The stench of death was overpowering. Soham and Ahmed stood at a distance covering their mouths and noses. The sultry air around the mortuary reeked of it clogging their nostrils and stifling them. The cloying odour of formalin floated in the hot sticky air as a strong reminder of where they stood. The two men wrinkled their nose and looked the other way. Like always, they would wait here till Idris called for them. They watched silently as the older man walked up to the office. Age had slackened his…
Year: 2021
The Scent of a Dream – Swapnagandha Resort in Chorla Ghats
Living a dream in Chorla Ghat The Vazra Sakla roared down the idyllic slopes of Chorla Ghat. The sun kissed mountains stood stoic and stately indulging the twin waterfall their moment of mirth. We watched with gaping mouths as the white foamy water cascaded down into the jade green pool beneath, an offspring of its frothy downpour. It was the month of November. The monsoons had just wrapped up its work for the year leaving things to dry up after a wet spell. For the hills at Chorla Ghat, however,…
The Final Farewell
The sky had adorned an unpleasant bleakness. Probal stared at it listlessly. Its pale yellowness weighed heavily on him and pulled him into depths of desolation. Dusk always saddened Probal. It was the time for goodbyes when life slowed down to rest. When the birds flapped their wings wearily towards their nests, Probal knew it was time. The sky would now be sheathed in the black cloak of night and the houses in their colony would light up their slit-like windows with the low powered yellow bulbs plunging Probal’s world…
The echo of light
Mini stood with her hands on her hips in her new house staring at the mess around her. The movers had deposited her little boxes at the doorstep as instructed by her. She always unpacked them herself. It was her fourth rental in Pune. All her earlier ones had been apartments, and she was tired of living out of those cubby holes that she was forced to share with unfriendly flat mates. Therefore, she had jumped at the offer when her broker mentioned that a row house was available on…
The Deliverance of Binapani
The small shack was hot and sultry. Binapani, its hapless owner, looked up thoughtfully towards the gaping hole in her thatched roof. The harsh October sun scorched her bare back as she adjusted her soiled sari to cover it and shaded her eyes as she waited with bated breath. It was the morning of Bijoya Dashami, the last day of the five-day festivities that celebrated the homecoming of the Goddess Durga. For Bengal and its diaspora all over the world, this was a day filled with sadness and forlornness. A…
11 Fern Place
Avni heaved a sigh of relief as she got off from the crowded bus and stepped on to the pavement adjusting her off-white dupatta over her blue kurta. She checked her watch and smiled. There was time for a short visit to 11 Fern Place, her aunt Madhurie’s residence. She had made it a point to dress traditionally since her aunt, though the owner of very progressive thoughts had one weakness. She had a very conservative sense of dressing and disliked women strutting around in western attire. Therefore, unlike her…
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary – Chapter 11
Two sisters. Alike in appearance but contrary in nature. Both leave home but where one of them returns the other goes missing. Binita Sen steps in to help in another bizarre search after Debts of Desire. Read Chapter 10 Binita stepped out of the Jolly Grant airport accompanied by Sheetal Das. Shyamal Lahiri was waiting for them at the Airport’s arrival lounge and smiled at them politely. “I have not informed Benod yet” he said the moment he saw them. “Good it is best that way” said Binita gently “Mrs.Lobo?” she…
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary – Chapter 10
Two sisters. Alike in appearance but contrary in nature. Both leave home but where one of them returns the other goes missing. Binita Sen steps in to help in another bizarre search after Debts of Desire. Read Chapter 9 “Just one link in the chain. That is what I am missing” muttered Binita to herself as she gave another stir to the broth that was simmering on the range. They had returned from Mussorie two days back and had settled down to their regular routine. “What do you mean one link?…
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary – Chapter 9
Two sisters. Alike in appearance but contrary in nature. Both leave home but where one of them returns the other goes missing. Binita Sen steps in to help in another bizarre search after Debts of Desire. Read Chapter 8 The morning revealed the ravages that the storm had caused. The General’s beautifully manicured garden looked like a warzone. The pots were strewn all over the driveway and the garage was half-blown away. A large branch of a Deodar tree had crashed through the roof of a gardening shed. Luckily, there was…
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary – Chapter 8
Two sisters. Alike in appearance but contrary in nature. Both leave home but where one of them returns the other goes missing. Binita Sen steps in to help in another bizarre search after Debts of Desire. Read Chapter 7 At dinner, Keya and Binita joined the family at the huge dining table. General Das seated at the head of the table stood up to greet them. Binita realised how right the others were in their opinion of this man. He was affable with an old-world charm which is rarely seen in…
