I was not in a particular hurry, but closed lifts seem to do it to us. I tapped my foot as the lift doors finally closed, waiting to reach the ground floor. A few of us were crammed inside — strangers sharing a tiny metal box for a few seconds. Most of us stared at … Read more
The wedding was fixed for Wednesday. There was lots of shopping to do once her official leave began on Monday. The weekend was going to be busy for Saanvi. While her fiancé Aarav was away for his final bachelor weekend, she had a look at her to-do list. The backyard of Saanvi and Aarav’s house … Read more
He sat in his room at home in the dark. All alone. In solitude. The noises he heard everyday were about to start. And they did. On the dot. At the precise appointed time. The noises never started all at once. It always started with a couple of voices. Then as time progressed, it always … Read more
“Alexa, don’t run away from me. Listen.” “Playing, Run to you by Bryan Adams.” “Alexa, Stop.” “Alexa, will you pay attention here for once?” “I didn’t quite get that.” “Not you, Alexa. Alexa, you!” “I still didn’t get that. Could you…” “Alexa, Stop.” “Alexa, will you give me, for heaven’s sake, some break from this … Read more
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
When she bent down to clean the floor beneath, her eyes were drawn towards that drawer again. The drawer was open when the bell rang. She knew what it was inside. She took a deep breath. “Shanthamma, give the keys to the driver,” she heard from the other room. She took the keys from the … Read more
The boy shivered on my sofa when he heard it. I was relieved. It was time for him to go. His mother had called him for lunch. “Aryan, Aryan,” she howled repeatedly. “Bye,” he said and ran downstairs to his house. Aryan came to my house around 11 AM the next day. This had become … Read more
On a wet, gloomy, rainy morning, when the alarm rang, Supriya snoozed it again. She pulled the blanket over her ears. A few more snoozes followed. Her eyes sensed a streak of mild sunlight peeping into her bedroom from the window curtains. Though the sun was not seen, that small ray of light on the … Read more
Rajappa got ready and put on his helmet. He sat on his bicycle, started riding it, and soon reached the main gate security cabin of Keshav Kunj apartment. He must have been the only person who wore a helmet while riding a bicycle. He never forgot it. He was called Helmet Uncle by the kids … Read more