Friday, July 20, 2012

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.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Possibility. Indifference. Envy.

Possibility (July 16)

MVPKGU

Behind the counter, in her red SpiceJet skirt, Sejal entered the boarding pass number. "Ms. Suchita Shah. Any baggage?"

“No.”

“She seems nice,” Sejal thought. The cute guy who checked in a few minutes earlier was in 12A. She took a few moments to weigh. “Hmm… Why not?” she concluded.

“Seat number 12B Ma’am.” 


Indifference (July 17) 

Sitting cross legged, she cupped her hand and scooped a handful of gravel and dropped it into a rusty strainer.

She giggled and repeated this amusing trick. The larger pebbles remained while the smaller ones passed through and gleefully landed onto her billowing frock.

The divider at Dharavi junction was this 4 year old’s playground.


Envy (July 18)

"Free on the 2nd next month?"
"Yeah probably. Why? What’s up?"
"Cool, I've got some tickets. Will let you know about them soon."
"For?"
"Nothing special. I'll ttyl."

 2 weeks and a forgotten phone call later, I was at home and my soon to be ex-friends were at Wankhede watching Sachin lift the World Cup.


Take 2

Outside the station, he fought trying to hail an autorickshaw in this torrid rain.

On landing one, he quickly closed his umbrella and entered it, but not before his back was drenched by the water from the parapet above.

As the auto moved along, he longingly glanced at the sleeping kid in the Hyundai alongside.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Scream. Close. Damage.

Scream (July 13)

He clutched at his bed-sheet; his knuckles were white. 

Excruciating pain was the only way to label his ordeal. Amul learnt that life can be unfair on multiple counts.

As his father lashed his leather belt at his back blaming him instead of his genes, all this mute boy could do was scream with his eyes.


Close (July 14)

The second hand stepped forward, like a soldier. Dependable. The hour hand was the general. Watchful. The minute hand was sluggish. Jerky. Faulty
"Clamp." The attending surgeon ordered. The nurse fetched it. As he sutured the chest, the patient's eyelid flickered. The minute hand was back on track. The new heart had opened a new door. 


Damage (July 15)

Tensions were running high. One ball to go. 

A juicy low full toss; the mighty swing was justified. Ramesh's six won the game and shattered his neighbour's Audi's windscreen.
Livid, the neighbour stormed out and slapped the 11 year old. He wasn't done. With bottled rage, he spat at him. "Did you know you're adopted?"