I’ve imposed a ban on attending nikaahs within the family. Being Muslim means that I can marry a cousin. Which means the potential of a “bhaijaan” to morph overnight into a prospective groom is 100 per cent and family weddings turn into a cringey, IRL version of Minder.

Why can’t I, the former devourer of books, complete even a single one today? I put the blame partly on technology: Streaming websites offer us thousands of shows and movies. And unlike books, which require imagination on the reader’s part, these shows serve you everything on a platter.

Ever since Sacred Games’ terrifying cliffhanger, I’ve been trying to imagine what would happen if Mumbai did actually get nuked? Over 7,00,000 people will be dead within the first 24 hours of impact. A communications blackout, disrupted railway lines and roads will result in widespread panic and riots, leading to more deaths.

When my parents expected me to pursue medicine, my tuition teacher pointed out to my mother that I had a flair for English. Today, I find myself in this beautiful place in life where I tell stories for a living. It’s true: All it takes is one person to believe in you.

What’s the deal with celebrity endorsements? Do companies really believe that consumers dash out to buy their new car just because Ranveer Singh supposedly uses one? Who really believes a Bollywood superstar would be caught dead driving a modest hatchback?

I’m an impulsive person who sees no point in wasting hours overthinking something, so naturally, I’m told that I should seek a “cure”. But what exactly is “dangerous” about my personality and why is everyone so hell-bent on treating it?

We are born completely useless and need to be taught everything. Unless you’re Indian. Then the art of giving free advice is one of those skills that comes naturally to you. But why do Indians love giving advice so much? And how many really follow their own?

I was a behind-the-scenes volunteer at Indian Idol auditions a few years ago, and had to prompt awkward aspirants to say cheesy things like “Humari zindagi badal jayegi show jeetne se.” Reality shows can be toxic places, where everything from a person’s disability to lack of talent, is fair game for exploitation.

The famous Indian “Apne ko kya?” mentality is a delicate dance of voyeurism and indifference. We want to poke our noses everywhere, without taking on any responsibility. It’s why we love Bigg Boss, which allows us the luxury of looking into the lives of others, and shrug it off just as easily.

Growing up, my highly educated, intelligent parents, who ran a double-income household even before Cosmopolitan said it was in, were an inspiration. They taught me to question everything, which worked out great... until I started questioning them.