During Valentine’s week, a couple received a unique Blinkit delivery featuring interactive packaging: a colourable bouquet and a set of 32 words for crafting personal quotes. The writer struggled initially but employed ChatGPT for organisation. Ultimately, he created a heartfelt poem for his wife, illustrating the human essence in writing, despite AI's assistance.
A personal milestone. A long-cherished dream realised. I’m proud to share my book Echoes from Mesopotamia, recently published and launched at the Kolkata Book Fair (Boi Mela), 2026. Shaped by sixteen years in Iraq—the land often called the Cradle of Civilisation but one that became a second home—the book journeys through the myths and legends of Sumer, Akkad, and Assyria, drawn from research, lived experience, and quiet listening among the echoes of the Tigris and Euphrates. Seeing these echoes find a home between the covers of a book is a dream sixteen years in the making.
Passing through Hamad International Airport, I did not expect to find a sanctuary. Gillie and Marc’s Wildlife Wonderscapes halted my hurried stride, confronting me with bronze sentinels of endangered life. In that fleeting pause between departures and arrivals, art whispered a question that lingered long after: what will we choose to protect?
The Chhotanagpur plateau, home to the Asur tribe, reveals a rich cultural tapestry shaped by ancient metallurgical practices. Once adept at eco-friendly iron smelting, the Asurs, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, face declining traditions amid modern industrialisation. Despite cultural erosion and economic challenges, efforts to preserve their heritage are emerging, highlighting the importance of maintaining their unique connection to history and ecology.
At Delhi airport, amid echoing announcements and rolling suitcases, Aranjit pressed a signed copy of Call of the Wild into my hands. Years folded like wings. His stories drifted through me—moonlit verandas, creaking stairs, and that breathless pause where memory meets mystery, reminding me that friendship, like storytelling, survives distance and time in quiet, luminous, unforgettable shared moments together forever.
A quiet walk brought me to an empty Chinese tearoom in Erbil, where Ba Bao Cha—Eight Treasure Tea—slowly unfurled in a glass vessel, blending time and tranquility. Gentle sweetness, floral whispers, and stillness combined in a cup, transforming an unplanned pause into a lasting memory.
The journey to the Mahabodhi Temple offered serene moments of reflection during a ritual that honored Siddhartha’s spiritual path. Visiting the Dungeshwari Caves and the Niranjana River highlighted pivotal transformations in his quest for enlightenment. Ultimately, the trip became a meaningful pilgrimage, enriching the travelers through resilience, companionship, and introspection.
The day commenced with health concerns, but a determination to explore prevailed. Visits to the Vishnupad Temple and Mangla Gauri Shaktipeeth deepened spiritual connections. Despite physical challenges, anticipation drove the journey to Bodhgaya, culminating at Mahabodhi Mahavihara Temple. The day ended with a meal, gratitude, and the enriching experience of cultural exploration.
When cancelled flights erased a long-awaited reunion, we chose stillness over disappointment. A quiet journey to Gaya–Bodhgaya replaced celebration with contemplation. Amid crowds, fatigue, and faith, the trip reminded me that meaning often emerges not from perfect plans, but from the grace of acceptance.
On a cool December evening in Erbil, I walked without a set direction, letting the festive lights inspire my thoughts. I paused unexpectedly at the Vinery Café, savoring an affogato—a mix of hot espresso and cold ice cream. In this simple combination, I found a reflection of life: opposites like bitter and sweet, hot and cold, liquid and solid coming together to create something unexpectedly complete.
