Pinku-Enchanted Life

The man stood smoking against the pillar of the bus stop. His new shoe pinched a bit but he kept it on. He saw himself reflected in the tinted glass of a passing vehicle and marveled again at the difference a shave had made to his appearance. He had to be patient he told himself; last week’s disappointment must not dissuade him. He looked around, it was much the same scene, the old woman selling agarbattis in the corner, the sweeper who having finished his morning shift was waiting or perhaps whiling away time by sunning himself and the passing honking traffic and a few people trying to get a lift. At long last he saw the bus coming, it took the last turn and came to a halt right next to him. The girls spilled out laughing and chattering. This weekly outing was the highlight of their life in the residential school. Pocket money was hoarded for this time when they would be able to buy that yummy pastry at Aunty’s store or pick up delicacies at the neighbouring store which stocked e

Sunaina stood looking out at the fields for a long time. Her three children were huddled close to each other behind her on the floor. The quilt barely enough to cover their growing bodies. The money lender was due to come again today to collect his dues; she had hoped that by some miracle she would be able to collect enough money to atleast pay the interest but try as she might she couldn’t arrange enough half the amount. The moneylender had clearly indicated last time that he wouldn’t take no for an answer anymore, it would have to be either the money or her next time. She had tried her best to repay the debts, pawning the last bit of jewellery she owned even the little that had been gifted to her children but the loan seemed unending. A loan which had gone to fuel Inder’s drinking and gambling and which she now had to pay back with her honour. The ignominy of it ran shivers down her spine. The sudden flash of inspiration brought her to life. She looked again to check that th

Sujata felt excited, Amit was returning from his business trip today. She fussed about in the kitchen, a place she seldom visited. Her recent visits to her village had reminded her of all the delicious stuff that her grandmother used to cook up with simple vegetables and she had decided she would make some of that for Amit. His trip this time had been exceptionally long. Almost a month and she imagined that he would be craving simple home cooked food. She checked her watch yet again….she needed to hurry to be able to take a bath before he came. Sujata often wondered about her relationship with Amit. Her own feelings puzzled her. The only two occasions she could remember when Amit had held her really close were during her labor pains and two months back when they had both rushed to Mussourie on being informed that Deeksha was being followed by an unknown man. That was also something she was curious to know about. Amit had been receiving regular updates from the detective agency t

Amit got out of bed and walked to the bathroom, he was about to pick up his robe when the memory of last night came flooding back and he left it on the floor. Refreshed, he moved towards the electric kettle on the side board he wanted to fix himself and his companion a nice cup of tea. It was only at times like these that he ever bothered to do these small homely acts; it gave him a strange sense of relaxation and peace. In the other world he inhabited he was the lord and master and it was unthinkable that he do anything himself, there were always a retinue of servants to do his bidding. But times like now were too personal and intimate to allow for a third to intrude. He surveyed the messy bed yet again; his companion was still sleeping, hand thrown over eyes to shield against the light. Amit drew the curtains completely aside allowing the sun to come through and brighten up the room. He felt strangely young and full of exuberance though nothing in his measured walk and action wo

The phone call came just as she was dropping off to sleep. Initially the ring of the cell phone sounded far off and she thought she was dreaming but then the sound became more persistent and she realized with a start that it was her cell phone ringing. The number was unfamiliar and for a moment the events of the past twenty four hours came flooding back. The midnight flight to Delhi and then the long journey to and fro to her daughter’s residential school in the hills. Amit had an important meeting to attend and that meant that they immediately take a flight back to Bombay as well. The ringing was becoming shrill and she finally picked up the call. The road was bumpier than she remembered, the recent rains must have caused havoc or perhaps bereft of the sweet nostalgia of her last journey it seemed more tedious. Her nerves were on edges. She couldn’t remember the last time she had traveled so much in so little time. Perhaps in the days when she had been a part of the troupe and

Malaysia. Truly Asia. The song and images of the Malaysian Tourism promotion shown on television stayed in my mind – long after they went off-air and to add to it I happened to come across a CD which had songs describing the beauty of the country which had me totally hooked. Which is why a visit to a country with 12 royal families – who elect their king and vice-king, every few years, sounds so intriguing. I would ideally want to have a family getaway around June.We would reach by late afternoon, freshen up a bit and  get photographed in front of Petronas Towers – arguably Malaysia’s best known man made marvel. Next is a visit to Penang Bridge -  a dual carriageway bridge that connects George Town on the island of Penang and Seberang Perai on the mainland of Malaysia on  the Malay Peninsula. Penang Bridge is also the longest bridge in Malaysia. 8.4 km of the bridge is above the water – sounds a lot like the part undersea bridge – connecting Denmark to southern Sweden that

The party was in full swing, as the wannabes tried to ingratiate themselves with those who had already achieved. Sujata held onto her glass of orange juice and looked around for Amit. He had excused himself to take a call on his mobile and had not returned ever since. She wondered slightly who the call would have been from. Normally Amit didn’t take calls when out for social evenings. Her anxiety to find him had a bit of curiosity however the chief concern was not to be cornered by an acquaintance without Amit, who knew all the correct polite answers to the questions those people asked. She wandered on the edges of the party, looking unconcerned and yet keeping an eye out for Amit. Finally she spotted him under a tree, intently talking on the phone. As she watched she felt a twinge of jealousy for all that kept Amit occupied and his life so purposeful. Her own life in comparison seemed so goal-less. Amit finally kept the phone and looked around; he saw her at a distance and be

Not a fortnight passed when Sunaina realized that the smell of money travels a long distance. Her husband who had been missing for months returned home one evening. It was clear that he knew of Sujata’s visit and the fact that she had left money and provisions with his wife. Sunaina and the children both cringed inwardly on seeing him. They knew drunken brawls and the beatings would now be the norm. Sunaina thought hard of what to do with the money that Sujata had left behind, she had no doubts that it was for this money that her husband had returned home and once he could lay his hands on the same he would disappear again. The children quickly hid their new clothes; experience taught them to hide everything from their father. The youngest one was the only one unafraid largely because also inexperienced. She crawled to him and sat close looking up at him wonderingly. It wasn’t often she saw a new face in the house. She was rewarded with a pat on the head and then her father walked