What the past 8 months have taught me…

“8 months is a long time” someone told me. “Depends on where you are in life” I thought. It has been 8 months since mom went away in her physical form. At times these months seem like the longest 8 months of my life. And at times it is like time just flew. Moms…

I had it in me, all this while!

Dear Meethi Ma

We made it! We made it through the first year without you. Time flies? Yes it does. It is strange how 12 months fly and yet every second can seem like a lifetime.

Dear Meethi Ma

Dear Meethi Ma

I have not written to you in a long long time. Does that mean I don’t think of you? Or perhaps thinking of you has become such a vital part of me that I don’t feel the need to write? I often wonder…and think…to find no answers.

Dear Meethi Ma

Dear Meethi Ma

When I go for a walk in the evening, I see all women my age walking while speaking on the phone. And I just know who they are speaking to. They are sharing with their moms their day’s events, some even gossiping about their mothers-in-law. Some talking about…

Celebrating Karva Chauth without you!

Dear Meethi Ma

Nitish just can not fathom that I observe the karva Chauth fast. Someone like me who constantly fights for equality is willingly starving myself to pray for the long life of my husband while he enjoys hearty meals. But it…

Dear Meethi Ma

I got out of my home door and a blast of cold wind blew in my face. The chill numbed my ears. My nose froze. But my face smiled. Because winter reminds me of you. I still remember when you woke me up at 5 am on winter mornings in Chandigarh to make it to the school-bus stop in time. You would ask me to look…

To new beginnings! Happy Holi!

Dear Meethi Ma

Nitish thinks I have lost it, officially. And he is not entirely wrong. Who cries to the sound of “Jungle Jungle baat chali hai…” But I find it hard to explain to him what that sound means to me. It is not Mogwli. It is not Jungle…

Redefining completeness!

Dear Meethi Ma

I have not written to you in a long time. Does that mean that I am getting used to you not being physically around me? That I am “moving on” with “life”? That I have learnt to ignore the emotional upheavals? That I have let go of you on your…

You will always be my Santa!

Dear Meethi Ma

I grew up believing that Santa exists. I still do. And with you in heaven I guess I have never been more right. You have always been my Santa. And going away from Earth is no excuse for you not to play your role. So stockings or no…

Dear Meethi Ma

When you were working in Sundernagar, I missed you terribly. Often I would collect all the gifts you gave me, your saris and dupattas, your jewellery and our pictures and sit outside your room. Meena Bua and Picky didi would laugh at me and my drama. Thinking back, even I laughed at myself. Years later, I find…