All essays
Everything I've written so far, newest first.
The girl in the green dress
I was fifteen when I saw her walking down the school corridor in a bright-green salwar. For a few seconds, I saw nothing but her. I never spoke to her. I felt lucky just to have been there.
The curse of the parrots
Dad got two parrots home. They fought every single day. We released them at a temple on the way to Chennai. Mitu and Meenu flew to opposite branches — free at last. They cursed me to be single for a long time.
The singing astrologer
I copied in my 4th grade math test and came home to find an astrologer who tells the future through songs. He finished his song with 'your boy copied.' Since then, I stopped believing in astrology.
The fast and the fearful
I drove to Tirupati with my new car despite being terrified of driving uphill. A police officer asked for a ride to the temple gate. When she noticed my nerves, she quietly walked away.
Into the world of boy bands
Until 15, I knew only two English songs. Then a CD of Backstreet Boys opened the world for me. Boy bands had a formula — good-sounding music that hooked you quickly. And it never disappointed.
The mini-mall computer guy
My parents bought me a branded computer from a mini-mall guy who sold poorly assembled PCs. The frustration of fixing it made me love tech. I became that 'guy' among family and friends.
Why do we love nostalgia?
Why do we feel warm and comfy when we're nostalgic? You are a different person every second of your life, but nostalgia makes you look back into those missing pieces of yourself.
We believe in mornings. Should we?
Mornings are magical for most of us. We've built entire routines around them. But maybe it's not the morning that's magical. It is the night that heals us and leaves us ready to face the next day.
Traveler's love
When we travel, we bring a bag full of love. We're warm and kind to strangers. But we never talk to those 'friends' again after the trip. Traveler's love should be unbiased — towards everyone, always.
There is more to a car
My favorite pastime is having lunch in my car. A car is more than a vehicle. It is my personal space, an extension of my home, my ticket to freedom. A car eventually becomes your loyal friend.