COFFEE TALKS and a lot more!

We felt a mix of excitement and unease when our little boy eagerly wanted to spin the prayer wheels. While he was drawn to them, we gently told him not to touch them, feeling a pang of guilt. This place was sacred, and somewhere in our hearts, we worried that our presence might disrupt the peace of those who came here to pray, not to watch curious visitors. As we tried to quietly manage our son, an elderly man entered the scene. Our uneasiness grew—were we overstepping? But he met us with the warmest smile and, without hesitation, began spinning each prayer wheel himself. Surprised, we shared our feelings of guilt and hesitation with him. He chuckled softly and said, “Perhaps you were meant to be blessed today. Through your little boy’s eagerness, a higher power allowed the wheels to turn. You have received the blessings of the mantra.” In that moment, his gentle smile and kind words lifted our guilt, replacing it with a sense of peace and belonging. It was as though his warmth hel...

So, it’s Thursday evening, and you know that feeling—weekend vibes are setting in a bit too early 😌✨ , and I'm craving something crunchy—something really snack-worthy 🤤 . But I’m also feeling incredibly lazy, with absolutely zero energy to make it myself 🛋️ . Instead of asking directly for a snack (where’s the fun in that? 😏 ), I get a little crafty. I start with a completely random request—maybe for a pair of earphones 🎧 or some other small thing I know he’ll think is absolutely unnecessary at the moment. He’s in the middle of his important office work 💻 , deeply focused, and I’m over here, relentless, nudging him again and again 🙃 . At first, he tries to shrug it off, barely sparing me a glance 🙄 , but I keep at it with my “who, me?” look—that perfect mix of innocence and just a hint of playful annoyance 😅 . He finally snaps, sighing in frustration, something like, “Can you please just wait?” And that’s exactly the moment I was waiting for. I don’t even need to say an...

It was during the Navaratri vacation, and our lil boy was driving us crazy with his constant antics. In a moment of frustration, we jokingly said, "We'll give you to the Pili Vesha Anna!" The idea of being handed over to a tiger dancer terrified him!!!  But after all the struggles we had gone through—debating the menu for the baby shower, the delivery, the sleepless nights, buying him endless clothes and toys—the thought of giving him away like that just made us burst into uncontrollable laughter.  That afternoon, as we sat together after lunch, talking and laughing about it all, we realized how much joy and meaning this little boy had brought into our lives. Moments like these make life truly special. It’s one of those mornings where the kitchen is the heart of all the action, and we’re each in our little corners, but somehow tangled up in each other’s plans in the most delightful chaos. One’s parked on the counter, swinging their legs, another’s on the stool by the wind...

On his 78th birthday, the college organized a grand ceremony to honor Mr. Rao, a beloved principal who was about to retire after decades of dedicated service. Though his age suggested he should be slowing down, he still carried the energy and vitality of someone in his 50s. The hall was filled with professors, lecturers, and staff—many of whom had spent more than 20 or 30 years at the institution because of Mr. Rao’s leadership. They spoke one by one, recounting stories of how he had influenced their lives, creating an atmosphere of trust, security, and mutual respect. The first story shared was one from a young accountant’s early days. Fresh out of college with a B.Com degree, he had joined a company as an accountant. Despite his inexperience, he was meticulous with his work, so much so that his accounts had no errors. His team lead, noticing this, began to take his work for granted, assuming everything would be flawless without needing thorough review. However, when the boss of ...

It was a cozy Saturday midnight 🌙, just the two of us in our snug little spot, chatting about things we love. Now, we’ve got a new midnight buddy — our little boy, always joining in the fun. 💛That night, cravings hit, and we spotted those babycorns chilling in the fridge 🥶. Before we knew it, they were tossed into boiling water to make some warm, comforting Maggi 🍜. Our lil boy, perched on the kitchen slab, took charge and started cooking his own version of Maggi for us! 👨‍🍳With the sweetest voice, he explained how he was going to enjoy every bite of those peas and babycorns. 🥬🌽In the quiet of the night, with our lil chef and steaming Maggi by our side, it became one of the warmest, most cherished memories ever. 💖

You've grown up so fast, from those sweet moments of just twinkling your eyes in the cradle. Now, you're jumping in and out of the cot, giggling as you pounce on your Appa, and I can't help but smile, knowing you've inherited my genes of teasing him endlessly.  Who would have thought that adding a little "kadale Bele" could bring so much 😍? Ever since, I've been finding ways to sneak it into everything I do, just so I can see that happiness light up your face when you say "kalle Bele , kalle Bele" with such excitement. It's priceless. I love watching you enjoy every bite of food, especially when I make unde. The way you jump up and down, shouting "Amma, unde, unde, unde!" makes my heart soar.  And when I make ghee, you want me to lift you up so you can smell the fresh ghee, just like I love taking in its rich aroma.The way you tell, "Amma, Thoppa, Thoppa" is !!!!!!!  The way you laugh, the way you sometimes cry, needing m...