During the rainy days, my brother could sleep at home; he needn’t go to school, he needn’t go to the cornfields to watch out the parrots. He needn’t even go to the vacant fields to play football. He never…
‘A Song of Melancholy’ by Civa Bhusal
(Not) Origami by Shriram Sivaramakrishnan
Every moment Take a magazine (anything will do) and throw it out of your window on its spine; watch: how it sways in the free air… Now! Forget it. Now watch: the flutter of its pages as they take wings…
‘Pluck and Play’ by Shriram Sivaramakrishnan
Every moment a plant loses an argument somewhere, when the stem is misunderstood- its intention, articulated at the pedicel: is plucked. Poet’s Bio: Shriram Sivaramakrishnan is an eternal lover of ‘things in between’, roads less travelled, emotions seldom expressed,…
‘The Girl, the Boy, and the King’ by Gerry Christmas
Short story selected for the 2014 New Asian Writing Short Story Anthology Once upon a time there was a red-shirt boy and a yellow-shirt girl. The boy wore the same red shirt every day. It was made of cotton and…
‘The Unspoken Truth’ by Amrita Saikia
Short story selected for the 2014 New Asian Writing Short Story Anthology Arunima opened her eyes forcibly and looked at the grandpa clock on the wall. It showed quarter past ten on a bright Sunday morning in the month of…
‘Houses, No Homes…’ by Ananya S Guha
There is at every alley a twist. Then a turn. The alley leads to a house ( not a home). Cats purr, dogs bark and men and women push shovels, decaying remains of a foreboding truth. The one they know…
‘Pickle Jars not Peacemakers’ by Daya Bhat
Two white jars with mustard skirting, mouths shut in muslin layers mounted on either sides of her slender waist carved out of butter Her arms around their necks she climbs to the terrace- the aroma still fresh on her fingers…
‘Page 3 trivia’ by Daya Bhat
I touch their lives superficially On a glossy, the latest on her shelf while I wait for a haircut at the local parlor. “Ma’am please sit” she’d said making me feel divaesque Pointing to a cane sofa while continuing to…
‘Acceptance’ by Daya Bhat
‘Roses are beautiful’ But why do noses wrinkle and tongues wag? ‘Roses are beautiful, thorns are ugly’ say the noses and tongues. ‘What’s a rose without some thorns? Wait a minute, hold that thought Let’s rediscover, thorns are beautiful too’…
‘Dancing the Bihu’ by Juanita Kakoty
Short story selected for the 2014 New Asian Writing Short Story Anthology Bhaity da had curls that came down to his shoulders and a slender waist that gave the girls a fever. His complexion was flawless; he took great care…
‘Happy Girl’ by Anuradha Handique
She is all hopes and dreams… From the time she wakes up, till the stars shine high; Steps out every morning with a smile on her face; to spread the love she holds in her heart. Patience is…