A leap of faith, and lots of hope!

The Monthly Muse: Beginnings are hard, but here's a bit of an intro (what brought me here) and looking back at August - one thing at a time!

"Why would someone want to read your newsletter? Are you providing any good advice to anyone through it?" - Those were the exact words that Pishi (my beloved aunt, as I call her) said to me when I told her I was planning to start writing monthly newsletters.

Whatever she said, it did make me think twice.

"Well, why exactly would anyone want to read it, for real?” - This led me to overthink, and I started reading a lot of newsletters (and I mean A LOT) written by individuals who shared their random stories. I came across posts where people wrote about letting go of perfection, dealing with long-term illness, and leaving things unfinished in a cycle. As I read those, it felt like I was peeking into their lives, even though I hardly knew them.

So, here I am, with my monthly newsletter. Ready to share bits and pieces of my life. To tell stories about the good and the not-so-good parts. Not just that, but I’ll also recommend a great book I’ve read, a new restaurant I visited, or a movie I loved.

Like many other things in life, this too is a leap of faith—one I’m taking with a heart full of hope. I’m planning to stick with these monthly newsletters, so that 33 years from now when I revisit them, I can look back at 33-year-old Riyanka with a smile.

Before I dive into what really happened in August, I want to take a moment to acknowledge some amazing women in my life. Debolina, Ilisha, Sreejeeta, Dipti, and Sinchita—these lovely souls have always been my biggest cheerleaders! And then there’s Khyati, who came into my life out of nowhere and pulled me into living my wildest dream (more on that later!).

There’s one newsletter I eagerly look forward to each month, and that’s by Swarnavo, a friend who’s not only a popular artist on the 'gram but also has a couple of published books to his name. Check out his page, here.

A few months ago, I signed up for a travel writing course where I met Nivetha (virtually!). I’ve recently started reading her newsletters, and I’m completely hooked on them. Read about her monologues on ‘Joy, Curiosity and a Fulfilling Life’, here.

I also have two friends, Peejay and DP, who talk about their spiritual journey in a newsletter called 'Joyful Offerings', earning a livelihood through it.

And, if there was an award for 'The Most Biased Person in the World', it would go to Sourav. Even when I doubt myself and think I can't do it or that it's just not for me, he makes me feel like no one else on this planet could do it better than I can!

August started on a good note! I was soaking in the monsoon vibes in Goa, indulging in fish thalis almost every day. [You’ll find the best fish thalis at Kokni Kanteen and Kokum Curry in Panjim, Soul Kadi, and Anand Sea Food in Anjuna. Some of the other eateries I loved in North Goa include Sublime in Assagao, Artjuna in Anjuna, Davide's Pizzeria in Siolim, and Sopo which is in Assagao as well.]

I stayed with Ilisha, who has a beautiful home in Siolim, and I was beginning to understand the true essence of ‘susegad’—a Konkani word expressing a sense of contentment, relaxation, and fulfillment. It perfectly captures the laid-back spirit of Goan life.

But just a few days after returning to Gurgaon, social media was flooded with news of student protests in Bangladesh, which quickly escalated, leading to the resignation of PM Hasina and the fall of the government. With my roots in that land and having visited five times, it was heartbreaking to see the turmoil unfold. It hit even harder because my childhood friend, who lives and works in Dhaka, had to return to Kolkata due to the political chaos.

As if that wasn’t enough, another horrifying event took place in Kolkata, sending shockwaves across the country. The brutal rape and murder of a young female doctor in the City of Joy left me questioning whether humanity still exists—or if it has been completely erased. 

While the politicians are busy blaming each other, people are out on the streets, asking for justice.

You know, when the pandemic hit in 2020, I truly believed the world would change. I thought people would change. After enduring such a catastrophe—so many lives lost, everything coming to a halt—I believed that we humans would emerge from it kinder, and more compassionate. But I was naive to think that way.

It saddens me, angers me, and leaves me feeling helpless. So many of my friends have been speaking out about the sexual harassment they’ve faced—at home, on the streets, at work, on public transport, and beyond.

I don't know where this world is headed, or if our legal systems can truly deliver justice—but the Universe is watching, and karma is a bitch!

Amidst all the chaos, I also planned a low-key holiday with Tanisha (who was my pen-friend for nine years before she got married and became my neighbor!). We decided to explore Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand and had everything planned out—but the trip turned into an adventure we never saw coming! With flight delays and missing luggage, the whole thing was a mess—but now, when I look back, it makes me smile to think about how we managed to sail through it all!

You can read more about the fiasco on my blog, Lost in Transit, but here’s the good news: Singapore Airlines is compensating us! Yay!

Chiang Mai was absolutely beautiful, with its stunning temples and lively markets. But what I loved most about the trip was the place we stayed! It was a tiny (read: cozy) homestay on the outskirts of town, nestled in an art village called Baan Kang Wat. Everything about the place was super artsy—it felt like the shops and cafes had sprung straight out of Pinterest!

Although there’s a lot more in Chiang Mai that we didn’t get to explore (and we’re already thinking of going back because we loved it so much), if you ever plan a trip there, feel free to reach out! I’d be happy to share recommendations for great places to eat and things to see/do!

I celebrated Rakhi with my brothers, enjoyed some cozy dinners and quality family time, and caught up with friends over lunches and coffee. I also helped a friend plan his trip to Vietnam, and it was great to hear that he and his wife loved my recommendations! And of course, I wrote a bunch of postcards—though that’s nothing compared to the hundreds of emails I sent to Singapore Airlines!

I just finished reading How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino, a thoughtful gift from Disha, and what a beautiful read it was. This Japanese classic tells the story of a young boy named Copper and his uncle, who writes to him in a journal, sharing wisdom and advice on life’s big questions as Copper starts to face them.

Also, I’ve added some fresh tracks to my Spotify playlist, thanks to Shreyosee. I’ve been looping a bunch of Bangla band songs, and I highly recommend the song Obosthan by Highway. You can check it out here.

And currently, I’m glued to IC 814 on Netflix. I didn’t know much about the Kandahar hijack until now, but the political landscape during the Vajpayee Era is really intriguing. I think I’ll dive deeper into it in the coming weeks.

Phew! That was quite a lengthy note for a newsletter—hopefully, I didn’t bore you to death! I promise to keep it shorter next time. Here’s to embracing September and manifesting all the good things for the days ahead!

P.S. If you enjoyed reading this, I’d be thrilled if you shared it with others—it would mean the world to me. And if you ever feel like you’d rather not receive this newsletter, just let me know, and I’ll remove you from the mailing list—no questions asked.