The pilot episode of “The First Date & Chicken Manchurian” ” was supposed to be the big break for Akash Sharma, a wide-eyed actor whose only prior credit was a toothpaste commercial in Assam. On set, nerves tangled with ambition as Akash delivered his lines with gusto—until a prop malfunction sent the spotlights flying on … Continue reading Spotlight
War spells disaster – especially those that drive hatred between two sections of the human race. We concealed our dwellings with black paper on window panes and skylights to avoid being detected by bomber planes. Those were the days when fighter planes were not as technologically advanced as today. The sound of planes buzzing overhead … Continue reading War and Peace
“I can’t stand him.” “Take time before you judge. The flibbertigibbet you hate actually showcases the content of his mindset.” “There’s nothing there.” “If he mentions a calendar, check the dates. If he is stuck in the past, he is not absorbing fresh inputs. That is the reason for the disconnect and growing apart.” “Hmm, is … Continue reading Clues
Death parted the two topmost talents in the music industry, not divorce. She raised a hue and cry when she was barred from accessing his bank lockers and other assets by his children from a previous marriage. She was drunk and particularly vocal that evening, “My voice complemented his music well, but I wish we … Continue reading Un-musical
She sat in the chair, just staring off into space. She wondered if Neil could see her from his spaceship. Maybe he is out on a spacewalk. “It is not easy”, he had told her, “it takes a lot of practice to experience nothingness.” She rummaged inside to check what her feelings were like. Is … Continue reading Confronting the Real
“Walls have ears” is a saying she’d often heard. She was back in her grandfather’s crumbling mansion to check if the walls had memory. They had eavesdropped on and absorbed family secrets for decades. The portrait of her exquisitely beautiful great-grandmother fell as she came near it, revealing a hole behind. It was a path … Continue reading When Walls Speak
“A whistleblower and a hacker have created havoc with our systems and profitability, and both happen to be former employees”, whined the CEO in the Board meeting. The seniormost member with grey hair had a grim look on his face, “There was a time when a worker was handed back his sack of tools when … Continue reading Plugging Leaks
She had never met a person as toxic and abusive as her boss. The girl in the next cubicle gently warned her to be circumspect in her speech, as the femme fatale who was her boss was rumoured to be close to the CEO. It wasn’t idle gossip, since the boss herself mentioned it in … Continue reading Career Preparedness
“I think we should….” She was brutally cut short with a negative statement. The proper way was only what they prescribed. And one day she was gone, as unnoticed as she had lived there. Her acts were never cromulent enough. She ran out of patience. Weekend Writing Prompt #431
She was a victim of abuse; yet she was blamed for going out with male colleagues at a late hour. The criminals escaped unscathed, as they held positions of critical importance in the organisation; no wonder she resigned a few weeks later. “I’ve been a perfectionist at work, always delivering on deadlines. My punctuality has … Continue reading Diversity and Inclusion
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