Is this Success?

It stared at me. My past achievements record of thirty years had awards, stocks, bonds, balance sheets, mergers and acquisitions. I dug deep to find a single relationship that mattered, a single person who cared about me ………. and found none. The few that I had started my journey with, had drifted apart. Is this … Continue reading Is this Success?

The Divide

“Do you serve beef and pork out here?” “Yes, Ma’m. What would you prefer?” “I need to find another place to eat.” The young Lisa had watched the Indian girl walk out of the diner. She silently watched that the black Mary Jane was ignored, and served in the end. It was 1987, and apartheid … Continue reading The Divide

The Treasure

“Does it make sense anymore?” “Never give up.” “Grandma said all those who tried to dig out the treasure have died.” “That is a story fabricated to keep people away. My forefathers subjugated people to slavery, to earn this wealth.” “What do you intend to do with it?” “Return it to the people. The money … Continue reading The Treasure

Devoid of Color

News channels carry the story of a celebrity singer, who sang on the streets in anonymity, covering himself in a shawl, and earned Rs.12/- in five hours. He humbly acknowledged the people, the orchestra, the lavish sets and the media machinery that make him a star. Else, the same songs could get him a measly … Continue reading Devoid of Color

Reflections on Choice

Yes. It happened again. I should have seen it coming, but hope blinds me every time I repeat the act. I adored my father for the love that he showered on me, for the values that he espoused. I could not respect a person who was not honest, straightforward and kind like my father was. … Continue reading Reflections on Choice

Immortality

A frozen moment in time, given a solid form, by a sculptor beckons. This is not the work of a high-resolution, high-precision camera. It is a snapshot in time, as the sculptor imagined and interpreted that moment. And this is the case with every work of art. “What, then, is immortal? The subject of art, … Continue reading Immortality

The Vision in Pink

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

The Last Trade

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

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