The slice she chose not to bite changed her life. It was the slice with injected poison. But she often wondered if life could have been better on other side of the orchard. Puzzle This
The path not taken
A Father Listens
“Our vision of the future is quite often, a projection of our past experience, and this is the only reason for disappointment, heartbreak and relationship failures”, Manil wonders if his son’s words emanate from wisdom or vested interest. “In absence of this connection, how do I visualize the future? Won’t it be a fairy tale … Continue reading A Father Listens
When the Moon Grows Full
When the moon grows full, a story howls from deep precincts of the psyche. It wants to remain in the dark, yet bask in moonlight. It was asked to stay incognito, out of bounds for the civilized world. I feel it growing inside me like an expectant mother, knowing that eventually, it will see lights … Continue reading When the Moon Grows Full
Crutches
The fluttering calendar says it has been three months since she lost her balance and tumbled down the stairs, and Francisco has nursed and taken care of her during this phase. “Come on, discard the walker. You can walk on your own two feet.” “These feet don’t feel like mine anymore.” “You need to use … Continue reading Crutches
Jumping the gun
“They’ve set fire to a sacred place”. “Fire can work in two ways. It destroys everything it encounters, converting it to carbon footprints. It can also ignite minds and hearts to do something that has never been done before”. “It sounds good to this point. The point is whether those ignited minds and hearts make … Continue reading Jumping the gun
Waiting for Godot
Peace will descend tonight from Heaven, and all will be well with the world. Are you sure of those spirits up there – can they even hear our voices? Well, we need to ask the clouds and the sky about how much permeability they offer…. Then what gives you that confidence of tonight? Actually, confidence … Continue reading Waiting for Godot
Thaw the Blues
The holiday resort boasts of having a frozen chamber – in a country that sees snow only on mountain peaks. Her boisterous teenagers come out with shades of blue on their skin. It has been a tough battle keeping them in. Yes, snow would be the easy way out, even if it was artificial. “Mom, … Continue reading Thaw the Blues
Walk Out
The final walkout was not liberation. It was the realization that she had left doors open for manipulators. She disrespected herself by believing flaky promises, and catering to his desire for control. She felt a surge of relief, a burst of freedom, a spark of joy. She felt like she had reclaimed her life, re-discovered … Continue reading Walk Out
Turning a Page
Talk about a damp squib, and it was Year 2000 – or Y2K as we called it then. The techies worked overnight to ensure that systems didn’t fail, and we partied away the night with cake, champagne, music and dance. After all, it was the turn of the century, and we wouldn’t live to see … Continue reading Turning a Page
Gaslighting
I don’t mind being called the Rebel of the Century or a cynic or spoilsport. But whenever someone who is in power or an aspirant to power highlights a story, I look in other directions. What are they trying to conceal, or divert attention from? “You fall victim to people’s stories ….” is an oft-repeated … Continue reading Gaslighting
Creative Experiments and More 