The Empire

“I’ve never seen such a beautiful place.” “It takes a long time, manipulation and mean strategy to build illusions.” “Why illusions? You are free to step into the lights and dance. Let me film your cheer…” I said a silent prayer to preserve my daughter’s smile. “There is so much which has not been filmed. … Continue reading The Empire

Downpour

“I don’t know when the shower of blessings changed to a downpour of responsibilities. And I could never get my head out of it. I’m going to miss work terribly.” Tears rolled own the cheeks of the CMO, as she concluded her farewell speech. She’d retired from the services of the hospital today. “You are … Continue reading Downpour

Living with Insanity

Someday, this will be over– only remembered like some half-felt and fading nightmare. Someday, nobody will believe that it actually happened, that she had to go through the hell they know only from novels or movies. People who see the smiling couple posing for pictures will never know what transpired in the privacy of their chambers. … Continue reading Living with Insanity

Hope

Neeta dreamt of Diwali that night, and her garden being illuminated by a hundred candles. It was the 59th day of lockdown, and it was expected to last a few more weeks, since they resided in a red zone. Another 40 days meant the lockdown would end on First of July, and then … they … Continue reading Hope

Bridge of mistrust

She had her eyes firmly fixed on depths below, not the other side. Gingerly stepping on a bridge whose maker she did not trust was not easy. It had never been easy since the day she married. She had found out that her inheritance mattered more than her, and they actually despised her for ‘the … Continue reading Bridge of mistrust

A pause

“I don’t think I will….” The pause seemed like an eternal stretch of time. What if she wants to leave forever? He should never have asked in the first place, forcing her to take a decision. That moment brought many scenes from the past to mind – where he had been dominating, overbearing, violent, imposing … Continue reading A pause

Ill-fitting

"The pieces don't fit together," I wish I could smooth his furrowed brow. His parents had given birth to him, but were totally incompatible with each other. Insanity is something he had inherited, and it was affecting him in a phased manner. The pieces were never meant to fit together. https://only100words.xyz/2020/05/21/three-line-tales-week-225/

It kept me going…

It is what I’ve grown up with. A kindly soul with a straggly beard, torn clothes and a guitar took me under his wings, when I was a kid starving on the streets. I learnt how to earn money with music, from Lenovo. Life was good, till Lenovo did not wake up one morning. He … Continue reading It kept me going…

Volcanoes

The verdict is out. “All four accused found guilty, to be hanged to death….” The defense lawyer is defiant. “I cannot let four young people die for the sake of one girl, who was out on the streets in late hours.” A whisper in the crowd, “Is this man for real?” The nervous speaker has … Continue reading Volcanoes

I hope they are safe, wherever they are

No one turned up in the park today again. I hope they are all safe wherever they are are. I’ve been working incessantly to keep them safe - for the last 23 years - since that fateful day when they killed me on that bench. I swore that I would not let it happen to … Continue reading I hope they are safe, wherever they are