Reflections on my first Mothers' day:
They are called the newborn trenches for a reason.
I did read about it- the long hours of feeding, the random sleep timings, the loud cries for reasons you can't decipher but NOTHING truly prepares you for it. The last few months have been physically, emotionally, mentally the hardest of my life.
There is a tiny human who is looking at me, not just for nourishment but survival. And suddenly I was only being referred to as "Mom": was that the only role I had now to define myself?
I kept waiting for that moment when it would fall into place, when I'd "figure it out", when life would go back to how it was, when I'd be able to stop the mental calculations about sleep, feeding, diapers- only to realise that the discomfort is here to stay, there is no formula for "success", and there is no going back to how things were- there's a new normal now. There's a new me.
And then with the help of mothers who've been there before, I learnt to accept, to live in the moment, let go of my schedules, plans and expectations to enjoy my time with my son. My son. Two words that still feel foreign sometimes when used together.
I began noticing the little things: how his body relaxed when I held him, the loving gaze reserved only for me, how his body kept instinctively turning to me at night for comfort; how nursing him made both of us feel like we could shut out the world and comfort each other beyond nourishment. We spoke and understood each other beyond words.
I stopped being afraid of making mistakes. The long silences which once seemed haunting, now gave me time to reflect and to decide what truly matters and how I want to live my life. I became kind to myself and realised every day was a win even though I didn't do anything "productive". Finally I realised my worth as a human, has nothing to do with my career or even my relationships- I'm all that and more.
This post today is to remind myself of how far I have come and be a part of the conversation that doesn't just put Moms up on a pedestal but to admit how hard it's been and how much unseen effort, support, patience and is needed- not just to raise a child but to raise a mother.
Life Update Lately !!
@sonamrl and I are full of joy to announce the arrival of our Little sunshine. Born on the 20th Of October, the festival of light, Diwali š , our baby has filled our lives with joy knowing no bounds.
We feel extremely lucky to have the support of our families and friends š. To all our wellwishers, keep showering your blessings on our Son.
#babyboy #newbornbaby #newparents
A special throwback and revival āØ A glimpse of Dr. Sacheen Khirid and I, revisiting Mozartās Overture from The Marriage of Figaro- a piece we first performed nearly a decade ago. Revived for Cantabileās 10-year celebration, it was such a joy to share the stage again with a trusted collaborator and friend.
#pianoduet #piano4hands #pianoperformance #LiveMusic #puneconcerts #mazdahall #pianistsofindia #mozart #marriageoffigaro #sonamlodhi @cantabilepune
Series over, crisis begins.
No severance between work and music.
Composer: Theodore Shapiro
#severance @appletv #severanceappletv #theodoreshapiro #benstiller #adamscott #severancetheme #pianocover #tvscore #appletv
š®š³ A song for home, for belonging, for the heart that never forgets its roots.
š¶ Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera : A.R. Rahman, Swades (2004) š¹š
Experience it live at the A.R. Rahman Candlelight Tribute ā an evening of music, memories, and magic on the 23rd of August.
#arrahman #swades #YehJoDesHaiTera #PianoCover #CandlelightConcerts #IndianMusic #LiveMusic #PianoLove #BollywoodMusic #SonamLodhi #punestudiomeraki #InstrumentalMusic #FilmMusic #15august #independencedayindia #15august2025 #puneconcerts #pianistsofindia #pianoperformance
š¹š Thrilled to share that our student, 18-year-old pianist and composer Sean Noel has won the 15th Con Brio National Piano Competition 2025 held at the NCPA, Mumbai!
Sean was one of 7 semifinalists selected from across India and went on to become one of 4 finalists, ultimately winning the national title at this prestigious event celebrating the legacy of Italian composers. š®š¹š¶
A student at Studio Meraki with @sonamrl for over 12 years, Sean holds a Distinction in Grade 8 Piano from Trinity College London, where he performed one of his own compositions for the exam. He is now preparing for his ATCL diploma, and continues to deepen his artistry with every step.
Sean comes from an incredibly supportive and musical family. His teacher Sonam Lodhi, who herself won Con Brio in 2017, along with all of us at Studio Meraki couldnāt be prouder to see Sean shine on this national stage!
@conbriofoundation@md_dejavu@icubeforchrist
#conbrio #pianocompetition #punestudiomeraki #indianpianist #trinitycollegelondon #punenews #punemusicians #pianolessons #pianoperformance #ncpa #conbrio2025 #youngpianists #pianolife
š¶ Garaj Garaj ā Rock Version ā”
A song we've been obsessed with since Bandish Bandits! Rooted in Raag Megh, this piece marks the epic clash of tradition vs modernity between Radhe and Mahi.
We reimagined it with Indian classical vocals, Western piano, and electric guitar ā all put together in limited time, but with maximum heart. The perfect finale to The Sound of Progress.
#GarajGaraj #BandishBandits #FusionMusic #punestudiomeraki #TheSoundOfProgress #indianclassicalmeetsrock #garajgaraj #purbayanchatterjee #shankarehsaanloy #ritwikbhowmik #pareshpahuja #amazonprimeindia #liveperformance #indianmusic #raag #megh #sitarcover #covers #indianfusion
She's all about cozy cafes, coffee, catchy tunes and charm!
Brewed just for you- here's Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter.
Happy birthday @panigrahi_priyanca ! ā¤ļøāŗļø
@food_o_memories
#pianocover #espresso #sabrinacarpenter #coffeelovers #cafehopping
A live snippet of me playing the Pirates of the Caribbean Medley at the finale of the Hans Zimmer Candlelight concert tribute in December, 2024.
This piece was also my first ever YouTube upload, so performing it here felt extra special.
Thank you to my mom @neetalodhi for capturing this moment
Pirates of the Caribbean Medley
Composed by: Hans Zimmer, Klaus Badelt, Geoff Zanelli
Arranged by: Elesky
Venue: @radissonbluhinjawadi@candlelight.concerts
#candlelightconcerts #hanszimmer #piratesofthecaribbean #pianocover #movietheme #punelivemusic #puneconcerts #punestudiomeraki #hanszimmertribute #punecity #pianoperformance #pianistsofindia #liveperformance
