The Daughter

The Daughter

  AUTHOR’S NOTE: WITH DUE RESPECT TO ALL THE RITUALS THAT FOLLOW AFTER THE DEATH OF SOMEONE IN A HINDU FAMILY, THE AUTHOR WOULD LIKE TO ASSERT THAT NOTHING STATED IN THE STORY HAS BEEN WRITTEN TO MALIGN ANYONE OR ANY RITUAL.   12th June 1992 After an...
The New Abode

The New Abode

Savitri Aunty hummed a melodious rendition of the late Carnatic music maestro MS Subbulakshmi, as she carefully kept her sarees from the neatly arranged cupboard into suitcases. I watched in awe at the exquisite collection. I have often seen Aunty draped in those...
The wings of a bird

The wings of a bird

The white Ford Endeavour screeched to a halt on the porch of the Ramamurthys. Parking it aesthetically, Priya Venkatesh stepped out of the driver’s seat, much to the awe of the two ladies of the Ramamurthy household. They exchanged acerbic glances....
Justice served

Justice served

‘OUCH,’ the baby inside my tummy kicked hard. The pain, however, was so soothing. The feeling of a life kicking inside the tummy, I suppose, is the most exciting for a mother. It was my baby shower. Guests poured in, and Amma’s complete medical...
The Last Chore

The Last Chore

There were guests in my house today for my 60th birthday. Regrettably, my maid, Shantabai, did not show up for work despite my repeated instructions to her yesterday about the presence of guests. She had nodded in agreement, leaving no room for doubt about her...
The Sponsorship

The Sponsorship

Seated on her reclining chair on the verandah of her posh three-bedroom apartment,  Priyanka Sethi savoured her evening tea. She inhaled the enchanting fragrance of the petrichor that accompanied the first rains. Such recreational moments were possible only on...