Sweet Lemons

*** This story does provide some Indian background of an Indian household. I wanted to give some context to what a few things I mentioned mean. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is a hit Hindi movie from 2001 that is a rom-com. Kheer is a north Indian version of rice pudding. Nani is the north Indian way of referring to one’s mother’s mom (grandmother on mom’s side) Dal is an Indian lentil dish. Chole is an Indian chickpea dish. Malaysian paratha is an Indian bread that is served with dishes such as Dal and Chole. Gulab jamun is a traditional Indian sweet. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is a hit Hindi movie from 1998 that is a rom-com.      I sit there, with my cozy blanket wrapped around me, watching Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, listening to the soft pitter patter of the rain outside my window, glancing at the brightly lit up Christmas tree in our living room, and filling my mouth with each bite of the warm and fresh kheer my Nani had made for me. We had just gotten back from a trip and I was r...

I see colors and displays made with great passion and curiosity. I think about the pain and sacrifice as well as the heart and spirit that went into it all in a matter of seconds to weeks. I wonder how through everything we humans are and everything we destroy, that spirit seems to find its way through. And we call that spirit, art . -Mili Nair

I see so much wisdom gained through experiences in this world. I think wisdom should be shared in schools. I wonder if we can create a very different world by doing that. A world of wonders and unconditional love for every being and all nature. -anonymous

I see a mirror. I think and ask why is he in there? I wonder if he will ever make it out... -anonymous 

     I excitedly pressed the red button on my mom's phone to start the video recording on the camera app, then rushed over to the Alexa on the other side of our black marble kitchen counter. I requested the Bollywood radio station that I had memorized due to my dad playing it every time we cooked, danced, and just lived ever since we moved into this house. As a Hindi song started playing that I had a memory of listening to before, I skipped to the center of the kitchen and stood on the tan, plain wood floor as I double-checked to see if the camera was recording my every move. When I was sure it was, I started wiggling my fingers and legs in every which way possible to recreate some of the Bollywood dances I had seen in movies. With each word sung on the radio station, I would pause in the most dramatic ways, like I was a famous actress performing live for millions. I spun, twirled, and whirled, swayed all ways, a...

Happiness, otherwise known as coming home from a long day to freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, or staring at that super popular girl who sits in front of you and wishing you had her life. What if it was more than that? What if it was real? What if you didn’t need those cookies or that girl’s life to be happy? When you think of happiness, you often think of something that fills a void, but does anyone ever stop to ask why there’s a void in the first place? Why is there always something to fix? I think that we create those voids for ourselves and stuff them with everything else to be “happy.” I believe happiness is being able to indeed be happy without anything or anyone pleasing you in any way. I believe that to be one of the most important values. To start off, I find happiness to be the center of life, without it, everything seems meaningless. Everything I am, say, and do is because that is my choice. No one controls it unless I give it to them, but it’s not mine to take from othe...

  To the blessings around you that shall vary, say wow. To this very moment of now, say wow. To the love and joy, you may carry, say wow. To the anger and despair, you may hold, say wow. To each one that you cherish, say wow. To deaths of all the happiness, say wow. To everything that was made to perish, say wow. To all the love that can never be broken, say wow. To the person you are that has been made up of everything you have experienced, lived, and sacrificed, say wow. For all we can ever do is say wow.