Army Day meant little to me today—until my Mausa ji stood at my door.Eighty-one.Upright.Wearing a grey coat with red stripes,I’ve known all my life.I complimented him, casually.And suddenly, his eyes sparkled.This is my IMA sports coat, he said—lookFootball, 1969.Basketball, 1969.Neatly inscribed on front pocket along with logo . In that moment,those weren’t numbers—they were memories Read more

This morning…after days of fog-heavy winter silence, sunlight finally finds my face—gentle, unhurried, almost apologetic. A cold breeze moves through my hair,and somehow that contrast makes the warmth feel even more precious. I lie on the charpai,eyes closed, doing nothing at all—just feeling. Sun on my skin..Breeze in my hair…A lazy Sunday unfolding slowly. Nearby, Read more

The only place where IST—Indian Stretchable Time—doesn’t work is where my foundation was laid. I grew up in the fauj. So 8:00 pm never meant 8:00 pm. It meant 7:45.pm And if you reached at 8, you were already late. Sixteen years in the Army— not a lifetime, but long enough to permanently wire punctuality Read more

Another year quietly settling into memories,…another arriving with hope and faith in its eyes. Are we celebrating what’s ending,….or the courage it takes to begin again? This year held many versions of me— from the stillness of a MahaKumbh eye camp to my first trek, to my first solo journey. A year of saying no Read more

A piece of my heart now lives continents apart. As I sit at SFO International Airport, saying bye to my babies—Gauraa, Matthew… and my two four-legged shadows, Joey and Rocco—I can already feel that familiar ache settling in. The mind has begun its return journey to India: long OPDs, surgery lists, patients waiting (and reminding Read more

I know we’re what the world calls the light of her eyes.Every child is — especially to their mother.But honestly, in our case, it was her light that did most of the heavy lifting…and sometimes the light came with power cuts, cold mornings, and perfectly timed life lessons. Her guidance often arrived in very… creative Read more

Some people enter your life quietly,yet leave behind fragrances that linger for years.And then there is Vimmi ji —a once-in-a-lifetime soul who walks in like gentle sunshine,wraps you in a warm hug,and suddenly the sharp edges of the day soften.Problems remain, yes,but somehow they stop feeling quite so heavywhen she is around. I’ve always felt Read more

Every winter, when fashion changes faster than the Bareilly breeze, last year’s “brand new” jacket somehow looks tired, and I find myself doing that familiar North Indian ritual — pulling out winter clothes, packing away summer ones, and promising the universe (and myself) that I will not buy anything more this season. Of course, that Read more

The year is drifting toward its end…. and today I could feel that familiar softness in the air —a hint of winter, a quietness that settles without asking. A little late, but finally here…And with that chill came the thought I always have:… When did this whole year even happen????A blur of unexpected YESss…and long-overdue Read more

Some things never change — like those beautifully painted trucks that have rolled alongside me since childhood. They’re not just vehicles; they’re moving murals — homes on wheels carrying laughter, longing, and life across the country. Each truck is a personality.They flirt with the wind, wear parandas on their mirrors, and smile in neon. Every Read more