The thought balcony

  Marriage: A Partnership, Not a Hierarchy We often talk about equality in society, but how much of it do we actually practise within our homes? There is still a mindset in which a man’s voice is expected to carry more weight, his decision is considered final, and a woman’s disagreement is seen as a challenge to his authority. The moment she speaks for herself, expresses discomfort or raises her voice, she is labelled difficult, unreasonable or someone who is not fulfilling her responsibilities. Why should standing up for oneself be mistaken for failing in a relationship? A marriage, particularly one that has stood the test of many years, is much more than two people living together. It is about understanding, supporting and standing by each other, professionally, emotionally and personally. It is also about recognising that both individuals have their own identities, opinions, aspirations and boundaries. Love should make space for comfort, not create an obligation to adjust co...

  When 80,000 Voices Become One Some experiences stay on your bucket list for a long time, and attending a Diljit Dosanjh concert was one of mine. I finally ticked it off! Honestly, if I had a choice, I would probably have picked an Arijit Singh concert first. But Diljit Dosanjh has a vibe of his own. There is something incredibly endearing about him. He comes across as genuine, humble and so effortlessly connected to his audience that you never feel he is a star performing for thousands of people. He feels like one of us. There is no unnecessary arrogance, just warmth, energy and a whole lot of love. I may not know the lyrics of all his songs, but those beats? You simply cannot sit still! And then there is the experience of attending a live concert. We all enjoy music in different ways. Some of us listen through headphones or earbuds, while others turn up the volume in their cars and sing along. Music accompanies us through so many moments of everyday life. But experiencing it...

  Who Am I Beyond What I Do? Today, I watched a reel in which a man said, “My job is not my identity.” It was a simple statement, but it stayed with me. I began wondering how I would define myself if I were asked to introduce myself without mentioning my profession, my relationships or the roles I play in other people’s lives. Who am I, really? I discussed this with a few friends, and, as expected, everyone had a different perspective. Yet we seemed to agree on one thing: our jobs may occupy a significant part of our lives, but they cannot define the entirety of who we are. When it was my turn to answer, I described myself as an independent woman who believes in equality and simplicity. Someone who values the freedom to express her thoughts without being afraid of what people might think. Someone who enjoys experimenting, exploring new possibilities and doing what her heart insists upon. But was that enough to describe me? I realised that perhaps identity isn’t a carefully c...

THE COST OF COMFORT  Perhaps the strangest thing about having enough money is that it can make us afraid of having less. I have been thinking about this lately. I have privileges in my life, and there is much I have to be grateful for. Yet the more carefully I observe the world around me, the more I realise how much of what we seek is tied to money, comfort, security and, somewhere beneath it all, status. Money gives us choices. It can give us a beautiful home, nutritious food, presentable clothes, travel, convenience and the freedom to say yes without constantly calculating the cost. And there is nothing wrong with that. But slowly, something changes. The things that once felt like luxuries become normal. A certain kind of home becomes the expected home. A particular quality becomes the minimum. A comfortable way of travelling becomes the only acceptable way. What money once gave us as freedom can quietly become the lifestyle we feel compelled to maintain. We work to create...

Why do I Post? You look at someone’s Instagram profile. You scroll through the pictures, watch a few reels, perhaps go back and look at something again. And somewhere between one post and the next, you have already formed an opinion about that person. They travel a lot. They have wonderful friends. They seem happy. They are doing really well. They have a beautiful life. We do it almost without noticing. But lately, I have been wondering about something else. When I post something, do I ever stop to think about why I am doing it? Honestly, I don’t know. Of course, I upload because I want people to see it. Otherwise, why would I put it on Instagram? Someone goes on a holiday and posts pictures. Someone spends an evening with friends and shares it. Someone achieves something and puts it out there. Someone buys something new, visits a new place, celebrates a birthday, attends an event. And we look at these little windows into their lives and make sense of the person through t...