The Fugitive’s Return – Chapter 1

Flirting with Danger Grant emerged from the minibus with a mixture of happiness and fear. He was followed by an assortment of tourists complaining about cramped conditions on the way from Mumbai. They’d been irritated by the heat on arrival and the cramped quarters of the minibus with luggage piled around them as they’d negotiated traffic out of a city which never seemed to end. … Continue reading The Fugitive’s Return – Chapter 1

Wendy’s Wish

Wendy at the window sill Anxious looking down the road, Was he working next door still? Ferrying another load? Saw him working yesterday Muscles rippling body straight Glancing at the heavens grey, Had to finish, couldn’t wait She had to go where he could see Her weeding at the entrance way Heart now pounding, could it be He’d ask her out? Oh, happy day! Richie … Continue reading Wendy’s Wish

Wendell – Chapter 2

Mutual Discovery Wendell burst through the entrance of his parent’s home in excitement. His Mother Gaby Franks looked up from the kitchen in surprise followed by a feeling of alarm. She quickly washed the flour off her hands and dried them on her apron then moved quickly to the front room to greet her son. She’d interpreted his burst as a precursor to some dread … Continue reading Wendell – Chapter 2

Wendell – Chapter 1

Personality Change Wendell Franks stood in front of the mirror in his bedroom looking uncertainly at the image projected back at him. He flicked an imaginary spot from his jacket and to his surprise the spot remained stubbornly present in his mirror image. He bent his head as far as he could to try and discover how this could be after increasingly energetic finger flicking … Continue reading Wendell – Chapter 1

कौआ (Kaua) – Chapter 4

A New Life – Conclusion Ranjubai slept fitfully through the afternoon occasionally crying out in pain as she turned on her thin cotton mattress. Her body was on fire. It was later that evening Dass returned lurching unsteadily through streets and singing loudly the latest Hindi song from the Bollywood movie currently being shown at Maratha Mandir theatre. He’d somehow been able to get past … Continue reading कौआ (Kaua) – Chapter 4

कौआ (kaua) = Chapter 3

Life on the Streets “What’s your name?” The girl repeated this in several dialects until it registered with Kaua. Kaua looked at the girl and his lack of language skills distressed him. How was he to prosper in this city unless he could communicate more. “My name is Kaua!” The girl looked at him incredulously, then burst into laughter. “Do you realize what you just … Continue reading कौआ (kaua) = Chapter 3

कौआ (kaua) – Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – Survival After a while Kaua arose and looked around. He was hungry, tired and his muscles ached from holding on desperately all night. As he progressed back toward the station entrance and the usual cluster of barrows selling a variety of trinkets and foods his eyes focused on a stall where a young girl was frying bonda and selling it. Her parents … Continue reading कौआ (kaua) – Chapter 2

कौआ (kaua) – Chapter 1

Chapter One – The Escape Kaua was his name, well that was not his birth name, but he’d been called Kaua since childhood and had trouble remembering what his real name was. Kaua had vague memories of his parents in his ancestral village. His father had been a village toddy maker and brewed his noxious potions in among a collection of thorn trees by the … Continue reading कौआ (kaua) – Chapter 1

Bruce’s Life Adjustment

Bruce was in high spirits as he walked into the medical centre. He was a very methodical person, sometimes to the irritation of his spouse Gwen. He was careful to meet his regular scheduled medical check-up appointments. One can’t be too careful he intoned to those who had an interest in listening. Because that was his strong conviction he was careful with good health check … Continue reading Bruce’s Life Adjustment

The Morning Tamasha

Chandra paused from her work and listened with the practiced care of a mother who had children of her own. Baby Hilda was stirring and making muffled whimpering sounds from her cradle in the main bedroom. Memsahib had entrusted the little one to Chandra while she made a quick trip to the Darji on Main Street to find out why he hadn’t delivered dresses ordered … Continue reading The Morning Tamasha