When I moved to India Kabir had started to go to school, I had a full-time house help and little else to do. I took up baking to fill my time. It got busy but never hectic. That’s how the first two years went. That’s when I took up blogging and almost overnight my situation turned on its head. Now, Kabir is entering his tweens and work is peaking more than it ever has. Not that I am not thankful for it but it has caught me completely unprepared. I have been struggling with time management for a very long time and, as is the case with most things, I learnt a valuable insight and lesson in time management out of accident. Continue Reading
I have always loved wearing sarees but I started working towards bringing the saree back when I wrote the article on the 100 Day Saree Pact last year. I found myself wearing sarees and handloom more and more, especially after my mom passed away. I don’t even know if there is any connection (she had stopped wearing sarees as she grew older) but maybe it’s my way of holding on to my roots and memories. And, however insignificant it might be, I decided to work towards promoting it in my own small way through my blog and Instagram. Continue Reading
I have never paid much attention to fashion trends. But like most women I struggle with I-have-nothing-to-wear-syndrom
How often do we take the city we live in for granted? Years pass by and the only place we usually visit are the nearest cafes and pubs. But when we travel, we take out time for places that aren’t even remotely worth visiting. I have started to believe that it’s almost criminal to not to see the heritage your own city has to offer.
My visits to monuments of Delhi might have started of as I wanted good pictures of me in a saree (you can read my previous articles here and here). But it’s slowly converted to love for Delhi and how beautiful it is.
I used to love wearing sarees and cottons were always my fav but somewhere along the way I stopped making the effort. When I wrote about 100 Day Saree pact (read here), I realised how much I miss wearing them. Also, when we did the shoot for that article at Old Fort in Delhi, I realised how much I’m missing out on what Delhi has to offer. So I couldn’t resist when Arun, who’s passionate about photography and Delhi’s monuments, suggested that we go to Chandni Chowk.

A bit of royalty
We shot at the recently renovated Haveli Dharampura, Nau Ghar, in crowded lanes and in front of all the colorful doors. Haveli Dharampura is beautiful and sanitised, where we were served sanitised version of Paranthe waali gali deep fried paranthas, while rest of Chandni Chowk is dirty, very dirty.
When we couldn’t locate the Haveli, a resident walked with us to show us the way. When he overheard me crib about how dirty the lanes are, he poignantly said, “yahi asli dilli hai”.

Intricate work at so many entrances
We were offered a hearty portion of kheer by a pandit when we stopped to click a pic near a temple. And the shopkeepers of a small zari shop, emptied it for us so that we could get a good clean shot. The place left me disturbed yet very warm despite all the chaos, commotion and utter madness and of course we managed to get some very good shots.

We all have a bit Shahrukh in us
Visit it if you haven’t been there yet and find your own interpretation. The trip will leave you with lots of thoughts.

The beautiful aangan at the Haveli

A beautiful red dhakai cotton saree that I borrowed from a close friend

Arun’s fav pic

Dilapidated

Painted

The zari shop

with Arun at top of the Haveli, Jama Masjid at the backdrop