It was the middle of the day, and I had a sudden realisation. I was feeling low, sick and bored. I wasn’t looking forward to the day and just wanted to stay in bed. Why was I feeling this way? There was no specific reason. Let’s be honest here: We…

Imaginary Stories It all began as a curious kid. I would often look at people and think about their stories. Sometimes, I still do. What is the girl with a yellow hat and pink sweater talking to her father about while he drives the car? Her dreams? Her ambitions? Her…

Taking a Break from Death and Violence Earlier this year, I quit my reporting job to recover from illness, finish a few personal projects and pursue travelling. Yes, travelling. I have always believed that my passion for travel along with writing is what led me to become a reporter. I enjoy both travelling for leisure as well…

When I was younger, I would think of my nanna (maternal grandmother) as a monster. Unlike those grandmothers we read about in books or see in television, she never told me bedtime stories. Instead, she scolded and shouted, always making me cry. I hated her. As I grew up, I…

In middle class Indian homes, books are often a luxury. For me, they were also a lifeline. Something that opened up a new world for me. I have some fascinating stories about how I got introduced to books and reading. When I was a kid, my Bade papa sent me…

Could there be a better way to meet someone for the first time than over a cup of tea on a chilly Delhi evening? There couldn’t have been a more perfect setting. Well, to be honest, the setting never really mattered that much. The clinking of the teacups and the…

A Demolition, and the tragic death of Billo Rani's kittens When the demolition notice arrived, more than a hundred residents of the New Delhi slums of Batla House were still coping with the effects of the Covid-19-induced lockdown. …

Past regrets and frustration make up the stories of many people’s lives. Those who listen closely, find layers of what truly makes up a person’s life. On a road journey from Himachal Pradesh to New Delhi, the stories of Nexie Singh’s life cost me my entire night’s sleep. …

In 2021, as hate crimes against minorities rose in India, the mainstream Indian media stood silent. When I woke up on January 1, 2022, a friend’s message informed me that my photograph was being “misused” online. …