The hills are alive With the sound of music,With songs they have sung For a thousand years… …sang Maria in the opening scenes of the evergreen Sound of Music. But the song reverberating through the Bhimtal hills these days has just been around for the last five years or so and goes something like this:Continue reading “A Song and Dance About Garbage”
Category Archives: Short Stories
Saturday Six Word Story Prompt: Family
6WSP: Family, July 11, 2020 They’d made her what she was.
The Rasagullas
Somda arranged four rasagullas in a plate, fluffed up the sofa, and settled down to read a heavy, leather-bound book. Rajat watched these preparations from the doorway. His mouth watered. He had gulped down his share of the rasagullas as soon as the visitor who brought them had left. But this had only left himContinue reading “The Rasagullas”
Siroun
Siroun? What does it mean? “Beautiful”, she says softly. Oh, just the right name for you! A conversation that plays over and over in her life with slight variations. At every party, every get-together. Anywhere she meets new people. Yet Siroun doesn’t tire of it. She smiles charmingly, acknowledging the compliment she deserves. Drawn by her beauty, boysContinue reading “Siroun”
If Only
“Man stabbed to death in own house by unknown assailant” I put down the newspaper and massage my forehead. The pounding in my head has subsided to a dull ache. I don’t feel any more like throwing up all over, till the last drop of liquid has been squeezed out of my body. I feltContinue reading “If Only”
Old Monk
Hari Ram Gupta got off the chartered bus at the Old Sargam Vihar bus stand and checked his watch. Hmph! 6:25 p.m. A full fifteen minutes later than the previous day. If the traffic condition in Delhi kept worsening like this, he’d soon be reaching home only after the sun had set. He made hisContinue reading “Old Monk”
The Test
I don’t want to go in. There are monsters in there, waiting for fresh blood. Monsters who can finish everything within minutes if they detect any trace of weakness. My mentor’s words ring in my ears. “Go in and face them. Stand amidst them and look them right in the eye. Keep them silent. If you last forContinue reading “The Test”
TILAC – The International List of Approved Cusswords
Setting – Somehwere in Delhi in 2008, soon after the infamous Monkeygate scandal invoving Harbhajan Singh, aka Bhaji, and Australian player, Andrew Symonds. TILAC – The International List of Approved Cusswords Ba**ard Son of a b**ch . … . … …. “What the hell are you doing Dhruv?” I asked. I leaned forward to getContinue reading “TILAC – The International List of Approved Cusswords”
About a Boss
Bosses are a necessary evil. The mere hint of their presence is enough to make you feel guilty about every unofficial mail you read or every site you visit surreptitiously while pretending to work hard. But the solemn pearls of wisdom that drop from their mouths every now and then make up for the hours you spend sloggingContinue reading “About a Boss”
Genesis and After
A peek into God’s diary 00.00.00 BT (Before Time) For an eternity, I’ve been sitting around doing nothing. What is the use of all this power if there is no one to admire and revere it? Surely there is more to life than merely existing as a supreme power? I must do something. I mustContinue reading “Genesis and After”
WordJini 