Price of Pride and Power

“I am your mother and I know best.“ Mrs. Shenoy declared at the dinner table. Both Abhishek and Mr. Shenoy looked at her resolute face, looked at each other and got back to meticulously slicing the delicious palak-dosa on the plate. They knew better than to challenge a riled-up Mrs. Shenoy. They had spent hoursContinue reading “Price of Pride and Power”

And Scene!

It was one of those scenes from Yash Raj Films or Dharma productions. The sun was about to set. The sky was clear, with just the right sprinkling of clouds to refract the golden light and make it insta-interesting. The breeze was just the right amount of cool. The one thing Bangalore boasts of, it’sContinue reading “And Scene!”

Freedom

Didi, didi, didi… Natasha braked her scooter as it skidded to a stop. Four ragged, untidy, unbathed and brightly smiling children surrounded her scooter and started fiddling with the mirror, the seat and the horn. Each holding a bunch of paper tricolors on sticks in one hand. “Didi, didi, why did you stop coming onContinue reading “Freedom”

Mismatched

It was a usual morning for Natasha. She snoozed the alarm ten times. Finally woke up with a jerk, realizing she would be late for a meeting, again. Scanned her messages, mails and the news notifications. Concluded again the end of the world was tonight. Brushed her teeth. Looked at the mirror and cursed herContinue reading “Mismatched”

The Swing.

“Nice girl”, what was her name again? Naniba asked as I closed the main door. “Naniba…!” I involuntarily rolled my eyes. You just finished talking with her for an hour about Khambaliya! How could you forget? Naniba smiled, her wistful, old person’s smile, reaching her soft brown crinkled eyes as she slowly straightened the palluContinue reading “The Swing.”

Tryst with a Toddler

Jenny: Will you watch Diya today in the afternoon please? I need to finish some shopping. Me: Sure, why not? That would be fun. Some fai-bhanej time. Be there by 2? I’ll bring my laptop. Can wrap up some work while there. Jenny: Umm…..didi…. are you sure? If you have work, I can ask someoneContinue reading “Tryst with a Toddler”

Crimes of Passion: Lies

“Nothing like that happened”…. Abhishek said, in his calm and quiet voice. A calm and quiet that Natasha couldn’t tolerate right now. A calm and quiet that was just making the storm within her more furious, the waves of guilt crashing louder, more vehement than ever before. “But I remember…not remember…remember…but I have these visions….”Continue reading “Crimes of Passion: Lies”