Disclaimer: This story contains content meant for mature audiences. “Why do you poets never write about happy stuff? Your life cannot be this sad,” he says with a smirk as his fingers trace my eyelashes and cheekbones. “I am no poet, you know. I just write sometimes. When I…
This fall was a harder and deeper one than the others. It had knocked any remaining wind right out of her lungs. She was tired of it, for every time she clambered out, she’d be pushed back in soon. It felt as if she had broken every bone, and she…
It is a harsh town, much like its weather: winds playing with roofs, water jumping over swings in the park during the most extreme of days. Edith has become quite acclimatised to the nuances of living in this ‘town without doors.’ People here believe in letting in neither the unfair…
Beechwood Penitentiary, in spite of being a large and complex underground facility, housed only one inmate within its metallic walls, in a padded cell, at the end of the corridor on the lowest floor. Sat inside was Bryce Felhart, a convicted serial killer, a blotch of colour between the pristinely…
The first memory I have of my mother is of when I was four years old. She held my hand as I went down the slide, straight into a puddle. She giggled as water sprayed on her and hugged my soaking wet self. When I was ten, I fractured my…
The man, dressed dapperly in a black suit and crisp white shirt, slowly lowered the girl onto the floor. She smiled at him with her blue eyes bright, her unnaturally silky blonde hair flying as she bounced up and down in a hurry to get home. “Rodriguez!” The man barked…
Sanya and her childhood boyfriend, Vikrant, had finally moved into their own home in Green Park, New Delhi. Everything was going well for them as they had to no more worry about monthly rent or showering from ice cold water in winters. Vikrant was about to get his promotion, while…
Trudging down the corridor that connected your formidable past and ominous future, images flooded your mind. Beads of trepidation rolled down your forehead and a flush coloured your cheeks. Emotions, foreign and unknown to you, were taking over your quivering soul. The riveting memories of your family, soothing touches of…
It was as if the past one year had gone by in the blink of an eye. As Ahmed lay on his death bed, breathing his last few breaths, he remembered… Ahmed was a dashing young boy, a reckless fellow in the prime of his life. He was living his…
The sky was submerged in velvety darkness, with the moon peeking from behind a veil of clouds and the stars sparkling like jewels. Krishna was walking towards his home with the satisfaction of a fruitful day and full tummy. Today was the day when all the Gopikas churned milk to…
It was Valentine’s Day, the day when most of the boys came to school with a rose hidden in their bags, and the girls brought the cutest handmade cards in the cluelessness of their parents. Many secret one-sided lovers were eagerly looking forward to meeting their crush or were dying…
Patrick looked up at himself in the mirror. He was so proud of his smooth and round face. Yet, he couldn’t groom it the way girls could. “Hey, Pat! You better hurry, if you wanna go to your football class!” called his Dad. Patrick sighed and walked unwillingly towards the…
THE WORDS ARE MINE, BUT I AM SURE EMOTIONS WILL BE OF MANY OTHERS. THOUGH THIS MAY BE FICTIONAL, I AM SURE IT MUST HAVE HAPPENED WITH MANY. It’s been a year since I discovered my sexuality. I am a lesbian. Yes, a lesbian. I am not ashamed of it.…
“You’re not leaving, are you?” “I think it’s for the best.” “It’s not. Who do you think will handle all the living beings ready to exit the Earth when their time comes? Really, Death, you can’t make impulsive decisions like this without consulting me!” Death sighed. She should’ve seen this…
Her eyeballs crept back to catch his sight as his wolf whistle echoed in her ears. Her shoes were drenched in the mud as she hurriedly ran away from that dark alley. She opened the door and the house felt a shiver as the blizzard found its way in. Closing…
“I guess we should be happy for Germany. Britain is taken, Russia about to fall, with the help of the Japanese. All that is left is the Americans. We’ll win there too, by the end of the year. The Fuehrer, though a lunatic, has managed to do the unimagined,” said…
It was an era when arms really revealed fates. They declared the moment of your end, the moment where your fragile self would cease to exist. Yet, as they say, love always finds a way. June 23, 1985, was the day my journey began. Blood gushed just beneath the surface…
Please note: The protagonist of this story suffers from derealisation disorder, with occasional episodes of depersonalisation. These are real mental disorders, which the author has tried to portray authentically after researching about them and their symptoms. The intention is to draw attention and create awareness about these lesser-known conditions, as well…
“Who was Giuseppe Garibaldi? Explain his role in the reunification of Italy?” Fifteen-year-old Kyra looks up at the clock staring down at her from the wall. 1:00 am. Oh, well. Just one more hour and she’ll be done with her syllabus. It’s not that late anyway; she’s stayed up way…
I must confess that I had never really given much thought to stereotypes, at least not before stories of the same were shoved before me. One night (all eerie things are bound to happen at night, surprisingly); I woke up with a start to the sound of utmost clamour. The…
