Nefelibata

The honking of the cars in the busy roads of the city made him come back to his senses. The feeble man in his fifties dressed in shabby clothes was standing on a bus stop. He had never visited in such a big city earlier but he felt like it was nothing new, as he had already seen through his son’s eyes. His son used to tell him that this city is self centered, show-off and no respect for others and that is what exactly he felt like. He waited for a city bus to arrive as he didn’t have enough money to take a private cab. He wanted to save as much as he can so that he could buy a good phone for his son. He remembered his conversation with his son on phone (telephone booth) day before yesterday. “Father, can’t you buy me a new phone, I am not asking for too expensive one but at least a decent one. I will be able to call you more often; I don’t have to look after the timings of these PCO shops to call you. I haven’t asked you anything but please buy me a new phone” . Poor father had ...

It was a usual night for eleven year old Allan. Allan’s mother tucked him to his bed, they sang a lullaby, his mother said “son, you are a little shining star!” and kissed his forehead. Allan replied “Mom, you are my moon”. She smiled, switched off the lights, closed the door and went to her room. It was 9:30 pm, chili winter night. Allan didn’t have any work to do next morning since it was his winter break. But he was too tired of playing/gardening whole day, he had to sleep early. In just half an hour he went to his child like sleep. He was deep in his sleep when his sleep was disturbed by continuous shaking and trembling of ground. He was wide awake due to such trembles. He thought that it might be an earthquake, as his teacher told him in his disaster management class. He was terrified. He looked at the clock; it was 12:30 AM. He opened the windows and saw a bright light coming. Something was descending down, although it wasn’t near to him but it could be clearly seen. ...

Close to the city of Paithan, in a small village called Sauviragram, which lay along the banks of the great river Godavari, lived a woman named Ilaa. Being cotton farmers, her family was well to do, but not among the richest in their area. It was the harvest season, and cotton had to be picked from the plants. The wholesalers and traders from Paithan would be arriving in just a few weeks, carrying gold and goods for barter. They would exchange what they carried for the cotton that the farmers grew. The bales of cotton had to be ready in time! Work was at its peak! But Ilaa was not to be found in the fields. She wasn't working. Instead, she was sitting by the banks of the great river Godavari. 'I am sick of this!' she grunted loudly. Her husband’s family was going to arrive next week for a meal. She was sitting with her friend shahsikala who was constantly talking about the ideas of meals that she should prepare for her husband’s family in order to please them whic...