Reva Vidyalankar | A Writing Portfolio

A WRITING PORTFOLIO

reva

VIDYALANKAR

contact:

manavidyalankar@gmail.com +91 9560408617

published work

A compilation of featured articles, photographs and stories for various publications.

self-published work

A collection of writings for my personal lifestyle blog ‘Under The Indian Sky’

mixed bag

An assortment of creative essays, prompts and general ramblings.

published work A compilation of featured articles, photographs and stories for various publications.

Publication

The Ideal Home and Garden Magazine | December 2013

Somewhere in the middle of Mumbai, where

letter box and cotton bags for newspaper and

muddy roads and rain clad pavements are the

milk, assure you that your journey into their

trending dĂŠcor statements, is a home that

home is going to by anything but boring.

throws caution to the wind and dresses itself up in all white! Cue head turns and wolf whistles...

NEW LIFE!

European by design and a definite keepsake at

Co-founder of creative agency Scarecrow,

heart, Manish Bhatt's residence in Santacruz

Manish aided by designer Rachna Mehta,

lives up to the affirmations that white can be as

repaints the quaint European lifestyle into his

alluring as red and as bold as black! A charming

home. The living room and the kitchen, both

seem like an extension of each other and open

of colour in the rest of the space. It's the

up to reveal a teasingly alluring balcony. Think

simplicity that adds to the experience and

rainy days in the open, complemented by hot

Manish was sure that he wanted to stay away

chocolate and a good book! Ornate chairs and

from straight edged lines. “While I love minimal

sofas that make up the living room look as if

and contemporary designs, I wanted my own

they have been tailor made to fit the room.

house to have some curves.” he states. And that

When in reality, most of the furniture is picked

fact is visible throughout the house, right from

up after tiresome scouting sessions at the

the entryway to the bathroom!

various Chor Bazaars of India! Repainted and reupholstered, these coupled with brass lamps,

SLEEPY HOLLOW

trick you into believing that you have been

The bedrooms too, aren't underdogs to the white,

transported into the era of grandeur.

but feel rather warm and cosy despite the lack of colour. The master bedroom carries over the

CURVES ARE IN!

same crispness from the living area and brings to

Days of friendly banter in the open style

mind a blank canvas that is full of possibilities!

kitchen, and of newspaper and chai sessions in

The focal point of the daughter's bedroom is the

the balcony are easy to imagine at the Bhatt's

vintage style bed that adds character and style.

residence. The kitchen despite being small in

Both rooms open up to yet another to-die-for

size feels open and airy. Coloured jars line one

balcony. It's really a surprise how the white

side of the shelves and make up for the absence

remains untouched even in this Mumbai weather!

I SPY GREEN Pops of green make their way into various elements and it's easy to spot the theme that is carried over from Manish's office, Scarecrow's, design. “That's what started the idea I guess, and that was the first place I experimented at.

Since both are my children, there is bound to be some overlap!” A green lamp highlights the study table that seems neatly tucked away in a corner and green bedding and cutlery make their way out of hiding on most days. All the doors have green stained glass details on them and are picked up from various nooks and corners. Some of these pieces are non-existent in the market now!

Publication

The Ideal Home and Garden Magazine | April 2013

a shop stocking clothes, yoga props, muesli and more. Talk about multitasking! “I wanted people to experience soulful living. Not just in one aspect but in the entirety of what As we left our shoes at the door and walked in, I half expected to find sand beneath my bare feet. A little bit of Goa and a lot of Greece, my first thought upon entering The Yoga House was that the beach has to be close! Nestled amidst the quaint fishing village in Bandra called Chimbai, this bungalow houses a pure vegetarian macrobiotic cafe, a yoga studio, and

comprises Yoga.” These words by the co-owner Maud Chuffart, truly gave us an idea of what The Yoga House was aiming to be. Teaming up with Ajit Tapaswi, the duo took it upon themselves to ultimately ideate and design the café.

The Yoga House café is housed on a trellised patio, overlooking the yoga studio which also

doubles up as a lounge space when there are

encourage a community lifestyle and want

no classes. Teal coloured walls, white wooden

people to think of this as their second home.” A

floors, billowing white curtains and an air of

lot of the design elements at The Yoga House

peacefulness adds to this experience. “I've

are custom made or thrifted. Ornate shelf

travelled extensively through Greece and that's

displays house the trinket collection on sale

how the tiny little details like arching doors and

and small wooden desks serve as make-shift

sea blue colours transports you to one of the

tables. The displays have been picked up from

homes in Greece.” exclaims Chuffart. One of her

Chor Bazaar and given a new life with a fresh

main aims while designing the place was to

coat of white paint.

keep the natural yoga experience intact. The floor is made of wood, water is served in

Huge glass jars of jaggery and quinoa line the

earthen pots, the seating is comfortable and

shelves, settled just above bottles of pure rose

homely and the décor comprises mainly of

water. Both Chuffart and Ajit Tapaswi oversea

white muslin cloth.

the cooking at the café and themselves conduct a few of the daily yoga lessons.

The tinkering laughter of friends and the slow

Wafting smells of fresh food and organic spices

hum drum of laptop keys reach our ears as

detox the air and the body. The Yoga House in

Chuffart explains that “People often come in

its sea side glory and commitment to natural

here to soak the calmness while relaxing as

living, has indeed created “a destination for the

they would do in their own homes. We

health conscious.”

Publication

The Ideal Home and Garden Magazine | June 2013

The last few lines of the famous Beatles song

It's quite hard to miss the tiny blue bungalow at

'Hey Jude' slowly give way to the all-time

the corner of a busy Versova street, one that is

classic 'Yellow Submarine'. Shelves look like

almost mystically beckoning you to step in.

they might have a mind of their own while the

And once you do, you realise that the interior is

seating takes you back to your grandma's living

as enigmatic as the exterior! Owned by Sahil

room. All this, and a whole lot more, is what this

Timbadia, Nevil Timbadia and Anup Gandhi,

very bright blue bungalow in the city is. Named

Jamjar Diner for them is the perfect excuse to

aptly to reflect the madness within the house,

serve “their own version of comfort food!�

Jamjar Diner is the new 'diner'-kid on the block!

Don't be fooled by its miniature illusion from

the outside though, the entire place is split into three different sections – a ground level, an upper level and outdoor seating on the terrace.

As you step into Jamjar Diner, you almost expect your grandmother to come sauntering out from the kitchen, a plate of freshly cooked food in her hands. “Some of the artefacts around here are items from our homes which our grand-mum refused to let go of, so we gave them a new home!” the owners say. Two big booths complete with mosaic tiles, old school curtains and stained glass lamps are what make up the most of the ground floor. If you fancy a drink at the bar, they've got that covered too.

High chairs and dim lighting take up a small section, enough to give you a sense of sitting comfortably in a pub. But wait! Where does the music come from you ask? Not from a regular

another and one hanging in mid air, reminds

music player surely! The hero of Jamjar Diner is

you of a whirlwind scene in a tornado movie!

the source of all that insanely addictive music –

Stocked to the brim with quirk that will occupy

a working Jukebox! Go ahead, press a button or

curious eyes for hours, it houses everything

two and groove to your favourite tunes!

from old games, books and rusted boxes to a globe, records and a gramophone. If you look

Pry your eyes away from the eclectic décor

closely, you'd find hidden a framed illustration

downstairs and head up, only to be stopped

of Jamjar Diner itself. The name of the diner

dead in your tracks. Asymmetrical bookshelves

interestingly comes from the customised Jam

on the wall, one threateningly leaning on

Jars that they plan on serving drinks in.

If you do manage to climb the stairs, not giving into the aroma of fresh waffles or the urge to break into a game of scrabble, then head on to the outdoor seating area. Bright yellow seats and multi-coloured tiles make you question if you are in Jamjar at all! Sit comfortably and enjoy the outdoors while watching the evening pass you by! At the end of a journey in a fairytale cottage you realise that Jamjar Diner is made up of so many different spaces, each weaving a story of its own.

Hearty breakfasts on Sunday mornings with a side dose of classic songs? Check.

self-published work A collection of writings for my personal lifestyle blog ‘Under The Indian Sky’

Petrichor. The scent of rain on dry earth. That familiar smell of roasted corn and wet leaves.

I can smell the rains before they come. Which is why even in the midst of summer, walking past freshly watered grass makes me pine for the days of the rains. The soft soothing sound that resembles a soft lullaby eases out any and all worries I have and for a moment I just sit in bed listening to clouds fall apart.

Standing on Marine Drive, the waters growling for attention, the wind threatening to take you away and the rain hitting all parts of your body like the phrase 'pins and needles' — That feeling is inexplicable. Drenched from head to toe, water in your eyes, your mouth, your shoes, your wallet, and the promise of hot chocolate and rum that waits at home. This is the rains for me this year.

A friend of mine just hates rains, can't stand the very idea of it. And come to think of it, when I have to tread through mucky waters, every step making me run back and take a shower, I sometimes dislike it too. But then comes days of snuggling in your comforter and of long walks accompanied by soft kisses of water...And I’m left happy. Oh rains, you make me so confused!

I think I noticed the rains fully first while in a cab home late at night, a friend of mine in tow.

Welcomed silenced had enveloped us, save for the rain that had been making its presence known

every

now

and

then.

The

overwhelming smell of wet leaves, the sudden coolness in the air and the gleaming of the roads

around

us,

made

us

both

(very

dramatically!) sigh and exclaim at the same time “This is the real Mumbai isn't it?”

Link http://bit.ly/1jcQYe7

Link http://bit.ly/1kJ0wiT

about how the next ten days are going to be.

That feels just about awesome! Right? Walking on sandy beaches, the inner child in you dreaming of making sandcastles, and driving up and down the city eyes scanning every nook and corner -- I'm not quite sure if I'd ever be able to sum up this adventure in a few lines.

We landed in Phuket in the early hours of the Your

stomach

convolutes

into

a

ball

of

morning and drove through the city just as the

nervousness mixed with excitement mixed with

sun said hello. Our home for the next five days

lets-jump-out-of-the-seat feeling. Your head is

was a little odd-ball called The Album Loft and

pressed against the airplane window trying to

though

take in every inch of this new land that you've

mis-pronounced and mis-understood by many

been dreaming about for months. And your

people there, it was just the right amount of

heart is just about ready to burst thinking

perfect. Walking into the lobby and being

its

name

had

been

throughly

greeted by happy looking faces and a quirky orange television is what everyone hopes for when they travel right? And those night's when we came back tired from walking around Bangla Road (Phuket's notorious night-life destination) at 1 in the night, we were glad that it was at walking distance!

Thailand, as someone had rightly told me, is a place of walking discovery. You walk around and bump into adventures and experiences that you never thought you would. Eyes

Sitting on the edge of a cliff, still waters ahead

gleaming

markets

of you while you say good bye to the setting

overflowing with food, people, street dancers,

sun‌ That unexplainable feeling of serenity is

clothes and other curios. Not to mention the

hard to miss at the most famous point in

Banana

Phuket called The Promthep Cape. Loud with

at

the

Nutella

sight

of

pancakes

night

that

gave

us

happiness every single day!

tourists and silent in its sense, i imagined myself sitting at the edge for hours on end, watching

At nights, you'd see us walking around the

the sun slowly get engulfed by the waters.

streets of Phuket, getting overwhelmed by all the colours and the music. Like kids, fascinated,

Trying to paddle a canoe, all by yourself, when

we'd stare at things that made no sense to us

you're miles away from the shore and in the

and want things that we'd never seen before.

midst of beautiful blue water. Your eyes can see

At Bangla Road, we'd loose all inhibitions and

nothing when you look around, except for the

walk around deciding which bar was the safest

slightly nervous and slightly elated faces of

amongst them all. A bit of reggae and a whole

others trying to accomplish the same. Friendly

lot of cute boy later‌I know it was the right

diving competitions ensue on board the cruise

place to go!

and you know that this trip was totally worth-it!

Link http://bit.ly/1b9xKxR

The long weekend surely spoils you. Makes

walk that led through railway tracks and

you laze around a bit more, makes you

valleys, we were in this quaint little hill town

forget about the Monday morning blues and

where mornings were as lazy as us and

makes you want to get away from the city

evenings as bustling! A bowl of maggi, a

even if it is for a mere 24 hours. Following a

glass of masala thums up and chennai

conversation with two friends over an

express songs later we set off to find our

evening movie we decided to add a little

next pit stop!

spontaneity to life by heading off to the closest hills next morning. The conversation

Sitting on a mountain top, legs slightly damp

that materialised into action at precisely 1 in

from the stream of water behind you, and a

the night, saw us ready (albeit slightly

valley that extends far beyond your eyes can

groggy) and waiting at the station for the

see...It's still difficult to wrap my head around

first 4:40 train to Karjat. We were headed to

the fact that we actually were there!

Matheran!

Conversations of the serious kinds and hearty laughs over trivial monkey matters

Covered in clouds till as far as you can see

ensued. At what point this impromptu trip

and the temperature teasing you to stop for

turned out perfect...I would never know. I

chai and biscuit – The journey was as good

was dressed in a blue hat and a plastic rain

as the destination itself! We got off at Neral,

coat, I walked for miles and miles (or what

ate vada pavs for breakfast and caught a

seemed like miles and miles), ran out of cash

fixed price cab from just outside...Our eyes

in a one-atm-that-doesn't-work-city, and

fixed

the

took a toy train back to city life. The aches

breathtaking scenery around us! A 20-30

and pains in the muscles you ask? Totally

minute walk later up to Matheran town, a

worth it!

at

the

window

taking

in

Link http://bit.ly/Ken0Yr

The sounds of taxis calling out to you. The constant nudging of people rushing to work.

The mysterious woman that announces the train destinations every second of every day.

That's the city i'm coming from. Or leaving.

I'm flying down to Delhi today. (or have flown and reached by the time i get to put this post up!). Going from the city that has been my home for the last 2 years to the city that has been my home since i can remember, has been surreal. I have loved Mumbai with my whole heart, one it stole 2 years ago, when i trotted the taxi ridden paths trying to grasp the ins and outs of the fastest city in India. Every time someone mentioned Bombay, I'd feel this innate sense of pride at the idea of it being my home. I felt like i belonged. I felt like nothing is impossible here.

Every time I'd return from a trip away, the taxi ride back from the airport would overwhelm me and give me the sense of coming home. I'd stare at the South Mumbai skyline, in all its spectacular glory from the back seat of the taxi cab. I'd be happy to meet everyone, hear the street noises and see people still out at a late hour.

However this time seems different this time around. I don't feel the same sense of emotion and attachment. The noises that i once loved, have started annoying me now. The freedom seems too much and the speed catches me off guard. I think it's just the series of lows that i have faced for the past one month that's making me talk like this. Who knows.

I think after a while, this city just gets you down and maybe you have to go out there and rediscover what you loved about it at the start.

Or maybe you just need a break. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Right? I'm in the midst of trying to rekindle my relationship with this city and in the process of it all am being guiltily dreaming about spoiling myself with another one.

So hey Mumbai, I'm kinda going through a rough patch and i'm not sure what's going on.

Be kind to me this time, ok? And i do love you, you know, deep down....somewhere i do. I shall try to search for the excitement that i felt 2 years ago.

mixed bag An assortment of creative essays, prompts and general ramblings.

He stands there, his face full with scars of war. His hair looks as if it has been cut with a knife, rough and blunt. He walks with a limp, I note, as he makes his way from the door of the roof. While he walks, it seems as if he is cut off from the whole world. He holds a brown bag in his right hand and a small book under his arm. As he walks by me, I can smell the day’s dirt on him. He stops at the edge of the roof, looks back and smiles. Then he jumps.

You know that feeling when your eyes hurt slightly as you face the morning rays of the sun? Or the burning of your hands as you hold on to something really hot. That feeling is the essence of the color Red. Red emits heat and is the color of Romeo’s love for Juliet. As you hold a rose in your hand and slowly sift through its petals smelling the soft fragrance it gives, what you’re experiencing is red. Red is the feeling of blood gushing down your hand when you cut it by accident. It is the taste of wine as you slowly sip through the bitterness of the alcohol.

Red is often loud, almost always mistaken for shouting. He’s often louder than blue and angrier than white. Red is the color of anger. It is the color of your face when you are absolutely livid and the nerves in your temple start to throb. Red is also the color of passion and of blushing cheeks when they are embarrassed. Red sounds like a saxophone or maybe a trumpet.

Dear upset friend, I have been trying to get in touch with you for the past few days and it seems that you are avoiding me. Are you upset with me over what happened at the night of your birthday party? I assure you that I had no ill intentions and that it was not me but the copious amount of alcohol in my system that heightened my feelings for your boyfriend. You have been my friend for 12 years and I could have never imagined doing something like this to you. However I do admit with a fair amount of guilt that I had always found your boyfriend attractive and that fact combined with my chemically induced state of mind altered my good judgment. I have tried calling you many times without luck and thus have resorted to writing this letter to express how bad I feel over the turn of events. I hope you find it within you to overlook my grave fault.

Yours sincerely, A grieving friend

She excelled at sending random little ‘Hellooo’ messages because she didn’t know how to start a conversation when she missed us. Her ability to get high on chocolate became famous much like her knack for making small things look beautiful.