Water boils in the steel pot held over the blue flame; bubbles rising from the bottom as small as mustard seeds move up in a tornado growing as they swirl to surface big and strong as life…
‘Morning’ by Prathap Kamath
‘THE DOMESTIC MAID’ by Anita Desai
Short story selected for the 2014 New Asian Writing Short Story Anthology The mighty sun was rising on the city. The birds had taken flight on a new day. The city was abuzz with early morning activities; milk and newspaper…
‘The Night’ by Dipima Buragohain
Right in the middle of the starclad night, The fireflies nestle my delicate dreams, Over the beaming moon Blush the naive hopes. It’s a glasshouse of choices, Choices that are made with Each glorious sunshine and Every dark blue twillight.…
‘Through Love’s Great Power’ by Vikram Seth
Through love’s great power to be made whole In mind and body, heart and soul – Through freedom to find joy, or be By dint of joy itself set free In love and in companionhood: This is the true and…
‘A Thousand Pieces of Me’ by Dipima Buragohain
The rainbow sky, And its crimson dye, The hailstorm glove Of the insane love, The maddening rush Of the hopeful crush, Of all the catchings and snatchings, Of dreaming and screaming, What words and swords, What lies and cries, Of…
‘The Wanderer in the Snow’ by Siddharth Varma
Short story selected for the 2014 New Asian Writing Short Story Anthology He stood atop the lonely mountain amidst the snow and howling wind. Cold as ice, the emptiness in him made him feel so shallow that he could not…
‘An Unwritten Song’ by Sonam Dema
A thousand stars A lone moon A lonely boy And I, a night-sky. A thousand promises A love song A paper lover And I, a perpetual dreamer. A thousand voyages A waning solace A passing sailor And I,…
‘UNDERCURRENT’ by Daya Bhat
“Who am I?” She nudges and nobbles, “A mere spectator? A non-reformer? But so are you!” She sneers in obstinacy Dares to challenge! “My dwelling bound by wood and glass. Margins defined – space confined. I have done no good…
‘A Winter Song’ by Sonam Dema
Give me a winter wrapped in pleasing fragility of intense cold, Of unequivocal bliss of dancing snowflakes, Melting into the flashing sunlight. Give me a winter filled with chuckles of mischievous children, Of outrageous snowball fights, red cheeks and…
‘Of Love, Etc.’ by Dipima Buragohain
Your dreams and my eyes, Your hopes and my smile, My wishes and your twinkle, My desires and your lips, Between yours and mine Lies the thing called love. He said, “I’m in love with you” I smiled in…
‘My Love Story’ by Surbhi Thukral
Short story selected for the 2013 New Asian Writing Short Story Anthology A frisson of fear shot through me as the footsteps continued to draw nearer. I prayed a silent prayer. The door suddenly swung open and two tall figures…