Enthralling Trails

  It was one of those magical evenings when the sky wore a soft cloak of bright stars, the cool summer breeze stirred, and we walked aimlessly into a quaint shop called Cakes and Pastries. The shop, though simple, was filled with a special kind of warmth. The sweet smell of freshly baked bread, the enticing aroma of chocolates, and the quiet allure of neatly stacked books created a welcoming atmosphere for everyone who entered. This little shop specialised in instant cake mixes, promising delicious treats in just twenty minutes. Though it was entirely vegetarian, a small area served sandwiches and fast food, attracting those with a sweet tooth and those craving savoury snacks. In one corner, a weathered writing board stood, ready for thoughts and feelings to be shared. It was Mother’s Day, and the board in the shop had displayed a touching Mother’s Day poem “To a special mom. You hug me when I am sad, You cheer me on when I am glad…” These words struck a chord in me, reminding me o...

“What one loves in childhood stays in their heart forever.” — Mary Jo Putney Whenever I read Ruskin Bond’s books, I feel a surge of enthusiasm to express my thoughts. His simple writing style, especially while describing sunsets and everyday occurrences, makes his work magical and interesting. Bond prefers writing with a pen and has never used email. During my research, I tried to find his email address, but eventually received his home address from Rupa Publications. I wrote a lengthy, handwritten letter using a gel pen to inform him about my research. Bond’s love to write with an ink pen hurled me back into my childhood. As a child, I wrote with an ink pen. Although we had ballpoint pens, the school teachers insisted that we use ink pens. These ink pens in those days were thick; they were designed with a large hollow space to hold lots of ink. I kept mine in a Camlin pencil box, which was the most popular instrument box back then. Later on, other brands emerged, introducing attractiv...

  Health has always been a priority for me, but sometimes stark realities remind us that more needs to be done. A few weeks ago, I slipped and fell during my morning walk. I got up quickly, brushed myself off, and continued on my way. I forgot the incident as quickly as my morning walk. The pain was manageable for a couple of days, but it worsened with my walks, and I noticed swelling behind my knee. I ignored it for a few days, but the pain wasn’t reducing. I felt an X-ray could reveal the cause. We searched for the nearest orthopaedic hospital. The hospital was well-maintained, and we were soon attended to. After a checkup, the doctor gently shared that the signs were of early osteoarthritis. It was hard to believe, as I was up every day at dawn to exercise before leaving for work. Although the X-ray results were typical for my age, the orthopedician recommended an MRI. I had to choose an expensive location to get the quickest appointment. I stood watching people at the MRI centr...

It was a starry winter evening, and the world felt full of life; everyone was out walking and enjoying the evening. We arrived at Ranjit’s new tailor shop, which had just opened after his old one was demolished. The new shop had two sides open, letting in the cool night air. The warm lights inside and the smell of fabric welcomed us. The shop is located directly across from the famous Monginis cake shop. Its speciality is that it is open at the front and on one side completely. Ranjit is usually seen enjoying his evening tea when we pass by. On that particular day, I was sharing a few instructions when I heard my husband calling me from the fruit vendor’s stall. “Jyothi, here’s Varghese ma’am!” I saw Mrs Varghese leaning against the fruit stall for support. I waved and gently asked Ranjit, “Do you know Varghese ma’am?” He shook his head to indicate that he didn’t, but everyone knew Varghese, ma’am. Although she wasn’t a school teacher, there wasn’t a child in the neighbourhood who hadn...

  The Diwali festivities are special due to the rituals, beautiful decorations, delicious food, and family bonding. These celebrations provide a welcome break for everyone, as offices, colleges, schools, and workplaces shut down during this time. The festival is also marked by the bursting of firecrackers, which can create a lot of noise. This year, on the day of Lakshmi Pooja, the incessant sounds from the firecrackers were particularly challenging. While the rituals emphasise that it’s just about light, the celebrations have become extravagant to make a significant impact on social media. The Diyas have been replaced by flashy lights, but the children bring joy as they build tiny forts of Emperor Shivaji out of mud. With a few days off, we felt the need to escape into nature. We were looking forward to visiting the Kaas plateau in Satara district, Maharashtra. The plateau has acres of special flowers that bloom just after the monsoons begin. It continues till the end of September...

                                              Bloom where you’re planted During the heavy rains in May this year, the bridge near our home collapsed, and the municipal authorities planned to reconstruct it. This bridge was built over a wastewater outlet as well. After bulldozing the old bridge, they left the site unattended for several days. Our neighbourhood is called Rajyog Colony, but the roads are not paved well. With the bridge blocked, we had to take longer routes to reach our workplaces. The new park, located just 600 meters from our home, became inaccessible. As a result, we started walking through nearby colonies and alleys that led us to more distant areas. During one such walk in a neighbourhood with only bungalows, I came across Parijata plants lined along the pavement. It was late evening, and the flowers had begun to bloom. The white flowers with orange s...