Silence

We won’t talk about this. They did not sayjust indicated with dark indifferenceShe wondered about the change of stanceIt was something she always knewThey disliked her impudence, or maybefeared she might cross boundaries again-boundariesshe had never stayed within… Why did she come around? they thoughtwhen she knows her unacceptabilityWhy does she peep into their inadequaciesor … Continue reading Silence

Forgotten Stories

The whistle pierced the silence as the train slid into the deserted platform. No lamps glowed, no voices stirred—only shadows stretched across cracked tiles. From the carriages stepped passengers cloaked in mist, their eyes shimmering like distant stars. They were not of flesh but of memory, spirits of forgotten stories, inviting curiosity about their unseen … Continue reading Forgotten Stories

Disembarked

The map in my hand glows with certainty, its arrow unwavering; yet every path I choose threatens to disembark me. I walk anyway, trusting momentum over intuition. The wind translates my intentions into a poem, but scatters my signals like static. Still, something in the distance keeps calling—soft, patient, as if it knew I would … Continue reading Disembarked

The Fishermen Know

Silhouetted against the deep grey sky, we turn into wispy shadows. Evenings on the beach are scary, as they make us aware of our smallness. The high tides will cover everything on the golden sands, leaving behind a residue of jellyfish and water snakes. We will walk cautiously again, waiting for the sunrise, and get … Continue reading The Fishermen Know

Healing

The camera on my computer plays gamesI see myself bald in a cancer wardsitting on my chair dressed for workI ask my colleagues what they seeThey reply with a forlorn faceMaybe you should skip work and rest… A nurse appears who looks like meWith a luminous bandage for my soulThe device takes me to a … Continue reading Healing

Gold

Granny loved experimenting with emojis, and her incorrect usage was often a subject of humour in the family. She learnt FaceTime long before Zoom arrived, to stay in touch with her grandchildren who lived abroad. Then, one day, the emoji pack she had downloaded disappeared from her phone. Maybe one of her grandkids decided to … Continue reading Gold

A Toast to Herself

She did not recognise herself in the mirror, and she knew why she received cold or lukewarm responses in meetings and at social events. Epiphany struck—she was shedding skin and not feeling guilty about it, discarding the weight of expectations. Each layer that fell away revealed a pulse of freedom, raw and unashamed. She took … Continue reading A Toast to Herself

Eleven

shared space, shared smilesmats, cushions are welcome relieffrom cold intimacy of white tilesEnjoy; our camaraderie is brief soon we’ll go fighting againcompeting for the sofa or bedMom, please don’t feel so drainedRelax; you don’t have to see red We pulled out napkins from the ringsand half the filling from cute soft toysBut we always make … Continue reading Eleven

Play-Pen

The playpen looks sturdy enough, but Shih-Tzus treat it like a puzzle box. Tiny paws wiggle, noses nudge, and before you know it, the pups have squeezed through the bars like furry Houdinis. The grown-ups don’t bother with finesse—they simply leap out with the confidence of Olympic high-jumpers. Owners stand baffled, holding treats in one … Continue reading Play-Pen

Spilled Secrets

It was here that the Queen of International Cuisines wrote her first recipe. She glanced at the ingredients on the shelves and painted poetry on paper. She felt the fragrance and flavors emanating from the notebook. She hired two assistants to implement her culinary design. Lo and behold, she became the most popular author of … Continue reading Spilled Secrets