A desire to initiate Smiles exchanged A benign gesture Straight face and welcoming eyes. A reason for collegiality Jabs of insults A burnt smile Smiling portrait and vengeful winks. A want to gap the distance Number memorization Phrase repetition Anxious countenance and a quasi smile. An expression of reliance Inclination confession Cryptic … More 1 Friendship
She sits on the bed, lathering cream on her hands, when he enters the room. He clears his throat, wills her to catch his eyes. She stiffens, but continues her task. That bitch! She is my wife! Mine! And does she even look at me? Does she ask what I want? And she applies cream, … More The Exception to Section 375
Devendra Yadav was an Arts graduate. Born in a country where Arts is considered inferior to any science major in a bachelor’s degree, Devendra took Arts not because he had scored low in high school and not even because he wanted to prove to his classmates that even toppers can take Arts, but actually to … More Figs and Dates
It was quite abrupt, that sudden jerk to consciousness. One moment, there is nothing. And the next, a warm glow of a spring morning. I blinked and felt my heart pounding against my chest. My breathing was heavy. But why? I looked at the mirror and my confused eyes stared back at me, a bit … More Any Other Day
It was the middle of the night when I woke up, went to my phone and switched off the alarm that was set to go off in the next 10 minutes. I peeped out of my window and the street was orange-ish with the street light and the sky was dark with the city’s smog … More Parabarti Station – Kolkata
It was a slow Sunday evening. My mother, grandmother and me were sitting in the front courtyard of our house, sipping the customary evening coffee. My grandmother has been in a state of unrest these past few days – the yearly donation which she makes to the Banashankari Temple being not yet posted. The famed … More Here to Stay
“Sometimes by losing a battle, you find new ways to win the war” I got down from the autorickshaw at Bhopal Junction. My reporting time was 1400 hours, as unlikely as it may sound, I was two hours early. I had decided to go there early to make a few friends, to be accepted amongst … More Four Years Too Late – 1
The waiter stood at the counter, methodically rubbing the glasses clean. It was a quiet afternoon, only one of the booths occupied by a regular. The gloomy café was silent & frequented only by those who had an old familiarity with it. One wouldn’t fall in love with it in a glance, its charm obvious … More A Quiet Afternoon
Thursday, January 26th 4.25 A.M. I look at the roof and see nothing. It’s strange. Till now, I have never been conscious to greet the alarm, that first ring which has always been lost in mists of awakening. It will be a day for many firsts. The first road trip without adult supervision. The first … More The First Travelogue
Girijamma woke from her nap with a sense of confusion. The room was dark, even though it was only 4.15 in the afternoon. Her sleep fuddled senses took a moment to understand the forming clouds blocking the sunlight. She dashed out of her room and made up the stairs as fast as her plump legs … More Perception
