The Deal
He needed a new room. As he had been kicked out. Again. It was dark and he noticed small children scurrying past with baskets in...1 min
“Rooms for rent in the attic.” It all started with this advertisement. The perfect place to lay low. Rent it. Voice had commanded and I...1 min
Scrub… scrub… Huh, work no ending. Make rotis now. Madam want triangle roti, how to make. I know round only. Huh. “Smita… come here…” She...1 min
Perched on his shoulder, I read -‘Rooms for rent in the attic’. Purrfect…just purrfect. Yum, yum…all those chubby, plump mice… smack, slurp. Oooh, and maybe...1 min
The attic room was small, but, cosy. The adjacent terrace, garnished with flowers, was the added attraction. I was glad that I decided to respond...1 min
Alannah stood outside an old building. The carving on the wood looked familiar. She jumped as the door opened with a loud creak. “Miss?” How...1 min
“Doctor, can you make me look like Barbie?” the little girl asked the plastic surgeon, clutching her favourite Barbie doll. Looking down at the five...1 min
Three-year-olds don’t want to go to school. I wasn’t an exception. After months of unsuccessful attempts to make me stay for at least an hour...1 min
“Universal Declaration of Rights of Mother Earth was bestowed upon me over a decade back. I was promised that I will not be exploited any...1 min
‘Appa, look, the water is receding,’ cried Balu desperately. Ranganna rushed to Balu’s side and peeped into the well. His body convulsed in fear at...1 min
That night, terrible tremors shook the world. Humans huddled close inside their houses. The world shook for two minutes and a deathly calm followed. *************...1 min
GDSCC, Mojave Desert, California Milosz Szyma?ski, the new Polish Intern had been taking notes from the Hyperwall that was streaming images from the earth observing...1 min
I woke up feeling lighter than usual. I had a new spring in my step. The multivitamins appear effective, I thought happily. I quickly brewed...1 min
‘Sudden gusts of winds and the rising waves in the sea since the last few hours have caused concern amongst the researchers. They are all...1 min
Tara looked at the mirror. The reflection was perfect. The waxing was a torture, but the effect was magic indeed. Tara almost felt the heat...1 min
Circa 2110 Dr. Treud’s clinic was swarming with men. Men of varying shapes, sizes and ethnicity had lined up in his swanky clinic. The waiting...1 min
“So, it’s official, no more women,” the club secretary waved a letter from the census and statistics department that confirmed what their hearts desired. The...1 min
“Wake up” an inner voice spoke to Herman. 6 am sharp Monday till Friday, the alarm clock would dutifully buzz and wake Herman up. Herman...1 min
The trees, thorny bushes, rocks, and streams looked artistic scattered all over the place. Fruits were in abundance, so were fish and other animals. It...1 min
ME 14 was panting in the tunnel. He tried so hard to find the Wormhole. His clan males were lying defunct-shocked microchips.He had to visit...1 min
“Mr. Adam?” “Yes, speaking.” “I’m sorry, we can’t do much about the missing complaint regarding your wife. It seems that all the women have suddenly...1 min
Dear Humankind You have been created in two different varieties called gender. A masculine and another feminine. Each one has been designed in a particular...1 min
‘Tom’rrow I am going to sneaketh into the castle and runneth hence with mine wench’ Nice, pet’r, wherefore don’t thee eke taketh yond bloody coronet...1 min
Deep, rushed home, bursting with news of the day. “I won a prize today Ma, look!” He scrambled out of his bag and produced...1 min
Dear Mala I put note on wet clothes. You take off your clothes. No tell me. You no help. Tell your husband. Husband angry. Come...1 min
A rusty metal trunk box was flung open. Adjusting his eye glasses, Linga kept digging into his treasure box scattering some old and half torn...1 min
I could almost peep through her huge almond eyes that served oceans and volcanoes from time to time as she feverishly scratched me. Peeping through...1 min
“Dear Kishore, Don’t wait for me. May be it’s not worth it. Our families will be despaired. Forgive me.” Piyali, wiping her tears, put the...1 min
A long sigh broke the silence of the night. Tears flowed as Elissa stared through the window. The full moon, the dancing ivy, and the...1 min
I got married to Monika in the month of December. We were just shifting into our new quarters, that I got my movement orders out...1 min
“Radhikaaaaa!” her mother called out furiously for the fifth time. “Are you done yet?” she shouted, banging the bathroom door in one hand and holding a...1 min
November, 2014, Delhi “Oh please Meghna! Don’t tell me you are going to buy this!” Said a visibly vexed Sujay. But Meghna kept on bargaining...1 min
The over crowded bus trundled from the depot. After a failed attempt at seat-hunting, I resorted to standing, holding the camera in one hand and...1 min
‘My co brother’s sister’s daughter has attained puberty.’ said A ‘Oh! very close relative. What is the good name of the girl?’, said B ‘Asha,...1 min
“Oh God, wonder how this country is still running?” Ravi cursed out aloud, as he stumbled on one of those paver blocks, that had come...1 min
Arun wiped away tears from his mother’s eyes. He had nailed the dream job, and was leaving for America, along with his wife. He felt...1 min
“Shiv! Shiv! Every morning my “Dhyan” gets disturbed by this Azaan” the staunch Hindu, Chaubeyji murmured angrily. “Every morning, the same complaint for years” his...1 min
Trivandrum is famous for the Shree Padmanabha Swamy temple. My wife, myself and our daughter were proceeding towards the temple, when suddenly we heard shouts...1 min
It was Ronnie’s first train journey. While it took nearly seventeen hours to reach the subcontinent from New Jersey, Mumbai to Latur was going...1 min
“You are wrong.” “I don’t need your advice.” Sravi and Appu, the ‘monkey’ cousins, were at it, again. Aged 14 and 11 respectively, they met...1 min
There lived a grumpy kid named Asha. Her parents fulfilled all her demands, still she was always unsatisfied. Fed up with her tantrums her parents...1 min
The Lapland Preparatory Council Meeting was about to begin. Santa Claus’s plush office on the 14th floor was festooned with decorations, as was customary for...1 min
The cakes baked and the gifts wrapped. The Christmas tree was dazzling with stars and bulbs. Perfect, Rita thought to herself. The kids will be...1 min
The white snow on the gingerbread houses, little tufts of delicious smoke from the cigar like chimneys, tinkle of bells, decorated fir trees dancing to...1 min
Alyssa tiptoed down the stairs. Her parents were asleep in the adjacent room. A dim light above the fireplace glowed softly on a plate with...1 min
“Tauba Tauba, Ruksaar, it’s ok that you work for them…but now you have started following their festivals too.” Farida Bi frowned looking at the plastic...1 min
“I don’t like this time of the year. Look at that guy, can we pull him even by an inch?” Rachael said. “The master fed...1 min
“On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree…” The mailbox is rusted and the paint...1 min