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 minutesKabir hated Sunday nights the most, though he could never explain why to anyone. Monday meant a spelling test. Monday meant Mrs Iyer calling on students who hadn’t raised their hands. Monday meant everything that could go wrong, replaying in his head the moment his mother switched off the light.
Reading Time: 2 minutesEvery night, the same thing happened at the Sharma family table, and every night, nobody but Vihaan seemed to notice. Dadi would take one roti fewer than everyone else. Nine of them sat around the long table — Papa, Chacha, both mothers, three cousins, Dadi, and Vihaan — plates clattering,
Reading Time: < 1 minuteOne quiet evening, a little lantern glowed beside a garden path. Its warm light helped rabbits find their way home and guided sleepy birds back to their nests. The lantern was happy to help. But as the night grew darker, a gentle wind began to blow. Whoosh… Whoosh… The little
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe park bench near the peepal tree was Dadi’s favourite spot in all of Dadar. Every afternoon, she would wait there with two steel tiffin boxes — one for Priya, one for Rohan — because she believed hungry children had no patience for wisdom. That Tuesday, the children arrived louder
Reading Time: 2 minutesIn a small temple garden in Bangalore, there lived a crow named Kavi. He was sleek and clever, with feathers black as monsoon clouds. But he was always alone. Every morning, the priest scattered rice and dal for the white doves that nested in the temple’s eaves. They cooed softly
Reading Time: 2 minutesArjun slammed his bedroom door. Again. His mother had said no to the gaming tournament. Just like that. No explanation. No understanding. He was seventeen—old enough to make his own decisions. But his mother, Deepa, still treated him like a child. She knocked softly. “Beta, can we talk?” “Nothing to
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe fight was about the electricity bill. Again. Rohan had left every light on in his room, the fan running, his laptop plugged in, and gone to college. Vikram noticed at seven in the morning before his first Teams call. He sent a message. Rohan didn’t reply. By evening, when
Reading Time: 3 minutesRamesh Iyer adjusted his spectacles and cleared his throat—a sound that, in the Sharma household on the sixth floor, meant listen up, I am about to be correct. It was Sunday morning, 9:47 AM. The annual general meeting of the Gokul Dham Co-operative Housing Society was running forty-two minutes behind schedule.
Reading Time: < 1 minuteAarav was a young boy who dreamed of becoming a great painter. Every evening, he would scroll through social media and stare at beautiful artworks. He often told himself that one day he would paint something just as amazing. But dreams are easy; discipline is not. Aarav painted only when
