical Journey from Antarctica to the Arctic
Experience the enchanting adventure that brings together friends from both poles! As Christmas approached with its usual jingle and jangle, Santa Claus was busier than a one-horse sleigh in a snowstorm. He was knee-deep in gift-wrapping and cookie sampling when suddenly, his jolly old phone rang—a sound as rare as a reindeer with a sense … Continue reading Santa’s Polar Portal: A Magical Journey from Antarctica to the Arctic
The Gruen Effect Chronicles
How Festive Malls Turn Everyone into a Shopaholic. Imagine stepping into a mall during the festive season, the air rich with cinnamon and pine, twinkling lights twirling overhead like stars on a sugar rush. It’s enchanting. It’s magical. It’s a trap. Welcome to my life, where the “Gruen Effect” isn’t just a phenomenon—it’s a recurring … Continue reading The Gruen Effect Chronicles
A Woodstock for the Soul: World Meditation Day 2024
Sitars, serenity, and a global pause for mindfulness. December 21, 2024, is almost here, and the world is preparing for World Meditation Day—a day when everyone, from toddlers with sticky fingers to grandparents with creaky knees, will attempt to sit still, breathe deeply, and master the ancient art of... doing absolutely nothing. For me, this … Continue reading A Woodstock for the Soul: World Meditation Day 2024
The Day Frampton Came Alive in Kerala
How a Two-in-One Player and a Cassette Changed Everything It was the 1980s, a glorious era of bad haircuts, epic road trips, and cassettes as life essentials. My friend and I were cruising through Kerala on one of those broke-but-blissful adventures where every dosa felt like a banquet, and our cassette player was the crown … Continue reading The Day Frampton Came Alive in Kerala
A Life in Full Stride: A Dad’s Odyssey of Defiance and Determination
The Journey of a Man Who Walked His Own Way When I first heard about the longest walkable route in the world, I nearly choked on my coffee. Picture this: a jaw-dropping stretch from Cape Town, South Africa, to Magadan, Russia—a staggering 22,387 kilometres of uninterrupted land. No planes, no ferries, no boats—just you, your trusty … Continue reading A Life in Full Stride: A Dad’s Odyssey of Defiance and Determination
The Teacher Who Taught Without a Classroom
How My First Teacher’s Love Lives On (A Story of Strength, Sacrifice, and Unconditional Love) The first teacher I ever had wasn’t just my best teacher; she was the anchor of my life. She didn’t stand at a blackboard or hand out assignments. Instead, she taught me with a depth of care and love that … Continue reading The Teacher Who Taught Without a Classroom
ASK NOT WHAT YOUR CAT CAN DO FOR YOU
"When Cats Aren’t Just Pets but Secret Architects of History" You know, I’ve never quite understood the cult-like devotion some people have to cats. For me, they’re just tiny dictators wrapped in fur. And Amma? Well, she’s their most loyal subject. Every day, she sacrifices the best of her pantry to appease her feline darlings, … Continue reading ASK NOT WHAT YOUR CAT CAN DO FOR YOU
A Howl of a Night: The “Dead Dogs Day” Bash
The Ghostly Gala of Dogs Gone By The sky was Labrador-black, and the moon shone like it was running for "Most Dramatic Celestial Body of the Year." The wind howled a tune so catchy even tone-deaf dogs joined in, setting the perfect mood for Dead Dogs Day—the ultimate reunion for every doggy who’d ever wagged … Continue reading A Howl of a Night: The “Dead Dogs Day” Bash
The Fly and the Sweet Tooth: A Buzz-worthy Mystery
I claim to visit the bakery for bread—a noble cover for my illicit love affair with cakes and peanut chikki. My wife, ever health-conscious, buys the “essentials,” while I sneak sweet treats into the basket like a sugar-smuggling ninja. Last week, amidst our usual routine, I spotted something odd. Perched near the cash register, sat … Continue reading The Fly and the Sweet Tooth: A Buzz-worthy Mystery
My Unwelcome Housemate: The Spider Saga
For weeks now, I’ve had a roommate who refuses to pay rent, refuses to show himself, and worst of all, refuses to leave. My very own spiderly Houdini. That's right—I have a resident spider, an elusive, web-slinging escape-artist who’s turned my nightly routine into a slapstick horror show. Now, I know this little intruder is lurking about because … Continue reading My Unwelcome Housemate: The Spider Saga
Vintage Photos and Vanishing Hairlines
The author reflects on family photos, particularly hair genetics from parents, emphasizing how appearance and nostalgia intertwine with personal history and style.
If Only Daddy Had Gotten A Kindle
Self-help to Shelf-help? Oh, if only Daddy had caught onto the Kindle craze! My home would look more like a home and less like the aftermath of a library apocalypse. When my Dad took his final bow, I enthusiastically claimed his entire library, dragging box after box like a book hoarder on a mission. Now, … Continue reading If Only Daddy Had Gotten A Kindle
Out of sight, Out of mind?
Do Birthdays Ever Die? No matter the time of day or season, my own birthday remains etched in my mind. Yet, lurking in the shadows of my memory is another birthday, one that I have shamefully allowed to slip away: my Mummy’s. She departed this world more than five decades ago, long before I could … Continue reading Out of sight, Out of mind?
EATING LIKE A GIANT – (Memoir series – Story 31)
ACE THE RACE WITH GRACE Games and sports, oh man, they're like a rollercoaster of fun that leaves your stomach growling for more. You see, at home, it's all about hearty meals. Mummy whips up huge portions of everything. And she insists on announcing to the whole world that I'm the insatiable eating machine. To be honest, … Continue reading EATING LIKE A GIANT – (Memoir series – Story 31)
BURIED IN A HEAP OF COCONUTS – (Memoir series – Story 30)
THE DRIVE TO DRIVE I must say, Daddy is one lucky fellow. Who else can score a daily, cost-free car wash that rivals a sparkling diamond, thanks to a highly motivated young chap like me? The enthusiasm in my morning cleaning routine knows no limits, even when the car's already spotless. Our car practically beams … Continue reading BURIED IN A HEAP OF COCONUTS – (Memoir series – Story 30)
SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS – (Memoir series – Story 29)
AS STRONG AS HERCULES Hey, you won't believe it! I finally got myself a bicycle. But hold onto your handlebars, because this isn't some shiny, out-of-the-box ride. Nope, I had to rummage through Daddy's shop and pick one from a bunch of dusty, old bikes in the corner. See, I had my eyes on this … Continue reading SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS – (Memoir series – Story 29)
PRANKENSTEINS OF THE BACK BENCH – (Memoir series – Story 28)
FRANKLY, IT’S JUST A PRANK "Hey, can I get 25 paise?" PP George is in a generous mood. And promptly hands over a coin to Raghuram. PP's been on a roll lately, you see. He just got back from this mono-act competition, and man, you'd think he won an Oscar. He's been gabbing about how … Continue reading PRANKENSTEINS OF THE BACK BENCH – (Memoir series – Story 28)
HOW COOL WAS YOUR SUMMER? – (Memoir series – Story 27)
WHERE FUN ENDS, ENTHUSIASM TAKES OVER Man, it's like an oven in here! But even in this scorching heat, hanging out at Sunnychayan's Borma is a blast. The walls are as black as coal. Blame it on those ovens, the hidden superheroes that bake bread and turn the walls into a canvas of coal art. … Continue reading HOW COOL WAS YOUR SUMMER? – (Memoir series – Story 27)
FIRST DAY FIRST SHOW – (Memoir series – Story 26)
TWO MONTHS IS TOO LESS FOR SUMMER HOLIDAYS Thursdays, oh, the glorious anticipation! Why, you ask? Well, it's simple: the next day is Friday - the new movie release day. You see, my cousin Sajuchayan and I belong to the First-Day First-Show Club. Sajuchayan is my guide during every summer holiday in Kottayam since he’s … Continue reading FIRST DAY FIRST SHOW – (Memoir series – Story 26)
BEEP-BEEP, BEEP-BEEP, YAY! – (Memoir series – Story 25)
Some day you can drive my car “It’s quite expensive,” says Mummy. “But it’s worth the investment,” Daddy says. “It gives much better mileage.” “I like it,” I say. It’s fantastic”. It all started when Daddy decided to sell his old Standard 10 car, KLA 320, and got a sleek Fiat 1100D with the number … Continue reading BEEP-BEEP, BEEP-BEEP, YAY! – (Memoir series – Story 25)
WHO MOVED MY LUNCH BOX? – (Memoir series – Story 24)
New Place, New Friends, New Thrills Daddy says he’s planning to start a shop to sell lunch boxes. And I will be his biggest customer. You see, my Daddy‘s got a heart of gold. He doesn't punish me or give me a good whack like some dads do. Instead, he prefers to hit me with … Continue reading WHO MOVED MY LUNCH BOX? – (Memoir series – Story 24)
WINDS OF CHANGE – (Memoir series – Story 23)
Ring Out The Old, Ring In The New We have to visit “Jos Brothers” today evening, Daddy says during breakfast. I am in a hurry, gobbling up fistfuls of puttu (steamed flour of ground rice layered with coconut shavings) before I run to the Bus Stop to catch a Bus to school. Usually, nothing in … Continue reading WINDS OF CHANGE – (Memoir series – Story 23)
DONT ROCK MY BOAT- (Memoir series – Story 22)
Sailing at the mercy of the winds of change Daddy is going to get married again? I stare silently at Aunty's face. She gives me a consoling hug. And explains that Daddy is still young and wants to get married again. His new wife will be my new Mummy. Aunty seats me closer to her. … Continue reading DONT ROCK MY BOAT- (Memoir series – Story 22)
THE TWINKLE IN THE TEARS – (Memoir series – Story 21)
A BAD MONTH TO DIE It’s Christmas time. And I’m hating it.The whole village is cheerful. But I am not.Colourful decorations dangle outside the houses. And multi-coloured miniature lights twinkle from trees.But at Granny's house, there's only one star, and it's sad like me. And it hangs from the hook of the verandah’s ceiling with … Continue reading THE TWINKLE IN THE TEARS – (Memoir series – Story 21)
MY HEART WILL GO ON – (Memoir series – Story 20)
Didn’t get to say goodbye I'm so happy. Our house is full of guests. Uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends who I don't often get to meet. I enjoy the attention and love. And I feel special. Everyone is talking and catching up in the drawing room. Even though my room is small, I squeeze in … Continue reading MY HEART WILL GO ON – (Memoir series – Story 20)
THE SHADOW IS CAST – (Memoir series – Story 19)
Can you replace the irreplaceable? There is no one else in the room. As I walk into Mummy’s room, this is the first thought that comes to my mind. I don’t remember having Mummy all to myself in a room ever since she returned from the Hospital. Mummy is sitting up on the bed propped … Continue reading THE SHADOW IS CAST – (Memoir series – Story 19)
SO CLOSE, SO FAR AWAY – (Memoir series – Story 18)
When good times end much too soon Finally, Mummy returns. But the sight of Mummy now is very different from the last time I saw her in Vellore. She can no longer walk and has to be carried around. Her head is covered with a scarf. Her once flowing curly hair is gone, and her … Continue reading SO CLOSE, SO FAR AWAY – (Memoir series – Story 18)
DOODLER ON THE ROOF – (Memoir series – Story 17)
How to be a perpetual nuisance One more round, please. I beg Rajuchayan. I love Rajuchayan’s Bullet motorcycle. The distinct thump of the engine reverberates with power, giving me a blood rush that I can't get enough of. It's my last Sunday at MT Seminary School, Kottayam. And sadly, the final visit from my cousins … Continue reading DOODLER ON THE ROOF – (Memoir series – Story 17)
NOTHING FEELS THE SAME ANYMORE – (Memoir series – Story 16)
Everywhere I go, leads me to wherever I don’t want to go. Looking out the window is so nice. It's like a magical world right before my eyes! The last time I went on a train was when we left Calcutta for good and travelled to Ernakulam. It was such a memorable journey. Daddy says … Continue reading NOTHING FEELS THE SAME ANYMORE – (Memoir series – Story 16)
WORDSOUPS 