Preparedness

There’s something magical about the room, but not in a nice way. Is Ellen imagining the figure on the wall, or is it really there? Dad told her not to make up imaginary friends or foes. Wait and watch if the object under observation can really harm. The figure does not move, but something leaps … Continue reading Preparedness

No impact

It was her first taste of whiskey. “You look wasted. Learn to stop at the right time,” a so-called well-wisher quipped. “The first sip is the right time.” Gloria replies wryly. She is impressed by the exquisitely carved glass, not the drink. Disappointment boiled and fermented inside, till she changed completely as an individual. Her … Continue reading No impact

Exotica

“Thai cooking is no joke without the right ingredients”, the celebrity chef grumbled, “I found galangal, but kaffir lime leaves are substituted with lemon zest.” “Don’t you think ingredients need to be sourced from abroad, for the astronomical price that you charge for a meal?” the local chef was feeling left out. “Understand the opportunity … Continue reading Exotica

Dirty Linen

This was his desk from where he texted customers every evening. “Have dirty linen to wash? You can trust us to maintain complete secrecy.” It was a marketing technique that worked reasonably well for him. Customers smiled as they handed over their laundry. One afternoon, a well-manicured hand filled the empty cup with coffee. He … Continue reading Dirty Linen

Spinning brains

If a brain can spin, it happens inside these tiny heads. If I had a device to scan the insides of a skull, it would show two different colours on the left and right sides, with the capacity to interchange between left and right, and between the siblings. I’ve never seen any kid carve out … Continue reading Spinning brains

Aliens

I’m sure an alien passed me by, not once but many times. Everybody on a different wavelength of thought is an alien, looking for that split second when minds meet. I feel like an alien within myself, as strange impulses catch me unaware. Do they all look red or green, just because my colour is … Continue reading Aliens

Elevate

I gauged midnight by the intensity of starlight and journey of the moon. Then, life happened and I counted miseries, awaiting dawn. Stars can sense the sun waiting on the other side. I wonder why others count the number of years I’ve lived on earth, when I carry the essence of time inside me. I … Continue reading Elevate

Nirvana

Motionless, she stood gazing down the tunnel. The path extended as far as the eye could see, encased by walls of grimy bricks. She has passed through the same tunnel many times, in between what earthlings call a life and souls here call a project. She wants to make this the last time. She is … Continue reading Nirvana

Insulation

An electronics research guide says, “I learnt a few subjects, excelled in some and mastered one enough to help others in their research. But one thing I could never decipher is why two people like or dislike each other.” Clearly, the theory of attraction or repulsion between nuclear particles does not apply to human interactions … Continue reading Insulation