Poems ,Stories and lot more .. By Maneesha Purandare

  It’s that time of the year again—the glorious Christmas season, sprinkled with a generous dash of parties! Different venues, diverse themes, eclectic groups of friends—each gathering feels like a new episode in an unending social sitcom. And I, for one, never shy away from my starring role: the dressed-to-the-T attendee. Let’s be honest: dressing up for these events is half the fun. Shopping for the perfect outfit, meticulously following the dress code—its like a big project in itself. I love it when there’s a theme. It gives my mind something to chew on—an opportunity for creativity! For instance, one such party inspired me to go as “Razia Sultana,” but thanks to an untimely illness, I ended up as “Rajaai    ( रजाई)Sultana,” swaddled in a duvet, Netflix remote in hand. Life, they say, has a sense of humour. Before every party, I indulge in a ritual that’s equal parts amusing and strategic: the pre-party revision of current affairs. I skim through headlines with the ser...

  These days, my evenings have a set ritual: plopping on the couch, snuggled under a warm blanket, munching on perfectly spiced snacks, and immersing myself in a thriller on an OTT platform. While horror and gory, gut-wrenching dramas aren’t my cup of tea, thrillers keep me hooked. Most of these stories barely linger in my memory beyond a day or two, but some manage to etch themselves into my mind—and heart. One recent movie took me on a nostalgic ride through the bustling heart of Mumbai—places like Worli, Parel, Byculla, Kalbadevi, and Fort. For someone whose alma mater was in Parel(परळ) these streets are not just locations; they are chapters of my life. Watching them on screen felt like flipping through a photo album of my independent hostel days, where I first tasted freedom and learned life’s ropes. Byculla’s streets still hold vivid memories of bus rides to the ENT hospital in Fort. Oh, the thrill of sitting in a double-decker bus, climbing the Byculla bridge, and catching a...