“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
I shuddered when my class teacher shouted again, “Eat the green vegetables, children.” She had a foot ruler in her hand as she went around the classroom staring at children holding on to their plates on their benches during the lunch recess. I didn’t have any greens in my plate even today. I was alarmed … 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
I bent my back and picked up the big grey brick of stone on the ground with my hand. I stood straight and put it on the under-construction layer of bricks and stones in front of me. I felt a soft foot kicking on my back and smiled. I completed what I was doing. The … Read more
The cup stood in his sight. Right in front of him. Waiting for him to lift it. Here in front of his eyes. Victory at Last. He glared at the cup with glee amidst all those who watched with eagerness. He held it tight lest it slip from his grip. It was a cup that … Read more
He knew what it meant to be the background. He had spent his whole life there. “Your job is to fill the background, while the artist delivers his performance,” his directors had always told him for the past thirty years. He was the rioter in the mob, the spectator in the stadium, the vendor in … 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
Sixty-Five isn’t quite different from sixty-four, as Devendra discovers soon after his birthday. By the same vein, thirty-five isn’t vastly different from thirty-four. They celebrate both today, his sixty-fifth birthday and their thirty-fifth anniversary. He sips his wine watching his wife and the sunset alternately from the beautiful sands of the ocean. Both the sights … Read more
At the open house of Vidya Niketan School, all students sat in uncomfortable silence. Most of them were with their mothers. Some of them were with their fathers. They waited for the class teacher to call them. They dreaded the impending discussion about their performance. Most of them wondered why this day existed. Some of … Read more