Author - Jui Purohit.

Never have I ever stayed at home 24/7 for days together. And COVID made me do that, from March 2020 to many many months ahead, I was literally feeling 'locked up', as in jailed. I love travelling, I love hanging out. Sitting at home the whole day has never been in my arrangements. Be it a quick trip to buy groceries or quick peep into my friends' place, I love to venture out. Any excuse is valid for me when it comes to sneaking out of the house. The chaar diwaris cannot contain me, however palatial they may seem. If not a tour through the avenues, atleast a circuit around my garden suffices the thirst of my parched and restless limbs. The house arrest, on the top of it, the kitchen duty the whole day, nope, by no means it sounds like me. I would literally go insane if I ever have to stay indoors for days and months, I had thought. But I could make it through only because of my family members, specially my kids, who kept me so busy that I didn't recall what it was to roa...

 "Never have I ever seen snowfall, I mean not on television and movies, I mean actually experiencing it with my very own eyes", I blurted aloud. Mr. Hubby, as calm as he is always, "You know I don't like to be in snow. I hate chilly weather".  I love snowfall. I crave to go to that frosty site, whenever I see it in movies. The heroine, clad in chiffon saari and sleeveless blouse, of colours red, yellow, purple....a Sridevi from Tere mere honthon pe or a Juhi Chawla from Tu mere samane....I wish I could enact the scene. "You will die of cold", Mr. Hubby uttered, as though reading my mind. Fascination for snow, might be influenced by bollywood, but has been there for years now. The snow clad mountains looking like vanilla icecream had been my favourite scenery to draw in school. I always wanted to play in the snow covered turf, sliding down the pearly hills. Throwing snow balls at my hubby, irritating him a little bit and dodging as he throws one at me. ...

 Be it dhol-tasha beats during the Ganapati festival or a DJ playing at sangeet night at any wedding. My happy feet can never contain themselves, they involuntarily start jamming with the rhythm. Never have I ever missed a chance to dance. Even as a child, I used to shake my legs to nursery rhymes, the ones that used to be played on a cassette player, sung by the famous Preeti Sagar. My family used to clap and encourage me every time I swayed and twirled. Later on I started participating in school gatherings. I choreographed my own dances and also helped my friends with routines. I took tuitions for 'Kathak' style of dance for three years too. I couldn't continue it due to studies and board exams, but that didn't stop me from dancing. I paired up with friends and participated in dance competitions, in school and even college. This boosted my confidence furthermore. Well, when it comes to dance, I am a total party animal. People go to clubs to drink, but me, I enjoy the ...

 "Aai, I made Puranpoli today", I forwarded a pic of my not-so-perfect-yet-edible, puranpolis, on Whtsapp to my mom. As soon as there were blue ticks on my message, I got a call from my mom. "Did you make these? Really?", she was verifying, again and again. "I hope it's not a forward", she joked. I didn't get angry, I just laughed. Because I knew she won't believe her eyes.  Never have I ever liked cooking, since childhood. My sister used to show her interest and skills in kitchen, although being younger to me. She and mom would experiment with recipes, enthusiastically. While I would only be keen in tasting it.  "You will starve if you don't learn to cook", mom would put up her point. "There are restaurants everywhere Aai, why do you worry?", I would counter. "What will you feed your husband and in-laws?", her next point. "I will marry a restaurant owner, we all will eat at the restaurant", my arguem...

  "Please show me the answers atleast, will tally to see if they are correct", my classmate requested, before entering the examination hall for Mathematics paper for the boards. He knew that I never copied nor looked around during any of my exams. He read my expressionless face and guessed that I wouldn't be of any help to him. Well, I believed that I work hard, study hard and follow my own pace. I attempt everything that is in my control. I do not ask for any help or copy during tests or exams, then why should I bother to look around and interpret the faces watching me for assistance. The faces who haven't put their efforts in studying and want to benefit from mine. I am sounding rude...right? Well, nonetheless, I never ever amended my ways regarding 'not copying'. I remember in grade 5 or 6, we had to share the bench with our seniors, during the examination. So that both of us are attempting different paper and no one would cheat. My neighbour was literally ...