The sleek KSRTC bus cut through the night along winding roads with rubber trees on either side and a full moon above. The driver manoeuvred the large vehicle effortlessly while talking to the bus conductor who sat nearby. “There’s somebody up ahead,” the bus conductor said and pointed at the road, illuminated by the bright
The night passengers Read More »
‘I think it needs more salt,’ Teena licked her palm clean and wiped it dry on the side of her apron. ‘Pass the shaker, please.’ She continued to stir the contents of the pot, which bubbled and emanated wafts of cardamom and black pepper all across the kitchen. ‘Are you sure?’ Dheeraj asked as he
‘Do you want some help with that?’ Sanket asked and extended a hand towards his friend as they approached the exit of the railway station. A train horn blared behind them. ‘What?’ Rishi asked, leaning his head towards Sanket, straining to hear his voice—a whisper amidst the noise of the crowd around him. ‘I said,’
The road not crossed Read More »
Shyam barged into his room—one hand clutching his backpack—closed the door behind him, and sat on his chair. The chair groaned below him. He placed the backpack on his lap and swept all his books off the study table. He unzipped the backpack quickly and carefully took out something that looked like a stone. He
Give one, take one Read More »
It was half past one on a Sunday afternoon. On any other Sunday the Nair family would have been fast asleep in their cozy bed—an afternoon nap routine ever since the summer started. Megha would have been on one side of the bed, one of her arms dangling from the edge. Siddharth would have been
Ritwik’s room smelled like a curious mix of stale McDonald’s burgers and musty clothes. Anyone walking into the room of his studio apartment (technically, his room was the studio apartment) would take a step back because of the smell. Ritwik couldn’t smell it, just as fish can’t smell salt in water. His single-size bed lay
‘Pick a card,’ the man said as he fanned a pack of playing cards, all face down, in front of the young girl. The girl giggled, her freckles dancing across her cheeks, and looked up behind her at her mother. Cars honked nearby and people moved around them on the sidewalk. The man’s long black
The Man with The Cards Read More »
Madhuri stared at her mother and tried to remember the last time she had seen a smile on her face. She thought it probably might have been when they had all gone out to the beach almost a year back. Her mother had worn a beautiful blue saree, one that she saved for only the
A faint breeze caressed Vishnu’s hair as he walked towards his house. The sky was a dark shade of blue with waves of orange. Vishnu wished he had not stayed for the football game after school. He was late and his parents would not be too happy about that. He glanced at the fresh tear
The walk back home (#3, Shiny Faces series) Read More »
The car sped along, its tyres leaving a spray of water behind it. The rain had slowed down to a drizzle but the road was still wet. Nilu clutched the steering wheel as her instructor had taught her—hands at two and ten. She glanced at the speedometer—sixty. Too fast, she thought and eased it down
A surprise that never happened Read More »