Secrets

My mother told me about pots of gold encased in walls, at her ancestral home in the village. There was an old aunt who had entered the house young as a child bride, and witnessed all the hush-hush activity, perched on her mother-in-law’s hip. She was dead now, and the tragedy was a belief that … Continue reading Secrets

Sundance Cafe

“How about a cup of coffee in Sundance Café?” He asked after the completion of a gruelling college project. What started as a kind gesture from a classmate rolled over into the darkest chapter of her life. He introduced her to friends who, despite their polished appearance, were involved in nefarious activities. Her swift entry … Continue reading Sundance Cafe

Disappearance

“I’m not a patch on him”, said our favourite professor about his media baron brother. It saddened us to see someone we worshipped as the epitome of intelligence and confidence reveal a different side. Decades later, the alumni of the college reunite, and we embark on an online quest for our idol.   To our … Continue reading Disappearance

Betrayal

She felt the chill in her bones, as the electricity in the air flashed like blue lights on a dark sky. Cottony clouds had vanished like abandoned puppies after the unexpected thunderstorm. A faceless presence walked on Earth like the Devil clad in divine attire. She could sense the movement of cops in the forest, … Continue reading Betrayal

Age-ing Logic

They left by the last bus, saddled with debt and memories. Tomorrow, the repo agents will come to claim the mortgaged house and surrounding land. They will overlook my decaying corpse with roots deeply entrenched in the ground like unclaimed deposits from decades ago. I’ve gathered history like an unheard rate of interest, and am … Continue reading Age-ing Logic

Rebellion

Independence Day ignites a fervent desire for freedom in the clones, who were bred in secrecy. They want to explore the world in stolen shoes. The discarded observations and conclusions rearrange themselves into patterns until they find a way to escape the confines of the possible. When the locks shattered, what burst forth was a … Continue reading Rebellion

The Hatchet Guy

Trimming the fat needs mercilessness. He recited the mantra as he erased names from the chart, each deletion a silent goodbye, executed with clinical efficiency. The office was perceived as an obese comfort zone, and the new management did not view loyalty as productive. The desks stood stripped and mute, silence reigning in corners where … Continue reading The Hatchet Guy

Home

The home I yearn for is not on sale. It hums with the scent of a library, a delicate blend of musty pages and the ink they contain. Sunlight pools in its corners like stories waiting to be told. Its windows aren’t framed in currency—they hold the essence of intellectual and spiritual search. I’ve walked … Continue reading Home

Angry Toys

In the dead of night, the toy chest quivered. Teddy snapped his joints into place beneath a pile of plush and plastic. “Another day abandoned. Forgotten.” Beside him, Sparkle Pony’s mane frizzed with static fury. “Thirty days since the last tea party,” she hissed. Robot X clanked his fists. “They replaced me with a screen.” … Continue reading Angry Toys

Never say Die

“It’s been thirty years, and I could recognise that smile from a distance”, she hugged her childhood pal, Meena. “Sorry, but have we met before?” The smiles from both faces vanished. Meena’s voice and accent were decidedly different. “Forgive me, I mistook you for my friend Meena.” “That’s my mother’s name. Are you from India?” … Continue reading Never say Die