Chumi Lakshmi

A few months ago, I was at a friendly football match between a mixed group of men; teenagers, kids, adults. I’ve got neither appreciation nor understanding about this game where a bunch of men run behind a Dalmatian-like ball. So the only reason that got me there was for my husband’s sake, and I was lured by the ambition to improve my skills in sport photography.   By the end of the 3-hour match, improving my skills remained unachieved, because I was too busy hiding behind 6-foot-tall men to save myself and my camera from the flying football that was completely out of control. But one thing stuck with me, even after 3 months, and will continue to stay with me for many days to come. When it was another team’s turn to match, a 12-year boy was in the game, while his father was catching his breath after his own game. I strategically chose to stand between this 6-foot tall man and my husband. Just in case a stray football comes my way, I’ve got myself covered you see. Throughout th...

“New Year resolutions are things that people list out for the entire year, but it only last the first month of the new year, and then it goes down the drain”, says she who had an entirely bad planning/idea about managing her new year resolutions and gave up 2 years ago. Or rather, thought it wasn’t worth it. How stupid of me. Yes me, who else would think such idiocracy is normal. For some reason, I've always associated new year resolutions as checklists that you make at the beginning of the year, and come back to it at the end of the year and select which out of the 4 grades you would tick off; excellent, satisfactory, bad, fail (A,B, C, D). This is what traditional education does to you, everything in life is about making the excellent mark. If you don’t excel, you and your attempts are not worth it. There was an on-going joke about my High School motto. Accomplish or do not begin. The boys wouldn’t do their assignments and when questioned by the teachers, they would blame it...

8 years since venturing into the unknown western territory! Feels like it was just yesterday, although a lot has happened in the 2920 days. This was my first time to a western country, first time on a long haul flight, first time traveling alone into the unknown with no solid plans other than to finish my masters for that year. When I was leaving, a lot of my friends had a farewell party for me, which obviously followed along with series questions. Question 1: How long are you going to be there? Me: I don’t know Question 2: When are you coming back? Me: I don’t know Question 3:   What are you going to do after your masters? Do you plan to work there? Me: I don’t know Question 4: Do you know anyone in Glasgow? Me: No, I don’t   Question 5: Do you want to come back? Me: I don’t know! Please, save me the misery. Why so many questions when it’s essentially only one, and my answer was definitely only one! I DON’T KNOW. And I hated to give th...

Birthdays are meant to be joyous occasions, and that’s why it’s always “happy birthday” or “blessed birthday” or “many more happy returns of the day”. Birthdays are celebrated to mark the addition of another year in one’s life, and to give thanks to the year that has passed. As far as I remember, I’ve spent the last few years thanking and acknowledging God for His blessings, providence, guidance etc. But this year, I want to acknowledge something else that was more prominent to me. Sending a text of Facebook message hardly takes 10 seconds, but sending a video message, and that too personalized ones is a whole new ball game. I know how difficult and awkward it would have been. All of you have been so spontaneous (I also heard some had to rehearse many times lol), so generous, so genuine. I’ve already seen that video a few times since the 24 th , and each time I see it, I am made more and more aware of how meaningful it is. Am I really loved that much? Am I really that spec...

Dear husband, As we celebrate our 1 st year anniversary as husband and wife today, I am reminded that this is just the beginning sweetheart, and what a beginning it has been! I’m eagerly looking forward to spending the many more years to come, the years of God’s abundance of blessings in our lives, the years of commitment we have with each other.  For the longest time, you've always asks why i never wrote anything about you... it's because of whatever is written below. This isn't a compilation of who you are, but it is a reminder of how our marriage has been in this first year, filled with love, grace, forgiveness and setting each other  as priority (mostly me being the one receiving most priority).  11 th April 20015 I cannot forget that look you had on your face that night. The seriousness you had in you when you said you’ve got a big responsibility in taking care of me brought me to reality. I obviously hadn’t come to terms with the importance of the w...