I had a most interesting morning. A night of vivid dreams, turning impossibilities into presence the way only dreams can. I woke up discombobulated by the dream, feeling tugged by the past. It’s always strange when people not in your life appear like they never left. A temple. My hand in theirs. Narrow roads. Joy, […]
I have never been particularly fond of cats. Dogs, with their utter neediness and hopeless, vulnerable love, have been more my friends. Years ago, almost two decades ago, I was nicknamed the ‘Cat’ at university. I am not sure why, but I think it had something to do with my inherent sarcasm and laziness – […]
How do you create a podcast that surges to the top in just 2 days? How do you create a show that knocks off a therapist talking about dating and relationships? #AskShanty He knows. I don’t consider myself a podcast host – call me a writer if you may be feeling so generous. But podcast […]
February is the month of love, isn’t it? That Hallmark-magnetized celebration on February 14th?It’s only fitting that I tell you I celebrate this month with not one Valentine but five. I am not polyamorous, but these Valentines are my forever corners – I go to bed knowing they have my back. Meet my Valentines: Voozy […]
Have I been kind? Many times, I find myself asking this question. The answer I get each time is revealing. I am frequently unkind. To myself and others. Short with my time and words and harsh with my flaws. But what is kindness, really? I used to mistake kindness for being ‘nice.’ It resulted in […]
In 2019, I sat for a month and wrote a YA novel. It seemed to write itself, and after it was done, I sent a few letters to publishers when the manuscript wasn’t fully formed. The expected rejections set me back, and I pushed the novel away. But my friend didn’t let go. She kept […]
Last weekend, I was sitting by a beach in coastal Karnataka. I had a week of beach-time ahead of me. Or so I thought. The sun settled into a weak haze, overpowered by a full moon that rose angrily to the sky. The next morning, as I was well into my Sunday long run, my […]
Who remembers Malgudi Days? Right from the time I remember watching ‘Malgudi Days’ on Doordarshan as a kid, I have been drawn to RK Narayan’s world. It’s a world of humor, witty observations, and philosophical ruminations on life, and one that holds our humanity in the deepest compassion. There’s no better pilgrimage for a writer […]
Have you ever used a proxy site? I remember having vaguely used those many years ago. For reasons I can no longer remember. Perhaps, it was to access a blocked URL. These days, we have proxy lives. We present a facade on social media – that’s our proxy ego. One that is carefully curated to […]