Julian was still young and inexperienced, and events of late had left him breathless. It hadn’t been long since he’d been transferred to this unfamiliar land with a culture he was desperately striving to understand. In some ways it was all rather exciting but his recent appointment was something he’d never have dreamed of pursuing, and an escalating apprehension gripped him. What if his performance … Continue reading JULIAN’S FOLLY
It was hard not to notice Rani, she was one of those happy spirits who caused heads to turn on campus. If there was mischief afoot in the girls hostel, innocent brown eyed Rani was somewhere near the scene of action. She’d surface at the very last minute in college registration line and there was always some problem to be sorted out on her behalf. … Continue reading Rani
Tony was feeling very satisfied with himself. Father Christmas had delivered a brand new blue bicycle with white racing stripes and he was determined to put it through its paces now Dad was there to guide him. Well he had his doubts about Father Christmas but it was a transitional age where glamor of a man in a red suit who somehow came down a … Continue reading Santa’s Miracle
The temperature gauge outside our back door that morning registered forty degrees Celsius and the heat was only beginning to crank up for the day. I was on my way to the office when I remembered an errand to attend to in the science block. It was one of those pre-monsoon days when intense heat cast a blanket over one’s ability to think clearly. Certainly … Continue reading Jaws 2
It was one of those tired old sayings Claude had heard his parents quote since early childhood. He moved his feet restlessly while sitting on a park bench reflecting. A passing dog yelped as Claude’s movements dislodged a stone and sent it rolling down hill in the direction of dog on a leash and its jogging owner. “Hey, be careful! The jogger paused to shout … Continue reading Once bitten, twice shy!
Wanda sat miserably in her office chair swinging from side to side. She did this when she’d something weighty on her mind and the motion seemed to calm her as she weighed options. Her musings inevitably began with an inventory of life as far back as she could remember. She dimly remembered the shadowy image of a man who’d take her for walks. She’d ride … Continue reading Wanda
We had been travelling most of the night on the road from Madras, now Chennai, to Kodaikanal in South India. Conversation was beginning to take on stereotyped platitudes tired minds are capable of producing. We were not making a lot of sense to each other by this time, and those who were valiantly trying to stay awake to keep the drivers mind on the road … Continue reading RASTA BANDH
It is the custom in Asia for women to defer to their husbands. Those unfamiliar with the culture will note women walk at a respectable distance behind their husbands whenever they’re seen together. It’s also surprising to a newcomer women don’t eat with their husband and his male friends, taking their food in relative obscurity of the kitchen; their holy domain. While those not born … Continue reading THE QUIET LADY
It was early 1995 and we were preparing for the monumental task of vacating 800 Thomson Road, Singapore in preparation for a massive re-development program which, in partnership with Hong Kong developers, would give us a rebuilt headquarters, apartments for all our staff and a lot of money to be re-invested in facilities around the Asia Pacific region. As 800 in Chinese thinking is a … Continue reading My Facelift Experience
The sign on the way into the transit lounge at the airport said, “Inconvenience regretted,” and I instantly understood the reason the sign was in place. I was in a small airport in a topical location away from the major air transit routes. The heat was overpowering, and beat all of the passengers into lethargic submission causing us to head purposefully in the direction of … Continue reading INCONVENIENCE REGRETTED
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