The Sevai Story!

I opened the door to enter my room and was instantly transferred to so many places at once?! Nope, don’t worry, no black magic is happening in our humble adobe; it was just the side effects of my roommate’s Eid special!  

Who is the star of any Indian festival? Yep, that’s right. The food. She was cooking ‘The Kimami Sevai’ hero of UP’s Eid, a counterpart of Biryani – the heroine in Eid elsewhere. Ah! The rich smell of elaichi blended in with the chashni (Sugar syrup), while the thinnest of sevai fried in ghee to golden brown sitting there waiting to jump in at the right time, to be topped with Mawwa, milk in its most concentrated form and not to forget dry fruits – Whatte royal feels!. 

Kimami Sevai in all its Glorry

These smells first took me back to childhood when my anama would sit in the kitchen to make undo (laddus). Not just Akka and I, but everyone in the house would come and sit with her under the pretext of helping her but end up eating more than half in the name of failed attempts. Haha
It then took me to my good friend’s childhood, her culture, and how making Kimami sevai was a beautiful part of their traditions and something that is considered no less than a skill, something that a mother teaches her kids and is proud of when they succeed!

Then I traveled further back to the era of kings and queens. Nope, not the current social media titles, the actual royal dynasties! How every invasion might have bought a new way of cooking, a new dish in a festival, and how it got modified over time. If I could, I would want to go and eat like Kings, taste a bit of every dish from the kitchen of Akbar, Krishnadevaraya to Alexander! 

Then the thought of Who/How did one human even think of cooking a specific dish came to my mind. Still, I didn’t think much because I was suddenly pulled back to my present tension – The mess being closed for a month and having to manage the duty of filling my stomach from various sources. But that didn’t last for long as my mind started slipping into thinking of what might happen in the near future? With the soil quality depleting, population explosion, pollution increasing daily, and climate change! I hope the Save Soil movement works – it ought to if we all actually talk about it. But then Kimami sevai came onto my plate, entered my system, and Bam! Everything else got blurred. Thankful for this minute is what I was! 

Food does make you grateful. Don’t you think?

On the Eve of Eid, I suddenly got reminded of a peculiar taste, a taste of Kimami Sevai. It’s been a year since I savored the last spoon of this delicious delicacy prepared by my roommate on her induction stove with just one pot. I remembered this piece I had written on that day, and Thanks to technology, it was safely saved in my drive. Thought it was time to revive this write-up, the thoughts, and the celebration of Eid with one special human. A lot has happened since then, and my perception of food has evolved tremendously. I’ve learned to appreciate what is on my plate – quite literally. A year of staying on your own and trying to fill your stomach makes you appreciate home food much more. I’ve thought more about the sources of my food, shifted from eating chicken and fish to not eating them to just eating the gravy to now eating only fish that’s in season and obtained sustainably. Spoken about Soil and how important it is to save Soil. Right now, though I’m partly having a nostalgic trip down the numerous meals I’ve had, I am thrilled thinking about the diversity India has to offer regarding food! Give it a thought, just stroll in your neighborhood any morning, and you’ll taste different cultures just by the aroma! Don’t take my word for it. Try it! 

Some friendly people might even offer you a seat at their table for a happy meal! 

ñān pēāyiṭṭ varāṁ

As I was closing my eyes and mentally preparing myself to actually wake up and write my thesis, on the other tab that was open since a long time a sentence popped, it said
Dear Kochi, nan poyitt vara! I went behind that thought and this is where it led me..

I had read stories, watched movies, heard people speak about this God’s own country and thought to myself what’s so special about it? In the 14 months I’ve lived here, I’ve asked myself this many times, why so charmed by Kochi – Ernakulam – Kerala, Avanthika?

I don’t know, I mean I’m one simple person da, I thrive when I’m left on my own without anyone’s kirkiri. If you let me be, I’ll gladly let you be; all up for drama but just not in my own life kinda vibe, one might say it’s a lazy mentality but I like to think of it as Queen’s way of living! Lemme explain, I know it’s a very big responsibility to take care of the entire citizens, to live up to the expectations of the kingdom, so many things to think about but do you think when the queen is taking a long relaxing shower or slipping into sleep she’ll think about all this?! I don’t think so, I mean of course she’ll defend and protect and do everything in her power for her people and their good but that’s only if and when she has to, otherwise she’s chillin only. No ? For some reason, I feel this queen of Arabian sea lives the exact same queen’s life!

Just another day at work!

There’s room for everyone here, she’s blessed in terms of beauty, on her watch, the leaves are never covered in dust, there’s enough for everyone and more, she’s compassionate, she’s kind but she’s a Queen who’ll not go easy – there’s consequences but most importantly, she’ll let you be!

There are just so many incidents that are very normal, everyday scenes that feel like it’s from some movie or a book! That’s what I like the most about this place – the extra- ordinary!
The thing about this place and its people is that they are simple – Stand near a chaya kada with a cup of chaya, munch on pazham pori\ parippu vada or kappalandi and just watch life happen!

There’s protests, crime and fights but there’s also unity, joy and immense pride for the roots they belong to and a tree grows only when the roots are strong and healthy!

Cheta’s on a break!

Here there’s place – to sit and do nothing, streets to walk without any purpose, so much backwaters to turn to while turning your back to the real world, to stop everything and watch not just the setting sun but also the sky after!
Here people know the art of doing nothing – at least for a short while, taxis and autos stop under huge trees, two feets crossed over one another pop out while the brain peacefully shuts up! People make a living out of lottery either selling or buying (subject to market risk), from small fights to major issues get sorted over a cup of chaya and there’s always love in the air, always!! Because couples are just everywhere!! There’s parotta and beef, putt and kadala curry, appam and stew and the Sadya to feast! Oh! There’s absolute love for football, Onam and Christmas like nowhere else!

‘Tis the season to be Jolly!

You’ll not even know when God’s own country slowly seeped into you, making you feel it’s own and being a part of you in its own subtle ways!

Like elsewhere, there’s chaos here, life’s tough, living isn’t the easiest and everyone’s got their own shit going on but The Queen takes you under her wings, she’ll let you be and there’s space so you learn to give it some time, Buddy, be it Sulaimani tea or kattan chaya unless the powder settles, you won’t be able to savor the real taste! And Kochi taught me that!
For me, it shall always be Dear Kochi, ‘ñān pēāyiṭṭ varāṁ’
Now I better sleep because Avanthika needs this degree and a real job because she isn’t really a queen in the real world.
So, what’s your thing about Kochi? Shall we talk about that over a kattan chaya and beautiful sunset backdrop, whatsay ?

PS: Not converting, Mangaluru is Mangaluru.

Note: Wrote this few days ago, done with defending my M.Tech dissertation work, submitted my thesis and on my way home to my dog!

Onam Alle

‘Hold the rope,’ NCAAH ready? The whistle blows, and all the cheer suddenly becomes background noise. Before you realize what is happening, you are putting all your weight on a rope, either walking backward or defending your stance with your dear life on the line until the second whistle is blown and if you see everyone around you jumping with joy, yayy!! More power to you; you just won the tug of war. Lessgo!!! Maaannhh, I had no idea tug of war is this intense sport. I mean, just stand on the side and watch a bunch of Malayali guys from different departments having a tug of war – the power, the faces turning red, the energy all around, the cheering, the screaming, you can see the veins stiffening, the single focus in everyone’s eyes… Uff!! It’s too damn intense! For someone having played this sport for the first ever time in life (I mean for real, full seriously. Of course, I’ve played for fun, friendly tug of wars, but this was no less than an actual war!) with the fast-paced beating of the heart and all that heat radiating from my own body, I felt like Naruto haha. The body pain that kicked in the next day gave me the much-needed reality check and reminded I’m no ninja. (yet) 

For the over-excited kid, that I am, experiencing ONAM in God’s Own Country was no less than a dream come true. I’ve been telling everyone about it since, shall also try my best to describe the whole scene but again, I don’t know how much you’ll enjoy it because frankly, you just had to be there da! 

Pookalam in Railway Station

Even the weather, sky, clouds, plants, and dogs get excited about Onam! The whole city comes to life; every gate will have beautiful ‘rangolis’ outside it, a vast ‘mela’ right in the middle of the town, fairy lights, sales, and Sadhya special boards catch your eye everywhere. The railway stations are filled with people, and train journeys have a lot of kids running around, excited about meeting their grandparents! 

Onam is the only time you’ll find research scholars obsessing over cutting flower petals rather than their unfinished experiments, Ph.D. scholars worrying about the geometry of the ‘Pookalam’ and not one of the objectives of their work, and you’ll also find M.Tech/MSc. Students who barely put Rangoli back in their homes sincerely cutting the whites off from purple petals to help their department achieve the color gradient of their dreams. In short, for about 24 hours, everyone switches to a creative mode where gradient refers to only color and not PCR. So, on the previous night of the ‘Pookalam’ competition, the whole lab will have spreads of different flowers; everyone sits together, playing an old OG Hindi playlist along with evergreen Malayalam melodies, talking, laughing, and bonding over a bunch of flowers! (some watch football too :P)

All that hardwork put into use, beautifully. Artists: Team NCAAH

With the catchy ‘Nadan pattu’ (Folk songs) and graceful ‘Thiruvathira kali’ (a traditional dance around the lamp), people from God’s own country ought to be somewhere at the top in creative aspects as well! No surprise there. 

Don’t get me wrong, but they all look so pretty! Ladies wearing the traditional saree or sett mundu, the jhumkas, the jet-black hair with white mullappu (Jasmine flower), the kajal in their eyes, and the sweet smile on each face completes their look. There’s no way out; you have to simply appreciate the beauty! The men are no less, the white Mundu paired with the Kurta or Shirt, the neatly folded sleeves and well-groomed hair, beard; it is difficult to leave all this unnoticed. (No, Amma, I do not have a Malayali boyfriend :P) And if you look at the small kids in their small Mundus and kurtas, your heart will melt. No doubt about that. 

Now coming to the best part – The ‘ONAM Sadhya’. So many varieties of dishes, each one with a different flavor; just tasting will fill your stomach, heart, and soul. Yeah! Drink the Palada off your banana leaf, and you’ll be in the hangover instantly.
Petition to make Onam sadhya a quarter-yearly deal. Please? Thank you! 

The OG – Sadhya

It is believed that ‘Bali Maharaj’ (Mahabali) from the ground below (Patal Lok) visits God’s Own Country once every year, and the people of this land show him that everything is going good in the hood! They are happy and celebrating life so he can go back feeling peaceful. Therefore, this celebration is taken quite seriously, irrespective of religion, caste, and place; everyone from this land celebrates this in the best possible way! 

Now that I was part of the Onam Celebration in a college in Ernakulam, I can vouch that the scene we all saw in ‘Premam’ happens very much in real life! With all the beauty, the happiness, the ‘chendey,’ the Sadhya – total Onam vibe casts its spell on you! Before you know it, you’ll be dancing with your juniors, smiling at unfamiliar faces, making new friends, laughing, and enjoying with everyone around. That, for me, is the true sense of celebration – including everyone and making some great memories! You can’t help but feel like you’re in a still from a Malayalam movie; at least that’s what I felt 🙂 Don’t take my word for it. Experience it! 

Maybe I’m giving too much hype; perhaps it is totally justified the hype. I don’t know?!
I know that no matter where I am, I’ll think of this Onam memory with a wide grin on my face on every Onam and try to celebrate this festival in my own way, involving people around me, making them eat palada and slip into a food coma. Until next time, Happy Onam, people! 

PS: I missed hiding behind my DSLR and taking pictures of beautiful strangers (with their permission, of course!) But I was so busy living that I forgot to document it with pictures. 

Post It?

Letters are like pictures but only better. A photograph captures a moment, while a letter is simply a bouquet of different moments, incidents, and feelings, like different versions of you, safely wrapped in an old leaf. It’s like a platter of ice creams with all your favorite flavors and sometimes even the flavors you don’t prefer. Oh! I should have been a tad bit clear; here, I refer to letters that you write simply for fun, to your Annu, Amma, Akka, friends, maybe to yourself, or just some open letters. Some get sent as emails, some as actual physical letters, while most are still saved in your drafts. (maybe all this is just me, anyway.) 

If you know me, you already might know that I like writing letters; likely, you may even have received one! I write long emails updating about what’s happening with me to even my parents because they sometimes are so busy for a call, and I have many vishayas to tell! But mostly because I feel letters are a much better way of giving an entire story. 

Here’s why –

1. When you are having a conversation, it usually gets diverted depending on the answer given by the other. But in a letter, you have the entire stage, full limelight, and undivided attention of your audience. 
2. Letters often are not based on real-time, so you have the total freedom of enjoying the event by fully being present and then re-live it while you describe it to your intended audience. And it’s not a given that the person will receive the letter right away or that they will give it a read and reply in a jiff, which means, by the time you receive a reply, you might even have forgotten about the letter altogether! 
3.  You also get enough time and chances at trial and error; you can translate your thoughts into sentences that have a high resemblance to your thought. You can choose the tone and the words. Basically, you control what to tell, how to tell, and how much to tell! 

Other than these, it improves your language, imagination, understanding, and, most importantly, patience. So, yeah, Letters are simply awesome! Oh no, I don’t have a problem with telephone, text messages, emails, WhatsApp, social media, and recent advances because they are very much a part of our everyday lives now and necessary. I do not deny their power and need at any cost. They do make life easy. But I would like to bring to your notice that letters have an old-school charm, something royal and the most personal touch. 

Now that I think of it, I have always been a fan of the Indian Railways and The Indian Postal service. They connect the most rural parts of our country. It gives me so much joy to receive or send a letter that will travel through so many states, cities, villages, by air, by rail, by road, in train, in van, in ship, bus, and cycles to finally reach the destination – doesn’t it make you feel special, like some important being?! To me, it does. 

In a world where we are running to save time while ending up wasting all the time that we manage to save, I think letters take us back to a time where we can feel like that old self who wrote it/received it, at least for a short while and that brings me joy! Letters are not like a time machine because they are a present that reaches someone in the future carrying a past. In short, Letters are simply the best, and we should bring them back. 

Would you be willing to post something? 

Ennavale

No doubt I am being educated on various scientific techniques. Still, the most valuable lessons I have learned while working on my final year project are – Patience, dealing with disappointments, trying again, putting effort, troubleshooting, and that sometimes you do everything and still fail, accepting failure, and the most important one – most often than not things don’t go according to your plans, many things won’t be in your control, so all you can do is accept and respond because how you deal with a situation is mostly the only thing in your control. Haha. I took time and haven’t mastered it, but I am still a beautiful work in progress.

Recently realized that when nothing is going according to my plan, I feel like running away to a mountain far away, but again can’t afford that in reality; I like to go back to things I used to enjoy doing when I was a kid, something simple, something that I have fond memories of, something that feels familiar but still adventurous, exhausting but exciting. So, I decided to go cycling in the early hours of the morning. A friend of mine was supposed to accompany me, but I didn’t wait after 3 unanswered calls.

I rented a MyByk and started peddling. Manh! My eyes are accustomed to Kochi and its distantly placed dim street lights; now, I like them that way. So, at this hour of the day, I could go in the middle of the road, and no one would question me; not many street dogs, not even birds chirping; it was like being in the middle of nowhere! The advertisement board sheds some light, oh! The trees seemed happy I think they were greeting me with those tiny droplets they had saved from the scattered thunderstorms of the previous night! The roads were still fresh from the rain, with no joggers or walkers, but I did spot 3 teenagers on their bicycles, doing a photoshoot for their social media under a streetlamp; there were mutual greetings through the sweet sounds of cycle bells. At this point, I was hooked. High energy, the adrenalin rush from peddling, the thought of how worried amma would be when/if I told her about my this adventure, the breeze making my hair fly wildly, the sweet smell of sweat, the occasional fear of being a girl on a bicycle on some stretch of the route, the feeling of freedom, the chance to hum, whistle and sing like I’m the lead singer of this moving orchestra, Ah! Such a happening morning it was!!

I reached this beautiful stretch, water on one side with a Chinese net, a walking track with lots of trees and resting benches, and in the end, a board that read ‘I heart Kochi’ an athlete stretching right in front of this sign. No, the sign was not lit up. Took a moment to look at the beautiful view and cycled back, with skyscrapers with watchmen rubbing their eyes to see who this crazy girl is?! on one side. By now, there were some dedicated walkers on the road, some chetas with mundu folded up to knees; sitting by the water with lit beedis and soft music, the birds had woken up and made it very evident that there was a bird sanctuary on the way, some big trucks, many bikers, equally curious but minding their own business, then I heard the adhan from the distant mosque, passed through a church as well. At this point, I was so happy! It was like closing all old tabs that were open in my brain for months, like pressing a refresh button; I stopped and took a picture of MyByk to remember this short, much-needed cycling trip and continued. Passed through a temple, morning raga playing while a cheta was cleaning the angana.

On the corner of the street, people were squatting on the roadside but luckily fully dressed, with a beedi and chaya! At this point, I wished my Appa would have accompanied me because then we also would sit there with chaya, or at least a guy friend or a larger group but we ( Me, myself, and I) just shrugged and peddled on. I heard the song ‘Ennavale Adi Ennavale’ playing, and it was nice to see a man with white hair, a white mustache, and a beard sitting next to his old green cycle, keeping the radio right next to his ears! I told myself that I need to see more of this beautiful city in the morning hours; the small scenes like these have made me read ‘I heart Kochi’ as I love Kochi!

On my way back from Queens Walkway, feeling like a Queen!

I reached my apartment, googled the song and its meaning, and liked the initial part that said,
‘Oh, my dear! Oh, my dear! I’ve lost my heart. I’ve even forgotten the place where I lost it!’
Sometimes, it is best to take a cycle and just go somewhere, maybe you’ll find your heart or at least the ‘I heart the name of your city’ sign :p

Tried writing about this on the same morning but sleep won!
Today happens to be World Bicycle day! Thank God for cycles! Can you imagine a world without cycles? forget the world, a childhood without cycling memories?!
Also, take a moment to think about your first ride on a bicycle. Thank the people who taught you how to cycle, and I’ll leave you with the memory of you cycling downhill in your cycle!

Fest>>>.

It was a very usual Saturday, nothing to look forward to. I was just re-watching ‘The Office’ for I don’t know how many-eth time and waiting for dinner. When I opened WhatsApp, I had a video call from one of my childhood friends that I somehow missed; I called back, and Manh!!! Most of my UG friends were in college, attending the annual fest – ‘Incridea’22’! I saw everyone through the rectangular screen, saying, “Heyyyy! How’s it going, dude?” and jumping onto the other person’s hand. Oh! how I wish I could be there in person and not just virtually, in spirits. I had to let them go as the performing artist was ready to set the stage on fire!!
I wasn’t a huge fan of my college; however, I enjoyed being part of the organizing committee of the annual fest. I was also the co-ordinator of Incridea’20, which changed my life in so many ways! Those days of our fest came back to me in a flash. I did what I usually do, went to the lakeside, sat there looking at the distant lights, the sky, water, and just breathing.. A cute little dog came and sat right next to me. It had just rained and was a little windy. She shared my warmth, with a red collar around her neck, giving me the cutest looks and small licks. I think we became friends pretty quickly. She seemed lost, just like I was! She went around smelling the tires of different parked vehicles and then came back to me and sat with me. I sat there, petting her, talking to her, and then realizing maybe she would understand Malayalam better than English; I asked her, ‘Veet evde?’ Got no reply. I didn’t have anything to feed her; I apologized and told her to find her way back home or find shelter from the rain and that I would get her some bread slices or biscuits tomorrow morning. We sat there for some time looking at the same view, and then she went on with her journey. I hope she finds her way back or remains safe and makes it!

My brave brown, ta(I)le wagging traveler friend!

I felt like I was back in my UG college for a moment. It was just like the fest days, giving belly rubs and love to our favorite star wars doggo! There was a reason we called her that, and she was such a sweetheart. Ah. She was a part of our team. I was in the ‘I have no idea what I’m doing’ zone most of the time, and I used to just sit and give her belly rubs and feel okay!

Star wars getting pampered by two MVPs!

Today seemed a lot like that, and like always, a dog came to my rescue. Hence proved, dogs are the bestest ever. And yeah, memories actually make so much of who we are. Thanks to the years of fests, I’ve made some great ones along the way! But yeah, they are an excellent place to visit, not to stay.
I sighed, smiled, and came back to the present.
Did what I could – had dinner, played ‘The Raghu Dixit project’ playlist, finished some errands, did laundry, took a cold shower, dancing like I was at the concert in college! (Yes, he was the artist) saw the aftermovie of Incridea’20 with teary eyes and a broad smile, went through my gallery, and felt all the feels.
Aaahhhhaa.

Do you remember your college fest? What was that like? Take a train down memory lane and connect with old friends; it’s totally worth it!
#Those were the best days of our lives! Isn’t it?
Stay in university, kids. Go take part in fests and make some memories!

Until next time,
PS: Yes amma, I washed my hands later.
No amma, I don’t touch every dog I see. (I try not to:p)

Cheta, Oru Masale Dose

It’s very true that inspiration comes at weirdest moments, it doesn’t see time, place or the mindset you’re in, just like pee – when it has to come, there’s nothing that can be done! 

Quick life update, after months of being a slave to the couch, I finally bid goodbye to my master – the laziness. After feeling like a queen while actually riding a horse on my own I am finally a fingerling in this beautiful queen of the Arabian sea. Yeas! For real. I was imagining this for over 13 months and it’s almost 13 days since I reached this beautiful land of coconuts. Well, I just moved from one land of many beaches, tiny backwaters, coconut trees and kind people to a land of more beaches, many more backwaters, lots of coconut trees and literate, nice people who speak Malayalam. Truth to be told, I feel like I’m in some malayalam movie! 

Okay, the rain was pouring down heavily, and I had this urge of going somewhere on my own, eating something hot and just being not in my apartment thus began my walk. 
You know, walking when it’s raining is a mixed feeling, it’s like eating a tub of cheese – caramel mix popcorn, you’ll like the experience but some moments make you love it more! 

It’s Friday night and tomorrow happens to be the day I complete another round around the sun. I reflect on the past 12 months and pat my back for not making myself the centre of the universe :p. I ponder what my wishes are for the next few months and I am just blank! Oh no! A water splash! What do these posh car owners think of the people walking on the roads?! Anyway, I cross the road and there it is a glowing board of a typical south indian restaurant. I place my order in Malayalam, but no matter how much you try, the locals know who the locals are, as I sit and wait for my butter masala dose, I look around, in a place that’s so new to me, the sound of water splashing the hot dosa pan ‘chissss’ and the sharp sound of broom being passed on it to prep for a dose feels very familiar. A family of four having dinner in that corner table reminds of me of my own family, the lemon tea reminds me of the time I had a beautiful conversation with a good friend in some random small tea stall, a young lady covered in raincoat that’s drenched reminds me of my best friend, the guy who was clearly criticizing the bhaji inside his masala dosa reminds me of my another friend who is now in UK yet occasionally cooks dosa to feel at home! The couple in the corner reminds me of all the incidents where I wished I didn’t have to third wheel, the group of friends laughing reminds me of my set of friends who actually laugh more at the way I laugh than the actual joke oh, the chef makes me think of my chaddi dost who is the best chef in making! 

There comes my masala dose! Hot and stunning, shining with the butter and smelling delicious! I forget about everything else and just dive right in – until I get carrot and beans in the masala! 

I couldn’t have been more wrong! Land of coconuts do not serve standard masale dose and chutney! It varies. It has to! 

Oh! I can see my reflection on the glass, I remember a line I had just heard from my roommate this evening – ‘Barish iss duniya ka sabse mulayam sach hai’. 

I was hungry and the carrot and beans were big so I could keep them out and still enjoy my masale dose. After a good dinner, I was walking back in the empty streets, thinking of all the moments and people who have made my little life such a beautiful one and Thanking the universe for all the blessings oh yes, also thinking of this write up, 

Because sometimes, when you go alone and eat a masale dose in a place that you’re just getting to know, you’ll know that 
‘Musafir hai hum bhi, Musafir ho tum bhi kisi mod par shayad phir mulakaat hogi’,

Until next time!

This or That ?

Mountains or Beaches? A question I could never answer unless ‘Both’ was an accepted answer. Well, my only argument, was, is and shall always remain,- ‘why would I choose when I could have best of both worlds?
Trust me when I say this, neither the mountain nor the ocean is shallow enough to condemn you for wanting to become a part of both of them. Unbiased.

The mighty Mountains, that host huge trees that have definitely seen the floor beneath them change over the years yet held on to mother Earth like a baby on a giant wheel! The mountains that meet and greet the clouds above; I always wondered what their conversation had that the clouds would either shed tears of joy or weep unconditionally. The valleys and their beautiful flower blooms, the glaciers and their cold silent treatments, the landslides and forest fires the mountains have pulled through a lot, isn’t it? And when they summon, every being bends the knee, surrenders to the magical mountains. They are mighty for a reason!

The oceans, The OGs, mysterious as ever! They are calm but they can still break rocks into tiny granules of sand, if that isn’t power, I wonder what is? Oceans that are home to so many beautiful creatures yet on the surface looks like a disinterested old man rocking on a chair back and forth waiting for nothing in specific. Oceans that have seen civilizations turn into cities ruled by political parties! The oceans which is one of the most dynamic natural phenomena that literally brought life on Earth!

Saamne waali Khidki

Without the constant dog hauls and the grinding noise from the hostel mess in the distance and soft music from the room next to ours, that night was awfully quiet, suddenly there was a crashing sound, both my roommate and I heard it, we could even see something fall off at once from the floor above! I asked her, did you see that?! She was just as startled as me. It was that time of the night – the time when most of the hostel adventures began, a time when the warden would be fast asleep, mesh from the windows would be slightly opened, for the cool air to seep in and hot air to slowly crawl out, a time when only the dim fairy lights or screen brightness would be on, a time that was crucial study hours during exams, a time for good conversations, scary stories, the maggie making or just passing out – if you know what I mean :p 

With a ribbon on top

“what ?! Really ?! You mean, I can keep this, this is for me ? Thank you so much akka! I love you, you’re the best!” I remember the recent gift my sister gave to me and also the other times when I could have something that not only belonged to her but was beloved to her.