Nostalgia hits you hard when you least expect it. That lump in the throat. That faint smile. That flash of memory that takes you decades back. Recently, I took a train journey again – something I hadn’t done in years.It lasted barely five hours, but it reminded me of the Diwali journeys to my grandparents’… Read more: Journey, Destination and Destiny…

Yaadein cookies ke box ki tarah hoti hain. Ek baar dibba khula toh sirf ek cookie nahi kha paoge… (Memories are like a box of cookies. Once you open it, you can’t stop at just one). For me, Hyderabad is that box of memories.A city I have never visited, yet it has always felt familiar… Read more: Cookie box and childhood..

Rakshabandhan, every year, arrives like a joyful reminder that the most magical time of the year is here – the festival season, stretching from August to November. This year, it will run right through October. As I slowly begin to notice the strands of grey in my hair, this time of year also brings a… Read more: Rakshabandhan and memories…

Today’s rain reminded me of Mumbai. A city I first met as a newlywed… Many years ago, I arrived in this city – as a young bride, carrying joy, anxiety, hope, and a heart full of excitement. And in some strange way, Mumbai felt just like me. A city with glitz, chaos, charm, and struggle all… Read more: Mumbai and Me…

Every time someone mocks you, takes a jibe, or makes fun of you – a part of me feels hurt. The kind of connection I have with you; most people can’t understand. It isn’t just a name for me. It is a constant, woven in our everyday lives. Maybe because my father and you share the same… Read more: Happy Birthday Bank…

Yesterday, it rained.And as the first drop kissed the earth, the air filled with that familiar, soul-stirring scent. Petrichor, they call it – but to me, it has always smelled like childhood, like home, like memory. That scent – so universal, yet so deeply personal.It always takes me back to Kannauj – a small town… Read more: Rain. Maati. Kannauj. A Childhood Connection..

It was the early 2000s. My first job. A sales role. And it required a two-wheeler.My father asked me to visit a few showrooms and pick what I liked.There weren’t many options back then – Just three models. But the moment I stepped into the first showroom, I saw her. A brand-new, shiny black two-wheeler getting prepared for delivery.That black beauty. I just loved it from the moment go.I booked her. Paid in full. All within 48 hours. My father gave me a quick tutorial, and soon enough, I was riding her everywhere – to the office, sales calls, weekend errands. I felt like a queen on her black steed.“Hawa se baatein karna” – I finally understood what it meant. From late-night family visits to last-minute Hazratganj plans, 20 km friend meetups to early morning flower runs for my parents’ anniversary – she was always by my side. Ready. Steady. Go. Sure, it wasn’t smooth for me at first. There were a few tumbles – her body took the bruises, but somehow, she never let me get hurt.I still remember that rainy day – when I hit a deep pothole. In that flicker of a second, I assumed the worst. But her balance saved me. I was a familiar face at the service centre – not because of months, but kilometers.Imagine a girl hitting service milestones by distance! I rode 50–60 km daily, with a personal record of 125 km in a single day – in Lucknow. And now, as you celebrate 25 years in India, just know this:Women love their vehicles just as deeply. Their expression may be different.Their attachment may be quieter. But their love?It runs just as deep. And for a girl in a tier 2 town?You were family.You gave the feeling of “main bhi kuch hoon.”Thank you for the freedom. The consistency and the confidence. The comfort and loyalty. Happy 25, Activa!

I think the kind of love and attention you get from your school and college friends’ parents is hard to come by later in life.And if you’re their best friend, they treat you like one of their own. It’s been many years now, but that iftar, that Eid and that love, is still vivid in… Read more: I will remember that Eidi for life…

26 January. Two memories stand out in my memory.  1st one from school where 15 – 20 days before Republic Day, the entire school braved the harsh winters for march past practice. While a few daring ones managed to skip by hiding in classrooms or faking illness, the number was always small. After the march past, some… Read more: Motichoor Laddoos and DD National…

Some memories remain as fresh as pehli barish ki sondhi khushbu (the earthy scent of the first rain – petrichor feels so underwhelming in comparison). No matter how much time passes, you remember them frame by frame, each scene echoing vividly in your mind. 1990 it was, but that evening remains etched in my memory. Maa had… Read more: Wishing you warmth, coziness and smiles!

Durga Puja.  Every year, these two words transport me back to the cherished memories of my childhood in Jagdishpur. There’s something about the places where we grow up—they become a part of us, forever etched in our hearts. Jagdishpur, a small town (earlier in Sultanpur and now part of Amethi district), is majorly known for… Read more: Lights. Laughter. Love.

In the summers, my brother and I had just one goal while reaching home. To open the fridge, put two ice cubes in a glass, put water, and add Rasna to quench our thirst. It was like a ritual. But there was a twist! A 32-glass pack would hardly run for 3-5 days. My mother was… Read more: I Love You Rasna

For the 1st time, I was entering deep into the Jungle. Suddenly, the guide yelled, from that side! I couldn’t round up my head on what was happening.And then my husband told me, “You are going to witness one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life.” Due to a last minute trip, my entire… Read more: An encounter with Tiger…

Every festival has its rituals and for us, Makar Sankranti was about sacrificing a goat. My brother would do the sacrificing and I had to bleat like a goat and say “Meinnnn!” Though this goat was made up of sesame seeds (til) and jaggery (gud)! Childhood memories are like kites. You loosen them a little… Read more: I used to bleat like a goat and say “Meinnnn!”

21 years ago, I hid something from my mom.After a few months, she found out.But what followed afterward, shook me to the core… It was the month of August and I was in class 4th. I had started disliking Maths as a subject and my mom was not aware of it yet. One day a… Read more: 21 years ago, I hid something from my mom…

Early 90s it was. Two teams of 12-13 year olds were playing cricket in school. One of them hit the ball and it went straight for the boundary. But something was different. They were all girls! When I was transferred to another school – KV no.1 Raebareli, I was happy because 33% students of the… Read more: Girl hitting a Six…