Confessions of a Merry Monk

Veer was born on a beautiful summer’s afternoon with the bright and full moon of Guru Purnima shining over him that night – that innocent soul’s first night on Earth …

2001 June 8th: I’m in Ealing car park. I don’t know why I end up here, I guess, I feel safe. My car isn’t conspicuous in a car park. I …

2001 May 14th: I’m nervous. I check my face in my compact mirror one last time before I go in. I’m wearing my usual misty-grey coloured contact lenses, a flash …

2000 October 28th: I ask Maanav why nobody told me about this before. I tell him I don’t think it’s a good idea. I don’t remember his response. I’ve shut …

2000 February 13th: I’m in India. I got the all-clear from the surgeon to travel, and now I’m at an Ayurvedic hospital in rural Maharashtra, recommended by my mother’s friends. …

January 11th: My entire head swelled up to catch up with my ears.  And now, it’s spread to my whole body. Every inch of me is covered in whelts that …

September 4th: I had to wait 3 months since the last op before he could go in again. He said he’s drilled holes in my ovaries again and also lasered …

The following happened in this order as I remember it, but I’ve taken some creative license with the timeline and dates to write it in a present-day format. I obviously …

Good Friday falls every year on the Friday before Easter. It’s a sad day of mourning and loss as Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Christ. I’m not exactly sure why …

March 1999. The devastating postnatal depression cloud that had lingered over my head for those months was lifting, and for a few weeks before the Easter weekend, I was feeling …

A note before you read this one: If you’re wondering why I’m giving so much detail about trying to feed my baby, it’s because it’s important later on in the …

Jai was born on the 5th day of the autumnal Navratri. Navratri is a celebration of the nine nights dedicated to the Divine Mother. The 5th day is Lalitha Panchami. …