Monday. Aphrodisiac. Forbidden.

Monday (July 9)

*Whoosh!* Thud* Crack* The time froze at 8:22 am.

Dark circles and migraines, she could handle.
A dismissive boss and long working hours, she could handle.
Loud co-workers and unrealistic deadlines, she could handle.

What she couldn’t handle was why they always, ALWAYS attacked her in unison.

The alarm clock was her first victim today.

Take 2

He woke up with a smile. Landing a job in Mumbai was a dream come true for Subhash.

There were 7 office skyscrapers near his chawl. Most of them jumped from above the 10^th floor. His earnings were fixed - Rs. 100 per body. Business always picked up today.

Just another day at the office.

Take 3

Atrophied muscles. Chapped lips. Sighs of relief. Loads of hugs.

It’d been 4 months since the accident. “Shrewsberry biscuit please” he wheezed. The mind’s desires can be confounding.

20 minutes passed. “Please…” he rasped before giving up.

All the stores were shut. Too bad Manoj decided to wake up from his coma on a Monday.

Take 4

A long belly and hip scratch and a satisfying yawn later, he turned to the other side on his bed. The sun’s rays penetrated his window, but not the thick blanket over his head. He twitched.

What was that? A faint whiff! And off ran Garfield to accost Jon.

Mondays often went downhill after breakfast.


Aphrodisiac (July 11)

Finely powdered. That was the term used. Clutching the pestle, he ground till the mortar’s contents matched the parchment’s requirement.

He emptied the final ingredient into a vessel containing the potion that took him a month to prepare. Finally. He could love again.

The corpse in his cave with the missing jawbone seemed to agree.


Forbidden (July 12)

He locked and unlocked his door, 9 times.

Next, he climbed into his attic and dug out a framed photograph. He took a silk cloth from his bathrobe pocket and cleaned the frame 9 times.

Finally, he flossed his teeth. He stopped after the eighth time for a sneeze.
He flogged himself for this error.

Fire. Mouth. Stars.

Fire (July 6)

11:54 am.

It had reached the eighth floor and was rising rapidly, uncontrollably. The office was evacuated 32 minutes ago. Akshay was at his desk, typing away furiously. Everything around him was getting charred. Yet, like the sky outside, his mind was clear. “The promotion is surely mine,” he smiled.

His deadline was 12.00 pm.

Mouth (July 7)

"Red wala!" "Mujhe blue wala!"

For the last decade, these were the most common requests Naresh received. Kids clamouring outside the local garden for their favourite balloons.

After 10 years, today felt different. As he blew life into the balloon, he took his own away. He collapsed as the balloon floated away towards the skies.

Stars (July 8)

His temples throbbed with rage as he thrust his fists into his hapless brother’s face. "It’s ROUND! It doesn't have 5 pointy ends!" he yelled.

Gopi realised his mistake when his mother nearly ripped his ear out. "The sun IS a bloody star you moron!" Rahul though kept seeing stars for the next few weeks.

Train. Fairy Tale. Mystery.

Train (July 3) 

Take 1

He combed his hair as he always did – parted it with the customary flick towards his temple. Too much oil this time.

He clutched his slingbag; coughed twice to clear his throat. The crowd was getting restless. The 12:55 local arrived and was now Bhimrao's stage. 

Selling colouring books wasn’t really his career choice.

Take 2

The vibe never felt this good this morning. She applied eyeliner and that seductive vermillion lipstick. Generously. She even picked her favourite ghagra choli; you knew she was excited.

She was superstitious too; the 12:55 Bandra was her favourite. No, she couldn’t miss it today. With a quick shave of her stubble, Chandini was ready.

Fairy Tales (July 4)

The sword cut through the veil, revealing the chest. With another stab, the chest gave way – and out fell the golden treasures in all their misshapen glory.

Fresh with victory, he saw his mother mix the treasure in white nectar and ease them onto a vessel destined for him. Cornflakes were Aarav’s favourite breakfast.

Mystery (July 5)

Take 1

Strapped onto the rollercoaster ride, he looked around as the ride teetered uphill, leading to the inevitable free fall. Sitting next to him, his mother smiled her reassuring smile. “It’ll be okay son.”

She handed him a purple box. He opened it. The surgeon never found the clot. The lobotomy sealed the box for good.

Take 2

There was no earthquake. Not even a tremor. The wind nestled itself in his curtains. Conjuring shapes only he could imagine. He reached for the pen, picked a scalpel instead. He adjusted not his notepad, but his patient’s head.

Today, he was going to write a wrong. Today, he was going to rob Anu’s memories. To save her.

Take 3
“Day 92. Like clockwork, he walked in at 3:12 pm, ordered his mochaccino, solved the day’s crossword and left the 22 rupee tip. Yet something was different today. New shoelaces on those ragged Converse shoes?  Maybe a haircut?”

After her accident rendered her a paraplegic, Reema never stopped staring into the mirror.