The Smile & The Sparkle

10K, 30,000 Runners & A Little Bit of “I’m Not Quitting!"

I set a goal for myself in the year 2026: that I would run my first 10K in 2027, and I knew that I would do that in the NMDC run - the biggest run for Hyderabad and one of the toughest city runs of India. However, I did my first 10K at the Run for SMA event (as a practice and for the cause); 30th August 2026 was what I was looking forward to. I wanted to be a part of such a huge running event. It did turn out to be pretty eventful, as always. Why? Click on the link to read in full.

10K, One Big Leap: My Run for SMA 2026

Endurance sports can surprise you. They can make one realise what they are capable of. Running is teaching me that. I am not very fast. I don't run very long distances. However, every time I run, I make progress. Big or small, it really doesn't matter. Today I completed my first-ever 10K run. The longest that I have ever run. And it was a day to remember.

More Than a Dance Performance

Learn a skill not to pass the time, but to build your character. To become a better version of yourself. Learn it from a teacher. The teacher, the Guru, shows you the right path and keeps you grounded. Read how I felt witnessing the 10th Kuchipudi performance of my daughter on the 25th of July, 2026, on the auspicious occasion of Tholi Ekadashi.

Human Intelligence Running on Auto-Pilot

What worries me isn't AI becoming smarter. What worries me is humans becoming comfortable enough to stop exercising the very abilities that made us intelligent in the first place.

The Singapore Model: Is It Replicable in India?

You land back in India after a few days in Singapore, and almost instinctively, you say it out loud—or think it quietly: “Why can’t India be like this?” A city where concrete does not suffocate, where greenery thrives alongside glass towers, where public washrooms are usable, tap water is drinkable, and rules are not suggestions. A city with no litter—none at all—where discipline is enforced not through chaos, but through systems that actually work.

Balancing Act: Managing Kids' Screen Time in a Digital World

The digital wave did open up incredible opportunities. People discovered new ways to work, earn, and express themselves. Creativity flourished, startups mushroomed, freelancers found independence, and remote work reshaped what “career” even meant. But there’s another side — a darker one.

Gentle Parenting Gone Wrong

Being an arrogant child is not the same as being a confident one. I’ve seen confident children who are also humble, respectful, and empathetic. I’m far from a perfect mother, and my children are far from perfect — but one thing I won’t allow is for them to mistreat others, definitely not in my presence. Because arrogance isn’t a sign of confidence. It’s a reflection of what we teach at home.

Book Review: THE HOUSEMAID

If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this one’s a great pick. Regular readers of the genre might be able to guess the twist early on, but if you don’t, you’re in for quite a shock.

I Am Such a Show-off!

Recently, some of you might have noticed (or maybe ignored) that I’ve started posting my daily workout stories on Instagram—updates about medals or certificates for completing 5K walks and runs. I know what some of you are thinking: “Plenty of people walk or run more than 5K every day without posting about it. Why is she showing off?” Why am I making such a big deal about my 5Ks? 5K may be small for some. But for me, every step forward is a big deal. And if my journey gets even one more person moving, I think I’ve already won.