Ladyink with love

Tag: Womanhood

  • A Very Chaotic Trip to Rishikesh (But Worth It)

    The “We Need a Break” Phase

    I have been so done with work lately. Not the dramatic burnout kind, just that constant irritation where everything feels repetitive and exhausting. So I decided I needed a break. And I actually took one—with my friends—and we went to Rishikesh.

    An absolutely chaotic trip, like always. 😂

    Initially, I wanted to go to Dehradun. But after discussing it with my besties, we settled on Rishikesh. The plan was simple… at least in theory.

    The Planning That Wasn’t Really Planning

    We had train tickets booked. Of course, they didn’t get confirmed.

    Classic. 🙃

    So on the 10th, one day before the trip, we booked bus tickets instead. Very last minute, very on brand for us.

    I went to my friend’s place that night so we could leave together in the morning. We barely slept. Just talked, laughed, and somehow made everything louder than it needed to be.

    The Journey That Took Forever

    We woke up at 5:00 am, got ready, and left for our 6:00 am bus.

    We were excited. Like genuinely happy to just get out of our routine.

    The plan was to reach it in 4 hours.

    We reached at 2 pm.

    I don’t even want to explain how.

    And then it took us hours to get to our hotel. By that point, we were exhausted, irritated, and honestly questioning our life choices.

    The Café Disaster

    Before going to the hotel, we decided to sit at a café and eat something.

    Bad decision.

    The place looked decent, but the drinks? Literal water. No taste. Nothing. And we spent 700+ on that.

    I was this close🤏🏻 to crying.

    The only redeeming part of that entire experience was a cat that came and quietly sat under my chair. I love cats. That moment alone made me slightly less angry.

    Day One: Not Our Day

    We finally reached the hotel around 5 pm, completely drained. Took a bath, thinking maybe things would get better.

    And then… I got my period. 👏🏻

    Perfect timing, obviously.

    At that point, I had officially given up on the idea of a “peaceful, relaxing trip.” April 11th was just not our day.

    The Calm We Didn’t Expect

    We wanted to attend Ganga Aarti that evening, but we were late. So instead, we just sat on the steps near the Ganga. 🌊

    And weirdly, that turned out to be one of the best parts of the day.

    It was calm. Quiet. No chaos. Just us sitting there, doing nothing for once. We made silent wishes, watched the water, noticed small things like fish swimming by.

    It felt… grounding.

    We had dinner after that and went back to the hotel. Somehow, despite everything, the night turned fun. We danced, took pictures, and made videos. The day started terribly, but we still found a way to end it well.

    Day Two: Finally Feels Like a Trip

    We woke up early, around 6–7 am, and went for breakfast. After that, we got ready and decided to explore.

    We wanted to go to Neelkanth Temple, but it was too far. So we went to Parmarth Niketan Ashram instead.

    And honestly, that place was beautiful.

    There was a sense of peace there that you don’t really find easily. Temples, idols, everything felt calm and structured. And then we saw the Shiv ji murti in the middle of the Ganga.

    It was stunning.

    I even FaceTimed my mom just to show her.

    My friend R went all in and actually got into the Ganga. Me and B stayed out—me because I literally can’t, and her because she just didn’t want to.

    River Rafting (The Highlight)

    After that, we decided to go river rafting.

    Me and R were in. B was not.

    So she went off on her own little exploration while we went for rafting.

    The journey there was long, the wait time was annoying, and the place was crowded. Rishikesh was packed.

    But rafting?

    Completely worth it.

    It was one of those moments where you stop thinking about everything else. Just the river, the mountains, the cold water, the rush.

    I honestly didn’t want it to end.

    The only downside? The random group of boys we were paired with. Completely mannerless. Ruined the vibe a bit, but thankfully not enough to ruin the experience.

    I wanted to jump into the water so badly… but I don’t know how to swim, so that dream stayed a dream.

    A Slower Evening

    After rafting, we were soaked and tired. So we grabbed something to eat and went back to the hotel to freshen up.

    Dinner was simple—South Indian food because we needed something light after the chaos of the day.

    Then chai, of course.

    We wanted to do something fun that night since it was our last one, but honestly, we were too tired. Took a few pictures, made a couple of videos, and just slept.

    No energy left.

    The Early Goodbye

    The next morning, we woke up at 5:00 am, got ready, and left for home.

    No drama. No chaos. Just quiet.

    The Kind of Trip It Was

    Overall, it was a great trip. We weren’t able to see a lot, as it was too crowded and there was a lot of wait time, and wasted hours, due to traffic.

    Messy, unplanned, slightly frustrating—but still great.

    We didn’t plan properly. Things went wrong. We were tired half the time.

    But we also laughed a lot, experienced new things, and had moments that actually felt peaceful and real.

    And somehow, that balance made it worth it.

    Next trip: Dehradun. 😁

    This time… we’re definitely planning better.

    (Or at least pretending we will.)

    Let me know your thoughts below! 👇💕

    P.S. Currently, I am working on a new story, will be updating the first chapter in a few hours.

    I hope you all like it. 😊

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  • What is something others do that sparks your admiration?

    I always used to think, no one inspires me. I don’t admire anyone. There was no human dead or alive that made me look at them and think that I want to be like them.

    I used to think admiration was about liking someone’s personality or being moved by their kindness. Turns out, that wasn’t true for me. When I really sat with the question, I realized the thing that sparks my admiration isn’t charm, talent, or even confidence.

    It’s long-term consistency.

    Not the glamorous version people post online.
    I’m talking about the unsexy kind: showing up when it’s inconvenient, boring, or emotionally heavy. The type of consistency that builds something bigger than the person who started it.

    Two women make this painfully clear for me: Katrina Kaif and Hailey Bieber.

    Both of them walked into industries that could have swallowed them whole. One was a nepo baby and the other was deemed as only a pretty face. Both were seen as not talented enought. Both had narratives attached to them that could have reduced their entire identity to someone else’s shadow. And they could have stayed there—pretty faces, famous boyfriends, famous husbands, easy stereotypes.

    But they didn’t.

    They built.
    They evolved.
    They stayed consistent long enough to create something that wasn’t dependent on anyone else.

    Katrina built Kay Beauty with steady, methodical focus that took years, not months.
    Hailey built Rhode with the exact kind of discipline people underestimate until the results become impossible to ignore.

    Here’s why that hits me so hard.

    It’s not just admiration.
    It’s recognition.

    What I admire in them is what I want from myself: the ability to build something that outlives phases, moods, relationships, or excuses. The ability to choose discipline even when life throws setbacks, sickness, or self-doubt into the mix. The ability to rely on myself as my own source of stability, identity, and growth.

    Consistency isn’t glamorous, but it is powerful.
    And every time I admire it in someone else, it’s really a nudge toward the version of me I’m trying to grow into—someone who shows up for her work not only when she feels inspired, but especially when she doesn’t.

    Because that’s where everything real is built.

    Let me know your thoughts below 👇🏻💕

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  • What Women Really Mean When They Say “I’d Rather Be Alone”?

    Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now? Or Are Women Just Finally Choosing Themselves?

    I was scrolling Instagram (yes, again 😭) when reels about a new Vogue article started flooding my feed. The headline was loud enough: Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now? by Chanté Joseph. Women were stitching, reacting, and laughing about how “uncool” relationships suddenly feel.

    And I’ll be honest — I understood it immediately. I used to feel embarrassed every time I had a boyfriend. I felt smaller, softer, less myself. Maybe that’s why I’ve been single for years and genuinely living my best life.

    Chanté writes:
    “This is also happening alongside a wave of women reclaiming and romanticizing their single life. Where being single was once a cautionary tale (you’ll end up a “spinster” with loads of cats), it is now becoming a desirable and coveted status—another nail in the coffin of a centuries-old heterosexual fairytale that never really benefited women to begin with.”

    She’s right. But that’s only the surface. There’s a deeper cultural shift happening, and it’s worth unpacking.

    Let’s talk about it.

    Is Having a Boyfriend Actually Embarrassing?

    Not really.
    What’s embarrassing is dating someone who lowers your energy — or becoming a smaller version of yourself to keep the relationship alive.

    Here’s why the idea has gained traction:

    1. Many relationships look low-standard

    A woman who’s driven and interesting ends up with a guy who looks lost, sloppy, or unambitious. The mismatch is what people cringe at.

    2. Too many women lose themselves in relationships

    When your entire personality turns into “my boyfriend,” it reads insecure, not romantic. Losing your edge isn’t aspirational.

    3. Relationships became content

    The curated TikToks, the performative affection, the need to prove happiness — it all looks forced.

    4. Independence now looks aspirational

    Freedom, standards, options — that’s the vibe. A relationship can look like giving that up, even when it’s not true.

    5. Most couples aren’t inspiring

    They’re settling for each other, not elevating each other. People pick up on that instantly.

    6. Your partner reflects your taste

    If he’s a mess, people silently assume you are too. The judgment falls on women, not men.

    7. The “boyfriend” label still carries outdated baggage

    Clinginess, predictability, emotional drama — a lot of people still associate the role with all that.

    A relationship only feels embarrassing when it shrinks you instead of expanding you.
    And society is finally saying it out loud.

    How Patriarchy Shaped This Feeling

    Women aren’t rejecting relationships because it’s fashionable.
    They’re rejecting the blueprint patriarchy handed them.

    1. The girlfriend role was designed to make women smaller

    Be patient. Be sweet. Be forgiving. Be supportive.
    Men weren’t taught to reciprocate, so relationships felt like emotional labor camps for women.

    2. Men weren’t raised to be good partners

    Patriarchy didn’t teach them emotional intelligence, accountability, or how to care for someone. So a lot of modern relationships feel imbalanced and draining.

    3. Women get judged harder for their partner’s flaws

    If he embarrasses himself, it reflects on her.
    Patriarchy made women responsible for men’s behavior — and women know it.

    4. Independence is finally real

    Women used to need men to survive.
    Now they have money, careers, friendships, autonomy — so relationships are optional, not mandatory.

    5. Being single signals power, not failure

    It reads as self-respect, freedom, and individuality.

    6. Men aren’t matching women’s growth

    Ambition, emotional maturity, discipline — many men are behind. The gap is the embarrassment.

    7. Women want to be met, not claimed

    The old model of men “claiming” women doesn’t land anymore. Women want equals, not owners.

    So no, the idea of a boyfriend isn’t uncool.
    The idea of stepping back into a patriarchal girlfriend role is.

    How Women Are Breaking Free

    This isn’t “girlboss energy.”
    This is women refusing to play roles that never served them.

    1. Ambition over approval

    Women are building lives that don’t revolve around being chosen.
    Money, career, lifestyle, identity — they come first.

    2. No more lowering standards

    One red flag and she’s gone. That’s autonomy, not coldness.

    3. They’re done romanticizing struggle

    No more mothering grown men. No more emotional heavy lifting.

    4. Self-investment is the new norm

    Skills, solo travel, fitness, career growth — women are investing in themselves the way men were once allowed to.

    5. They’re more interesting single than with the wrong man

    Being single lets their identity breathe.

    6. Stronger female networks

    Women now rely on each other for emotional grounding. That’s powerful.

    7. Rejecting the “girlfriend aesthetic”

    They don’t want to be accessories or caretakers.
    They want to be the protagonist.

    8. Calling out mediocrity

    “If he can’t meet me where I am, I’d rather be alone.”
    That’s not hostility. That’s clarity.

    9. Redefining adulthood

    Marriage and kids aren’t the finish line.
    Self-defined life is.

    Bottom Line

    Women are breaking free by finally living like they matter more than the roles patriarchy gave them.
    Not aesthetically.
    Not performatively.
    But in real, tangible ways.

    Conclusion

    Women aren’t embarrassed by love — they’re embarrassed by the outdated relationship model that required them to shrink, compromise, and center a man’s needs over their own. With independence, ambition, community, and financial autonomy, women no longer see the traditional girlfriend role as aspirational. A relationship is only worth having if it expands their life instead of minimizing it. Anything that pulls a woman back into a version of herself she’s outgrown feels uncool — not because she’s anti-love, but because she’s done disappearing into someone else’s story.

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