With Consternation

It might take longer reaching there. The path is jagged and I need to yield to traffic from the other side. There are butterflies in my stomach as I navigate the roads skilfully, with one eye on the look out for a traffic cop. I am committed to attending the gang’s meeting at the other … Continue reading With Consternation

There was No Alternative

We built a structure with great care where each brick represented us. It had space for all our sanity, freedom and nationalism. We called it democracy. Somehow, a section of the population was getting uncomfortable as there was no space for large thrones and executioners. Some people watched them out of curiosity and got hypnotized … Continue reading There was No Alternative

Growing apart

I don’t even know why we broke up; there was no acrimony or argument. It was as if we just floated away into different realms and did not miss each other. People grow apart in different spaces, irrelevant to each other; there are no separations as such. I’m not looking for validation or consolation; I … Continue reading Growing apart

Dwarfed

I feel dwarfed by the opulence of art. I watch the ceiling float away as the artist’s conceptualisation and expression rise into the sky, and place them next to the Creator. They are fractals of God. The power packed in minuscule forms makes me strike off the “small” words from my lexicon. Nothing in the … Continue reading Dwarfed

Beacon of Light

The flame shivered as Hope turned round the corner. It’s not easy being a beacon of light against a rapidly darkening sky. Screenshot Oil supplies will be affected, says the news channel, but another superpower will help us. I’ve lost faith in superpowers. They hold power, but they are not Gods. The over-arching super-intelligence is … Continue reading Beacon of Light

To my son

We’re living in the Wi‑Fi century, but somehow the signal still drops when you need it most, like when I wanted to share an important update. From the mountain top, the sky wasn’t just clouds— it was war trending live, no filter, and he was not aware... Try telling an unborn kid his dad was … Continue reading To my son

Dreamcatcher

The thought catcher never rests, gathering whispers and silent responses. A patchwork quilt of dreams unfolds at night — not my story, but truth stitched in fragments, an authentic self, shimmering, whole. Weekend Writing Prompt

Raising the Future

"A rich man’s son below 18 years without a driving license… speeding in a Lamborghini… the life of a bright, earnest student cut short for the sake of an Instagram reel." Now, meet the son of an army officer, who is the key witness in this case. He doesn’t chase clout because he’s seen courage … Continue reading Raising the Future

Making a Mark

He orchestrated legal acts and policies that left cities trembling, his name whispered in fear. Each act was a scar on the world, etched not in ink but in blood and ash. Followers hailed his ruthlessness, mistaking destruction for strength. Historians catalogued his deeds, not with admiration but with grim necessity. Every shadow he cast … Continue reading Making a Mark

Coincidence

He licked his fingers, unfazed by his wife’s consternation. “This tastes exactly as my mother used to make it.” “Enjoy the food you like, but don’t let go of manners.” His wife’s coiffured head shook in disgust. The family recipe was thought to have been lost ages ago. Suddenly, he froze on seeing a familiar … Continue reading Coincidence