“We’ve been in power for so long …. this electoral defeat is going to put us totally out of control.” “You mentioned working as a responsible opposition leader in your interview yesterday.” Even in my distressed state, the smirk on Anand’s face did not escape my attention. The sarcasm hurt, but he was the only … Continue reading Machiavelli
“I’m a life planner, not a financial planner.” “So what do you do?” The tone is sceptical. The speaker recounts the story of a client, who had a huge surplus amount at 65 years of age. He needed a direction to do what his heart desired, not just investment avenues. “I got it”, the young … Continue reading Essential difference
“Dynamism was his middle name, as he never paused to think before acting. The response was agile, and results delivered sometimes excellent, earning him a good reputation. But who says a performer never fails? He met his nemesis in the form of a competitor who set traps for him, and he succumbed to her charm … Continue reading Dynamism
I am a transformed person today. I hired Linda to think for my protagonist, for the novel to shape up. She made it clear that she has no boundaries. It has been a fascinating journey, as I explored new worlds, tested the improbable or impossible, lived outside my body, stretched my soul to extremes of … Continue reading Expansive
“How do you like the public adulation you receive at this age?” “I do not get carried away. I remember the ridicule thrown my way, when I started my solopreneur venture. I had to fight to use my own savings for the business. The family was obstructing that. And today, the tiny venture has assumed … Continue reading Revenge
How could I fail to see something that was so obvious? The nonchalant approach, feigned empathy, untrue words, occasional unresponsiveness – it all dripped from his persona. Yet, I foolishly believed that he will stand by me, because there was no other option, and he was the sole support in a deep cesspool. There is … Continue reading Pseudo-Empath
It was their first honeymoon together – second for her, and fifth for her husband. Both had been married and separated before, but they claimed to have found their final destination in each other. He clicked several pictures of her under the long-leaf pine tree at the entrance of the Taj Mahal. “Will you pine … Continue reading Unsafe
“I need money for my annual trip to Ajmer, to thank Gods for their mercy throughout their year.” “Well… travel, food, lodging and boarding expenses, coconuts, flowers, sweets for the temple and chaddar for the Dargah, cash for the donation box, fees paid to so-called guides and middlemen … amounts to a neat sum, and … Continue reading Pilgrimage
“I will walk out of the house one day”, fumes the breadwinner of the family on encountering opposition. It is enough to shush others into an uncomfortable silence, knowing that they have to comply for survival. Mom is an example – she gets beaten up regularly for not doing things to his liking, but still, … Continue reading At long last…
“I always wonder – what is it that they have and I don’t? How do they get everything they want, but I don’t?” “How often do you watch television, and what are the channels you patronize?” “Every day, international channels -but why do you ask?” “You know a lot of things that can’t help you. … Continue reading Closed circuits
Creative Experiments and More 