Thaw the Blues

The holiday resort boasts of having a frozen chamber – in a country that sees snow only on mountain peaks. Her boisterous teenagers come out with shades of blue on their skin. It has been a tough battle keeping them in. Yes, snow would be the easy way out, even if it was artificial. “Mom, … Continue reading Thaw the Blues

Limitations

What a pity people live in dark corners while the sun and moon light up planets mechanically, with no intended recipients. You need to place yourself in the direction of light, grab it with eyes and hands and tools, store it in containers with fancy shapes, manage temperatures in specific time zones. You cannot pluck … Continue reading Limitations

Blinding sun

I emerged from a cave and discovered sunlight today. Was I born in that place, or made to believe so? Did I really think there’s no life outside, or was I happy in victimhood? Life’s easy when you can blame everything on others, not once thinking what you would do if you were free … … Continue reading Blinding sun

Mob mindsets

Independence Day falls on a Tuesday, and workplaces are inundated with leave applications for Monday. There’s no better way to celebrate freedom than get away from the office, and daily routines for four days. Transport and hospitality businesses gear up to meet the challenge. They’ll celebrate later after the moolah comes in. Radio stations mention … Continue reading Mob mindsets

Beauty

“Beauty is a flavour or fragrance that keeps everyone around fresh.” “Don’t delude yourself, for Beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror. What happens when the same person acts arrogant or misbehaves? Do we give them the licence to do so?” “Beauty is incomplete, if it does not transcend from the physical to spiritual, … Continue reading Beauty

Storytellers’ Nightmare

The sequence of events matters in establishing the cause-and-effect scenario. It’s the meat of the story. Promos are just crumbs thrown around to build up an appetite. The words ring in my ears as I listen to different versions of an unusual incident. It’s a lesson in building narrative. What’s scary is the impact these … Continue reading Storytellers’ Nightmare

Identity Theft

"I’m afraid, Your Honour, the defendant has developed brain fog. We need to re-verify all data provided including his date and place of birth and places in which he lived." "That’s an unusual request, Mr. Prosecutor…" "Yes, because the case is unusual. Mr. Xerxes claims that he has never visited London. He is unable to … Continue reading Identity Theft

The Accidental Realist

The novelist is not happy with her treatise on the social system. She paints a reality she does not like. “All along when I made an effort to write the novel, the seed of a poem lay dormant in my heart. And then arose a different perspective – a juxtaposition of reality against my utopia. … Continue reading The Accidental Realist

Surrender

I feel the profundity of the dream, except that it’s not a dream. I’m awake. I’m in my senses, but my eyes are shut. It is a kind of meditative state. In space in time I sit thousands of feet above the sea. Below I see floating islands tagged with names and dates of centuries, … Continue reading Surrender

You were Love

You entered our lives 20 years ago, and we learnt what unconditional love means. You spent a little more than three years sharing our abode, and then left us forever. Not a single day passes when I don’t think about you. It will be a lie to say that this year’s a different thing – … Continue reading You were Love