Third Time's the Charm

I can’t believe it, this blog is now three years old! What began as an endeavour in Vikram Sarabhai Library to make some productive use of my free time, and is now an adorable means to document my life. 2026 has gotten off to a great start. Well, had. I was doing my absolute best in every facet. I had begun training seriously at the gym and showed up twice in “impeccable" and “picture perfect form” - my trainer’s words not mine. I learnt in the middle of some difficult seated rows that having any dance background means you can visualise your body externally, and thus isolate muscles and focus on them without moving any other muscle. While I do not have a proper dance background, I have danced enough to get the idea, and my sister is a professional so I guess the genetics help. I had a wonderful start in the first trading week, with positive feedback on my work. I had a perfectly planned weekend, meeting friends for dinner and relatives for lunch, cycling through the city, going to music class (where my teacher taught me a ghazal for the first time) and the gym, meal prepping on time. I even sang baar baar din yeh aaye for my grandma on video call on her birthday. It was indeed a “picture perfect” week. For one week. Then came the next Monday - where I seemingly forgot how to do my job, forgot my shoes and sports watch on the day of my training session and all-round lost the plot a little bit. Oh well, at least it’s over. 

Also in that good week, I finally watched Dhurandhar in the theatres. I rarely watch movies or go to the theatre, usually only because someone has dragged me there. So this was a big first, and it was so so SO worth it (Mulloth was right). I could enjoy every bit with no one to bother me. I was worried I would be terrified by the violence, but surprisingly, I was perfectly fine with it except for one scene - to the point where I am a little concerned about myself. I guess there have been enough instances that I either read in the papers, saw in the news or just first-hand heard about, and so many unnecessary experiences I myself (and every woman I know) have had, that a supremely violent and satisfying response seemed like a great way to let go of all that pent-up rage. I mean, don’t worry, I just watched the movie and came back home. Rather, the point is, I hadn’t been aware of how much violence I could bear if I view it through my own lens of injustice, until I saw this movie that is unlike my usual type. Oh, another takeaway- I really need to get my haircare routine back on track.

There are some goals that have gotten a little off-track since last year due to the sickness during the holidays (which lasted two full weeks by the way). I was supposed to hit a 5k, and I almost did, prompting my friend-and-run coach Javier to say “oh you can put in your blog, couch potato to 5k in one month”. Well, how kind is that. Unfortunately, this couch potato kept toasting in her blanket so that goal was duly missed. As early readers of this blog would know, there is a Thursday 7:15 PM yoga that is my favourite, it has gotten me through a lot of ups and downs since being in Singapore. The instructor is incredible and well-versed in Sanskrit despite not being Indian ethnically. Now imagine my disappointment when I open my app to see this class is cancelled and the instructor no longer works at my gym. How am I supposed to process life now? I tried to go back to my long-time friend - journaling, but no, it didn’t work the same way. I am sure there is a different yoga class I can take, and as I write this, I am realising how first-world my problem sounds too. Regardless, it is a problem that still has no solution. And the swimming I mentioned in the beginning of 2025? No surprises there, did not happen.

I had been worrying about not receiving some important stuff in the mail for over a month, wondering if someone had stolen my mail from my front door. As I was sharing this with another junior on my team, the “tube light” finally switched on. In Singapore, there are mailboxes. That day (also within the horrid second week), I went down to my mailbox which was stuffed to the brim with one year's worth of mail, including the important stuff. Look at that - who would think I was the same kid who could buy groceries at five years old but is now helping her colleagues laugh out loud in the middle of the work day. Hey, at least I am still bringing joy to people’s lives! Much like the new hibiscus plant I bought today. You see, in 2024, when life seemed all out dysfunctional and I had luckily gotten an opportunity at my current role, I bought a hibiscus plant with a flower bud in it (okay, little cheating). On my first day at this job, it bloomed. In the years that followed, I would like to think my career did as well (with a lot of late nights and poor health of course). I would rather not have any more bad weeks, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and buy the second hibiscus plant. Today is a good day too, it marks the beginning of the annual temple festival in my hometown. As my family enjoys the festivities the usual way, I will grumpily watch from afar, just like I watched the New Year’s fireworks at Marina Bay from my apartment’s balcony.