Week 43/2025: Monday 20th Oct to Sunday 26th Oct

 Last week I was in paradise; now I’m thrown back to reality! That’s exactly what it feels like moving back to the in-laws’ after spending time with my parents. I guess it’s the same for most married women. At your parents’ house, life feels like a holiday: no work, royal treatment, getting to yell at your parents without consequences (bad manners), eating all your childhood favourites, wearing whatever you want—ah, that freedom just hits differently! But coming back home is inevitable. And if it’s a joint family, the level of “adjustment” required is… well, IYKYK!

One of the things I enjoyed most while at Kabbe was solving the Rubik’s Cube. I actually learned to solve it by watching a YouTube tutorial the day before my wedding—I remember the day so clearly. I was not excited about the wedding next day but solving this!

The crocheting season is officially over. Suddenly, now that I’m back home, I don’t find the time for such 'not-so-productive' (?!) activities. Besides, this week was a super busy one, it was Deepavali! Deepavali, for us, isn’t just about holding a thali full of diyas and posing for a photo (I never did that, I realise I don’t have even one such photos). It’s three days of nonstop work! Preparations begin a week in advance with cleaning every nook and corner of the house and cow shed. but (luckily), I skipped that part since I was at my parents’. The actual celebration started on Monday, the day of 'Naraka Chaturdashi'. We welcome home ‘King Bali’, represented by a big desi cucumber decorated with funny eyes and a moustache. He’s the demon king who was granted a boon by Lord Vishnu’s 'Vamana' avatar to visit the earth once a year on this day. We also take an oil bath on this day. The second day is 'Amavasya', 'Lakshmi Pooja'. Traditionally, it’s for worshipping Goddess Lakshmi, but we don’t perform it since Sujay’s ajji passed away on this day. Still, we make ‘holige’ (puran poli), so it’s another busy day. The third and final day is ‘Bali Padyami’, also ‘Gou Pooje’. We perform pooja for our cows, the cowshed, vehicles, and machinery. In the evening, we worship Bali once more and symbolically send him back.

Even Dhruva’s new cycle got its first pooja!

We don’t burst crackers. it feels unnecessary and showy. Our home is far from the city, but we can still hear the distant bangs throughout the night, making our dogs bark and run around like crazy. We always end up talking about how harmful crackers are, for the environment, for animals, and even for little kids like Dhruva in the cities.

What I truly love about Diwali are the lanterns—or Akasha Butti in Kannada (what a beautiful word!). Seeing every home lit up with them, is pure joy.

The rainy season just doesn’t seem to end this year. It started in mid-May and is still going strong. reports say it’s due to a hurricane effect. It’s pouring outside, and so is Dhruva’s nose! He’s had a runny nose for almost a month now. Homeopathic medicines don’t seem to help. I guess colds, coughs, and fevers are bound to happen at this stage—kids eating solids, less breastmilk, exploring the world (and licking everything off the floor!), and of course, this never-ending wet weather. Shall we ignore the symptoms or continue treating with medicines? I am left in dilemma.

On a lighter note, I’ve started watching a K-drama called ‘My Dearest’ on MX Player. My K-drama craze began back in my teens with ‘Boys Over Flowers’, and it’s still going on. Sujay hates them—he says he can’t even tell the genders apart! I’m not obsessed, but I do love rom-coms: lighthearted stories, warm storytelling, strong female leads, and morally complex heroes. My Dearest is about love and survival amid war. I’m still figuring out the plot. will tell you more next week!