“How did you get seduced by a spy?” His boss’s tone was harsh. “I didn’t – instead, I got her to tell me the story of her father, who was a double spy, and is perhaps languishing in a jail somewhere - her voice quivered as she lay wrapped in the lace bedspread made out … Continue reading Twist in the Tale
Vulnerability draws the manipulator, but he baulks at the idea of being manipulated. This monstrosity, which appeared to lie belly up, is ready to speed away at a moment’s notice, with winking tail lamps laughing at the discomfiture of others. And no, Laura is not at the wheel, but he wonders why the thought of … Continue reading Discomfiture
A woman’s silhouette, her features obscured by the darkness, moved outside the window – her presence impossible, for she had died ten years ago. He sat up in bed, disturbed by this strangely unwarranted intrusion. He looked around for unusual signals, but there were none. Yet, he could not gather the courage to get up … Continue reading Intrusion
Smoke choked the morning sky as artillery fire rumbled through the ruined village. Soldiers marched past, with hardened faces, oblivious to the misery in the eyes of those whose dear ones were at war. Maria looked at her husband’s picture in uniform on the mantelpiece. The thought of seeing a garland hanging on the picture … Continue reading Gains and Losses
“It is an intelligence failure, but whose intelligence systems are perfect? We never hear of thwarted terrorist attempts, only the ones that destroyed us.” He is ridiculed for his speech, but he makes a valid point. Those stars above could be footprints of soldiers who went helter-skelter and lost the war, or they could be … Continue reading Darkness we cannot crack
The laptop screen flickered as the lights went out. She turned back to open the windows, and froze in her tracks as the reflection in the glass was not her own. Words appeared on the device screen unaided by text or voice input – “You left the attic door open and invited me in, so … Continue reading Fiercely Private
When the soul’s lease agreement with the body nears its expiry date, I see the irrelevance of other contracts. Duality has never been so transparent and evident as in the almost posthumous messages invading my fading consciousness. The internet enthuses me as a carefully orchestrated image stares back at me. Mirror it is not, as … Continue reading Navigating the Unknown
The ocean’s roar beckons, yet the silence of cliffs holds sway—a wistful yearning tears through me. Waves remember the story of shores long gone, their whispers haunting the eroded sands. My heart lingers on fragile memories, each step sinking into what I cannot preserve, a vulnerability that resonates with the fragility of life. The stoic … Continue reading Fragility Haunts
The targets for each quarter are set; the balance sheet is pre-signed; now, the business and numbers need to align. He never meets a client or industry colleague, or anyone who is not obliged or dependent on him; he is known for his rough edges and whims. He incites internal rivalry, and teams work in … Continue reading 52 Aces
The moon winks just as I start drawing curtains for the night. “Talk to me before a cloud interrupts our conversation,” the invitation is tempting enough to make the curtain rings stop in their tracks. “The night is hearing our inane chatter,” I warn the flirtatious Moon. “Nights turn poetic by absorbing secrets and let … Continue reading Flirtatious Moon
Creative Experiments and More 