Becoming Aunty!

The Faux Pas

Today I called a 70-something woman Aunty.

She smiled sweetly… and said:

“Aunty mat kaho na!”

Classic Bollywood. Classic generational landmine.

My husband once called our neighbor Aunty.

She was in a saree, head covered—Balaji Bahu style.

She snapped: “What’s your age?”

He said: “30.”

She said: “I’m 29.”

They never spoke again.

Aunty is so not about the age, it’s about the ego, self care or sometimes poor dressing choices. I color my hair every month and sometimes not for months. Recently I did an online poll ‘To color or not’ and it was a split house. I still have to, as my own mother is not yet ready to leave her’s alone. 

Aunty No. 1 

Once I said “Not with a kid!” I was refusing the advances by a junior in school. 

Later I realised my mistake that kid was 6 feet tall and looked like an uncle.

The Boys teased him and called me Aunty, and everyone else chimed 

They crowned me: Aunty No. 1.

Thanks, Govinda. 

This is my origin story. Only 16! It was my calling, always! 

The favourite aunt 

I’ve been a Bua since ever

A Maasi before my first pimple 

Now a Mami, Chitti and what not! 

But Aunty?

That’s a social promotion.

It comes with unsolicited wisdom and selective kindness. 

You’re not a real aunty till you’ve said: “Yeh koi kapde hain?”

I make body-shaming sound fun 

I beat them at board games 

I ask them about their crushes

I give them unsolicited advise.. 

And still, they think I’m fun. Not that they have a choice! 

The legacy 

I grew up watching my mom’s friends and aunts dish gossip and gyan in the same breath.

Now it’s my turn.

Millennial Aunties are here—

We may or may not ask you when you are getting married! But we will ask you to throw a wedding party for us so we can dance the night away! 

With our wit, sarcasm, convent English, emotional awareness and a devil may care attitude… we are here to embarrass Gen Z with a flair.

Long live the sisterhood or the aunty-hood of the sassy saree sorority 💄👵💥

Chutki Bua, Keepsake 

The opening story in my book is about the universal aunt — the one who spins tales from thin air, drops truth bombs wrapped in kindness, and leaves a soulful touch… 

You’ll love her.

Because everyone deserves an aunt who tells stories, serves wisdom without a filter, and cheers you on like it’s her full-time job.