The Writing Catalogue

My logo Binati Sheth (black)

Category: Media

  • She Becomes Sweeter In the Dark: For my dearest friend, Prachi

    She Becomes Sweeter In the Dark: For my dearest friend, Prachi

    This is an audio recording of the blog, in case you prefer to listen.

    Life sometimes throws us into walls that don’t crack. We feel only pain. In those moments, this pesky little thing called love shows up. Sometimes quiet, sometimes loud, often silly, but always steady. This blog is me showing up for Prachi.

    Two Parallel Lives

    My dear friend, Dr. Prachi Thakur, is living two lives at once. Like a pendulum that swings from the left to the right, she is swaying from happiness to sorrow, from joy to pain, from bliss to guilt, from planning for the future to dreading it. 

    One side has her father, her hero, Shyam uncle, battling stomach cancer, the kind that makes doctors look you in the eye and say, “There’s not much we can do now.” On the other side, she just started a new life with her husband. 

    How do you keep swinging without losing your footing? How do you crack Newton-Apple jokes while fundraising for your terminally ill father’s care? You do it by being Prachi.

    The Secret Power of Humour (and LinkedIn 😆)

    We met via the LinkedIn Creator Accelerator Program, an ambitious place where getting attention means someone else loses it. Prachi, Riddhi, Mrinal, Supriya, Rahul, and Jatin were not this (for me). We cared more about laughing with each other than growing on LinkedIn. We roasted ourselves and our creations. We have collaborated to make funny videos. Basically, we are all Chandler Bing. All the Chandlers found each other and laughed as much as they could along the way.

    One day, Prachi said she was coming to meet me. I did not think she would come, but Prachi came. Lipstick on point, laughing all the way. We ate, we went around the city looking at Gujarati snack aisles, and we slithered on my cool stone tiles. I don’t know much about life, but I do know this: when you find someone who will chill on the floor with you, hold on tight and don’t let go. 

    Prachi, I am not sharing those photos here. I will burden you with that decision. #JustCreatorThings

    Prachi is a survivor. When your life has been a fight, you learn to laugh and disassociate. That is how you keep going. The strength and sass you see come from her upbringing. It is a testament to what supportive parenting does to a person. 

    Like all dads, Shyam Uncle waited for his prize fighter to find her match, the son-in-law of his dreams. All this joy he had longed for finally arrived, and so did the damn cancer. It is trying to kill him, but Uncle is like, “Nope, we are not doing this today. I am soaking in the joy of the moment. I will keep living.” He hopes, so does his entire family. Life is carrying on as usual, with added visits to the Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai. 

    One side is grief. The other side is joy. People on both sides are smiling. 

    Now we Talk about Rhu-Rhu 

    I didn’t want to burden Prachi by attempting to make her laugh. I hate when people facing sadness have to put on a show to make the rest of us comfortable. But I reached out and eventually told her about rhubarb. Yes, the plant. Don’t judge me: I am a book editor and a nerd who also gardens. Yes, I am a proud cliché. 

    Home gardeners usually cover the rhubarb plant with a bucket when it is growing. Rhubarb grows sweeter in the dark. The bucket blocks out all the light, but Rhu-Rhu is determined to find the light. It believes in the presence of light, and this determination makes it grow taller. When the bucket is finally lifted, Rhu-Rhu shoots up: vibrant, red, and alive. 

    I think Prachi laughed when she said, “So, Rhu is like my soul plant.”
    I said, “Yup. Nutritious. Gorgeous. Thrives in darkness. Thrives in light. Turns into jams and pies. Can be poisonous if not prepared right.“

    Honestly, it fits Prachi well. She is in her rhubarb era.

    Why I am making You Read This

    This blog isn’t just a tribute to our friendship. It’s a character certificate. It’s a public letter vouching for Prachi’s integrity, her strength, and her humanity.

    If you’ve stumbled across her fundraiser link and wondered:

    • Is this genuine?
    • Is this someone worth helping?

    The only answer is yes.

    Yes. She is real. Her father’s illness is real. Her pain is real. Her courage is unmatched. Her humour is on point. And her need is urgent and important.

    Help!

    If you have someone who makes you laugh or hold space for your mess, someone who lifts people up, now’s the moment to lift back. Donate.

    I’ve donated and shared her fundraiser in every circle I know. If your budget allows, I’m asking you to do the same.

    Donate Now

    Final Note

    Fuck cancer.

    This damn disease takes so many from the world. Love deserves to win, damn it. I will hold on to my Rhu-Rhu, hoping these dark times will lead to something sweet when the bucket lifts. People rallying around this beautiful family is a joy to behold. When all else fails, the light, people, show up.

    You all are the silver lining.

    🖤 Thank you. 

  • Chappelle and his immaculate use of outrage and empathy

    Chappelle and his immaculate use of outrage and empathy

    To listen instead of read.

    This is the tale of a human storyteller. A new Dave Chappelle special has dropped on Netflix and the twitterati are buzzing with outrage. Some want him cancelled. Some want the critics cancelled. The rest are busy living normal lives. Everyone knows about ‘The Closer’. As always, the arrow hit its target and as an artist working among an increasingly fragile audience, this one was magnificent. Dave Chappelle is a genius. Whether you like him or not (on account of his comedy and/or opinions), there is no denying the genius of this comic. He jokes about everyone and everything. To quote everyone, “Nobody is safe!”

    The promo courtesy of Dave Chappelle, Netflix, and YouTube

    What do people really expect when they go to a Chappelle show I wondered? I think I have an answer. Stories. People go for the story. Chappelle recites jokes but what he does so well is storytelling. He talks to his audience, even the ones watching on Netflix. He draws us in with a cult leader-esque persona. Chappelle talks softly, then screams, dances, and sings. He doesn’t force the audience to listen – he makes them want to listen. Like a skilled magician who changes cards with a sleight of hand, Chappelle uses storytelling to do the same with his audience’s thoughts.

    Familiarity

    He sings familiar songs or mutters popular catchphrases before he cracks the tough-to-digest jokes to engage the audience and ease them into the painful yet hard-hitting premise of the joke. These jokes are the pointers leading to a social premise.

    Relatability

    He talks about someone he knows (from high school, within his personal circle of friends and family, at the comedy store, from some random bar on the road, et cetera). He does this to draw the audience into his life, making them feel as if they are one of his people. People like to belong in a tribe (especially when it is the tribe of someone famous). He makes use of relatable tropes to bond with his audience. This conditioning makes the blow from the premise softer when it comes.

    Surprise

    He uses the gift of ambiguity. Using reflective humour, Chappelle introduces the main premise of his special (which is often a social issue relating to race). He dodges the issue (mostly) by making things about himself (and not the issue per se). There is a shock value to his humour, a shock value that comes and slaps you in the face. These hard-hitting jokes encourage the audience to be human, even in the face of inhuman behaviour.

    The Format

    Chappelle says whatever he wants to say while saying he can’t say this out loud (making the appearance of the outrage around his humour and the cancel culture mob seem prophetic). He connects the outrage with empathy conveying the message of humanity to most people (who watch the whole thing). If you skim and scan though, you will only experience the outrage, you won’t notice the empathy, and the humanity of it all will be lost on you. If you watch a little clip, you will be triggered because the language he uses is fiery, sometimes incendiary.

    Do you remember the jesters from a King’s Court from back in the day? Their job was to act silly, crack jokes and poke fun at the powerful people present in the court. Since time immemorial, comedians have been allowed to discuss and joke about subjects that are (morally) wrong and/or (socially) risqué in order to focus on the greater truths (whatever those are). Now though, comedians cannot say certain things. People pay money, go to shows or click on the shows and then, they call for it to be cancelled just because they didn’t like what they heard/saw.

    To quote Chappelle himself,

    “I don’t have to agree with all the art I consume, but it helps me understand how I actually feel about it.”

    He is honest in a way that could get the audience to turn on him in a single instance. If he doesn’t handle the premise properly, people would do more than just boo him off the stage. The genius of Chappelle lies here. He uses outrage and empathy to draw his audiences in and he reminds them of their humanity and the humanity of the fellow man – everyone loves to laugh, especially during inappropriate moments.

    I say, we let him do it for as long as he wants to. I say, we encourage more artists to be brave rather than constricted by some random dos and don’ts list made by people who do nothing but complain all day. If he does get cancelled, I guess it would be alright. To quote Chappelle for the last time, “It’s okay! My career ended many years ago.” 

    With that concluding note, let the begging commence. Let me know what you thought about this piece. While you do that, click on my other stuff as well alongside signing up for my cutesy, nerdy newsletter.

    The Writing Catalogue

    All content on this website, including blog posts, writing samples, and service descriptions, is the intellectual property of Binati Sheth and is protected by copyright law. Do not quote, reproduce, copy, or republish any part of this content without prior written permission. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action. For permissions or inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

    Read some Essays
    Read some blogs
    Watch my videos
    Hire me to work on your book
  • How Makoto Shinkai’s Kimi no Nawa left me feeling broken

    How Makoto Shinkai’s Kimi no Nawa left me feeling broken

    An audio recording of the blog

    I have been feeling low lately. Low would be an understatement but that’s how we will leave it right now. Then, I did something. Against my better judgement, which screamed at me, I re-watched Kimi no Na wa. Makoto Shinkai fantasy romance Your Name (君の名は, Kimi no Na wa) is a 2016 Japanese animated movie (anime) and it broke me.

    I feel empty.

    I feel…alone.

    To quote Miyamizu Mitsuha (the female protagonist of the movie) and Tachibana Taki, (the male protagonist of the movie),

    Once in a while when I wake up, I find myself crying. The dream I must have had I can never recall. But the sensation that I’ve lost something lingers for a long time after I wake up. I’m always searching for something, for someone. This feeling has possessed me I think from that day when the stars came falling. It was almost as if a scene from a dream. Nothing more, nothing less than a beautiful view.

    I feel like I’m always searching for someone, or something.

    …I’m not sure if I’m searching for a person or a place, or if I’m just searching for a job.

    Ichikawa, M., Kawaguchi, N., Ota, K., Shinkai, M., Kamiki, R., Kamishiraishi, M., Narita, R., FUNimation Productions, Ltd., (2017). Kimi no na wa = Your name.

    I really don’t know why I am writing this blog. Something just compelled me to start writing. All I know right now is this emptiness. It feels like it will devour me whole. I have tried musubi (gathering the threads and connecting with people through time). I have tried loving and accepting myself. I have tried a lot of things. Yet that emptiness lingers on, spreading a miasma of despair through my heart and then my mind.

    Just like the main theme of this movie, the reasoning and the logic behind my state is enigmatic. It is beyond me. It eludes me. Where does this emptiness comes from?

    Just like the protagonists of this movie, the desire to find that which I love is intangible. I know you feel it too sometimes; we all do. How can we not? We are all looking for love. A person. A feeling. A purpose of existence. Love. Not just love, understanding. That’s what broke me. I lack understanding. I don’t understand myself. I don’t understand the world around me. I just…don’t understand anymore. Why is it this hard?

    Grandma Miyamizu Hitoha says this,

    Treasure the experience. Dreams fade away after you wake up.  

    Ichikawa, M., Kawaguchi, N., Ota, K., Shinkai, M., Kamiki, R., Kamishiraishi, M., Narita, R., FUNimation Productions, Ltd., (2017). Kimi no na wa = Your name.

    … and then she says this,

    Past this point is kakuriyo; the underworld! In exchange for returning to this world, you must leave behind what is most important to you.

    Ichikawa, M., Kawaguchi, N., Ota, K., Shinkai, M., Kamiki, R., Kamishiraishi, M., Narita, R., FUNimation Productions, Ltd., (2017). Kimi no na wa = Your name.

    I have treasured my experiences as much as I can. I really did. Why then does it feel like the dreams faded away even before they showed up? Why am I such an aimless, rudderless boat, drifting in a river of mediocrity? I just… I just don’t know.

    In spite of how much this movie made me cry, to the point where I couldn’t breathe for a bit, I recommend you watch it. Sometimes, you just have to let it all out. Sometimes, we all feel profoundly lonely and spend years seeking our better halves – jobs, people, purpose; it could be anything. Sometimes, we all feel broken, empty. It’s okay. Tonight, it was my turn to break and feel it all.

    When Taki drinks the Kuchikamizake and we see what he sees, our hearts break. When Taki and Mitsuha meet on the edge of the mountain in tasogare-doki (twilight) and Taki writes what he does on Mitsuha’s hand, the words she really needed to hear, our hearts ache. Where is it? Where is that tether, that bond? Why can’t I find it? Why can’t I find any spiritual connection? What did I do wrong with my life, my choices? Why is my string of fate so utterly tattered rather than red and knotted to perfection? なんで?

    Today was my late grandmother’s birthday. There’s so much I wanted to tell her, thank her for. I wished for one more moment with her but nothing came. Why isn’t my love transcending time, space and mortality, and allowing me to meet her where things blur? I know she is gone…but not truly gone (because I remember her). Why does it still hurt this much?

    I guess Uzumaki Naruto said it best,

    It hurts when the person who gave you the best memories becomes a memory.

    Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto. [Series]. Tokyo: Shueisha, 1999.

    It hurts. I don’t know why but it does.

    I get like this sometimes. Do you as well? Do you just absolutely shatter? I do. I shatter all the time. This feeling of not being enough just envelops me. It’s okay though because I am my own Tachibana Taki in that regard.

    I wanted to tell you that… Wherever you may end up in this world, I will be searching for you. – Taki Tachibana

    Ichikawa, M., Kawaguchi, N., Ota, K., Shinkai, M., Kamiki, R., Kamishiraishi, M., Narita, R., FUNimation Productions, Ltd., (2017). Kimi no na wa = Your name.

    In the end…

    I am still feeling low and I am still crying. Don’t worry, I will be alright. I hope you are alright as well. If you aren’t, know that you are not alone. Miles away, you have the company of this morose, twenty-something girl who is, as she types this, attempting to feel it all. Just like you, she is trying to fill herself with feelings; ‘full of pep’ as my adorable penpal calls it.

    I have been feeling lower than I generally do and that is okay.

    Everything will be alright eventually…right?

    I don’t generally post my emotions online because emotions are fleeting. However, just this once, I did. You can also contact me, anytime. If you want to, feel free to check out my work.

    The Writing Catalogue

    All content on this website, including blog posts, writing samples, and service descriptions, is the intellectual property of Binati Sheth and is protected by copyright law. Do not quote, reproduce, copy, or republish any part of this content without prior written permission. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action. For permissions or inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

    Read some Essays
    Read some blogs
    Watch my videos
    Hire me to work on your book