Malleable

We spread our arms to receive blessings from the Universe, and thunder strikes. It is only an announcement that God’s bounty or forgiveness will not take us anywhere towards Nirvana. We were created imperfect with a mission to achieve near perfection, and it is a rocky road with no shortcuts. The self-appointed agencies of God have … Continue reading Malleable

Trap

The devil shrieks, “She’s up again”, and I rise from bed with a spring in my step. It is a story I tell myself to keep morale up for a challenging day. I’m known as a tease, a temptress, a shrew, and a manipulator as I juggle several hats to keep the show going. I … Continue reading Trap

Cracking a code

lights blinking in the darkness, but signals do not matchI trust ya and flash a light, but stopthe bridge above calls it a fraudulent moveI'm desperate to meet my counterpart I trust ya and flash a light, but stopWho can crack the code without a common language?I'm desperate to meet my counterparttrust is premium; being … Continue reading Cracking a code

On a hungry stomach

“Is this a house?” “It looks like an old-fashioned inn we read about in story books”. “It's not inspiring enough for me to get in,” Ted said, turning his face away with an upturned nose. So we walked on, the anticipation of finding a place that would satisfy Ted’s taste and my rumbling stomach keeping … Continue reading On a hungry stomach

Changing Gear

The knife's metal blade catches threads of light to gleam as the sweetness of the fruit lingers on my tongue. It takes a knife and sharp teeth to extract sweetness from a well-bred fruit. The book taught me horticultural tricks but not the art of enjoying the fruit of my labour. I learnt it from the hard knocks … Continue reading Changing Gear

To each their own

The red-tiled roof, a symbol of resilience, starkly contrasts the fleeting beauty of the rainbow. The tree, a silent sentinel, has witnessed the many storms the roof has weathered, providing unwavering support to the house's residents, a comforting presence in times of turmoil. The bird, with a heart full of courage, tests her wings. Perhaps … Continue reading To each their own

Clawback

“Do you think someone allegedly involved in a fraud deserves a bonus and stock options?” her quivering voice echoes in the closed chamber. The question is direct,  hard-hitting, and almost accusing. The honcho turns around in his chair, provocatively taps the cigar on the ashtray, and watches the dropped ash cool and shrink. “I know … Continue reading Clawback

Fearsome

The eerie feel in the air is unmistakable. It is the kind of evening when the sky could start raining aliens. The ground beneath my feet is firm, yet I  walk gingerly, fearing it could give way to instability.  I recall being caught in quicksands on a college picnic and how my classmates formed a … Continue reading Fearsome

Muse

The shell of a human being passes by with unseeing eyes focused on the sunset and a device in his shaky hand. He shudders to recall the scene that had wrecked the core of his being many sunsets ago. She had jumped into the valley, and he was left holding a mask in his hand … Continue reading Muse

Two-sided

Did we ever stop to discover sterling qualities in each other? Ideologically, we were on opposite sides of an imaginary fence.  We lived at cross-purposes and tried never to cross each other’s paths. When I started writing, I learned to explore and develop characters' mindsets. I found myself thinking of you more often, and I … Continue reading Two-sided