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Showing posts from May, 2025

The Everyday Grace of a Woman

    ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image created by Author She walks along the roadside, the soft evening breeze teasing the edge of her saree. The weight of the day lingers in her steps—not heavy, but full. The kind of fullness that comes from tackling deadlines, solving unexpected problems, and making sure everything runs just right. In her left hand, the watch ticks along with time, but she doesn’t rush. Vegetables packed neatly in a cover, dinner already unfolding in her mind. Her right fingers touch the lace of her handbag, a familiar gesture, one of habit and ease. Her gold bracelet catches the light, thin and understated, just like her strength—quiet but unmistakable. The dried jasmine flowers in her braid tell their own story. They may have lost their morning freshness, but they still hold their scent, just like the joy she carries despite the long hours and the countless responsibilities. She doesn’t complain. She doesn’t wish the day had been different. She simply walk...

From Anxiety to Presence: A Zen Guide to Buying a Home Without Losing Your Mind

   ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image created by Author Buying a home should feel like building a sanctuary—but for most, it feels more like running a race they can’t afford to lose. The pressure mounts. Prices rise. Decisions feel rushed. And somewhere in the middle of mortgage calculations and real estate listings, we forget why we wanted a home in the first place. But Zen philosophy offers an antidote to the chaos. It reminds us that a home isn’t a possession—it’s an experience, a space to be , not just to own. When we approach home-buying with presence rather than pressure, the process transforms. 1. Let Go of the “Perfect Home” We chase perfection—more rooms, better location, the best deal—but in doing so, we forget what really makes a space ours. Zen teaches us imperfection is natural, and the more we accept it, the less stressful decisions become. The right home isn’t about checking every box—it’s about feeling at peace within its walls. 2. Reconnect Before You Sign ...

Strength in Every Sweep: A Woman's Dream Beyond the Dust

  ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image cretaed by Author There is something undeniably powerful about a woman who carries both resilience and hope in her every action. She may be sweeping the entrance of her home, wiping sweat from her forehead, but behind every movement, there is a silent strength—a determination that speaks volumes about her dreams. This image, a tribute to countless women whose labor often goes unnoticed, is more than just a visual—it is a statement. The bangles on her wrist jingle as she works, a quiet rhythm that underscores her perseverance. Her braided hair, neatly tied yet loosened by the day’s toil, is a symbol of her discipline and grace. The broomstick she holds isn’t just for cleaning—it’s a metaphor for how she clears her own path toward a better future. Women like her are dreamers. Their ambitions don’t fade beneath the weight of responsibility. They chase progress in every step, nurture aspirations in every effort, and carve their own way despite the c...

The Magic of Reading : A Quiet Escape

 ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image created by Author There’s something special about curling up with a book—just you, the words, and a quiet world where stories unfold. No noise, no distractions, just pages filled with emotions waiting to be felt. Books have a way of hiding us from the world , yet at the same time, helping us understand it better. They don’t judge. They don’t interrupt. They just sit there, patiently waiting for us to turn the page. In the stillness of reading, we find a space to dream, to wander, to feel. Some stories pull us into places we’ve never been. Others make us reflect on the ones we’ve lived. Every book carries its own heartbeat, and when we hold one close, we sync our hearts to its rhythm. A book is not just paper and ink. It is a doorway. It is a mirror. It is a companion. So read. Read with curiosity, with longing, with love. Let words whisper to you. Let them remind you that sometimes, the best company is found between two covers.

A Sunday Like No Other

 Set in Manjakuppam, Cuddalore ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image created by Author The early morning buzz begins. The town is waking up, and so is Murugan, rolling out of bed with the ease of a man who has mastered life’s small joys. Before anyone stirs, he’s already at the market, picking the freshest fish, buying chicken, nodding to familiar faces as he moves through the stalls with an efficiency born out of years of routine. By the time he returns home, Sumathi—his wife, the pillar of discipline and warmth—is already in the kitchen, orchestrating the day’s meal like the experienced supervisor she is at work. Their children, Anu (16) and Varun (14), are sprawled in the living room, watching TV with the kind of laziness reserved for precious Sundays. But this isn’t a house of idle hands. Everyone has their part. Murugan pulls out his gardening tools, humming a song as he trims the plants, washes the front porch, and checks the roof for loose tiles. Sumathi throws him a glance—hal...

Fragrance of Faith. Echo of Heritage.

A Jasmine-Scented Moment Near the Temple Gopuram ✍️ By Subhasri Devaraj There are moments that don’t just pass — they linger. They breathe. They whisper. They root you. This photograph was taken during golden hour — when the light feels like a blessing — as she stood on a quiet balcony, with the majestic silhouette of a temple gopuram rising in the distance. In her braid, the soft scent of mallipoo (jasmine flowers) wrapped around memories of childhood, festivals, and timeless beauty. The jimikki earrings , golden and gentle, swayed like echoes of stories passed down through generations. It wasn’t just about tradition — it was about presence. About standing still in a world that rushes. About honoring the layers of who She is. "Fragrance of faith. Echo of heritage." ✨ – Subhasri Devaraj 🪷 Why This Moment Mattered The Mallipoo: More than flowers. It’s scent as language. It’s womanhood, celebration, and ritual. The Jimikki: A timeless South Indian adornment — deli...

If Life Had a ‘Save’ Button, Here’s Where I’d Use It

  Imagine this: You’re in the middle of a perfect moment—one so beautiful, so fleeting, you wish life had a Save button. Not a pause, not a rewind—just a way to preserve the feeling forever. I know, life doesn’t work like that. But if it did? Here’s where I’d press Save without hesitation. 1. That One Conversation That Changed Everything Some words never fade, no matter how many years pass. Maybe it was a late-night chat with a best friend, where they saw you for the first time—the unfiltered, messy, beautiful you. Or maybe it was a quiet “I believe in you” from someone who had no reason to say it but did anyway. Some conversations aren’t long, but they’re deep enough to make you feel seen . Those? I’d save forever. 2. The Hug You Didn’t Want to End You know the one. Not a casual, everyday hug, but the kind that fills you with warmth , where time slows down, and you feel like you’re exactly where you need to be. A mother’s embrace after a hard day. A friend holding on just a se...

Kutty Paasam (A Little Love)

  In the heart of Thirupanangadu, under the scorching summer sun and the shade of neem trees, life bustled in a joint family household that could easily be mistaken for a mini train station. Meena had been married just 22 days. Still counting. Her husband, Karthik, the family’s youngest son and unofficial laughter machine, was the reason her cheeks were constantly red — partly from his jokes, mostly from blushing. Their love marriage had scandalized exactly three aunties, four uncles, and one particularly suspicious cow that stared at Meena every morning as if saying, “You? Here?” The house had fourteen people, two parrots, and one radio that blared old Tamil songs at odd hours. Privacy was not a concept — it was a distant dream. Karthik and Meena couldn’t even hold hands without the sudden appearance of Karthik’s periyamma carrying two cups of filter coffee and 38 questions. “Meena ma, you like our village, ah?” “Yes, periyamma.” “Then why your cheeks red? Mosquito bit, ah?” Meen...