One American Girl in India
I am an American woman traveling alone in India. I am not, however, a typical tourist. Before my current stay, I lived for 3 years in Mumbai. During that time, I visited 12 states, primarily in North India, although I made it as far south as Kerala. Since my husband and I left India 2 […]
Review: Defiant Dreams
Editor’s note Although I have never met them, I know several of the contributors to this volume, mostly through the online Facebook group For Writers, By Authors. I was a beta reader of Radhika Maira Tabrez’s short story in this volume, Built From the Ashes. Anirban Nanda has beta read for me. When Rhiti Bose […]
I am a Chetan Bhagat fan, and I am not an idiot: A 2001-word editorial odyssey
Recently, I was involved in a discussion in a writer’s group about Chetan Bhagat. Unlike most similar discussions, this one did not degenerate into the vitriol that usually happens when Chetan Bhagat is mentioned. In part, because the discussion was not limited to Bhagat himself, but included Amish Tripathi, Durjoy Datta, Ravi Subramanian, and other bestsellers. […]
Happy International Women’s Day
I know what you’re thinking. It’s International Women’s Day, and I’m a woman who lives internationally. Clearly, this day was made for me. An overprivileged, underemployed trailing spouse, sitting in my posh high-rise in Seoul and drinking the same coffee the Pope drinks. No really. It’s true. The same coffee. It’s from Brazil and doesn’t have a […]
Blogiversary
Facebook has just reminded me that I started this blog one year ago today. Yah! That’s something to celebrate.
The lub dubs
The doctor enters. I know what he’s going to say. He’s said it before. My hearts can’t take much more. My blood work matches perfectly to a girl my own age. I feign sleep. Maybe he won’t bother me.
He doesn’t.
He and my mother talk in hushed tones. Their words grow fainter as the blood throbs faster through my body. The sound has reached my ears now. Their voices become just mumbles. My eardrums thud with the pain of the increased blood flow. I have made my decision, yet still feel at war with myself somehow.
Lub, dub.
Lub, dub.
What not to eat: Mumbai edition
“Don’t have a cow, man!” — Bart Simpson BMC banned meat for four days in honor of the upcoming Jain holiday, and everyone on social media had a cow. Well, not a literal cow, a metaphorical one. Bart Simpson would have been appalled. Hashtags were started on Twitter (#meatban #BanTheBan). Photos of meat were posted […]
My Indian imaginings: To India, with love
Recent bans on beef and films have not helped to forward the impression of India as a progressive, peaceful culture. I offer this essay as an antidote to that negativity. These images are are my India.