This Trackside Wisdom Brought to You by Mild Inconvenience There was a time I used to take the bridge. It was the “respectable” way to cross the railway tracks during my early morning walks… Safe, official, and approved by orthopaedic surgeons across the world. But somewhere along the way, I started avoiding it. Not for … Continue reading Slow Train Coming
Tag: humour
Reaching for Somebody’s Star
Things I Chased, Things I Found, and Things That Just Sat There Flickering Some mornings, I sit at the edge of the bed and forget why I stood up.Other days, I remember far too much. Apparently, it’s best if I stay out of the kitchen, off the shopping list, and away from the fridge. I’ve … Continue reading Reaching for Somebody’s Star
Bald Goals
A Memoir of Motivation, Missed Starts, and Lavish Loos I’ve always had a soft spot for motivation.The kind that arrives with a name tag, a folding chair, and the promise that “life will never be the same again.” Many years ago, just after I joined my father’s building materials and sanitary ware distribution business, I … Continue reading Bald Goals
Catch-Up in Progress…
A backbencher’s overdue reply to time, technology, and friendship. The other day, while earnestly pretending to “network” on LinkedIn (read: lurking), I sent a message to an old college classmate. You know those contacts you scroll past 37 times and finally think, Ah, what the heck. Let me say hi before our fingers get too … Continue reading Catch-Up in Progress…
Squats, Slaps, and Sudden Enlightenment
An Unexpected Route to Mental Mastery I finally discovered the reason for my exceptional intelligence. It wasn’t books, it wasn’t talent, and it definitely wasn’t doing homework. Nope… it was Rao Sir and his delightfully medieval punishments. You see, I was casually scrolling through social media when I stumbled upon a video about Superbrain Yoga. … Continue reading Squats, Slaps, and Sudden Enlightenment
The Marble Trekker
And the Man Who Learned That Spiders Don’t Need Shoes (But They Need Luck) There I am… parked on a soft, overly polite chair in a large textile store, the kind where husbands come to die waiting. My wife is deep inside the fabric jungle, comparing shades of beige that all look exactly the same … Continue reading The Marble Trekker
The Wise Old Fool on the Hill
The Crow Whisperer Who Sees What We’re Too Busy to Notice I’ve resumed my daily morning walks now that I’m back in Kochi. The familiar streets greet me like an old friend… grumbling a little, but still comforting. It’s the kind of reunion where neither party has changed much: the roads are still cracked, the … Continue reading The Wise Old Fool on the Hill
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
Every once in a while…
Picture courtesy - Pexels Free Photos There's strength in numbers Every once in a while, there's a power outage in my village where I spend a few days every month. Tonight, it’s rainy and windy, and the place has gone dark. Instinctively, I glance at my neighbour’s house. It’s dark there too. Greatly relieved, I … Continue reading Every once in a while…
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