It's all good, I promise!

1. What did you do in 2025 that you’d never done before?

Does parenting a toddler count?

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


Surprisingly enough, yes. Which has made me pledge other resolutions this year that won't go so well I'm certain.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No 

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes. It was sudden and brutal and over in 3 weeks, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemies. 



5. What countries did you visit?

Just India, this year. Bangalore, Bishnupur, Mandarmani for fun. Bombay for work. It was a quiet year, trip-wise. The Bangalore trip remains closest to my heart.


6. What would you like to have in 2026 that you lacked in 2025?

The other house. Peace at work. 



7. What date from 2025 will remain etched upon your memory?

19th September, for heartbreaking reasons.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Being consistent with exercise. Not having a nervous breakdown.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Getting off my phone. My brain is addicted to those tiny dopamine hits and I do not know how to turn it off. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

One mystery fever that lasted for a week and made me see stars.  

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Tickets to Bangalore

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

Bhetki, Topshey, Ira


13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Have you SEEN the state of everything, everywhere?


14. Where did most of your money go?

Tandoori chicken from Oudh, Ubers to Rajarhat, and boxes of diapers. My middle class, mundane Bengali existence cannot be more in-your-face than this.

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

Nothing


16. What song/album will always remind you of 2025?

Furfuri by Kuma Sagar

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

1. Happier or sadder?  Happy with sudden, intense spikes of sadness.
2. Thinner or fatter? Thinner, but barely.
3. Richer or poorer? Same. I think I've come to accept that I'm terrible with money.


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

Read. 


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

Social media


20. How will you be spending Christmas?

Christmas was spent recuperating from an intense Christmas eve dance party at a fancy hotel. I finally roused myself out of bed to take the toddler out for Christmas lights in the evening and got stuck in insane traffic for hours. [Did anyone know that PATULI is the most happening Christmas spot in the town nowadays?!]. I eventually salvaged the evening by buying Ira her favourite croissant that was almost the size of her head. Toddlers are very easily impressed. 

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

The groupchat with Shallow Hollows kept me sane

22. Did you fall in love in 2025?

No


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

LMFAO


24. What was your favourite TV programme?

I discovered and was obsessed with The Pitt. 

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?

I miserably failed my Goodreads challenge again. Discovered Dolly Alderton, who was peppy and chick-lity in a way that appealed to my frazzled brain.  

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Soma Ghosh

28. What did you want and get?

A stable job, a stable life, this banal existence


29. What did you want and not get?

Some more travel would have been nice.

30. What were your favourite films of this year?

I rewatched 'Aranyer Dinratri' on the big screen when it was re-released this year. Does that count? 

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

I was 37. Threw myself a nice little party with Malayali food and close friends. Also splurged and got my hair washed at the nearby parlour. Ah the decadence. 

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
 
A little more money, a little less responsibilties


33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2025?

I rewore clothes till they fell apart

34. What kept you sane?

My friends


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

No. I think I have grown out of this teenage question now. Might I have grown out of this entire teenage questionnaire as well?

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

[Is it insane that I've been posting the same thing for years now?]

37. Who did you miss?

Mamima

38. Who was the best new person you met?

No one.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2025.

When in doubt, shut up.

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

Nohi jontro, nohi jontro, ami praani...