My World

I bet everyone knows about the Starry night painting by Vincent Van Gogh. Not only is it one of the most famous paintings in the world, but it is also an exquisite piece of art to look at. It has rightfully earned its place as one of the most famous paintings in the world. Before this, I was unbeknownst that there is also a song after the famous artist. The song is by Don McLean and it was produced somewhere around the 70’s. The song is called Vincent originally but also goes by the name starry starry night. Don McLean has done wonderful job with the song. It is soothing, it is thoughtful and it gives you a beautiful message of what Vincent Van Gogh might have wanted to hear or what he might have been going through. These are the lines that touched me the most: But I could’ve told you Vincent This world was never meant for One as beautiful as you I first heard the song when Sushant Singh Rajput’s sister shared a video about him on her Instagram account. This song was de...

If you are craving for Biryani during this lockdown, then I’ve got some good news for you. All you need is a pressure cooker, rice, some chicken, spices that are almost always available in the kitchen and a whole lot of love. You will need For the Biryani ½ kg chicken 1.5 cup of rice Salt Pepper Red chili powder Cumin powder Turmeric powder Cinnamon powder Ghee A few bay leaves 1 large onion 2 large tomatoes Ginger garlic paste Green chili For the raita 4 tablespoons of curd (homemade curd is even better) 1 small opinion 1/3 of a cucumber Salt Red chili powder Sounds like a lot, I know. But the taste is scrumptious. The preparation time will take somewhere from 10 to 20 mins and the making will take you up to 25 mins. But hey, you get to have biryani so…. Instructions: First things, first, take 1.5 cup of rice (basmati would be even better) and soak it for at least 1 hour. Cut up your small onion and 1/3 of cucumber and drop in th...

I’m not sure whether I read the book first or the watched the movie. Either way, the story will have you bawling because it is very moving. I read the book when I bought it to give it as a birthday gift to Laalee. Of course, I couldn’t give it without having read it myself first. I was in tears when I got to the end. So I was more than surprised when dai got me the same book as a present for my birthday, thinking I would love such a romantic story anyway. Touché brother touché. The movie while it has slightly altered the story at some points has done an excellent job of portraying the emotions. Needless to say, you will become an emotional wreck at the end of it; mark my words. Anyway, it had been a while since I last read the book or watched the movie for the matter. So it was a pleasant joy when I caught it on TV a few days ago. However, the movie only had about half an hour left. I watched it nonetheless. It had just got to the part where Gerry’s letter describes their first mee...

  You always sang to me: “Neerana Peerana” and one day you asked me if I knew what peerana meant. I shook my head. You said it was short for peer haran; peer as in trouble, haran as in loss. Looking at my face would make you forget all your troubles and worries in the world, you had said. Somehow, I grew up believing it. I probably don’t say this enough but thank you, thank you for everything. No amount of thank yous could ever justify whatever you have done for us, but I’m going to try anyway. Thank you for all the chocolates and yummies you got me even when mamu would say no Thank you for that Barbie doll set you got me at Bhatbhateni and waiting for literally an hour, because I just could not choose Thank you for bearing all my tantrums Thank you for all those rides you took us on during holidays Thank you for taking so many pictures of our childhood Thank you for making all those delicacies and letting us know what a wonderful secret cook you are Thank...

  Here’s a refreshing drink to sip on for those hot days and it is just so easy to make. Give no more than 5 to 10 minutes of your day. And of course, invite few friends over or share with family because this drink is definitely something to be drank over a conversation. Here is what you will need 1 tea bag of peach tea 2 tablespoons sugar 2 wedges of fresh lemon A mint leaf Black salt Ice cubes 2 cups of water Instructions Heat 1 cup of water over the pot and stir in the sugar Pour in your water in the glass you want to serve and dip in your tea bag : 5 dunks should do. 1 tea bag should be enough for 3 drinks Add your other cup of water and make sure it is filtered Add ice cubes Sprinkle in some salt Cut some lemon slices and dunk in one of the slices into the drink and wedge the other on the side of the glass for that fancy look Do not forget your mint leaf Enjoy.

I’m not sure how many of you remember this series, or even know about it, in fact; but it is a terrific show. Running from 2000 – 2006, the show is funny, clever and just great. Maybe it’s the show that represents childhood, or maybe it’s the show capturing the late 90s early 2000s era or maybe it’s me missing my own childhood but you’d really have to watch the show yourself to figure it out. Most would remember Bryan Cranston as Walter White from “Breaking Bad”, but he did another great series before that: Malcolm in the Middle. Hal is this sort of adult child who is very much in love with his wife and tries to control and take care of his mischievous kids who get in all sorts of trouble. Hal and Lois have 4 kids at the beginning of the series: all boys. And Lois gets pregnant in the series again with surprise: another boy. One can only imagine how hard it must be for Lois to take care of them with Hal acting like a child himself, at times. No wonder she is arrogant, paranoid an...

I first had this delicacy during my visit to Bangkok. I had heard so much about it and it tasted just as delicious. I wanted to try to make it. Of course, there was no way I could replicate the dish in terms of flavor but I tried. And all the more, it’s the perfect dessert to try and make during the season of mangoes. Here is what you will need A cup of rice ( taichin rice/ sushi rice is more favorable)s 3 ripe mangoes 1 can of coconut milk (easily available in the supermarket) Sugar to your liking 1 tablespoon of corn starch This is pretty easy to make and prep time will only take you somewhere around 20 minutes excluding the rice, of course. Instructions First things first, you want to soak the rice and cook it accordingly. Then leave it be. Take a pot and pour in your coconut milk, you can substitute regular milk if you cannot find coconut milk. Pour in your sugar around 3-4 tablespoons or as per your taste and keep stirring In a small separate bowl, take 1 table...

So my sister in law was telling me about this exotic looking plant and named appropriately after the beautiful patterns. It is slim with long leaves with these snake like patterns on the leaves. Needless to say, nature is majestic. What drew me toward the plant even more was the mere fact that it purifies the air around it. Mostly, used as in indoor house plant, Neha bhauju wanted one because it is exquisite to look at, and of course the pure air. As a joke, I mentioned to her, like snake plant is an air purifier, there should be a “mann purifier” plant. But then, it really got me thinking: what if there really were such plants. What started off as a joke, dove me into wonder. Think about it: a plant that would get rid of your negative thoughts, your pessimism, your anger, your darkness and throw positivity towards you, lift you up, purify your heart. I know it is ridiculous to think of such a thing. But just think, for a moment, let us forget the impossibility of such a wish and...