Personal Obsession

Having the element of forgetting ourselves while doing something in our everyday routine, is the best feeling anyone can sense. Cristiano Ronaldo the world's most renowned football justifies it. Obsession is necessary, it revitalises you.

My parents say that this obsession started when I was a kid. Before even talking, I started eating. I worship food! Being brought up in Mumbai, India the street food culture wrapped me close like a burrito. There is not a single street in Mumbai where you cannot find food. At a later stage, the curiosity about preparing food was added.

As both my parents were working, I began to explore cooking various dishes at an early age. Exploring and cooking were going hand in hand, which made me more passionate about food.

Finally, I decided to document my love for food and started writing reviews. This didn't stop and to fulfill it furthermore, I started an Instagram blog called Raastekakhana, which literally means Street food in Hindi.

Connoisseur

You can call me a Polyglot!

Fig. A Delicious Pain au Chocolat from Miel, London, Scrumptious Dumplings served at Baozlinn Chinatown, London, A lentil savoury pancake (Dosa) a creation by me, (Left to right). Source: Self

As I am from Mumbai, India. I have been exposed to the metropolitan culture at an early age. Every day, listening to a new language created a neuro surprise in the brain. Mumbai is the home of 30-40 languages and more than 1000 dialects. This added a twist.

The first language I learned was English, while I was acquiring my Mother tongue i.e Marathi. Further, I was introduced to it at the age of 6 and was flabbergasted. Similarly, I acquired Hindi and Gujrathi was listening to people and watching movies.

I was learning French, however, I was not committed. Finally, I completed my B2 level in 2020 and that made me more confident to learn more languages. Now, I am learning Spanish.

I ensure that I don't lose touch or forget any of the languages I know. Therefore, I try to adapt them to my routine. For eg. I write my everyday diary in French and as an entertainment watch french vlogs, I speak to my friends in Gujrati and Konkani. Hoping to add more languages to my list.

Fig. B. Presentation of the languages I can speak.

Source: Self

Capturing the element.

In my early adolescence, I was battling depression. My father gifted me a camera, this evaporated the dews of anxiety from me. This gift was medicine to me.

I started just wandering around with the camera. Where I went I made sure it accompanied me. I clicked pictures beyond my mental satisfaction. It was great.

After getting admitted into architecture, I fell in love with the structures and today as well I enjoy clicking photos of a buildings in contrast to the nature.

Fig. C. Church in Goa, India, Manchester Cathedral, Ruins in Jalianwala Baug, India and Humayun's Tomb, India. (Left to right). Source: Self