A(NU) Thought

My latest read (a bit delayed, but never mind), winner of the 2025 Booker Prize , Heart Lamp is a collection of selected stories by Banu Mustaq , translated by Deepa Bhasthi , originally written in Kannada between 1990 and 2023.  As promised, it shines a light on the everyday struggles of Muslim women, focusing on gender inequality, patriarchy, oppression, domestic violence, and more. Now, is it worth a Booker Prize? Honestly, I’m not the best person to comment on that. But here’s what I felt—many of these stories felt familiar, maybe even too familiar, if you’ve grown up in India.  Tales of patriarchy, domestic abuse, women belittling women… we have all seen or heard these around us. So, what makes Heart Lamp special? 

Is it just me, or is there really a sudden deluge of translated books around? Honestly, I am loving it! Getting to read stories from faraway regions, raw, unfiltered, and often from an era untouched by the internet, feels like pure bliss. One such book I picked up recently is T he Owl, The River and the Valley by Arupa Patangia Kalita , translated from Assamese by Mitra Phukan and published by Penguin Random House. It’s a beautiful collection of 12 short stories. These stories capture the essence of everyday struggles, the rhythm of mundane domestic life, and the harsh divide between privilege and poverty. My absolute favourite was Yellow Flip Flops , a story that shocks you with its ending while laying bare the depths of poverty.

How little we know about the most important factor in life! We all know sleep is crucial for our well-being, but did you know quality sleep plays an even bigger role in our overall health? Deepa Kannan, in her book How to Sleep Better: The Miraculous 10-Step Protocol to Recharge Your Mind and Body, published by HarperCollins, dives deep into this often-overlooked aspect of wellness.  This insightful read explores the causes of poor sleep and provides a structured approach to developing better sleep habits. Beyond the usual five senses (sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste), the book introduces five more—detoxification, uro-reproduction, locomotion (movement), grasping (strength), and speech—all of which influence sleep quality.  Balancing these can significantly improve how well you rest. With  the author Deepa Kannan Combining functional medicine and Ayurveda, Deepa’s approach offers practical solutions to sleep struggles, helping readers wake up refreshed and recharged...

The Drowning , authored by Nidhi Upadhyay published by Penguin Random House , is a dark psychological thriller that subverts expectations.  What starts as a seemingly straightforward story soon spirals into something far more sinister—so dark that it may not be for the faint-hearted. The story follows Viji, a grieving mother who loses her twins under mysterious circumstances. As she desperately searches for answers, she finds herself accused of causing the death of her friend’s toddler.  Enter Inspector Kanika, the determined protagonist, who is not only investigating the case but also grappling with her own personal loss after losing her unborn.  As the investigation unfolds, what seemed like a tragic accident takes a chilling turn, leading to an unexpected and unsettling conclusion.

Have you ever felt a strong surge of anger when you couldn’t express it? This morning, while riding in my cab to the office, I felt an overwhelming surge of anger toward someone I have been working with on a project for about 2 years. The past 2 months have been especially stressful because the organization hasn’t fulfilled a single commitment (no exaggeration here). Following up with them is another exhausting and infuriating experience. Working with them has given me sleepless and anxious nights. . So, what did I do? I tried to calm myself by chanting OM NAMAH SHIVAYA and OM HANUMANTE NAMAH . It helps me.  Gradually, I focused on my body parts where I felt tension—my hands, eyes, forehead, and jaw—and consciously released the tightness, and took deep breaths. Then, I reminded myself of what I could control; prepared myself mentally for the excuses and delays that might come next from them, all while breathing deeply to stay calm. . I don’t know if it’s my (increasing)...

A Fatal Distraction by Samyukta Bhowmick, published by Juggernaut , is an engaging crime thriller centered around a series of murders. The title itself, meaning "a situation where someone is killed due to a distraction," perfectly summarizes the essence of the story. The plot kicks off with the murder of Dhritiman Bhattacharya, a beloved editor of a tabloid with seemingly no enemies. As the investigation unfolds, Mridula and Monami, two journalists, take the lead, only to encounter another shocking murder—that of Anika, who assumingly had several enemies. What stands out is the dynamic partnership between the two women—Mridula, middle-aged and wise, and Monami, youthful and energetic. Their collaboration brilliantly showcases how Millennials and Gen Z can combine their strengths to achieve great results. Their journey through the investigation is captivating and adds depth to the narrative.