Criss Cross: A Medley of Thoughts

By Mukta Arya

Criss-cross is a collection of thoughts that came into the author’s mind while introspecting and pondering about life, while sitting in her balcony in Singapore. The myriad of thoughts delve deeper into human psychology and connect them to day to day life. They are random thoughts and are deeply influenced by the people and culture of the places, she has lived in.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Mar 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781543757163

Mukta Arya

Mukta is an observer of life and loves to pen her thoughts in the form of poetry and prose. She has been writing since her childhood and is a published author of three books – Wanton Thoughts, 3:15 pm -Musings in Hong Kong and Whimsical Times. In her day job, Mukta has more than two decades of experience as a Human Resources professional in multi-national organizations in India, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Book preview

Prologue

It was August 2016 and I moved to Singapore from Hong Kong. A new country, new surroundings, adjustments to my life—it was exciting and daunting at the same time. I turned to the same channel (that I always go to) to capture my thoughts that were bubbling over in my mind while in this new place—a blog.

The following pages contain my thoughts on both personal and professional topics, which I penned down while sitting in my balcony over several cups of tea, and surrounded by greenery and calm.

The thoughts/opinions in this book are my own and do not the reflect the views of the organizations that I have worked in.

In the Land of Temasek

It was August 2016 when I moved with my bag and baggage to the beautiful island of Singapore. A whirlwind of activities related to work, finding an apartment, new hairdresser, and cleaning agency; and catching up with long-lost friends kept me very busy that year.

When the frenzy died down and I was left to myself, only then did I discover the little treasures that Singapore hides behind its modern look.

The mélange of cultures, the greenery intertwined with concrete, the calm waters of Singapore River, the taste of the hawker centres, carrot cakes with dark sauce, Lo-Hei during Chinese New Year, outlet shopping malls, the electric scooters, the little restaurants in the riverfront in Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay, the quiet little lanes just minutes away from the bustling tourist spots, the museums with amusing histories, the weekend markets, the shows in Marina Bay Sands, the condominiums and the HDBs, pepper crab, books about Singapore, and last but not the least, my wonderful colleagues with a great sense of humour.

It has been only six months in Singapore, and I have just seen the tip of the iceberg. I am looking forward to going deep into the cultural depths of this interesting place.

How Do You Feel?

How does it feel when someone from your past enters your life again?

How does it feel when your tranquil life is suddenly shaken up?

Do you take it in stride?

Do you worry about history repeating itself?

Does the excitement of the uncertainty keep you hooked?

Do you forget about the pains of the past?

Do your sweet memories overcome the shadows?

So many thoughts meander around, and finally the promise of a sweet beginning wins the battle. It is only a promise, but what