The first model of a boat didn't quite meet my expectations. But I didn't give up. With each new piece, I persevered and gradually perfected it. Yet the tiny boats looked weird on the wooden table as if they had been sent to a workshop for repairs. My Mom quietly spread silver foil on the table … Continue reading Recreate
Phobias hold the power to limit life. Therapists suggest exposure therapy, but an awareness of the root cause may help in eliminating it. The mildest form is a dislike or distaste for something after a bad experience, but these usually don’t last. Specific phobias are linked to past life experiences, like death by asphyxiation, which … Continue reading Phobia
We spread our arms to receive blessings from the Universe, and thunder strikes. It is only an announcement that God’s bounty or forgiveness will not take us anywhere towards Nirvana. We were created imperfect with a mission to achieve near perfection, and it is a rocky road with no shortcuts. The self-appointed agencies of God have … Continue reading Malleable
The devil shrieks, “She’s up again”, and I rise from bed with a spring in my step. It is a story I tell myself to keep morale up for a challenging day. I’m known as a tease, a temptress, a shrew, and a manipulator as I juggle several hats to keep the show going. I … Continue reading Trap
In childhood, our teachers processed the world for us. We believed the picture they created for us. To some extent, they also shaped our goals. Then, influence gets granular. Bosses, peers, gurus, media, and literature influence our self-image and how we view the world. We pat our backs fulfilling someone else’s expectations; we flagellate ourselves … Continue reading Nirvana
“Is this a house?” “It looks like an old-fashioned inn we read about in story books”. “It's not inspiring enough for me to get in,” Ted said, turning his face away with an upturned nose. So we walked on, the anticipation of finding a place that would satisfy Ted’s taste and my rumbling stomach keeping … Continue reading On a hungry stomach
The knife's metal blade catches threads of light to gleam as the sweetness of the fruit lingers on my tongue. It takes a knife and sharp teeth to extract sweetness from a well-bred fruit. The book taught me horticultural tricks but not the art of enjoying the fruit of my labour. I learnt it from the hard knocks … Continue reading Changing Gear
I met him after two decades, seated behind the counter at the Mom-and-Pop store, getting things packed for the delivery boys. I recall his arrogance as the concurrent auditor (he was related to the promoters) in the bank branch where I worked and the life-changing moment when he exclaimed, both condescendingly and lecherously, “She’s not my … Continue reading Presumptuous
The red-tiled roof, a symbol of resilience, starkly contrasts the fleeting beauty of the rainbow. The tree, a silent sentinel, has witnessed the many storms the roof has weathered, providing unwavering support to the house's residents, a comforting presence in times of turmoil. The bird, with a heart full of courage, tests her wings. Perhaps … Continue reading To each their own
She licks her lips to wipe off the foam. The coffee taste is incredible, but this foam refuses to go away. She wipes it off with a paper napkin and puts it back in the empty cup. She cannot believe her eyes. It seems to be drowning in non-existent liquid and then vanishes altogether. It … Continue reading The Art of Wooing
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