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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
“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…
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…
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…
Janaki Lenin’s first book ‘A King Cobra’s Summer’ for children was published by Pratham Books in 2011. It ranked among the top 12 publications for children for that year. A collection from her popular column in The Hindu ‘My Husband…
Short story selected for the 2013 New Asian Writing Short Story Anthology Mahatma Gandhi Road, a drab thoroughfare liberally laden with potholes and open-mouthed drains and housing a line of trees tumescent in the middle along its sides, trotted down…
Short story selected for the 2013 New Asian Writing Short Story Anthology “You look very handsome!” she said with a naughty smile and aimed her Nikon at me. I smiled, somewhat flustered and adjusted my scarf. She clicked. We were…