My husband and I have always grabbed the slightest of opportunities to travel to the unexplored destinations. During our first road trip from Mysore (Karnataka, India) to Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu, India), we were exhausted after traveling for nine hours. As we got down near the reception, this is the first sight that greeted us beyond which lay the cloud embraced hills.
The row of flower pots – Kodaikanal
The row of flower pots arranged symmetrically added to the beauty of the place. During our three days stay there, we realized that almost everything about the resort followed an alignment in the pattern of rows. The planning of cottages or placing of chairs and flower pots were evidence to our conclusion.
The beauty in symmetry – Kodaikanal
At times, I wish I knew how to arrange my life into a neat and symmetrical pattern of rows since chaos seems to be a permanent guest here.
An alumnus of Presidency College (Kolkata), Delhi University, and XIME (Bangalore), Sonia Chatterjee holds two post-graduate degrees in Chemistry and Management and an MFA in creative writing from Writer's Village University. With eight years of experience in the banking sector as a Branch Head, she took a sabbatical from the corporate world to start her blog soniasmusings.com. Her blog consistently featured in the Top Indian Blogs list from 2019 to 2024.
Her articles have been published on various digital platforms such as Women's Web, Youth Ki Awaaz, Tuck's Magazine, and Period Magazine. She was invited as a speaker at the Breaking Barriers, Kolkata 2018 event by the Women's Web, at the Women Writer’s Fest, Kolkata, 2020, and the Crime Writers Festival, Kolkata,2025.
Sonia has written two detective thrillers titled ‘Deal of Death – Introducing Raya Ray’ (2019) and ‘Diary, Deceit, and Death – A Raya Ray Adventure’ (Vishwakarma Publications, 2024) and a non-fiction book on true crime titled ‘The Sanyasi Who Became a King’ (Sristhi Publishers, 2025). Her book ‘Diary, Deceit, and Death’ was shortlisted for the PVLF Awards 2024-25 in the Best Fiction Category.
Sonia lives in Kolkata with her doctor husband and nine-and-a-half-year-old son.
View all posts by Sonia Chatterjee
25 thoughts on “The beauty of symmetry in rows”
Great post for ‘row’.
I agree! Wish we could make such well-defined arrangements in our life too 🙂
That’s true. There’s a fun element in chaos but I guess I’m have been getting an overdose of it recently. So a little symmetry would probably have a calming effect.
In both Ooty and Kodai, flowers can be easily spotted. I guess people love flowers and nature has been kind enough to provide a great weather conducive for the bloom. BTW, is that Kodai resort building in the background?
Awesome. Yes that’s Kodai resort and this part is the common area plus balcony of the resort. Have you stayed here? Personally I loved the rooms and the steps to the open terrace but the food was awful.
Yes I have, long time ago. Personally, I like the small property next door. It was a villa and overlooked a valley. Right next to the starting point of coakers walk. Thanks for refreshing memories, Sonia
Though we would love our life to have a neat and symmetrical pattern but guess that would make it a bit boring. Dont you think? A bit of chaos adds to the charm and makes life a bit more ‘fun’ 😀
I’m not too symmetrical – my garden probably does not have any pattern at all! (I admire the person who has to water all those pots, too – it’s a lot of work!)
How often I wish I could arrange my life in neat rows, symmetrically, as per my likes. Sadly, I cannot do that..and that’s when I arrange my home the way I could have arranged my life!! It’s something I read years ago, about why some people are so obsessive about things being a certain way in their surroundings. They aren’t happy with the way their Life has been arranged by destiny, so they arrange the things around them!
What a beautiful thought! I totally relate to it. When life gets too chaotic for me, I actually go on a declutter mode for a couple of days. It feels as if I am bringing in some order to my life through arrangement of items. Thanks for reading.
Symmetry is always pleasing to the eyes, but fortunately or unfortunately, Dear Sonia, life can’t always be symmetrical. And I believe it is in this chaos that we are aligned to the rhythm of life, in some way or the other. Don’t you think so?
I know with a toddler at hand you have so much to manage, and it ain’t easy. And you really are doing it all so well. I can’t imagine myself with a little baby and blogging and writing as much as you do. You are an inspiration.
You are so right. I enjoy the chaos in life. Just that at times I feel that it’s getting too much to handle. But I keep learning from friends like you who inspire me through their words and action. Thank you for the valuable insights. I am really glad that #WW has made me discover a jewel like you.
soniasmusings 
Great post for ‘row’.
I agree! Wish we could make such well-defined arrangements in our life too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading Anita.
LikeLike
Love the picsa d I dont want life stuff in a row .Finding the pattern in the chaos makes life fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s true. There’s a fun element in chaos but I guess I’m have been getting an overdose of it recently. So a little symmetry would probably have a calming effect.
LikeLike
In both Ooty and Kodai, flowers can be easily spotted. I guess people love flowers and nature has been kind enough to provide a great weather conducive for the bloom. BTW, is that Kodai resort building in the background?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome. Yes that’s Kodai resort and this part is the common area plus balcony of the resort. Have you stayed here? Personally I loved the rooms and the steps to the open terrace but the food was awful.
LikeLike
Yes I have, long time ago. Personally, I like the small property next door. It was a villa and overlooked a valley. Right next to the starting point of coakers walk. Thanks for refreshing memories, Sonia
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like such a beautiful place! Love the row of potted plants!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Aditi
LikeLike
Though we would love our life to have a neat and symmetrical pattern but guess that would make it a bit boring. Dont you think? A bit of chaos adds to the charm and makes life a bit more ‘fun’ 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Absolutely right. Just that life seems to be a little more chaotic than I can possibly handle. Hence the wish of a little symmetry.
LikeLike
Lovely place and shots.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Charmingly written Sonia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
I’m not too symmetrical – my garden probably does not have any pattern at all! (I admire the person who has to water all those pots, too – it’s a lot of work!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess that is perfectly fine. There’s also a different kind of beauty in asymmetrical pattern.
LikeLike
How beautiful! I like symmetry but I also like a bit of chaos and disorder 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes that’s what even I prefer. Just that sometimes the chaos gets too much to handle and I start yearning for some symmetry.
LikeLike
How often I wish I could arrange my life in neat rows, symmetrically, as per my likes. Sadly, I cannot do that..and that’s when I arrange my home the way I could have arranged my life!! It’s something I read years ago, about why some people are so obsessive about things being a certain way in their surroundings. They aren’t happy with the way their Life has been arranged by destiny, so they arrange the things around them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful thought! I totally relate to it. When life gets too chaotic for me, I actually go on a declutter mode for a couple of days. It feels as if I am bringing in some order to my life through arrangement of items. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow what an interesting insight, Shilpa.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Symmetry is always pleasing to the eyes, but fortunately or unfortunately, Dear Sonia, life can’t always be symmetrical. And I believe it is in this chaos that we are aligned to the rhythm of life, in some way or the other. Don’t you think so?
I know with a toddler at hand you have so much to manage, and it ain’t easy. And you really are doing it all so well. I can’t imagine myself with a little baby and blogging and writing as much as you do. You are an inspiration.
Lovely back story, yet again.
Thank you so much for linking up with us at #WW
Have a terrific week ahead!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right. I enjoy the chaos in life. Just that at times I feel that it’s getting too much to handle. But I keep learning from friends like you who inspire me through their words and action. Thank you for the valuable insights. I am really glad that #WW has made me discover a jewel like you.
LikeLiked by 1 person