“Have you seen the lion resting in the cave while the lioness manages everything else? “Yes. Diplomacy lies in calling the females managers or CEOs, while decision-making rights lie elsewhere”. She hoped to find support from women, but they turned out to be more patriarchal than men. “He must be tired,” they sympathised with the … Continue reading Ignition
The traffic light turned green, and a new radio jockey took over as she pressed the accelerator. The clock at home must have struck 10, and she visualised her Mom stepping out of the bedroom in her sharp work attire, looking for the car keys. She will not find the key in the blue and … Continue reading Crossing lines
The investigation team diligently follows the digital breadcrumbs of a clandestine network that is funnelling funds, determined to uncover the truth. The bank’s surveillance algorithms, designed to detect even the slightest irregularities, blinked alarmingly as cash flowed erratically between seemingly unrelated accounts, providing a sense of security to the public. Mrs Patel, a retired schoolteacher, … Continue reading Fraud Investigation
She believes that each rock holds a secret. He worships the growth and adventure that grass represents. He makes an offer, “You keep the rocks. Leave the grasslands for me.” It becomes an unspoken pact between them. One fine morning, he stumbles against a rock with the word FREEDOM etched on it. He shows it … Continue reading Rock in the Grass
In the quaint village of Solitude, nestled among ancient oaks, lived an elderly librarian named Eamon. His days were woven with the delicate threads of books—their whispers, their secrets. Eamon revelled in the vicissitudes of fortune that each volume held. One day, a rare manuscript surfaced—a map to a hidden library beyond the moon’s reach. … Continue reading Finale
The train clattered along the tracks… She tried to decipher the sound but only inserted words into the clickety-clack. We fool ourselves by saying that the universe sends us messages. With the multiple blocks we carry lifelong, we let in only the messages that fit in with our preconceived notions. Will the mind ever open … Continue reading Limitations
A farmer thanks God in two words before he goes to bed and is rated as the Best Disciple by God. A preacher stakes his claim to the title, and God decides to give him a test. “Run ten miles before the ice cream in your hand melts.” After successfully completing the task, the preacher … Continue reading Unconsumed
The celebration party is in full swing. Business heads claim credit for this quarter's record-breaking sales and thank their bosses for their support. The single shoe in police custody wonders if the unwarranted publicity has helped. It’s not much fun being the modern version of Cinderella’s glass slipper when the nation is hunting for the … Continue reading Cinderella’s Slipper
The evergreen actor follows some rituals that perplex his co-stars. A younger co-star suddenly stopped talking as she realised he was not listening to her. He was busy chanting, “I’m the best, I’m the best…” Later in the day, she quipped, “Do you need that confidence booster? You’re undoubtedly one of the best.” “Everybody needs … Continue reading Confidence booster
The deathbed feels like such a welcome place, though the medical team around her does not accept it as such. She wants to ask them not to poke all those needles in a body she would soon discard, but the oxygen mask prevents her from speaking. In retrospect, life has been a series of wondering … Continue reading The Last Leg
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