“the deal’s off, gentlemen! akash, let’s go.” the voice rang out sharp and precise, its decibel remained low. there was a tremor on the surface of the water in the glasses on the long conference room table, and as the three men sitting across watched nonplussed, the man who had just uttered those words got up smoothly from the leather upholstered chair and strode toward the exit. behind him shuffled a pleasant looking young man, with a slightly myopic air,…
the night closed in around the white mercedes-benz suv as it shot through the empty after hours roads. there was a slight drizzle building up to something more falling lightly onto the asphalt, the large old trees, and the pretty landscaped circles of new delhi. dark windows sat behind high walls and rolling lawns, the rich part of town. he drove without seeing a thing, eyes fixed straight ahead, hands gripping the leather of the steering wheel, knuckles white, his…
kanumoni held the end of the chadar and with deft, quick fingers twisted the material. in an instant, a series of three triangular folds fell across the edge of the fine white cotton with motifs in black and red, the tassels bobbed playfully. she tucked the point she was holding from where the pleats started, into khushi’s petticoat, over the mekhela. then she leaned closer to take the rest of the chadar around khushi, letting the other end fall over…
asr felt his arms going around her slight frame and pulling her toward him, her body didn’t resist. it felt as if it moved just a fraction of a second or even a smaller count of time ahead of the pressure his palm and fingertips exerted on her back, on either side, just above the waist. his hands settled more comfortably, his grip getting firm. he didn’t notice the lightness that came into his heart, a faint memory of a…
the jalebis were large with so many swirls in them, they were orange and hot and sticky. even though the tears blurred her vision, khushi was determined to count the number of spirals on the one right on top. a whole heap of jalebis sat before her. she could feel their sweet succulence, their crumbly crust she knew would crack under the most gentle pressure from her teeth and out would flow, no pop, the delicious… khushi swallowed… warm, perfectly…
INDEX the sand was still and smooth, a supple stretch extending all along and beyond. the water danced and gleamed. seagulls called out loud and almost demanding a ear. feathery white clouds roamed aimlessly about in the powder blue sky. a quiet lapping of waves could be heard along the shore. the edge of water was frilly and had a fine topping of white. khushi felt wave upon wave of feelings fall against her heart. not so peaceful these…
INDEX the alarm was strident and it wouldn’t stop. he reached out in his sleep, eyes still tightly shut, searching for his phone. where was that phone dammit! his fingers touched something soft. what was that?! he stretched farther. he felt a contour, sharp and straight… it was someone’s nose. asr’s eyes opened instantly and he sat up with a start. what the! who was in his bed… with him!! furrows rushed to his forehead knowing exactly where to…
INDEX “chhotey, where are you and khushi? hariprakash ji said you aren’t at home!” anjali was sounding worried. asr swung the suv into the driveway of shantivan. “di..” he began to answer… “kya?!” anjali practically shrieked at the other end. khushi, who was sitting in the passenger seat looking dreamily out of the window, jumped and turned toward asr, eyes very wide. “di!” she whispered. “om prakash ji says you haven’t even slept in your bed!!! chhotey… tum kahan…
non nobis solum nati sumus. not for ourselves alone are we born. ~~~ marcus tullius cicero ~~~ fairy lights glimmered. the sound of shehnai floated through the halls and corridors and reached the lawns outside. there were people everywhere. sheesh mahal glowed and shone in the dusk. anjali and doctor verma had wanted a simple registration followed by a private blessing ceremony. khushi had felt a little let down by that. it meant there would be no sangeet,…
then even nothingness was not, nor existence, there was no air then, nor the heavens beyond it. what covered it? where was it? in whose keeping was there then cosmic water, in depths unfathomed? ~~~ nasadiya sukta, rig veda~~~ he stood outside the room, unable to look in through the glass panel set in the door frame. blue door, white walls, a skirting of pale grey oil paint along the wall almost three feet high. an eerie silence all around.…