Book Review: A Fractured Life by Shabnam Samuel
I stumbled onto Shabnam Samuel by chance. A common FB group, a random conversation and then an intentional phone call
Author: Laksh
Mom to three. Open adoption advocate. Writer.
The Color Of Regret
The garage rattles noisily when I press the switch. I wince. It is not yet 6:00 am. The breeze feels
To The Moon And Back
A few weeks ago, every day on my drive to work and back home, I listened to America commemorate the
Untaught Lessons
I am driving home from my brother’s place. Amma is in the passenger seat beside me. Pattu and Laddu are
Birthday Wishes For The Man In My Life
His voice undulates as he reads. Laddu is on his lap, her hands raised to circle his neck. Ammu is
Essay: Arranged Marriage
This essay appeared in Centered: The magazine of personal stories in 2019. It is an excerpt from my work in
Letting Go, Just A Little Bit
I hear the bus before I see it. My pace picks up speed. I meet neighbors on the way to
Fleeting Childhood
She is staring out the window, a stuffed bear under her elbow, a piece of paper with the drawing of
A Certain Smugness Of Being
My call is just about over when a frantic text pops up on my phone. I ignore it and focus
Love That Spilleth Over
Laddu peeks in the study and noticing I am on a work call, closes the door gently behind her as
Perils Of Judging From Afar
A few months ago, I received a cryptic note on my FB page from someone representing a modeling agency. I
Things We Don’t Talk About
Warning: Not my usual kind of writing. Read at your own risk. I woke this afternoon from my nap feeling
Notes From A Newly Minted Working Woman
I survey the place around me from my elevated perch. I am on the elliptical chanting Vishnu Sahasranamam while pushing
An Average Day
“Take a picture” I beg Saathi as I scramble to get out of the house. He looks at the lamp
Milestone: Re-entering Workforce
My iWatch shows I have about 4K steps to my self imposed goal of 10K steps a day. I walk
Vacation Tales
We (my children and I) returned from a ten-day trip to Texas late last night. Exhaustion had us sleeping well
Filial Expectations
I am at the stove deep frying thenkuzhal, a golden extrusion of rice and lentil flours fried and drained on
Essay: Arranged Marriage
For years, I dreamed of being published by Brain, Child Magazine. Then, last year, I met an editor that worked
Building A Sonata
Earlier this week, a friend shared this letter (excerpt 3). Words that have stuck with me for over two decades now
Musings: End Of School Year
The water swirls around my feet, pulsing from the jets in the tub. The chair I am on pounds in
A Wish And A Wisp
Walking around the house while the rasam bubbled merrily on the stove, I decided to scroll through my contact list
