The King of Malanda was in a fix. The Mughals had conquered the neighbouring kingdom of Nalcore, leaving Malanda more vulnerable. On its south was the Indian Ocean, where they needed strong naval security. Those islands could also be used by the Mughals as a base for war. On its right, was the beautiful kingdom … Continue reading The Vision in Pink
She traded her freedom for the social security her husband provided. She accepted subjugation for the wealth that her children would inherit. She had mastered the art of silent manipulation. She would not eat till her husband came home, just to draw him homewards. She pampered her own spoilt brats, so they would look after … Continue reading The Last Trade
Shiva’s mother remembered that ominous moment of his christening, which had almost sealed his fate. Mythology says that the ocean was churned by the Gods and Demons, to extract ‘Amrit’, the nectar that guaranteed eternal life, but the process also brought a deadly poison to the surface. Lord Shiva swallowed the poison to save the … Continue reading Shiva
Body art was a tool of expression for her tattered soul. It was touted as a wistful expression of her desires, and some patrons had insisted on getting her inked a little more. The writer had said, “Nobody knows why human beings want to leave their footprints on the sands of time”. ‘And marks of … Continue reading The Scars
The house was locked, and wore a desolate look. Nobody had lived there for years. A damaged car parked outside indicated a backstory. The boy washing cars cleaned this one for free, just so that it did not turn into an eyesore. He mentioned hearing muffled sounds, but it was dismissed as a teenager’s hyperactive … Continue reading The Mystery
This was an unusual tree, which did not follow seasons. It could wilt in spring, or bloom in winter. It had become a tourist attraction over the years, but the tree did not always oblige. At times, It would look like a pretty normal tree, and the onlookers would return disappointed. The window was a … Continue reading Microcosm
The crystal ball reader’s job was easy. She just provided different lenses on reality. The consequent changes in action proved her right. (138 characters) Inspiration and directions provided by Kat Myrman at Twittering Tale #29
This used to be an Intellectuals Café. She was always ready with an endless supply of coffee and cake. The green lawn, and the yellow sunshine did the rest to stimulate creativity. Conversations streamed through the day, penetrating minds. Some of those had an indelible impact, changing life forever. It was only that shift in … Continue reading The Business
He was not sure, if a letter would be the perfect opening act, in the age of electronic communication. However, the feel of paper and the smell of ink brought out the romanticism in him. Only an envelope could carry fragrant rose petals in it. Any number of emoticons could not substitute the touch and … Continue reading The Intent
She faced an angry Jim in the parking lot. “If you don’t care, I don’t care either. Bye, and good luck!” He drove away before she could explain. Now, would it be alright to follow him to his pad, or will that appear obsessive? It was the third day of no contacts with the outside … Continue reading The Device
Creative Experiments and More 