The Mr and the Mrs didn’t get it. Medical tax? What’s that? They had received two notices asking to pay medical taxes worth Rs. 63,028 and Rs. 60,053. They weren’t financially downtrodden, but Rs. 1,22,081 couldn’t be short change for anybody, right? They were accountants who hated rounding off. A rupee + 99, 999 rupees [...]

I turn and toss, no reason nor rhymes. This ain’t home, but then, I’ve dozed in buses. Colors, rhythms, patterns and smells, warp in and out of sense. Trippy, strippy – this is all at once. Oh, am I that girl with golden locks? Or the princess who felt a pea, twenty mattresses across? * [...]

“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there lived a species which fought against the digital age. They used their digits dexterously to hold an implement that marked thin, flat surfaces – to put their thoughts down or to make images or to humor their imagination,” said my grandchildren to their grandchildren. [...]

कैसे कहूँ इस दिल को कि अब उन्हें न चाहे, है इक तर्फा प्यार हमारा, ये जो अब सच है?   कैसे कहूँ इस दिल को, तू इस तन को चला हर पल, पर मन को न करने दे हलचल?   कैसे कहूँ, उड़ जा तू चाहे जहाँ, पर उस एक को सोचना है तुझे [...]

  सिर्फ तेरी गोद में सर रख सो जाना है बस सिर्फ तेरी गोद में सर रख, सो जाना है बालों में हाथ न फेरना, कोई बात नहीं, कोई सवाल न करना, न कोई बात छेड़ना, मुझे अकेला है रहना, पर सिर्फ तेरी गोद में सर रख सो जाना है मुझे शर्मिंदा न करना, सिसकियों [...]

“oh no, fairy Godmother! How did this happen?” Cinderella whined. Her attempt at masking her disappointment failed. “I’m so sorry. So-so sorry. Cinders, I mean, Cindy dear, I want to know too.” She  tinkered with the third point of her 5-pointed star, from the left. “Ouch” The star’s poke didn’t bother her. She started counting [...]

She danced like she was in a trance, eyes closed. Her long curls swaying from side to side. The white, spaghetti-strapped, calf-length dress flowing like she was an angel. She danced like she was in a trance. To hip-hop. Bollywood hip-hop.  He shook her. He was obviously embarrassed. He shouldn’t have. He should’ve let her [...]

She sat with her knees folded, her back straight against the wall. That tear rolling down her eye, it made her look prettier. He hated himself. Hated himself for the state of mind she was in, for that tear on her cheek, and for thinking about how pretty it made her look. “But, we’re such [...]

This was going to be her first trek on the Himalayas. She loved trekking, but had no proof to back that love. She wanted to answer with loads of adventures when the M TV Roadies guy asked her, "Really? So, tiny adventurous lady, tell me about your adventures." She had to have something more than, [...]

Every day, she expected too much out of life. Every day she wanted to be inspired to do her job. Whatever it is that motivated her yesterday, she lost it today. The universe liked her. It would conspire every once in a while to give her a little happiness, a small smile. She’d make a [...]