Whispering Thoughts

Nancy served pasta with a zero on her mind. Some of it spilled over. Of late, Edith’s results had been slipping too. A usually good scorer, she now came home with barely passing marks. Nancy wondered why. The cipher stared at her in response. A big fat zero. Jeering at her. “ Your daughter is so dumb – she can’t even add. ” She turned the sheet upside down. She cleared the table and tossed the dishes in the sink. She would attend to these chores later, when her daughter would be playing. “Mum, can I go out to play.” “Later. Let’s get done with the homework thing first.” Edith let out a tired sigh. Nancy thought of letting her go. The red ink and the ominous zero steeled her. “I will bake a cake for you.” “Promise?” “A good man’s promise.” Edith picked up her books. …………………. “Now, look what you have done in haste. 7 – 5 = 2 and not 5. Again, 9 + 8 = 17.”  “NO! You teach me all wrong.” “What?” “You never teach like Miss Hazel ...” Nancy listened to the ...

She finished reading the letter. Tears trickled down. Swift as rain. It was only twilight yet. A dark, weeping night still lay ahead. This must be the beginning of an end. Slow. Slicing. Linking up with Trifextra : Week Twenty-Six

Go .... Maasshhii … greets my younger nephew as I come home after having put in a long day. He has never addressed me before, at least  not by this relation.  So, it was a pleasant surprise His being a late speaker had delayed this joy. “But wait and you shall have the sweetest fruits”. His callout to me is still ringing in my ears, a good 11 hours after I first heard it. I wonder if he will remember the little exercise of his larynx today. It is not an easy word, but then I was told that he had crooned the word like a song the whole yesterday. So what if all he wanted me to do was put on his favorite songs? He had talked with me and that alone pleases me. And that is enough for now, enough for today. We have the whole lifetime to talk our hearts out. To chit chat, to discuss, to fight. But for today, “Masi” would definitely suffice. Stop. Linking with Five Minute Friday

It takes a lot many trees To make a small little paper We are, therefore, taught to “Reuse” the white sheets And cherish the trees. Since, It takes a lot, to keep any relation healthy; We cannot choose to live, without making such efforts. Survival calls for reuse. It is literally shouting. Time we heard the call. Linking up with The One Minute Writer

He sneaks his way out. One step at a time, Slowly and steadily, He trudges up the stairs. Tiny steps making ten giant leaps. And ah! The terrace! Seals his triumph with giggles. Linking up with Trifextra : Week Twenty-Five

The waters of Rewalsar Lake were not roaring, foaming and fuming like Beas. They were silent, deep in reverie in contrast. And yet these were called the forbidden waters . The forbidden waters . Unchartered, unknown and unfathomed. Dangerous. Stretched out lazily, in eternal wait – of their next prey. Nobody had made it out alive out of the lake. Not yet. The legend had it that science had come to stake its claim and left empty handed. Not totally though, if we count the remnants of the scientists’ gear. The Rewalsar Lake had not bowed. And it had no intentions of giving in that day too. So what if Eddie and Stella were visiting. The rules did not change for anyone. The evening had matured by the time they both had reached the lake. They saw many people offering prayers, lighting lamps made of dough and floating them. The lake was strewn with rose petals. It looked mesmerizing in the twilight. Stella captured it all in her Canon Power shot. This was a glimpse in to the...

The story would need acquaintance with these words: Bhaiya – brother Bhabhi – sister-in-law Chachu – uncle (father’s younger brother) Devarji – younger brother-in-law The Venus Strikes As she descended the stairs, Tushar’s heart skipped a beat.                                                   Tushar was accompanying his brother Sahil and his sister-in-law Vani, to the airport to receive a couple. It was a big day for his family and Tushki, as Tushar was fondly called, also wanted to be a part of this moment. Standing in that aisle with other recipients, Tushki seemed no less than some Greek God. And he was quite proud of his handsomeness. So much so that he had rejected all the proposals that his beloved Bhaiya and Bhabhi ever brought u...

Breaking news: The world will end in three days. A very good morning! Why are you making us study laws of motion? ‘Coz it is a part of your curriculum. What curriculum – didn’t you hear the world ends in three days? Ponder over it, girl! If the world is really about to end in three days what difference does it make whether they really know the laws of motion, gravitation or for that matter the mighty God particle itself. I am forced to think. How I wish back for the days when my students echoed the innocence of having confused me and my sister and giving me a brood (no not really a brood, it is just two) of kids to take care of in return. The next batch comes. Alright this one should go down without the drama. It is only plain English – the good old English. Write a letter to the editor- Views on the world ending in three days??? These guys are never ever going to write a letter – in their whole life. So, there is no point in this study. But what about my duty? ...

World over scientists are celebrating the discovery of the God Particle . And all this while, I was sitting in the bus, waiting for a road block due to landslide to be remedied. My daily commute took me 4 hours for the evening home bound run. The route I undertake is treacherous. No doubts about it. And with the onset of the monsoons, landslides are almost regular. As regular as the rains. Why, today was just the 3 rd day of the monsoon and it took the authorities more than 5 hours to clear the road block at no less than four points. Trust me also when I say that the route I undertake is spectacular. Every curve, every bend and every turn reveals a new shade of nature – breathtaking and stunning. Even when the nature unleashed its fury today, I could not help praising the articulate and amazing handiworks of the Mother Nature. I usually prefer the window seats and I usually travel with the windows open. The moist, fresh air actually refreshed me right to my soul. And then I c...

Her Nokia buzzed again. Putting it on silent mode had not helped. The vibrations broke the rhythm of silence and scared the wits out of her.  It was late for her family and friends to be calling. She looked up at the display. An unknown number flashed. Deep down, she knew it would be the same person. Again. But the number was different this time. Not from one of her “ Don’t pick” list. Yes, she had maintained a do not answer contact list. All thanks to the anonymous admirer and his many numbers. It seemed like the phone had been ringing for an eternity now. She debated what to do. It could be somebody else too. She finally pressed the answer button. And she immediately regretted it.  Fireworks blazed in her eyes She had not even uttered a monosyllable. The hoarse whisper “ Your voice is very sweet …. ” angered her. She disconnected the call for she knew angry people are seldom wise. She looked anything but sweet at the moment. “ Just how many numbers did he have? ”...