What is the sense in having a realtime conversation using voice notes instead of getting on a call? Priviliged young millennials and Gen Z seem to lack anything to actually prove themselves over so they’re choosing to do silly nonsense like this.

Bought this book for the beautiful cover. Reading in horrified disgust because just how far do white people go fetishising Asian cultures while also packaging them in crass, shallow, plastic ways? #Books

I never knew Philippines had been colonised by Spain and then the US till I saw Netflix’s ‘Replacing Chef Chico’ and wondered why the restaurant looked like Goa and everything sounded Spanish. Also makes me realise feel proud of India, even with all its problems.

Hospital food for 9 days has given me a newfound appreciation of rice cooked perfectly the way my mother does it.

It’s been a month since I posted. In this time, I’ve had an undiagnosed health issue, been rushed into emergency and had my first hospital stay. I’m back home and convalescing. It’s a slow recovery but I’m ending the year with a lot of gratitude for the support & love that did come in. How’re you?

When I was a kid, I was often home sick from undiagnosed allergies. My mother used to feed me rasam rice and kootu. I HATED it because I associated it with having to stay in bed quietly. All these years later, it has become comfort food. Like a hug from within.

One breath at a time. Make it deep.

It has come to my notice that WEH metro station has a bookshop. Where was all this book love when I was surviving Andheri East? And apparently it’s in that floor that for years I thought would turn into a place to hide those not of the living persuasion anymore.

Don’t you love just how quiet this is? Especially for a book called that. @blaft.bsky.social @blaftrakesh.bsky.social

I’m seeing a lot more women in pairs or groups sitting together at restaurants & cafes than I did in my 20s. Back then, I was the only one getting solo lunch or one ticket for movies and got a lot of stares. Still not many solo women but it’s good to see how diverse some of these women duos are.

They voted back in a man who incited an attack on a government building and just insulted a female reporter who asked about a pedophile. Then again, look at me talking. Quiet, piggy, indeed.

Heaven help me from the “I’m not on social media” brag because this is no different from the “I am a coder” brag from the 2010s. Nobody cares, ‘bro’ and even among the people who do, you’re too late.

Suddenly being followed by s*nghis and creepy s3xb0ts on X. Is it worth weeding them out when the big daddy himself is well…? Why am I still on there? Because I was one of the early users and have over a decade’s worth of content, connections and memories.

My second Japanese book this year after Asako Yuzuki’s Butter. And I’ve fallen headlong into how relatable it is. Maybe only a book will ever hear you. #Books

I need to learn to be among people without engaging actively. At first I thought this just meant not talking but I realised most people don’t put as much thought and effort into talking as I do. And people are *very* uncomfortable around me when I don’t talk. Tips would be welcome.

Desi men on dating apps be like I’m a great guy despite being separated and lying about it or divorced with hateful feelings but I’m the best you’re ever going to get because trust me, bro okay never mind you’re a drama queen you want honesty kaunsa mard aisa karta hain chal come for long drive.

Not being able to write isn’t always writers block. Right now it feels more like idea pregnancy and I’m not yet at term.

For the first time in months have not been responsible in schedule, work, diet, exercise, conversation or socialising and I feel calm. For the first time. This city is shit, human beings are garbage and I’m going to survive, that’s all.

Gen Z fashions are so sloppy that it really makes it easier to dress ‘my age’ a.k.a. millennial cuts that fit me instead of drowning me in fabric.

Let’s stop calling them angry men and call them what they are. Spiteful narcissists. Calling them angry men humanises monstrous actions while also silencing their victims. A human adult who spews poison in action & words does not deserve that excuse. Call them narcissists. Unless you’re one.

Anxiety in men is just a capitalist word to excuse entitlement, control games and socially condoned abuse. Nobody else gets to get away with these things, refuse to get help and anyway be excused as being mentally ill.

All the book club discussions I’ve been to this year are decidedly not literary discussions. Instead they’re about people’s personal feelings. Like group therapy meets toxic fandom. People are reading to become book influencers. It’s probably good for publishers now but I don’t see it lasting.

Fat golden shallots make sambar just hit differently. Yum, what genius is Southern home cooking.

I’m not too worried about AI taking away my job right now because I have full faith in the lazy greed of capitalism that cuts costs with zero regard for crash-and-burn scenarios. I saw it happen with the dotcom boom/bust and the social media wave/mess.

I love drawing buildings and interiors without people because they are studies in geometry and light. I enjoy this because drawing lets me break the rules of gravity and perspective and shade just because I like how pencil scratches look there. #Ideart

Why is no one talking about ‘Nobody Wants This’ on Netflix? It’s very Indian-relatable from the snooping aunties to the communal boundary violations to of course, religious discrimination as identity.

Probably too much to expect non Dravidians to say Bengaluru right when they haven’t managed to say Chennai correctly for 20 years. Never mind Sambar that has exactly two As pronounced exactly the same but they’ll randomly stretch out one in the manner of Americans mocking an Indian accent.

Wisdom is good humoured and good humour is always kind. #nowreading

Just read the phrase ‘bitter divorcee energy’ and I immediately thought of all the men frothing at the mouth over WhatsApp groups. Funnily enough, the women divorcees look tired at worst and relieved at best. No time or reason for bitterness after escaping marriage.

I’ve been pondering how to respond to people angrily saying “I didn’t know that” when I stop their nasty assumptions with my realities. Maybe I’ll take a page out of this and ask, “Now that you know, what are you going to do with that knowledge?” Not hopeful about positive results though.

Don’t know if this is true anywhere else but Hinge is India is open season for married men too lazy to get a divorce but feeling entitled to flirtation and even side-pieces because they’re so sad. Utter garbage this gender.

Sounds like Literature Live went the marketing way and prioritised influencers. Heard it from someone who’s often complaining so may not be true. But the crowds make it seem like it. Well, good on the books business if they can attract more readers.

Rama met the future mayor of New York City on Hinge what am I doing wrong?

What makes well-educated, well-travelled 40-something (and that’s old enough) men think that off-colour jokes make for appropriate dating bios? Bad ones, that too.

Just came across a Hinge bio that says “Will make you laugh when you feel like dying because of periods”. Can we find the inventor of Indian men and jail them?

15 years ago, I anticipated seeing my misbehaving male peers brought down by life when their Raja beta status withered. Now I look at misbehaving men and realise I’ll see them go to miserable ends because I’ll outlive them. What a waste of life.

You know men may live shorter lives on average, but that’s not counting the days lost doubled over in pain so bad your teeth chatter and you can’t keep even water down, that most menstruators experience at some time.

Whew, dating in your 40s is exhausting. Because the men have not changed one bit except they have less hair, more paunch, a messy marriage that they pretend is over and blame the lack of divorce on the law being “women-oriented”.

Banana Leaf is sweeping new lows. Rude condescending waiters who inform you that no chutney will be given for rice ka roti (neer dosa), bring coffee spilt all over the tray and sloshing and reluctantly hand you food retrieved from under filthy plates. Not so much as a sorry.

I thought South Indians were bad at hospitality services. But nothing beats a North Indian man away from his Raja Beta godi having to actually *gasp* work, that too for kale Southies and pairon-ki-dhool women. So much resentment & entitlement and not a cell of skill or talent.

I always think of the scene from Men In Black 2. “I get sad when it rains." “It’s raining because you’re sad, baby."

I know I’m beating mental illness when I’m able to go to a good book store for comfort and walk out an hour later without buying a thing, because I know I have a shelf of good unread books waiting for me at home. Today, I did.

Medication doesn’t cure depression. It seems to press it deeper in, from your feelings into your very bones. ‘Bone-tired’ is a literal description. Like your entire skeleton just turned to paste and is sinking into a puddle on the floor. Then you sleep and that can be healing.

Books I currently love: Like Water for Chocolate, The Namesake, Salt & Saffron, The Pregnant King, The Kite Runner, The Time-Traveller’s Wife and The Covenant of Water (1/2)

Being around permanently angry people makes me realise rage & hatred both rise from fear. It makes sense why we are such a violent, hateful culture.

Who tf wants ‘a virtuous woman’ on a dating app in 2025? On the other hand, who still believes in sky daddies of different names who all somehow drive genocidal impulses?

During all the festivals this year, multiple house helper women in my building have said they were harassed or delayed by drunk men picking fights or throwing crackers at people and vehicles. This is not faith, it’s a deliberate attempt to kill Mumbai.

Travel is not a personality.

It’s raining! Good for momma Nature shutting down the creeps polluting Mumbai right now. Literally throwing a dampener on the works. I never liked the smell of wet mud as much as now. So much better than smoke.

Ugh, the rains are returning to Mumbai. Yes, please pollute our planet more in the name of sanskar.