Anti-fragile

Aligned shoulder blades and a confident gait set her apart from the crowd. It felt like the metro station turned into a ramp, and escalators moved slow, just because she walked on it. Maybe, it was his perspective. He was seeing her after a long gap. The beauty was intact, but fragility had disappeared. His … Continue reading Anti-fragile

Digitally yours

You are not allowed to send this. The deceased was Covid-infected.” “I’ve heard the virus does not survive beyond a certain temperature.” “Yet, I cannot expose the whole delivery network.” “Flights to India are not operational. This needs to mingle with the soil there.The funeral was Zoomcast, but how does this go?” “It has to … Continue reading Digitally yours

Why don’t you understand?

Your getting out of here means disaster - for you as well as reputation of the ruling party. You hold secrets which can spell the end of the empire, and your life will not be spared after the expose. “My question is straight and simple — Aren’t you a party to whatever is happening?” “Women … Continue reading Why don’t you understand?

Bridge to nowhere

The Palace of Wheels, Rajasthan, India  “There was a girl in the compartment. She asked if I’ve come for her, and gave me this piece of paper.” The attendant quietly took the paper from me, and scanned it. “Here it is ….. November, 1960” “What does that mean?” “It’s the spirit of a girl who … Continue reading Bridge to nowhere

Contingency plan

Company headquarters in Germany devised a contingency plan in 2020. What if the workforce in India fails to deliver during the pandemic? It is a country of 1.2 billion with less healthcare facilities. Today, news arrives that we need to plan to deliver more. A major part of the German workforce is indisposed. “Hey! What … Continue reading Contingency plan

The Glass Mountain

She was castigated for her courage, let down by those who resented her leadership, put down by puny egos. Yet, she rose to be at the pinnacle of a small mountain she constructed by choice. A tiny, glass mountain adorned her desk and she never failed to credit it with being a source of inspiration. … Continue reading The Glass Mountain

Protocols

“Thanks for guarding what I left behind! I ran three blocks to find this.” His twinkling eyes betray the shabbiness of his attire. “Are you sure you will take it back?” “Yes. Why do you ask?” “I’m convinced that you’re the owner. Three others stopped, sprayed sanitiser on it, and are probably waiting somewhere in … Continue reading Protocols

Ropes

they celebrate bondage, swaying to tunes condemning freedom, dancing on sand dunes notice not - slipping ground, controls shift euphoria; all’s well puppets telling stories vanish, dropped from invisible strings - their pictures float  programmed memories thought - on controlled oxygen  welcomes contamination  as new awakening seepage of venom -  never cared to know -is … Continue reading Ropes

Etymological Grace

I once met a renowned author. Neither did I take a selfie, nor autograph .... just stopped reading his books. You can feel, not define unquenched thirstas eyes grow weak, but books come firstdark-rimmed glasses frame my old faceshowcasing a mind one cannot ace as eyes grow weak, but books come firstI befriend authors, meeting … Continue reading Etymological Grace

Nightmarish

menacing, short steps bring him closer every moment venomous blues cloud imagination to torment I know it’s the end strapped to monitors once again “See what fear does,” he says addressing the interns “to neural pathways in the brain. Extrapolated vision tenses up nerves I’m not an executioner just look like one….” Darkness envelopes I’m … Continue reading Nightmarish