Picture Courtesy: What makes her pretend that she likes the uncle who insists that she sits on his lap while he tries to cup her delicate back surreptitiously? Why does she nod her head meekly when he says, “I’ll come home tomorrow!” and later curls herself into a protective ball, willing with all her heart to be invisible? What...
The Spider Web
Source I got hit by a sudden bout of darkness. One minute I was stepping outside of my home to visit my son’s residential construction site; the next I was slowly slipping into an unconscious sub-zone, where everything failed to exist. I tried grappling my way through the darkness to the faint streak of light that kept fading away. My left...
The Other Side
They told me about the rosy things that I had to feel, they said it’ll be a joyful event, a moment of completeness and the soothing medicine for my pains to heal. And they left me at that, alone, to fend for myself. I was scared to hold your wobbly head, and held you gingerly like a piece of glass...
Just women
Ages and ages on, men have called women “the bright moon”, “a glittering star”, and “a fluttering angel”; And pretty much everything celestial, ethereal and probably unreal. But just like you, oh! men, we live and breath, we are just women; As much blood, as much lust- and just as much human. We are...
Our first ever Valentine’s Day
Pic source I rested my head back on the bus seat feeling nervous. I fidgeted with my wedding ring, trying to calm my nerves. I shook my head in exasperation. Jeez! What was wrong with me? I am married to this lovely woman for twelve years, but today I felt like I was sixteen. I don’t remember much of what happened in my Sixteen. How would I...
From the ashes, with fear
Source It was hot. It was hotter than the milk my mommy gave me every evening. My big brother used to play matchstick game, and my mother scolded saying the fire was dangerous, it’ll burn the skin. So, why did this uncle not know it? He poured petrol on me and lighted a match stick. I remembered my father scolding saying it was dangerous...
Kindred Soul
Source Chellama was playing with my five-year-old daughter while I entered my home. They heard my footsteps and looked up. My little Kithi came running towards while Chellama got up and headed towards the kitchen. Five minutes later I was served some hot ginger chai and onion pakora. It was a routine that started four years back. I sat down on...
The wedding night
Source She sat on the edge of the large mattress, her finger gently tracing the rose trellis pattern of the pale blue lace curtain that covered hung from the ceiling of the large four poster bed. The mild scent of agarbathi nauseated her. The sickly sweet smell of jasmines woven around her long braid made her feel dizzy. She took a deep breath...
Her first date
Source She stood frowning at her reflection in the mirror shaking her head in disapproval. I took a deep, exasperated breath. The red sheath gown looked stunning on her. The collar just dipped off her shoulders revealing a wheat-gold complexion and ended as long sleeves that ended near her wrist. The full-length gown gently hugged her curves and...
The day of Dim Dim
Velachery is an astounding amalgamation of people, culture, mosquitoes and concrete. Ten years ago we prided ourselves with the extraordinary amounts of trees and deer that inhabited the Checkpost area, today we boast about the marble marvel called Phoenix market city, sipping a cuppa from the Starbucks. One such prominent chrome and glass...