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Nanna Bangalore

In 2016, when I moved to Bangalore, it was driven by an urge to explore life beyond the coziness of my hometown. Veering off the path of literature, I stumbled into library science – a shift so different but yet familiar. Just like how Bangalore was, far enough to excite and close to comfort. My early days in Bangalore were a whirlwind. It was the first time I was staying away from home, staying alone for the first time, staying in a hostel. I placed by first order via Zomato and Swiggy, booked a ride through Uber, and got my groceries via Big Basket. A kaleidoscope of new experiences. The cosmopolitan city spoke tongues that I couldn’t comprehend, often leaving me teary-eyed. But this pushed me to learn Hindi and Kannada. I was navigating traffic, language, love and life. By the time I decided to pursue a PhD, my roots flourished in Bangalore. A city like no other. From a halt, it evolved into a place where I belonged. It is not my second home; it is my home. I am my truest self h...
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Recent posts

Love manifestations

The love of my mother is in making us independent. The love of my mother in law is waking us up at 5, so we get hot water before the electricity goes off for the day. The love of him is in asking me to keep myself warm in the blanket he has wore instead calling me in for cuddles The love of my brother is in sharing dark humour rather than share his fear The love of my father is in worrying about me  The love of my appapa is in protecting me.  The love of my friends are in talking sane to me and the love of my sisters in law is in dressing me up The love of the grand old people are in blessings that I have received and the love of the God is the life I lead The love and it's manifestations
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2 Movies & a Thesis

After a long gap (to be precise, after the release of Jailer) I went to watch movies, over this weekend. It was actually two movies. The Malayalam cinema is now the talk of the town and the actors leading the revolution.  The movies I went to were Avesham and Varshangalku Shesham. Both movies belong to different genres. But maybe you can't box these movies into categories. One of them was my favourite. Let you guys guess what it was. But I learnt something from these cinemas. The first thing I learnt was the significance of taking breaks. My work week was hectic and the Bangalore summers aren't of any aid. I can feel the gears turning in my head. It isn't a happy feeling. A break was what I needed and what better than a movie. The second thing was to enjoy your own company. As an introvert, it wasn't difficult. But it turns tedious to be alone in your room. I was at a point where I would mutter under my breath whenever I worked. Getting out and immersing myself in the c...
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Metro Thoughts - Musical Chair of Life

These days, my journey to my place of work has expanded. I get into a bus, a metro a bus and then a metro. There might be a simpler way of arriving at the destination, but I tried this route and am now comfortable. We need not get out of our comfortable zone unless necessary. This long journey provides me time to be with my thoughts. My overthinking and imaginary ass sometimes overgrows its boundaries. But at other times, contributes to very self-satisfactory blogs such as these.  On one such journey, in the metro, seats emptied at a stop. And the people standing, started to walk around and shift to get into the chair. This made me chuckle because it reminded me of the musical chair game we play. And there was music, the rumbling of the metro on the track outside, the swirling of air conditioners, and the chatter of people inside and this music is stopped when the beeps of the door sound, indicating the opening and closing.  But the chuckle didn't last long because I got philo...
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Greens & Garlic

Growing up I wasn't a picky eater. But I did have a palette of choice - spicy and tangy. Before the 'foreign' greens like broccoli and bok choy took over, my childhood vegetables were what which was quick and easy to make for a working mother. I grew up eating plants with animal names such as  muyalcheviyan meaning rabbit's ears. Greens have been powdered and spiced, for example,  karivepilapodi  to eat along with hot rice, as taste enhancers in the form of curry leaves, bay and coriander. Also in the regular curry and poriyal forms were various types of spinaches ranging from palak to arakerai. As Samwise says in Lord of the Rings, they were boiled and mashed and stuck in a stew.  Why greens? What did they do to me? I went out to dinner with my colleagues on a weekend, at a Punjabi restaurant. We ordered the regular which was sarson ka saag and makke de roti. The roti was soft and flaky. Dipping those in the dark green saag with garlic tadka and into my mouth. I...
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Through Strath

Tottering through the strath, it is all but a daze. Maybe it is a phase, but I am scared. Thinking I am unprepared. Possibly, it may pass, but give me a chance to bypass This Tottering through the strath
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Kannagi

Anger boiled inside Her. Stormed into the court, She. Proved innocent, She that of her husband's. Furious Kannagi cursed. And the Maanagar burnt To ashes. Late was She. Frenzied, She swore. Dead was Pandya Raja. Furious Kannagi cursed. And the Koodal burnt To ashes. Rose a tyrant Raja, in the kingdom here. Drunk with power, ignored he, the just. Kannagi rose. And the kingdom burnt To ashes.
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