Author: Arpita Nayak

The Good Girl Trap: How I Learned My Anger Was Never About Them

If you asked someone about me, they would tell you I am aloof, quiet, serious, soft-spoken, docile, and dumb. They might not mean the same thing, but all these adjectives point to one fact—I am not someone who confronts, fights, or argues. That's just not me. But there's one thing I have done several times … Continue reading The Good Girl Trap: How I Learned My Anger Was Never About Them

The Lost Decade: How Depression Kept Me From Growing Up

I turned 38 last week. To be honest, I am too ashamed to tell people my real age. Nope, don't get me wrong. I enjoy getting old. I have 70% grey coverage, so telling my real age might actually make me look younger in public's eyes. Still, I am never able to speak it aloud. … Continue reading The Lost Decade: How Depression Kept Me From Growing Up

What do you do the entire day?

I thought this was the patented question meant for homemakers. Very misplaced and ignorant, but a popular one nevertheless. My mother has been one, and I always felt sad for her, hence decided, whatever happens, I cannot be a homemaker. Not because it's easy, lazy, or comfortable, but because it's the hardest thing to do … Continue reading What do you do the entire day?

Leave Your Poor Designer Alone. Will Ya?

Introduction It’s 5:45 PM in the Silicon Valley of India, the clock is ticking with the same ruthlessness that Cinderella experienced during the royal ball. If not booked within the next five minutes, you are damned in this cubicle for eternity (read 7 o’clock IST) because you won’t be able to call a ride, thanks … Continue reading Leave Your Poor Designer Alone. Will Ya?

Breaking the Mold: Rediscovering ‘Tamasha’ and Choosing Your Own Path

To each his own. Eight years ago, when the movie "Tamasha" was released, I watched it in the theatre and found it difficult to sit through the movie. It wasn’t because I could connect with it at a very personal level and I felt sad, but it was because I was bored to death. The … Continue reading Breaking the Mold: Rediscovering ‘Tamasha’ and Choosing Your Own Path

Feels like magic! Finding friendship in unexpected places

Credit: popsugar.com Yesterday I watched a short film The Star Host from Feels Like Ishq, a series of love stories recently published on Netflix. Though I am not a sucker for mushy stories, something about the movie made me feel good. Maybe it is the travel hiatus for the past two years or the uncertainty … Continue reading Feels like magic! Finding friendship in unexpected places

Until we stop normalizing gender roles, gender-equality would remain a dream

And balanced sex ratio too… Recently, there was a news that UP government has proposed a 2-child policy as per which couples with more than two children would be exempted from certain benefits. The proposal was met with a mixed reaction. While a number of people welcomed this move, there was quite a large population … Continue reading Until we stop normalizing gender roles, gender-equality would remain a dream

Women like me- Two Life Lessons

Life as we know it, is never fair. If you are a woman then it is worse. This is what I have learnt in my thirty years of experience. Yes, I have learnt it the hard way. Because I am one of those “privileged” women who grow up protected from the harsh realities of the … Continue reading Women like me- Two Life Lessons

Inside the service lifts of posh high-rise apartments

While reading the book “Dharma Artha Kama Moksha”, I came across a chapter Worlds Above & Below. The chapter spoke about the Pataal Lok, home of the asuras, the Bhu Lok, home of the humans and the Deva Lok, home of the devatas. Pataal Lok is filled with gold and gems but asuras are never … Continue reading Inside the service lifts of posh high-rise apartments