home Archives

What No One Tells You About Losing Your Parents

When you lose both your parents, the constant is the assurance from relatives that you will be fine and things will be brighter. They do get brighter. But what I miss most is that my parents would’ve loved seeing me live my life. If only I could’ve grown up sooner.

Karima Khan June 25, 2016

Sports

Dear Indian Fans of English Football, It May Be Coming Home, But Nowhere Close to Yours

The catchphrase, “It’s coming home,” recently became annoying as fuck, after it turned into a meme that Indians are repeating unironically. This is the World Cup we’re talking about guys, not the Kohinoor.

Arré Bench June 16, 2016

Culture

Dhakna Zaroori Hai: Why My Sindhi Family Has a Cover for Everything from the Toaster to the TV

In Sindhi households, everything is veiled. It starts at the heart of the home – the kitchen. The refrigerator handle dare not stand in nudity. The mixer, when not in use, stands gracefully under a crocheted hood. Twenty five years ago, I used to mock this great Sindhi cover-up. Today, I’m the one doing the covering.

Lata Gwalani June 1, 2016

POV

Moving Out of Your Childhood Home Feels a Lot Like Heartbreak

In a world obsessed with the new and uncharted, with moving on and around, I’m the kind who likes the idea of home and history. And now when it’s time to leave my childhood home behind, I wonder... How do I pack in all my memories? How do I take all this history with me to a new house?

Sonali Kokra May 12, 2016

POV

Lahe Lahe Land and the Art of Laziness

People in Assam believe in lingering. We believe in slothful, listless days. Even months. Safe to say, years.

Priyanjana Roy April 19, 2016

Gender

Look Who’s Not Cooking: Why My Children Will Never Eat Maa Ke Haath Ka Khana

When I was growing up, Maa’s kitchen had some manner of grinding, slow cooking going on at all times. But my utter lack of initiative when it comes to feeding people ghar ka khaana has been the cause of great pain to women in my family.

Sonali Kokra April 13, 2016

Modern Family

“Tussi Na Jao!” How Do You Convince Indian Parents You Want to Move Out?

If I were a 28-year-old, 200 years ago, I’d probably be heading out into battle tomorrow. If I were a 28-year-old about 2,000 years ago, I’d be the village elder. But somehow, here I am at the age of 28, still enjoying the free snacks in between free meals. And every time I bring up moving out of home, my parents think I’m hinting at marriage plans.

Aditya Bhalla April 12, 2016

POV

Return to Neverland

I had been away from Lucknow for only four years. Memories of the city simmered inside, relived like moments with a long-lost sweetheart and shorn of all blemishes.

Naved Ahmed April 12, 2016

People

Kyunki TV Bhi Kabhi Real Life Tha

Indian joint families and the Ekta Kapoor brand of TV serials are caught in an endless loop of art imitating life imitating art imitating life. The only difference is we don’t look as pretty as the characters on TV, and we can’t change the channel when we’ve had enough.

Apoorva Singhal April 8, 2016

POV

A Petition to Declare Mumbai a Work-from-Home City

Why do we put up with shitty office WiFi, harrowing commutes, and weird coworkers when modern technology allows us to conduct our business while being simultaneously hugged by our blankets? Working from home is Mumbai’s three-word answer to saving the environment – and our sanity.

Karima Khan April 4, 2016