Dawn Break

The night is darker than usual, though the almanac says Full Moon will illuminate the skies soon. She walks through many worlds in her dreams and nightmares, while staying pinned to her uncomfortable bed. All this will soon be a thing of the past, but then…. how soon? There are so many pointers to the … Continue reading Dawn Break

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Joker in the pack

“Did you hear that? Arnold has been designated SVP. Aren’t we all doing our duties to perfection and delivering on parameters?” The cafetaria is a place for such conversations. Anybody who wants to understand the company culture should spend more time here. “The joker in the pack always helps you win. Didn’t you see him … Continue reading Joker in the pack

Art

“I wouldn’t pay a fortune for this painting. The artist’s earlier work was much better.” “He has learnt from experience.” “Then the quality should have improved……” “No. He has learnt that the value goes up with the venue of display and stature of visitors.” “Do I describe him as a dying artist or evolving artist?” … Continue reading Art

Conscious Fashion

The survivor took great pride in declaring its Indian origin, and the philosophy of non-violence practised by a section of the population. “I pierced the cocoon to come out and am living a full life. The manufacturers still get the silk they need to make those luxurious and visually delightful sarees, but without killing the … Continue reading Conscious Fashion

All that is local

“This is the art that brought me to another country. I was invited by a resident to decorate the alleys with cheap material, and I used rice powder.” “Anybody can do it.” “Yes. Maybe they can. But I kept innovating with my art. The movement from rice powder to vibrant  colours got me international fame. … Continue reading All that is local

Spying

“Look for hidden clues or evidence left behind, but shift active investigation to Singapore. Criminals no longer active here.” The email raises many more questions. How did they manage to skip airport security and leave the country? Are the systems adequate to detect fake passports? More important than that is how did the chief arrive … Continue reading Spying

Surrender

I feel the profundity of the dream, except that it’s not a dream. I’m awake. I’m in my senses, but my eyes are shut. It is a kind of meditative state. In space in time I sit thousands of feet above the sea. Below I see floating islands tagged with names and dates of centuries, … Continue reading Surrender

Clues

“There’s a chink in the armour. I want details of the person who wrote these lines.” The dreamy-eyed, pretty assistant alerts herself, “Yes, Sir.” She is thinking her boss can never appreciate the softer side of human nature or intricacies of love. She loves the poetic expression. Henry, her boss reads her mind. “In Communications … Continue reading Clues

On the other side

My friend cribs about her tough life in a sales job, her monstrous boss and unfair incentive schemes. Clearly, she does not enjoy her job - nor did I. But being conversant with something helped me navigate the downturns better. I steer the conversation to what she’d like to do – lounge around in pyjamas, … Continue reading On the other side

Preparedness

There’s something magical about the room, but not in a nice way. Is Ellen imagining the figure on the wall, or is it really there? Dad told her not to make up imaginary friends or foes. Wait and watch if the object under observation can really harm. The figure does not move, but something leaps … Continue reading Preparedness