Smallest Manageable Unit

“With 122 runs required from 18 overs and almost half the side back in the pavilion, the man that India needs, the captain walks in to bat,” the commentator announced as Swami and Jigneshbhai watched MS Dhoni take guard at the crease. “This man will do it again,” Swami bet on the captain, like so … Read more

Level Up: Jigneshbhai and Swami

“One arm after the other, one pedal after another, and one foot in front of the other. For seven hours plus.” That’s what Sam said when Jigneshbhai and I asked him how he managed to finish the Ironman triathlon. The arms for swimming 2 km, the pedals for cycling 90 km and the foot for … Read more

My Mom’s Carcass: Short Story

Me and my brother have no idea what hit her. We didn’t see it, we only heard it. Her last cry. She helped us cross the road. We thought she was behind us when we reached the median. We thought we were tottering along in front of her. She always told us that the road … Read more

Beginning Action

“Action generally begins when you have to, not when you want to,” Jigneshbhai said sipping his coffee. “It starts when you must, not when you should.” Swami and I thought that we were more determined than that. Swami for one was sure that he was and, therefore, didn’t agree with Jigneshbhai at first, as usual. … Read more

Torment: Short Story

The morning sun reached the centre of the sky. Even in full brightness, Lakhinath Kaman looked like a ghost. He sat with a straight back on his second-hand two-wheeler. No beeps on his phone. Not a single phone call. No one thought of calling him. The only calls he received in the past week were … Read more

Patience and Time Horizon

“Most people cannot not eat this chocolate muffin, if left with it alone and hungry,” Jigneshbhai said staring at the three muffins that the waiter got with our coffee the other day. Swami also stared at them first and then glared at Jigneshbhai, who was still staring at the muffins. Then Swami picked up one … Read more

Wake Up Alarm: Short Story

At 6.04 am, the alarm went off. “Mummy,” he howled from under the blanket. There was no response. He pulled the blanket doubly over his face so that the sound of the alarm doesn’t disturb him. It kept ringing. “Mummy…. Mummy,” he yelled again at the top of his voice after a minute. He turned … Read more

Caregiver: Short Story

It had been almost six months now that Kirthana had been bedridden. It had been six months since her husband Karthik had been her caregiver. “Another silent day, another silent night. What a useless life!” the thirty something Karthik said to himself. Kirthana tried to move her left hand and leg but her best efforts … Read more

Structured Flexibility

The other day over coffee, Jigneshbhai told Swami “Decide and automate your investments so that you don’t give yourself a chance to change your mind.” Swami revolted. “But there are always unforeseen circumstances due to which I want to change my mind,” he said. Jigneshbhai smiled and said, “Leave some space to foresee the unforeseen, … Read more

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