I should probably rename my Substack as Bric-a-Brac Sporadically.
Anyhoo, I found this (poem) scribbled in an ancient journal that I happened to unearth while rearranging the bookshelf last weekend:
Putting pen to paper
I sniffle, sob and cry.
I scribble and I scrabble
But my ink runs dry
The joy of writing
is free, they say.
They don’t know the price
of the bills I have to pay.
An impostor, a fraud
is all I feel today.
I know, I know, it is
just not my day.
But the sun rises again
and we all use cliches
Here I go, again, again!
I’d rather do the dishes.
Now I make no sense;
all I am is a misfit.
Sometimes, the best thing
is to - just.sleep.over.it.
*sigh*
I have erased this sentence at least ten times, so I’d rather type just that.
Sooooo, in the middle of all the applications and interviews, here’s what I have been up to:
Sushi at Mizu
I tried delicious melt-in-the-mouth sushi at Mizu, Bandra. I also tried scallops for the first time, and WOW, I was not disappointed. And then we had tonkotsu ramen (I don’t eat meat, so I only had the ramen with vegetables and tossed the pork in my friend’s bowl), and boy, was it delicious??! There was a party in my mouth. Wrapped it up with a fluffy Japanese cheesecake (FINALLY) and a yuzu-infused cocktail. Oh. God.
Yes, Mizu burned a hole in the pocket. But it was worth every singe.
Books:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon
I had picked up this book last year at a book-by-weight sale. But what with all the rave reviews that I read and heard of it, this was a snooze-fest. Now, I have come across pesky teenage boys in literature (Hello, Holden Caulfield) but this, this narrator here, tested my patience, and how. Granted, he is on a autistic spectrum, and sees the world very differently. But I think Mark Haddon has done a poor job at making the reader empathise with Christopher here. Nevertheless, there were a few redeeming paragraphs here and there.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
My current read. First of all, at a time when I’m struggling to finish books and retain attention, the short chapters are a major blessing. Just like the title, the book contains a heavy theme (existentialism) wrapped in lightweight prose. Set in Prague and Geneva, it explores the lives of two women, two men, and a dog, trying to make sense of life, love, and everything that comes with it. So far, I’m just a quarter way through and it has been an easy yet very contemplative read.
Film/Series
Laapataa Ladies
It is not very often that I love a movie THIS much. I watched it twice.
A much-needed refresher from the generic Bollywood stuff that is being shoved down our throats (I also watched Shahid and Kriti’s ick-inducing robot romance and I’d rather not say anything about it at all).
This is the story of Phool and Jaya, and their journey gives the “laapataa” in the title a whole new undertone. It’s a story about getting lost, and then finding yourself. It’s a story about love. It’s a story about hope. It’s a story about freedom.
It’s a story India needed.
Do yourself a favour and watch the wholesome, wholesome masterpiece that is Laapataa Ladies.
Baby Reindeer
Holy-schmoly. Netflix seems to have struck a streak.
I decided to test the first episode and then ended up binge-watching this excellent series by comedian Richard Gadd, who draws inspiration from his real-life experience of being stalked.
Jessica Gunning does a brilliant job with her character Martha. She’s terrifying as the relentless stalker, but at the same time, her miserable life forces you to be in her shoes and empathise with her.
But what I loved even more about Baby Reindeer, is that apart from stalking, it explores the human psyche on a much deeper level. Why does Donny (the victim) take an interest in Martha? Why does he not report the incident immediately, despite knowing she’s a repeat offender? Why does he keep entertaining her until it gets really, really messed up?
Humans are hauntingly complicated beings, and that’s what Baby Reindeer explores, above all.
sent from iPhon
;)
I’ll be back next week, I hope.
Until then, have a lovely week!
With Love,
Jhelum
Nice Zelam! Keep writing ....