Chapter 1 On one hob, milk boiled; on another, onions sautéed. Her lifesaver, the pressure cooker, was cooking rice and dal. Prerna focused on the sautéing but kept one eye on the…
Not so long ago, I had to go to Trongsa High School for invigilation. On reaching my destination, I was directed to one of the less used staff quarters away from the administrative building for my stay during the Board Examinations. I found out, on my arrival at the quarter, that the other occupant was…
After a middle-aged man who oversaw the class entered his classroom, a student on duty shouted an order. Then, all classmates stood up and bowed to him. ‘Today, I’ll teach you about Japanese ancient history,’ He said. He opened his textbook and groped for some chalk, although he didn’t touch any chalk. He continued to…
This is a place that never sees the sun, perpetually covered in a thick, grainy, grey darkness. You are forced to turn on the headlights of your car even in the middle of the day. You will feel an eerie sense of displacement, a fear that the grey will get into your mouth, nose and…
‘Siraj, let’s begin with your teaching.’ I said. ‘Start the ball rolling.’ As Siraj stood up, he wrinkled his nose and twisted his mouth. I thought the effort was to produce a smile, but the result was an unintended grimace. A short portly man with a bulbous nose and a big salt-and-pepper moustache, he wore…
It’s a very common thing that during the beautiful Theyyam dance, the Hindu ritual, the performer himself converted into a deity after discarding their original identity. However, this time a huge mass of dark, irritating clouds formed around Devi’s eyes when she came to know that the dancing God grasped her presence among the large…
With mist and darkness stagnant through the roads, dawn sought refuge on generous leaves and roofs atop the houses. People pacing to work never noticed the man lying on the grassy side of the road. Wounds on his chest, on each of his wrists and feet, drew the crows to peck on him. When the tea shop opened, and few…
Oh but what a queer name it is,Tell me O old Baba, how it came to be? They say, my son, as you see –Atop…
The biblical lifespan nearly covered,Life finally begins to look perfect.The old office, why, even the worldSeems to be getting on alright.The wife and children less…
The rain began singingwith my painand rustledthe leaves.Another autumnwithout youin the shadowof endless years.Even today afterone hundred years of solitudeI listen to your wordsto rejoicemy…
After all my years of hopeI’m alone in the nightunder the sky purpleand I only see your star,Angel, show me the wayand light my path…
I was returning from an abandoned, ancient garden,Where leaves shriveled & branches, barren,Glistened under the pale moonlight.Little invisible insects squeaked from within their burrows.Frantically I…
I’m a paralyzed patient on a nasty hospital bed Nobody wants to come near me, I’m miserable In splits, in extremes, in contradictions, I’m a…
A broken violin with splintered strings -parts of a forgotten, fractured symphonyplaying to an audience of the undead.A defunct clock on a blistered wallwhose hands…
When was it lost?It’s been a while.Each time it slipped away,I yearned to make it mine,Yet, I still can’t find it.Do you know?How often I…
Now you are mine.In my eyes,Relax with your dreams.Love, pain, and toil must sleep.Upon waters of time,Let us walk together,Travel through shadows,Forever sun, moon.Forever you…
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