On reaching a psychiatry clinic around 7 pm after his work, Apy was not feeling anxious this time. In all his previous visits to the same clinic, each minute was difficult to cope with. His therapist, an experienced one, managed to do his best. But, this time Apy decided to…

“You are supposed to be home by 8 pm!” is what Meenakshi* gets to hear often. She, aged 34, is working in the insurance sector. “My parents want me to get married and they feel that I should not come home late as I will lose on the marital prospects…

My experiences and my observation of relationships have taught me a thing: pain is more mental than physical. As understood, like happiness, pain is a state of mind too. That’s why it is essential to release than hold on. …

One simple thing a relationship can rudely teach you is that ‘expectations are organized disappointments.’ Like other basic necessities, expectations have become very much part of today’s relationship and its issues. And we all have a different range of expectation levels, stemming from each other’s mindset and personal socialization. A…

When you “define” a woman, you limit her; you limit her choices, rights, and, nevertheless, her agencies. Literally, women have been defined, but the buck does not stop there. …

Had social empathy been the cultural norm of communities across ‘new’ India, democracy’s fate would not have witnessed the saffronisation of Indian youth with such impunity! Yes, sadly, we’re here to have seen an increment of hate crimes by 300% in a span of 7 years, followed by NCRB data…

Weeping. Shattered. Mithu* (name changed), sitting opposite of me on a chair, tells me her experience of a relationship she’d recently. Empathetically I listened for hours, only to understand her socially anxious mind efficiently helped her pretend to move on. …

February 14 is back. It’s valentine’s day. On Twitter, we shall be told by the riot-wing toadies that “it’s a western festival”, while OYO rooms will be busily occupied by the young bees on this day. The land of Kama Sutra shies to talk about love and sex openly, and…

Having tested covid-positive, a few days ago, I anticipated this whole week and the next one to rest. I am taking the necessary medicines so there is nothing to worry about. Thankfully, I recognize my privilege too in this case after getting to hear saddening stories of covid-related deaths. It…