Co-author

She saw it floating on the TV console, then on the wall – the shadow of half a face wearing a turban with dark, intense eyes. Did she do the right thing by choosing to stay alone in a palace converted to a hotel resort? She walked to the library and randomly pulled out a … Continue reading Co-author

I am ….

I am not beyond your reach, but reaching me takes tremendous willpower. Things look different from here. The aerial view gives me access to a lot more than the reach of your imagination. I can see your different masks, different acts and the reasons for limited perspectives. The secrets of the earth and oceans travel … Continue reading I am ….

Devil’s Advocate

I picked up the spirit of two lines from Jim's prompt piece. We are in a stage of moral transition. Why have a moral compass when one can drift along and see where life takes us? So, here is a story where the protagonist plays the Devil's Advocate. Rajiv Menon worked in a gleaming glass … Continue reading Devil’s Advocate

Turn of the Wheel – Part 1

“I invite you to a world at the intersection of culture and technology, a world where you will see artificial intelligence and human expertise in seamless integration; where Diversity will add to the richness of experience and inclusion will be celebrated by invitations. Are you ready to join me on this hot air balloon?” Silence. … Continue reading Turn of the Wheel – Part 1

Turn of the Wheel – Part 3

The year is 2055. It is heartening to see people from different nationalities, genders, and skin colours in a face-to-face meeting, under the same roof. They are achievers in their respective fields who have redefined art, tech, humanities, creativity, and repetitive tasks with artificial intelligence. They notice that the company's face has changed as they … Continue reading Turn of the Wheel – Part 3

Trapped Goddess

This is an excerpt from my book "When Time Stopped" where this image kind of fits in. I meet her inside the next door. “So, you are finally here? But I’m trapped, cannot come out to greet you.”  “Do we know each other?”  “How can you forget? You are the one who worships me in … Continue reading Trapped Goddess

Impact

She scrolls past threads tangled in rage. Her silence is deliberate. She refuses to get involved in toxic conversations or vulgar counter-attacks. Elegance is refusal to enter a fruitless debate. Yet across the digital din, another voice erupts: “Elegance be damned. I need to speak my mind. Volcanoes are erupting inside me for decades.” Two … Continue reading Impact

I don’t miss myself

Dawn was just breaking. She stared at the path ahead, wondering if she will make it to the other end. The anklets gradually gave way as she walked. Other worlds awaited her raw beauty and talent that needed some polish. Brava! What emerged from the simple exterior was stunning. Perhaps she was not aware of … Continue reading I don’t miss myself

Without

Warrior woman with fiery glowing eyes in medieval stone courtyard

She carried the quote in her mind like a secret scripture: “Lightning without thunder.” Her anger lived in that silence, a storm that lit her veins but never broke into sound. Each act of hers was a part of a well-crafted routine; every gesture of hers was polished calm. Her revenge was not loud—it was … Continue reading Without

Cliff-Hangers

They saw a callous criminal without a conscience who could kill to attain her nefarious objectives. They wondered how so young a mind could be so venomous, language so vitriolic and demeanours so remorseless. She struggled to analyse the instincts that drove her - the inner compulsion, the act of rebellion, the courage of taking … Continue reading Cliff-Hangers