Category: Reflections

“For husband and shoes, one should look for comfort rather than style.” It’s a sharp one-liner from legendary actress Sharmila Tagore that I still remember, even though I read it decades ago. It was published in the now-defunct ‘The Illustrated Weekly of India’, a highly popular magazine during my growing-up days.  Back then, as a dreamy-eyed teenager, I was charmed by the tall, dark and handsome heroes of Mills and Boon novels, even though they were arrogant, rude and often cold and distant. Smitten as I was by these heroes, I found her statement absurd and her advice rather strange.

Continue reading “The Stiletto and the Spouse: Choosing comfort over style”

As a part of my daily routine, I set out for my evening walk in the neighborhood park, barely five minutes from my home. My journey to the park is more of an ‘obstacle walk’ that keeps me mentally agile as I navigate the constant flow of traffic and encroachments on the way.  Continue reading “The vanishing pavement and pedestrian’s plight “

While casually scrolling streaming platforms, the web series ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ caught my attention. I was one of those religiously downing a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water first thing every morning. Although little scientific evidence supports its extravagant health claims, the concoction has become a full-scale fad – the ‘magic potion’ often peddled by social media wellness gurus.

Continue reading “Beware of social media’s wellness minefield”

The evolving ‘Mrs’: Women across different generations
Sometime back, I watched a much-talked-about Hindi film ‘Mrs’. It’s a poignant story of  a bubbly young woman Richa who marries into an educated family of doctors, only to find herself trapped in the relentless drudgery of domestic chores. She learns to cook elaborate meals to meet her husband’s and his family’s expectations, but she quickly loses all her enthusiasm as her labour goes unnoticed and her efforts remain unappreciated. Richa is a talented dancer who yearns to venture out  and work, but she is constantly dissuaded. Instead, she’s urged to follow in the footsteps of her doctorate mother-in-law, who gave up her own career  to raise her children decades ago. The starry-eyed bride slowly transforms into a shell of her former self when she realizes that no one cares for her life or her dreams.

Continue reading “From Drudgery to Dreams”