COFFEE TALKS and a lot more!

  Before Conceiving: Followed a simple, home-cooked diet Practiced yoga regularly and stayed disciplined Lost weight naturally — from 62 kg to 42 kg Avoided sugary and processed foods Introduced a soothing Golden Latte — warm milk with soaked almond paste, elaichi, kesar, honey, and turmeric — a ritual that brought comfort and calm During Pregnancy: Focused on low-carb, home-cooked meals Completely avoided processed Monitored sugar levels closely After Delivery: Dealt with postpartum piles naturally — ate 2–3 tender radishes daily , soft rice, and rasam Relished my mother-in-law’s laddus — black sesame-jaggery laddus, and aromatic methi laddus — pure comfort after an oil massage and bath Stuck to traditional meals — soft palya and saaru varieties Avoided all baked and processed foods for nearly a year Continued breastfeeding for 2 years and 3 months , maintaining the same mind...

There were days when I just couldn’t stop cribbing — complaining about my annoying boss, little inconveniences, or anything that irritated me at work. Slowly, going to work started feeling like a headache… like I was walking into a lion’s den. Monk Man kept advising me: “Stop cribbing. Don’t let it fester in your mind. Either speak up once and let it go or simply release it. Don’t keep discussing it with colleagues or friends — replaying it only strengthens negative feelings. Over time, your mind starts developing a kind of hatred for the environment itself.” In the beginning, I stopped cribbing only because he told me to. Honestly, I felt frustrated — like he didn’t understand my feelings. I kept thinking,  “Does he even get what I’m going through?” But slowly… very, very slowly, things began to change. Watching him — someone who spoke up when needed but never nagged or complained — made an impact. Gradually, I too started practicing the art of letting go instead of revisit...

Small Changes, Big Calm I once asked, “How do you wake up so early? Don’t you just sleep a little more? You don’t even have strict office timings or morning chores!” Monk Man smiled and said, “True, I’m a bachelor, but even half an hour of extra sleep can mess up my whole day! Traffic piles up, ETA can vary by more than an hour, breakfast gets delayed… and I don’t like rushing my food. Honestly, we work hard for good food — it’s a reward. I don’t want to have my brekky outside; I like it slow, warm, and peaceful. Leaving early means I reach the office stress-free and avoid that slow-moving traffic frustration. Then lunch, coming home, sleep schedule — it’s all a chain reaction. One delay ruins the next day too.” I laughed and teased him, “You sound like a programmed system! After all, we’re humans — not robots.” So, I continued with my routine — snoozing the alarm, rushing later, skipping proper breakfast, and dragging through the same anxious, chaotic mornings. But slowly, what he s...

Even though there was so much work waiting at his desk, nothing I said could distract him. No stories, no toys, no gentle bribing. His little heart had already decided — he simply wanted to be in that room. At first, I was annoyed. But when I finally asked, “Shall we sit on the chair next to Appachaami?” his eyes lit up, and suddenly it all made sense. He wasn’t asking for play or attention. What he longed for was simply Appachaami’s presence. And it struck me, because I’ve felt the very same. There are days when I have a holiday but he doesn’t. On those mornings, when he says he might go to the office so he can return early instead of late, I’m left with this quiet emptiness. Not sadness exactly — just a hollow space. Even when we’re both at home, he is often lost in his work and I in mine. We may not talk much, yet his nearness itself fills the room. Just his presence is enough. That day, Puttu too found his wholeness in silence. He sat content beside Appachaami — coloring his book,...

 Those weekends when the cravings just peak and all I want is to bake brownies… and my little one asks for the very same! We end up in the kitchen, with him perched on the counter, sneaking licks of the dough with that mischievous smirk on his face. I pretend to scold him, but truthfully, I love it just as much. And then comes the sweetest part: the two of us sitting by the oven, watching the brownies puff up, while he asks every single minute if they’ve cooled enough to eat. Finally, we all sit together with the brownie bowl — one bite for Appachaami, one for Puttu, and one for Amma… and this little boy waiting for his turn, OMG!!!! It's where we belong… tightly knotted.

 It was during my 7th month… she had told me, "I dunno why, but the day I heard you conceived, I just had this in my mind to give you… and I will give you soon." After that, we couldn’t meet.And then, after delivery, she finally gave me that gift . That evening, after finishing all my baby chores, I sat eagerly waiting to open it.And when I did… it was Laddu Gopal!!! 💛With all the tiny little accessories', I was so, so, so happy!!! But at the same time, one doubt popped in my mind— "How will I be able to do all those rituals???" I texted her—half joy, half fear. She replied, "I had this instinct that you will deliver a lil Krishna the day I heard you conceived. That’s why I wanted to give you this. And tell me—are you not bathing your baby? Are you not dressing him up? Are you not feeding him? Are you not singing lullabies to put him to sleep? Are you not pushing yourself beyond everything just to see him in peace? That’s all it is." Tha...