When two fundamentalist powers fight, blame each other for the same crime, who will you support? The side that supports my interest. You have been indoctrinated about your interest and that you need protection; actually you don’t. The voice wavered for a moment, “But yet, I can foresee who will rule the future.” And that, … Continue reading The End of Analytical Thought
You are just a character, so you have to follow my instructions. The character does a few somersaults on the page, changes colour like a chameleon, and shows a face that looks AI-generated. This won’t help me carry the story forward. He waves his hand like a magical wand and changes the shape of a … Continue reading The Story – Beginning and End
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
A river does not remain a river when it merges into the ocean, but surely it did not want to remain so. Rivulets regret their decision because they jumped into the flow without gauging where it would take them. The ocean smiles at its victory, while making the whole process look so effortless and smooth. … Continue reading Power
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
“One or more terrorists are still hiding somewhere.” “How can you say that?” “They abandoned the rocks after the full-fledged army attack, but two rocks are missing from this box. I’d counted all.” For once, the Captain believed him. “Take your positions, quick”, he barked. Silence. There was no sound of gunfire from anywhere. “Look … Continue reading War and Peace
Zoom, zoom – 110%, 120%, 200%, 300%, 400%, 425%.. Well, there is a whitish rectangle resembling a phone, with an obsessed finger running across it. The person I see as a merchant of peace trading the world for mental well-being is as ordinary as everyone else… I don’t want my story to suffer, so I … Continue reading Merchant of Peace
“Ensure you don’t repeat the same mistakes you always do”. “You are talking about the image you have of me, not the real me,” Amina's voice quivered, revealing the depth of her struggle. Tim was nonplussed for a moment. For the past few years, he had been locked in a relentless battle with himself, each … Continue reading Shadow-boxing
He has a presence despite his shabby appearance. Maybe we are drawn to his ferocious eyes, looking for a challenge. One feels compelled to keep a distance. The boundary lines are invisible but sharp. He surprises us with a mellow voice, “Can you help me in finding this address?” “Are you from the police?” “No.” … Continue reading Transit mode
Welcome to a night of celebrations, whether you are Trick-or-Treating or Diwali meeting-and-eating! Diwali always falls on a New Moon night, and people light lamps and burst crackers to obliterate the darkness. It also celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, gods over demons and so on. On Halloween (as far as … Continue reading Reena’s Xploration Challenge #354
Creative Experiments and More 