Tiny slivers of historical evidence cannot withstand the scrutiny of critics and the superimposition of meaning by those in power. Books are written, rewritten, translated, interpreted and destroyed till approved textbook versions take their place. Children memorise those not out of curiosity, but to pass exams. They have been programmed anyway, unwittingly and unconsciously. The … Continue reading Out of Order
It flows with me, but I can’t keep pace with it. I am a dot. I ask the river to carry my story to the oceans. It accepts by touching my hand lowered over the guardrail. The sun takes away a part of it, and clouds rain somewhere else. Other stories are curious and want … Continue reading Time and God
I don’t like the sound of other dogs barking. I love the balcony. I love walking safely in the shadow of my parents. I love car rides. I’m protected by boundary lines. And those canines out there …. they better know the Queen has arrived, flanked by bodyguards. Mom carries me when she senses danger, … Continue reading Firebrand
This is an excerpt from my book "When Time Stopped" where this image kind of fits in. I meet her inside the next door. “So, you are finally here? But I’m trapped, cannot come out to greet you.” “Do we know each other?” “How can you forget? You are the one who worships me in … Continue reading Trapped Goddess
She scrolls past threads tangled in rage. Her silence is deliberate. She refuses to get involved in toxic conversations or vulgar counter-attacks. Elegance is refusal to enter a fruitless debate. Yet across the digital din, another voice erupts: “Elegance be damned. I need to speak my mind. Volcanoes are erupting inside me for decades.” Two … Continue reading Impact
She carried the quote in her mind like a secret scripture: “Lightning without thunder.” Her anger lived in that silence, a storm that lit her veins but never broke into sound. Each act of hers was a part of a well-crafted routine; every gesture of hers was polished calm. Her revenge was not loud—it was … Continue reading Without
They saw a callous criminal without a conscience who could kill to attain her nefarious objectives. They wondered how so young a mind could be so venomous, language so vitriolic and demeanours so remorseless. She struggled to analyse the instincts that drove her - the inner compulsion, the act of rebellion, the courage of taking … Continue reading Cliff-Hangers
She did not know what delicate meant until she felt the pressure and assessed her capacity to withstand it. She did not fear Power until the intense heat threatened to wither her away. She made no effort to avert deceit because she did not see a reason for anyone wanting to harm her. Curiosity drove … Continue reading Shadows lengthened
The genie emerged only when someone wiped off the dust of stories from the lamp. She felt suffocated in there, especially because she was punished for no fault of hers. The claustrophobia had also compelled her to look inwards and find a light beyond what the lamp could imagine. She was destined to be a … Continue reading The Power of Ideology
A bolt of lightning leaps at me, but I’m ready to catch the thunder. Electrocution is a possibility, as much as being activated by a divine force. I call the winds to help me decide, but they are busy pushing stubborn clouds. Those tiny people sitting behind rectangles in concrete structures speculate on various things, … Continue reading Wind Song
Creative Experiments and More 