2023

1. What did you do in 2023 that you’d never done before?

Went to a concert

Saw a BTS member in person

Did an almost three-week trip through Europe

 

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No, but yes

 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes

 

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No

 

5. What countries did you visit?

Portugal

Spain

France

Singapore

 

6. What would you like to have in 2024 that you lacked in 2023?

A better everyday life

 

7. What date from 2023 will remain etched upon your memory?

January 15, my brother’s wedding

June 17, the D-Day concert  

 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Reading seven books after reading 0 for the last few years

Showing up at this job every day and becoming good at parts of it

Making the Europe trip happen

Joining a couple of groups to meet more people in Mumbai

 

9. What was your biggest failure?

Quitting the dance classes and not finding a replacement

Somehow falling back into old patterns with an ex for a few months

 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Yes

 

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Tickets – concert, Europe

A mouse for work

A bright yellow dress

A pair of flats from Singapore

My new nose pin

My sunglasses

 

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

Mine

 

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Also mine

 

14. Where did most of your money go?

Trips, rent, Zomato

 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The concert!!!!!

My brother’s wedding

Europe

 

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2023?

I will fucking delete this question from next year

 

17.Compared to this time last year, are you:

Happier or sadder? Same

Thinner or fatter? Fatter

Richer or poorer? Richer

 

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Workout 

Sleep on time

 

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Talk to my ex

 

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

I spent it at a friend’s place drinking hot chocolate and watching The Holiday

 

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

Friends

 

22. Did you fall in love in 2023?

No

 

23. How many one night stands in this last year?

None

 

24. What was your favourite TV programme?

Class of 07

Shrinking

Single Drunk Female

Platonic

 

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Don't think so

 

26. What was the best book(s) you read?

Yellowface

 

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

We shouldn’t be asking this question in the age of reels

 

28. What did you want and get?

To go on a big, once-in-a-lifetime trip with a friend

For my outfits to look the way they looked in my head at my brother’s wedding

 

29. What did you want and not get?

To stick to a healthy routine

 

30. What were your favourite films of this year?

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

Fair Play

 

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

33. Went out to a very fancy restaurant the night before and spent the day with a friend looking for a pair of sunglasses.

 

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

If I did not have to commute so much every week for work in the Mumbai traffic

 

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2023?

Dresses, dresses, and more dresses

 

34. What kept you sane?

My friends and things to look forward to 

 

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Jimin and RM

 

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

This is not even a valid question at this point, everything is on fire

 

37. Who did you miss?

My friends, my brother

 

38. Who was the best new person you met?

Reconnected with K

 

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2023.

Being an adult =/= living like an adult

 

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

I can never answer this.

­

2022

1. What did you do in 2022 that you’d never done before?

Moved to Mumbai

Got a matching tattoo with a friend

 

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No, but yes

 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No

 

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes

 

5. What countries did you visit?

Singapore

 

6. What would you like to have in 2023 that you lacked in 2022?

A routine that works for me

 

7. What date from 2022 will remain etched upon your memory?

June 25, 2022 

 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Quitting my terrible job and finding another one

Not quitting that new job because of imposter syndrome and showing up every day despite being super scared

Learning to live in a city where I do not have an existing support system

Continuing Korean classes

 

9. What was your biggest failure?

Dropping the ball on the newsletter

Not reading a single book all year

 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Yes

 

11. What was the best thing you bought?

The gifts I bought for my parents and brother from Singapore

Two artworks

 

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

My friends’

Mine

 

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

My former boss and colleagues

 

14. Where did most of your money go?

Singapore trip

Living in Bombay

 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Singapore

Moving out again

 

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2022?

Maybe Run BTS?

 

17.Compared to this time last year, are you:

Happier or sadder? Sadder

Thinner or fatter? Fatter

Richer or poorer? Richer

 

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Read

Workout 

 

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Work

 

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

I spent it with a friend

 

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

Friends

 

22. Did you fall in love in 2022?

No

 

23. How many one night stands in this last year?

None

 

24. What was your favourite TV programme?

Bad Sisters

 

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Don't think so

 

26. What was the best book(s) you read?

LOL

 

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

None, I’m still all about BTS

 

28. What did you want and get?

To quit my job and find a new one 

 

29. What did you want and not get?

To live in a city with all my friends in a 5-km radius

 

30. What were your favourite films of this year?

I watched very few movies and they were all average

 

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

32. Stayed home and ate mutton.

 

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

If there had not been so much change, all at the same time

 

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2022?

LOL

 

34. What kept you sane?

My friends and BTS 

 

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Jimin

 

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

This is not even a valid question at this point, everything is on fire

 

37. Who did you miss?

My friends

 

38. Who was the best new person you met?

A

 

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2022.

Prioritise rest and physical health otherwise your body will decide when to do it for you.

 

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

I can never answer this.

 

2021

1. What did you do in 2021 that you’d never done before?

Started learning Korean

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes

5. What countries did you visit?

Lol, none

6. What would you like to have in 2022 that you lacked in 2021?

To be able to live by myself again

7. What date from 2021 will remain etched upon your memory?

May 1, the day chacha died 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting a hobby

Finding a new job

Continuing the newsletter 

Surviving the year

9. What was your biggest failure?

The year was a failure, not me

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not physically 

11. What was the best thing you bought?

One Plus Buds Z

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

Mine

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

My boss' (both ex and new)

My parents

14. Where did most of your money go?

Travelling between Delhi and Jaipur

Going out with friends in August

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The new job

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2021?

Pied Piper, BTS

17.Compared to this time last year, are you:

Happier or sadder? Happier

Thinner or fatter? Fatter

Richer or poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Read

Workout 

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Work

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

I spent it at home, sleeping and chilling

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

Friends

22. Did you fall in love in 2021?

No

23. How many one night stands in this last year?

None

24. What was your favourite TV programme?

Starstruck 

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Don't think so

26. What was the best book(s) you read?

LOL

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

BTS!

28. What did you want and get?

To quit my job and find a new one 

29. What did you want and not get?

A good job

30. What were your favourite films of this year?

Every movie I watched was average

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

31. A staycation with a friend.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

If my new job had not turned out to be a nightmare

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2021?

LOL

34. What kept you sane?

My friends and my brother 

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

RM/Jimin from BTS

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

What didn't, that's the question.

37. Who did you miss?

My friends

38. Who was the best new person you met?

No one

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2021.

Learn to differentiate between your job and your identity.  

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

I can never answer this.

2020

1. What did you do in 2020 that you’d never done before?

Started a newsletter

Led a team of 27 people

Finally gave up on a decade-long relationship

Survived COVID

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully, no

5. What countries did you visit?

Lol, none

6. What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020?

A job that doesn't make me want to die

7. What date from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory?

January 26, 2020 - the day my life became hell at work 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Surviving the lockdown completely by myself for 3 months

Managing to keep my job and properly lead my team 

Telling my mother in no uncertain terms that I do not want a husband or child ever 

Not abandoning the newsletter 

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not demanding a raise at work

And then not quitting once things got very, very bad

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Got COVID in November 

11. What was the best thing you bought?

A jumpsuit! 

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

My family's and some very dear friends' 

My team's

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Some of my extended family's

My boss'

14. Where did most of your money go?

Online shopping for really random things

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

My birthday party

The newsletter

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2020?

Trying to get the Ghunghroo step right at various birthday parties 

17.Compared to this time last year, are you:

1. Happier or sadder? Happier

2. Thinner or fatter? Fatter

3. Richer or poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Read

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Work

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

I spent it having lunch with a dear friend in an actual cafe  

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

Colleagues 

22. Did you fall in love in 2020?

No

23. How many one night stands in this last year?

None

24. What was your favourite TV programme?

It's Okay To Not Be Okay

Single Parents

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Yes.

26. What was the best book(s) you read?

Gravity is the Thing

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Nothing, really.

28. What did you want and get?

To keep my job

29. What did you want and not get?

A little breathing room at my job

To be able to go back to my normal life

30. What were your favourite films of this year?

Thappad

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

30. I had a party at home with my friends!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Apart from the obvious, a raise

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020?

I wore nothing but pyjamas April onwards 

34. What kept you sane?

My family. The fact that my parents, my brother and I were living in the same house again after 10 years.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Same answer as last year - Pretty much every Korean actor whose show I watched

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

I don't think I can - or should - choose one.  

37. Who did you miss?

My friends. My Gurgaon life.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

E

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2020.

You should be prepared for anything, even the apocalypse. 

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

I can never answer this.

2019 tag

I tried going without doing this tag for 2019, but it kept bothering me. Usually, I do this at the end of December, but I was in Dubai then. I would have done it for my birthday, but I was too overworked to do it then, so, well, here it is.

1. What did you do in 2019 that you’d never done before?
Auditioned for something and started doing videos
Got flowers and chocolates for Valentine's Day
Got laid off
Forever moved out of my childhood home

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
The UAE

6. What would you like to have in 2020 that you lacked in 2019?
The feeling that I am on the way to becoming the best version of myself

7. What date from 2019 will remain etched upon your memory?
August 18, 2019 - when I moved out of Jaipur

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Landing a job outside of my home town within two months of getting laid off

9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting someone break my heart
Not sticking with my workout
Not saying NO loudly that night

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Dislocated my knee in April
Got a surgery done in October

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Decor stuff while setting up the new house
Some fancy makeup and skincare because it makes me very happy

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Mine and, in some instances, my parents'

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Also mine. And my parents'

14. Where did most of your money go?
Makeup and skincare

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Moving out

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2019?
Kalank

17.Compared to this time last year, are you:

1. Happier or sadder? Sadder
2. Thinner or fatter? Fatter
3. Richer or poorer? Poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Sticking to a healthy diet
Protecting myself against an abusive relationship

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Invested my time in a doomed relationship

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it at home, sick and preparing for Dubai. Two of my best friends came to see me.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
My ex

22. Did you fall in love in 2019?
Yes

23. How many one night stands in this last year?
None

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Schitts Creek

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yes.

26. What was the best book(s) you read?
The Wedding Date
Daisy Jones and The Six

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nothing, really.

28. What did you want and get?
To move out

29. What did you want and not get?
A healthy, stable relationship with someone

30. What were your favourite films of this year?
Long Shot
Booksmart

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
29. I had a party with my office friends at our favourite place. I also got flowers and cake delivered to work by someone.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Better health and I could have definitely done without that heartbreak towards the end

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2019?
Breaking out of the stereotype of what fat girls can or cannot wear - same as last year.

34. What kept you sane?
My friends. My brother.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Pretty much every Korean actor whose show I watched

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
At this point, it's hard not to be stirred by any political debate.

37. Who did you miss?
My brother. My friends once I moved out. My childhood home.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
M, from work

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2019.
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results."

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
This is really hard. I can’t.

2018 tag

I usually do this every year in December no matter where I am or how busy I am, but somehow it just didn’t happen this year. Tomorrow is my 29th birthday, so I thought it was the perfect time to do this.

1. What did you do in 2018 that you’d never done before?
Wear dresses
Go to the gym pretty much every day for an entire year
Go to a strip club

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
Thailand
Indonesia

6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?
A job that I enjoy in a city that is not this one

7. What date from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory?
September 14, 2018

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not having a full-on breakdown because of my living situation

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting myself out of this living situation
Repeatedly giving up on my health
Falling back into a toxic relationship

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I was very sick for most of May/June

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Tickets to Thailand and Bali. Some makeup.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Mine?

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Also mine. And my bosses’

14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The trips – Thailand, Bali, Delhi

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2018?
Nothing, really

17.Compared to this time last year, are you:

1. Happier or sadder? Happier
2. Thinner or fatter? Thinner
3. Richer or poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Sticking to a healthy diet
Saying no

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Giving in to temptation

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it preparing to leave for Delhi the next day and fighting with a lot of important people.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Friends. In the second half, an ex.

22. Did you fall in love in 2018?
No

23. How many one night stands in this last year?
None

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan
The Bold Type
Younger

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yes.

26. What was the best book(s) you read?
This was a terrible year for me in terms of reading. I honestly have no answer to this question, which is such a shame.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nothing, really.

28. What did you want and get?
Foreign travel

29. What did you want and not get?
To get out

30. What were your favourite films of this year?
My God, I truly cannot remember.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
28. I spent the day at work, mostly freaking out about my ex getting back in touch with me. For dinner, I went out with three of my best friends.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Some more positive things happening in my life, overall.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2018?
Breaking out of the stereotype of what fat girls can or cannot wear.

34. What kept you sane?
TV shows. Some new friendships.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Parth Samthaan

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Me Too

37. Who did you miss?
Delhi

38. Who was the best new person you met?
S, from work

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018.
If you can’t change your reality, accept it.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
This is really hard. I can’t.

2017 Tag

1. What did you do in 2017 that you’d never done before?
Went on a road trip with friends
Led a team of eight writers

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
None

6. What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?
Good health

7. What date from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory?
October 31

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
There were no achievements this year.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Moving back home

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not particularly

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A purple lipstick
A pair of earrings

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My brother’s

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Mine

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting a raise

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2017?
Nothing in particular

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
1. Happier or sadder? Sadder
2. Thinner or fatter? Fatter
3. Richer or poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Self-care

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Self-destruction 

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it at work.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Friends

22. Did you fall in love in 2017?
No

23. How many one night stands in this last year?
None

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Big Little Lies
Ishqbaaaz
Strong Woman Do Bong-Soon
The Good Place

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No

26. What was the best book(s) you read?
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nothing in particular

28. What did you want and get?
A raise

29. What did you want and not get?
To stay in Delhi

30. What were your favourite films of this year?
I can’t remember. OK Kanmani? Girls Trip? Not sure.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
27. Took my brother to Dilli Haat. Went for a fancy dinner and got a very disturbing phone call from my ex.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting the job I applied for in April

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2017?
Dark lips, dark circles

34. What kept you sane?
Rediscovering my love for Hindi TV. Korean dramas.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Barun Sobti
Park Hyung-sik

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
At this point, it's hard to choose just one. But probably Aadhar.

37. Who did you miss?
Myself circa 2015

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Everyone sucked.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017.
Control your life, or someone else will.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
"I'm sorry, the old Taylor can't come to the phone right now. Why? 'Coz she's dead!"