Reading Time: 2 minutesThe sun was hot. The road was hot. Even Bhoomi’s chappals felt hot. But the street was full of colour. Big wooden chariots stood waiting. Marigolds hung in long orange strings. Drums went dhum-dhum-dhum somewhere close by. Bhoomi had a secret in her pocket — a small paper boat, folded
Reading Time: 2 minutesDiya hadn’t touched her dinner. “Meera’s moving to Bangalore,” she said, pushing rice around her plate. “Next month. Forever.” Bhoomi, who had been trying to make her sister laugh for twenty minutes with increasingly terrible faces, finally gave up and sat down properly. Dadi set her cup down. “You’ll have
Reading Time: 2 minutesBhoomi had been standing with her arms stuck out stiffly for almost two minutes, trying not to blink, when Diya finally cracked. “You win,” Diya said, collapsing onto the stone bench. “Nobody can out-Jagannath you.” “I know,” said Bhoomi, still not blinking. “It’s the eyes. Round and serious. Like this.”
