Divine Intervention
Out of all my friends, I am the only one who is ok with how things are now. You see, I have the experience...8 min
Events
-
-
The Amulet
Authors note: The calendar of ancient Egypt was made up of three seasons of approximately four months each. Their new year (inundation) began in modern...7 min
-
Life is as inevitable as Death
Kent October 2034: “Happy Morning!!” the alarm chirped like every day. Snoozing the hummingbird for the fifth time, I snuggled under the peacock blue quilt....7 min
-
The Inevitable End
“La pila de, Sathi…” Ummm, what more does an old man want. A single malt in hand, on the rocks and the soft, mellifluous voice...6 min
-
The Final Lesson
She stood by the window and watched them. The playground reverberated with the exuberant chatter and laughter of her children. They had just finished a...6 min
-
THE SALVATION ASSESSMENT
Nisha was feeling ecstatic. Nothing made her happier than her early morning five-kilometer run. Today was extra special. She was back to running after a...7 min
-
When the end comes
I have been making plans. A few. Nothing much really. A trip to Switzerland. I have always wanted to go there. I think I have...7 min
-
The Chosen One
How much we fear death. Dr. Robert Edellman did what any man would do when a pistol was pointed to his temple. He yielded to...6 min
-
The Resurgence of Apophis: The God Of Chaos
11 DEC, 2036 It’s 100 percent certain we’ll be hit (by a devastating asteroid), but we’re not 100 percent sure when. B612 Foundation had said...7 min
-
The Resurrection
Prologue This is the year 3020 and the Earth is renamed Terra 2.0. The entities ‘Food’ and ‘Water’ have perished after the floods...7 min
-
Who is sick me or they?
After trekking the whole length, Neha finally reached the top of the mountain and was mesmerized by the magnificent look she has of Andaman islands...4 min
-
Touch the Sky
“Please welcome our celebrated guest for today, Mrs. Mina Badami,” the interviewer introduced as she walked on the decked-up stage with all the lights focused...4 min
-
A Small Wish
“What’s up mom?” Tana smiled and looked at her. She smiled and responded, “I’ve just finished my evening prayers.” “Good, let’s prepare dinner, come help...4 min
-
TWO THUMBS IS ENOUGH
We never realise that our own choice leads us to a situation which may be good or even bad. If we were thrown out into...4 min
-
Anamee
The wails, the pleadings for mercy followed her. The devilish laughter of the man, as he beat and pulled the woman inside, still reverberated around...4 min
-
14th Lane, Kamathipura
14th Lane, Kamathipura, Mumbai, “Maximum one more day, this tiny creature would not be able to fight more.” Madam told Raghu. “Yes, Madam ji.” “When...5 min
-
BROKEN
Hutchins State Jail, Dallas, Texas, 2000. ‘Hey, you! You are going to get the shot! That is for sure. They would be doing right by...4 min
-
Wrapped With Love
Ramlal Babu* was elated and I still remember his first touch. He exclaimed, “Ahh! So smooth, just as I had imagined!” I couldn’t have been...5 min
-
Veiled
It was a Wednesday – Book reading class. Today she had asked the students to bring their favourite books for the same. They were told...4 min
-
MUMBAI
“Mai*, have mercy.” They all wail in despair. Water water everywhere, not a drop to drink….I hum the tune like a haunting lullaby. My thunderous...4 min
-
The Standpoint
17thNovember, 1936 Even the dimmest of light can pierce through the thickest of darkness. True I see, as the soft morning light streaming through the...6 min
-
SARVE SANTU NIRAMAYA
I am not just a portrait. I represent everything that Bapu stands for. As I hang here in this courtroom wall of the District Civil...6 min
-
The Boy Who Died With A Smile
I was hanging on the wall of the courtroom, precisely in the same position, since the first day of the year. The clerks had been...5 min
-
The Gavel’s Tort
The title of the story above is giving away my identity already, but for the uninitiated, I am what the layman calls Kanoon ka Hathoda....7 min
-
SHE IS OURS
Ira’s eyes did a quick survey of the place as she was seeking Amit. He had called her in the morning “Could we meet in...2 min
-
-
The Witch Trial of Salem
December 1692 Salem, Massachusetts. The tension in the courtroom is so thick, it could be cut with a knife. The crowd stands ready with the...6 min
-
Child is the father of Man
It was time. Soon the courtroom clerk would come to me, open my arms with a creak, which has developed over a period of time,...6 min
-
The Maze of Betrayals
In finest of gold with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires glittering and sparkling, I was the epitome of power. For years, people brutally killed; to...6 min
-
Time will tell
(The story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely intentional) It was the last day of cross-examination of...4 min
-
THE THRONE
I was resting peacefully, but my peace was short-lived. Lords and ladies started filing in the courtroom. It was just dawn and this room...6 min
-
Innocent Fear
Mohan looked at his twin brother anxiously. Though he was only two minutes younger, he always looked up to Ratan for solutions to all their...2 min
-
Crossroads
It was a sunny morning and as I was driving to office, my eyes stuck on a lanky old guy. Our eyes met, nothing noticeable...2 min
-
The Ruins
The loo* blew taking along with it a flurry of sand and Dhani pulled her odhani* and covered her eyes hastily. “Kathe reh gayi” *,...2 min
-
THE FISH BONE
“Mama, there is a bone stuck inside my throat.” I cried out while eating my lunch. Mama ran to me from the kitchen. She asked...1 min
-
The Eternal Smile
Lisa sat at the Living room window waiting for the Police. Her dull grey hair was pinned up carelessly, her impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance...2 min
-
Born a Crime
The family huddled close around the table. The flickering flames from the candle stumps made the shadows on the wall look eerie. The children exchanged...2 min
-
The Unapologetic Choice
I sat in front of the mirror. My fingers found the stray strand of hair that always seemed to escape the neatly tied bun. The...2 min
-
Sam fox
Touch Me ‘Touch me, touch me I want to feel your body Your heartbeat next to mine This is the night’ crooned Samantha Fox’s raunchy...2 min
-
Another Love Story
“Nishu , why don’t you get up ? It is already five . “ that was mother shouting . Nisha moved out of her cosy...2 min
-
Bodies
Content warning: This story is about a tragic experience of sexual exploitation which may upset some readers. Ganga was lying on the bed,...2 min
-
The Last Gift
“Sometimes there is no happy choice, Lucas, only one less grievous than the others.” said my mama, I was 13 then when my father had suddenly...2 min
-
No Baggage Please
‘Welcome to the Cloak Room,’ greeted a well-rehearsed cheerful voice. The lanky old man in faded brown overalls exhibited great poise and an assured calm....2 min
-
The Elixir
She was the reigning super star of the 70’s the quintessential diva …..thousands swooned over her beauty and her fan following spread far and wide……then...2 min
-
The Hunger Games
Resting her chin on her folded arms, Meera was sitting quietly. She was trying hard to control the churning of her empty stomach. She took...2 min
-
..of Swamis and sins…
‘Yes, mom. ….No, please. Don’t worry….just a stomach ache….I am fine….yes, definitely… ..no, won’t miss it from next Friday……..Ok, then. See you on Sunday. Bye’...2 min
-
Sins And Virtues
I have been confined to this court room for almost a decade now. Earlier I used to travel a lot along with my master but...6 min
-
The Magic Potion
A pale moon glimmered outside her window. Yellow. Jaundiced. She sat hunched in a Baroque chair. Pensive. A grim smile dotted her thin lips. A...2 min
-
The Eliminating Paws
She didn’t want George to go today. But with three females and one male to fend, he had to leave. His injured leg worried her....2 min
-
STORM.
The beautiful ranch, in sunny Mexico, spread before her eyes. Samantha Crump, let out a phlegm filled cough, and walked towards the stables. She cast...2 min
-
The King’s Pride
A red flag was waved when the king woke up. Following the cue a servant rushed inside king’s chamber with a robe and a pair...2 min
-
A Mother’s love
7th October 2003 Anagha gazed at her husband’s photo on the wall. It had been ten months since she lost him to cancer. “Yogesh, I...2 min
-
A Predicament
“But Suzie, I am doing all this for us after all”, whispered Samrat, timidly. “Oh, please! Speak only for yourself. I don’t need all that...2 min
-
The Culinary Conundrum
Asha? Remember me? Anuradha Dixit.” Asha turned around in her seat, smiling warmly, “Of course I remember you! Divekar Uncle’s daughter. Dixit, after wedding, is...2 min
-
ANOTHER CHANCE
The dining room was a mess; the shreds of broken glasses were scattered all over the floor. It seemed as if some Tsunami had just...2 min
-
A Difficult Choice
“Rohini, tell me what to do”, said Rahul, his voice cracking with emotion. Rohini could see that Rahul’s eyes were brimming over. The incident had...2 min
-
The Mysterious Warrior
The sun shone in the azure sky on beautiful summer midday. Her back arched as he trailed feathery kisses over the soft skin of her...6 min
-
By the river Mo chuu & Pho Chuu
Present day Adriano sat on a bench and stared mesmerised towards the confluence of river Mo chuu and Pho chuu. The distant view of the...4 min
-
ALL ENCOMPASSING LOVE.
Little Antonio Sousa, rubbed his eyes and yawned. It had been a lovely day, of bright sunshine in this mountain town of Lumiar, Nova Friburgo,...4 min
-
The axe forgets but the tree remembers.
1914 January Themba was sure he would be shot if the landowner saw him frantically digging up the red soil with his bare hands. He...4 min
-
The Artiste
Andrew(Andy) and Terri, both in their early 50s ran a small convenience store in Cape May, New Jersey . They grew up in the same...4 min
-
Horizon of the New Sun
Circa 1533 AD, Cusco, the Inca capital. The High Priest of the Sun,*Villac Umu was worried when summoned by *Sapa Inca in the middle of...5 min
-
Annapurna
Munna finds them a job. “Yes we are going to Amsterdam’,screamed Pranab after a talk with Munna. Sujata’s joy knew no bounds. Sujata and Pranab...4 min
-
The Soldier’s Son
As they strolled along the brownstone-lined streets of Brooklyn’s Williamsburg, Katherine Anderson couldn’t stop admiring how the soft reds of the autumnal trees shedding their...4 min
-
A ray of hope
Today, when Bappai returned from office his face was dull and off. Seeing this Papa asked, “What happened Bappi? Why so off?” “Baba I have...5 min
-
The Gondolier
Antonio finished ferrying his last tourist couple in his lovely Gondola and disembarked them at the dropping point. He was in a hurry as he...4 min
-
Freedom Morality
‘Bahaar’, She could distantly hear her name being called off. It was the most beautiful village in Tehran. She used to love it being there....5 min
-
Snow Sculpture
“What a bliss it is to come back to one’s own country.” thought Mioko . They had come back to Japan after staying in England...4 min
-
A Wien Love story
“Willkommen am Flughafen Wien. Die Temperatur draußen ist 3 ° C… the air hostess announced. “and the rest of the announcement was drowned amidst the...5 min
-
The Pharaoh’s Heir
The High Priestess lit the incense and inhaled its deep, pungent smell. She was at the temple of Amun’Ra, King of Egyptian Gods. She washed...4 min
-
Savannah Son
“Kuyaa… I’m off!” Milo walked briskly, leading his herd on a dusty road, the sand burning his feet more than usual. The Savannah sun shone...3 min
-
THE INNOCENT LOVE
THE INNOCENT LOVE 2nd August 1947, Jerusalem “Abel, open the door. Look, who’s finally come to meet us!” Abigail, the fraternal twin, shouted. “Yeah. Wait...5 min
-
The idea behind Exotic
THE IDEA BEHIND ‘EXOTIC’ What can stories teach us about the experiences and beliefs of others? I often ponder over this question when I read...3 min
-
-
Hymn to the Sea
He was the Jack of all trades. Literally. His name was Jack and he was a whimsical poet, a gifted artist, a melodious singer, a...7 min
-
Re(Imagine) FAQs and Tips
After announcing #Artales15 and #ArtaleLegends, we were expecting some questions from fellow Artoons. And we did get a few queries. So we thought we’d take...2 min
-
ArTales 11 – The Undeveloped Film
The Undeveloped Film (Use the hashtag #TheUndevelopedFilm ) The Prompt: An elderly man discovers a camera from decades ago in his attic and realises...1 min
-
ArTales- 10: Relive The Tale
RELIVE THE TALE (Use the hashtag #ReliveTheTale ) Prompt: Whether it is the unfortunate maiden voyage of the Titanic or the brave fight in...1 min
-
Everything you wanted to know about GIFTS but were afraid to ask!
Usually, people waiting for a reason, event or occasion to show how they care and love friends, family and even themselves. And especially at that...4 min
