Unknown Pursuits

“Just go and give your IELTS for English language. Your last one expired in August this year. Those scores were more than enough for full points possible, so you are going to be ok. And don’t even bother to get your wife’s IELTS, for PR application your points are enough”, the immigration lawyer told me. … Continue reading Unknown Pursuits

Is it selfish?

Is it selfish? Jainee asked candidly… We were discussing moving countries and the pains around them… And she remarked that the first thought that comes to her mind is what will she do in the new place… and that brought this question to her… obviously we won’t even consider if it’s a place that’s not … Continue reading Is it selfish?

Intent!

“As per section 375 of Indian Penal Code, will and consent both are required… And will is put before consent”… Submits Richa Chadha in the Indian movie Section 375. It is an interesting movie – if not for a 30 second clip at the end that destroys the whole movies unbiased-ness (& to be honest … Continue reading Intent!

The great hack!

If someone were to tell you that Facebook, Watsapp, Google, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc… or any free app or site you are using that identifies you with your email id or some other identification is eavesdropping on you…. using it to manipulate you… that they look for more and more pervasive data to mine you… that … Continue reading The great hack!

Grandma :(

I have been very close to my maternal side of family since childhood as we stayed in the same area and my mom heavily depended on her mother (my grandma) to raise me or help out in my infancy… I was almost raised for first few years at their place by my grandma and till … Continue reading Grandma 😦

Kaun? (Who?)

Bejaan patharo ko mukkamal chattane banata hai kaun? (Who makes lifeless stones to become strong mountains?) One who see’s beauty and purpose in them… Without someone seeing the beauty and purpose, the highest and strongest of mountains are just lifeless stones… It is one who finds it magnificent gives the mountains their meaning… Andhe samandar … Continue reading Kaun? (Who?)

Full of life!

“Ghar ne disc banavi dese” (she will convert home into a club)… I had candidly described Jainee almost 15 years back to my closest friend after I met her as part of official marriage proposal – and with her I celebrate 14 years of wonderful married life tomorrow… What I meant was that she will … Continue reading Full of life!

The Cult…

I just finished watching the Netflix documentary “Wild Wild Country” that is on Rajneesh’s commune built in Oregon, USA and the entire story around it. And I did not want the documentary to end… I was in tears for some inexplicable reasons… wanting the speakers at the end to just keep talking… I was shaken … Continue reading The Cult…

The Cult!

I am still in that trance zone and unsure of what I saw. Still can’t believe that this was or is the life of many. Still trying to figure out what was that. I came to know about Osho ashram when I was about 18 yrs old and my first cousin got married. Then when … Continue reading The Cult!

Urdu Couplets :)

Mohabbat-e-ishq ka karz kabool hai… Hamari saasen hum asal, Na chuka paye to wafat kabool hai…… (Love’s loan I accept… my breath is the collateral, If I cannot repay, death I accept…) Raah jannat ki hai ya qayamat ki, kashmakash us ki nahi… Iztiraar hai unke sukoon ki, justajoo mohabbat ki nahi…… (Whether the road … Continue reading Urdu Couplets 🙂

Home???

I recently made a trip to India… It made me rethink… Where is home… My wife and kids are in Singapore… All my personal effects are in Singapore… But my parents and sibling would be in India… I own my property in India… My closest friends and relatives are in India… Where is home??? I … Continue reading Home???

Insecurities…

It was 1 am in the night and after a lot of discussion… my wife gave me a revelation… If your spouse or loved one spoke too highly of someone too many times or was spending too much time with someone of your gender… What would be the first question about that person that would … Continue reading Insecurities…

Earth’s Parasites…

Sitting on a nice Singapore beach, i was thinking how this fisherman town has transformed… And my thoughts wandered and tread upon the fact how so many big cities and human population had grown by extraction from the seas and the land… And I googled something to find this: an organism which lives in or … Continue reading Earth’s Parasites…

Measure of human progress…

We can measure progress and gauge the direction of change in human life by analysing the basic drivers of life… what for did the humankind struggle… What did it really work towards… Before civilisation survival was the key goal… Just pure ability to sustain against the animals and nature… Post civilisation, food, clothing and shelter … Continue reading Measure of human progress…

Aliens unite!

A lot has been said about Trump, Modi, Putin… There has been a renewed focus on nationalism and patriotism… Sitting in a foreign country on India’s republic day, kind of have a contrary thought… Stephen Hawking has said that its best not to search for aliens as it may not turn out to be good … Continue reading Aliens unite!

Human Library…

Attended #humanlibrary in Singapore again… Met the lady who runs a magazine which is trying to fight discrimination of any kind using feminism as base… Met a German lady married to a Singaporean and heard her story on how she is trying to ensure she fits in the Asian society and her nuanced endeavour for … Continue reading Human Library…

Honesty and Trust…

Honesty is not a virtue unless trust is established… Integrity is not presumed by words and takes observed actions to be believed… What one thinks of oneself in their mind is not what perceptions of that person that the world necessarily carries… Words – no matter how eloquent can never convey intentions without the bond … Continue reading Honesty and Trust…

Second Honeymoon!

17 days vacation to Switzerland and Austria in summer… the longest break ever taken in adult life… and for the first time with no kids since they arrived (8 years ago)… and with a spouse, you have been with for 13 years… When we (me or my wife) share this with people, almost always, the … Continue reading Second Honeymoon!

Mental Nakedness…

“​I have never shared this with anyone except Vaibhav…”, my wife wrote on a group chat… I was surprised… Whilst they were out closest friends, I was not sure if she should have shared that… Maybe it was out of my possessiveness of her – the loss of being the only one to have known… maybe that exclusivity slipping away … Continue reading Mental Nakedness…

Communities…

Austin is a small city… but my wife’s friend who moved from Toronto loves it there… “Our whole community has moved here from Mumbai… except for my parents, I have my siblings, cousins, my husbands siblings, cousins, our uncle’s, etc… we even have 2 Jamat Khana’s”… she was convinced… her operative phrase was “our whole community … Continue reading Communities…

Home alone!

I am not sure… How will you manage work and kids… Maybe I should call my mom or your dad to help… My wife’s concern were geniune… 17 days is a long time to leave me alone with the kids – whilst she would be on the other side of the world… And me in … Continue reading Home alone!

Is it worth it?

Have to confess that the title has a negative connotation… Being a question… And one that is often asked with a lead towards the response for being a no. But that is not what I meant to do… I just came out of a 2 day offsite coaching where we brainstormed a lot of ideas … Continue reading Is it worth it?

Grey World!

“Winnie always makes plans with her team against us… when we are searching for things in the playground during our lunch time, she sneaks up from behind and pulls up our underwear”… blurted my 7-year-old son Aarav when I asked him if there is anything he did not like about his school in Singapore. I … Continue reading Grey World!

Perspectives!

At every nook & corner, the group kept feeling further lost… At every nook & corner, a few stayed behind, groups strength was further lost… At every nook & corner, an amazing new world was found… At every nook & corner, a new society was being found… Continue reading Perspectives!

Time, Life, Soul…

Believe quantum physics alludes that when we move at speed of light, time will appear to stop… I am feeling that the opposite could be true… That is not motion or movement but the lack of it that will cause time to stop for us… That we are like mosquitoes in a train (train being … Continue reading Time, Life, Soul…

A turn!

At every turn of life, I took the trodden path… Success hence felt easy, right from the very start… The adventures of my youth, all of them turned out good… And now with a heavier baggage, again at crossroads I stood… The stakes were now bigger & ambitions of youth in me are few… And … Continue reading A turn!

Earth’s weight…

I have a theory… That total weight on earth always remains the same… If we build high rises somewhere a mountain is disappearing or say the human population is increasing – but overall trees in the world are reducing… So some people I know who have gained a ‘little’ weight should find the shameless people who … Continue reading Earth’s weight…

Karva Chauth :|

On the dinner table we were discussing that our helper who has come from punjab and stays with us in Singapore alone, will be celebrating karva chauth… our 7 year old son, curious as he always is, asked what karva chauth is… and my wife… hard core feminist as she is, replied curtly it’s a … Continue reading Karva Chauth 😐

Expectations

When we walk on the road and we see someone in trouble, we would tend to help… Not thinking if it was their fault… Or if they deserve it or not… But in office, we think about what we think of the person and whether he or she deserves our support before helping them… In … Continue reading Expectations

Paths…

How many of us relate to this picture? In so many different ways can this picture be seen… To take a path less taken… To not follow the norm… The herd… Live carefree… Be yourself… To break free… Leave the drudgery behind… Each of it is different in a nuanced little way… A picture speaks … Continue reading Paths…

Sweet Corpse…

No exquisite phrases for thee, I find in my insane memory, For to portray thy sparkling shimmer, my wildest imagination’s just a glimmer, Like that of dancing million sparkles, lingering on the oceanic waters face, Torched by a drowsy sun that fades, in the bosom of a horizon that awaits…   Vivid articulations of mine … Continue reading Sweet Corpse…

Ardent dawn : A blissful dusk’s progeny…

Marvel the seasoned sun, retreating subtly in realms of unknown, With serene sanctity, flaunting mesmerising grandeur galore… Take off nascent wings at dawn, with naive ardour in store, Return mellower at dusk, retrospecting to their angelic abode… Calmly tranquil restores, with descending celestial silhouette, And that exotic shades concealed by youthful dazzle, subtly it self-displays… … Continue reading Ardent dawn : A blissful dusk’s progeny…