MAADHYAM

As parents, we often find ourselves juggling countless responsibilities—work, household tasks, and raising children. In the midst of it all, it can be easy to focus on what needs to be fixed or improved, especially when it comes to our kids. But what if the key to helping them grow lies not in constant correction, but in appreciation and encouragement? The Story of Riya and Her Son, Aarav Riya, a working mom, had always been dedicated to her career and family. But lately, she noticed her 8-year-old son, Aarav, becoming more withdrawn and less excited about school. His grades had started to drop, and Riya found herself constantly nagging him to complete his homework or study more. The more she pushed, the more Aarav seemed to retreat into his shell. One evening, during a particularly heated moment, Aarav blurted out, “You only notice when I do something wrong!” That hit Riya hard. She hadn’t realized that her well-meaning advice and constant correction had overshadowed something far mor...

It began like any ordinary Sunday. The fan hummed lazily above the dining table. Plates of half-eaten parathas lay scattered, along with a math notebook Riya had quietly pushed aside. At fifteen, she had mastered the art of appearing busy while feeling invisible. “Still not finished?” her father asked, glancing at the open notebook. “I’ll do it,” she replied softly. Her mother added, almost casually, “Your cousin Aarav finished his syllabus last month. He’s so focused. You should learn from him.” It was said in passing. Not harsh. Not loud. But it landed. Riya lowered her eyes. She nodded, the way she had trained herself to do when comparisons surfaced. The conversation moved on. The comment did not. Over time, the statements became patterns. “You’re too sensitive.” “Why do you overreact to everything?” “Girls these days have too many distractions.” “When I was your age, I never answered back.” Each sentence sounded like advice. Correction. Guidance. But slowly, they formed...

She floated into my life when I never knew She grew so close and knew all that she wanted to know About me and her She spoke to me when her heart felt blue We sat and sang talking of all the things we would do Dreaming of staying together Crying when we though what if we had to part? Life brought a smile to me face which she knew why? We would wonder how our lives would pass by. How she could spend time endlessly not a care about the world Just wanted to smile and float like a butterfly A butterfly who knew not where she wanted to go But spread happiness on every flower she touched She could never see anyone sad And would try and pull my socks if I were ever in that state She had a hidden beauty which everybody loved She loved life and waited to see each day go by Talking of days not knowing what if we never met? But our friendship just grew by leaps She went miles away but not so far To come by sometimes and see how we are Call to check if all is right And fill our spirits...

People often ask me how I became a content creator, learned to write, and—most importantly—how I found the courage to stand up for myself. The answer is simple: Professor Jerry Pinto. I still remember our first day in class. Forty girls, all slightly nervous, trying to figure out what journalism school had in store. Jerry walked in and said something none of us expected: “You will not call me ‘Sir’. I haven’t been knighted by the Queen of England. I’m not your teacher. Call me Mr. Pinto or Jerry.” We were stunned. Then came a question that truly shook us up: “How many of you can ask your friend to return the money they borrowed, without feeling guilty or awkward?” Only a few of us raised our hands—including me. Then he asked, “How many of you have money saved up that nobody knows about?” Again, just a few hands went up. Mine included. And then… the real shocker. He told each of us to stand up and say, “F@k off.”* You can imagine our expressions. We were frozen. Some giggled...

My grandfather was freedom fighter And on this day 70yrs ago he saw freedom from the British rule He was a true Gandhian and followed his principals He dropped his surname and caste to join the Gandhi Movement So when asked whats your surname here is my reply He wore only khaadi and used only khaadi The Kurta khaadi The Dhoti khaadi The Handkerchief khaadi and even his undergarments Khaadi Every Year he would come and spend time with us He would narrate stories of how he went to jail and how they fought for freedom When we met his friends when we went to Kerala for our summer breaks we spoke about freedom and heard stories from his friends which one may only see in films but are true His favorite song he hummed through the day Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram Pati tapavan Sita Ram Eshwar Allan tero naam Sabko Samati de Bhagavaan I am proud to be his granddaughter He always said you are first Indian then whatever you want be Religion is man made Be good  Be ...

The Dragonfly I’ve always been fascinated by these little creatures and fler they were mystical.  There’s something about them—mysterious, delicate, yet powerful. The day I drew this dragonfly, something within me shifted. It came a day after a close friend lost his father, suddenly and without warning to a Cardiac arrest. One minute he was playing with his grandchildren the next he fell dead on the sofe.  No good bye No time to react No time to process Just gone That moment made me pause. The dragonfly , in cultures around the world, is a symbol of transformation — Not just surface change, But deep, internal change that stems from emotional growth, Mental maturity, And a new understanding of life itself. Reflections Life is fragile. Life is unpredictable. It takes just one event — One breath, one heartbeat, one goodbye— To change everything we know. But in the face of this uncertainty, We must continue. We must rise, And live. Not in yesterday, Not in ...