Sharing little pieces of belonging, memory and mother-tongued love with The Kayal Magazine — When Chai Met Toast tells us about small town, big love and little homes. Small town Small towns that carry soda narengya (Lemon soda), kaplandi mittai (peanut fudge), little children on their bicycles, swaying coconut trees, ammuma’s (grandma) stories, light blue milma milk packets stacked like fish on freshly printed Mathrubhumi (newspaper), peacock feathers treasured in books —

There’s something disarming about the way Aksomaniac speaks, like he’s discovering the story as he tells it. Aamsham may arrive as a song, but it carries the beginnings of a larger world, one that draws on mythology, queerness, and lived experience. In conversation with The Kayal Mag, he moves between the child who named himself and the artist now trying to make sense of it all. AN: What’s the story behind Aksomaniac? AKS: I was a kid, man (laughs) . In sixth or seventh grad

We weren’t walking through lanes when he introduced me to Jeeraka soda . It was one of those Kerala evenings. He had come home for the weekend, and we did what we always did. He picked me up on his bike, and we rode aimlessly like teenagers who knew exactly where they wanted to be. Sobha City became our quiet corner. We never did much there, just sat, talked, shared silences that didn’t feel empty. On the ride back, with the sun folding into the sky behind us, he stopped the

Brisk walks, strawberry milkshakes, and a good solid English breakfast—these make up the modest, one-with-nature author Ruskin Bond’s...

K-A-A-P-I. This is how Madras spells coffee. The olfactory mosaic of Madras is so strongly laced with the aroma of freshly brewed...

I sat close to her and watched. She wiped off her wet hands in front of her favourite yellow saree. She sat with her haunches hanging in...

A Peaceful Oasis : Nestled within the heart of a vibrant, bustling city lies a tranquil oasis – a charming colony of bungalows, where...

The sun had barely crested the horizon when the power cut roused me from a restless slumber. The heat of the morning wrapped itself...

CHAPTER I: Red Oil Tomatoes 18 Aug. ‘24 11:20 pm Dear Diary, Coming back home to Kerala felt like slipping into the lyrics of a song I once knew by heart – familiar notes of comfort interwoven with unexpected harmonies. The house holds its changes—both subtle and striking. And today, life felt like a patchwork quilt, each square of ordinary moments spent here hand-sewn with silent verses of belonging. Tender stanzas of routine bound together like an embrace. As always during

“I tell my beloved to return to her homeland. There is no time left to linger in a foreign land. Living in someone else’s village, I...

The smell of wine decanting fills the olfactory senses, welcoming the Christmas season. A cool breeze brushes past the rubber...

It was a merry day in my family's life- March of 2001, when I was born. My parents decided to plant a Christmas tree which didn’t make...

In conversation with The Kayal Mag, chef partners of 'Kari Apla' - Chef Mathew & Ebaani share their thoughts on the irresistible allure...

In the vast mosaic of life, where each day unfolds with its own set of trials and tribulations, comedians emerge as a beacon of joy...

The air shimmers with the warm, musky fragrance of jasmine flowers tucked behind Ammamma's ear. Sunlight filters through the carvings of...

I. Manjula (maa) “You're just too careless, Chotu, " Manjula chided. Her voice is tinged with equal parts assertiveness and concern, as...

So, I packed my home in boxes. Each one is named after its tale of origin. One - Clothes Sarees, Dresses, Pants. Socks. Skin. Two -...

It’s a slow hot afternoon and the clock is lethargic. It ambles past 4 p.m. Wiping sleep off her face, she walks into the kitchen. He...

In this conversation with The Kayal Mag’s Editor, Athira Nair, Founder and Pastry Chef Heena shares her thoughts on the charm of heritage...

Looking at an old image of Buddha at the Kagyupa temple in Chitkul feels peaceful and sparse. Chitkul, known as India’s last village, is...

It was a regular day at Zoya Mahal, the south of Karachi. Chotu was gnawing at birds too lazy to chase them. Peri as usual was busy...

I often wonder about the long road certain recipes have travelled, passing from one generation to another. Through times good and bad,...

Sangti Valley, Arunachal Pradesh My watch seems to be playing its favourite trick again. Moving slower than usual, as if the arms aren’t...

It was a cold, breezy Saturday night. A chill hung low in the air as two twenty-something brown girls huddled close together, soaking up...

In a world ruled by the digital tide, entertainment is the pulse that binds us. And nothing stirs the mind quite like music. Indian pop...

Amidst all the turbulence life offers, music emerges as a steadfast companion—a gentle whisper that resonates deep within, reminding us...

I am 27 years old, lived all my life in a city and have grown up pretty distant from familial traditions. I have always lived with my...

Niyati Rao: Head Chef & Partner, Ekaa Chef Niyati’s journey—from the Taj kitchens to Mumbai’s most celebrated restaurants and the transformative halls of Noma, Copenhagen—shaped the vision that became Ekaa. For her, food is not just technique, but a living story of people, cultures, and memory. Returning home in 2020, she dreamt of creating a dining space that is seasonal, soulful, and ever-evolving—an idea that came to life after a year of relentless passion and collaboratio