I wasn’t one of those smart kids who learnt to drive at 18 and comfortably got a license. In the last year, if you think I managed to get a license, at least now, as a 37-year-old, I have to say, unfortunately, no. Not for lack of trying, though; I attempted the test and failed. Before you judge me for failing, I want to tell you about the Delhi license test that is a curse from hell.
Category: Non-fiction
Thirty Seven
I turned 37 today!
Thoughts from dosa-making
Making dosas should be straightforward enough, especially for a Tamilian. No? Four thoughts from this morning’s dosa-making experience that mirrors my every dosa-making experience.
Gong Xi Fa Cai
These odd memories are among the few things that remind me that my time in Singapore wasn’t a dream I made up.
The beloved DSLR
By 2016 my DSLR camera had stopped accompanying me on my travel. It was heavy, and taking pictures on it seemed pointless because the time spent making sure I had the right settings for focus, aperture and shutter speed were wearing me down. The phone camera seemed to just…calculate it all on its own and produce a quick, pleasant picture. The camera went into the cupboard.
Why do I clean?
Why do I clean? Does anyone notice, I think, even as I delight in the clean cupboard doors and clean lamps in the living room and feel satisfaction welling up within. Also, if no one notices that something is clean, do they also not notice it when it’s not clean?
Birds in the balcony
He points to one of the water bowls. I hesitate. “No, no, nothing scary,” he says. I peek into the bowl. Inside the empty bowl, caked with moss, lies a small egg.
The Red Sling Bag
A few hours before I have to leave for Iran, I can’t find my passport. A story of extraordinary kindness.
A Tribute to Axe Oil
Most chronic headache sufferers have an arsenal of tools to try for every headache, but there’s always a shining star of a tool that almost always works. That’s Axe Oil for me. I genuinely believe that Axe Oil gives me relief from my headache, even if only for a few minutes.
‘Kopitiam’ and a love for Singlish
I moved out of Singapore ten years ago, but I have fond memories of Singaporean English and I’m happy for any opportunity to hear it.