Watch. Charm. Death.

Watch (July 19)

The toddler clutched her heels and giggled uncontrollably. The baby sitter pressed the toy and the oinks evoked peals of laughter, again.

A tasty aroma wafted into the room. She checked her wrist; it'd been 2 minutes since she’d added the masala to the noodles.

When she returned, the toy was missing; the pulse, gone.

Charm (July 20)

Tightly clasping the oval pendant with her left hand, she began writing.

Siddharth had taken his first steps yesterday. Her paycheck was due tomorrow. Vaibhav was opening up about his past flings finally. Her sprained ankle was healing nicely.

"Alright, pens down every one."

She gripped it harder. Maybe she'll graduate on her third attempt.

Death (July 21) 

“Where’s your god now?” the soldier yelled; the shrapnel in his throat barely allowed a wheeze.

He rolled his wheelchair closer to the altar. “Tell me father...”

“Have faith, son.”

The soldier shed a solitary tear. His revolver had the word ‘faith’ inscribed on it. He offered the priest some before taking a healing dose.

Take 2

The veins in her temples throbbed purple. Her lips were at the risk of tearing the way she sustained her screams. She curled her toes and dug her nails into her several catheters.

He delved further between her legs. Within a moment, her scream transferred to the writhing foetus and then, they both went silent.

Take 3

"Beta... get 1 rasgulla for me." 

Rahim darted to the kitchen and obeyed his grandfather, covertly.

"See that pipe near my hips? I’ll give you a prize if you cut it." He smiled, savouring each bite.

As Abdul wheezed his last, the gathered realised they’d waited all this time for naught. The will was final.