It was at lunch during the Taxila trip that someone brought up Malala’s latest Vogue interview in which she had, among other things, voiced her opinion on the tradition of marriage. The group was split right down the middle with their sentiments on the Pakistani activist’s preferences on relationships. Arslan and Tabassum were in oppositeContinue reading “SHORT STORY| AE JAZBA-E-DIL GAR MAIN CHAHOON – Part Two”
Category Archives: writing
SHORT STORY| AE JAZBA-E-DIL GAR MAIN CHAHOON – Part One
Dedicated to all the Malalas* of the world – to the ones who have already risen like phoenixes and the ones that are getting there. May you be ever bigger than the boxes you are put in. May you dream, grow and glow. Tabassum sat in her lounge, painting her nails while the lilting strainsContinue reading “SHORT STORY| AE JAZBA-E-DIL GAR MAIN CHAHOON – Part One”
VERSE | THE SHADES OF LONELINESS
I’ve seen the colours of lonelinessI’ve seen their moldering facesI’ve seen them fill the keening voids Of our broken, scattered places.It’s the grey of the sky just before it descendsIn blinding cascades Of granite and slate While waiting for that one special friend of the heart Who’s gone an infinite distance apart.Gone forever; not comingContinue reading “VERSE | THE SHADES OF LONELINESS”
SHORT STORY| THE SINS OF OUR FATHERS – Part Two
It had been decided. Zubaida would be given to the fallen girl’s family as retribution for the crime. An eye for an eye. Rab Nawaz had no family of his own so his brother, his next of kin, would deliver on the blood loyalty. For Haq Nawaz, there was no land to give away, noContinue reading “SHORT STORY| THE SINS OF OUR FATHERS – Part Two”
SHORT STORY| THE SINS OF OUR FATHERS – Part One
Zubaida looked into the little mirror that hung on a nail on the otherwise bare wall of the room. She took a bit of kohl on her little finger and applied it on her lower eyelids. She thought for a moment of putting a bit of rouge on her lips but decided against it. HerContinue reading “SHORT STORY| THE SINS OF OUR FATHERS – Part One”
VERSE| CREATURES OF THE COFFEE SHOPS
Following from “Creatures of the Park” (link attached below), this piece is inspired by my varied experiences at the 2 or 3 cafes I frequent in Colombo city. As with my regular evening walk, I am also a devout tea and latte aficionado. And as a creature of habit, I do tend to absorb theContinue reading “VERSE| CREATURES OF THE COFFEE SHOPS”
SHORT STORY|RIOTOUS LOVE – Part Two
Two weeks after Dharshini’s fall on the dance floor, the pain was gone along with any memory of it and all the wise resolutions made around preserving and safeguarding fragile body parts. Tuesday evening’s dance class was full of kinetic energy and impressive manoeuvres. Everyone had now been in the class for at least aContinue reading “SHORT STORY|RIOTOUS LOVE – Part Two”
SHORT STORY|RIOTOUS LOVE – Part One
Dharshini got into her red Honda Fit, wincing in pain. The visit to the orthopaedic specialist had become essential after a week of agony; her whole right leg throbbed like the devil! She knew she had weak knees, troublesome joints and yet, she’d whirled about that room like her behind was on fire! God! HormonesContinue reading “SHORT STORY|RIOTOUS LOVE – Part One”
VERSE | CORONA NON GRATA
Lockdowns, inbound, not allowed to go out.While Queen Corona, that prima donna gaily traipses all about. She’s making sure we don’t forget Her microscopic savageness!So she merrily mutates every 60 daysIn Vietnam, Brazil, India and the UK.I do despise her with a passion so! That dung of Newt; that Toady’s toe!I tried to see theContinue reading “VERSE | CORONA NON GRATA”
SHORT STORY|THE GIRL WITH THE PAISLEY DUPATTA* – Part Two
(I) Qasim Khan, together with his brother, Zahid Khan lived in their ancestral home in Peshawar. Their children had grown up together, with of course the virtues of restraint and inhibition instilled from the very beginning into every girl child. As providence had it, there were only two girls born in Mishal’s generation – soContinue reading “SHORT STORY|THE GIRL WITH THE PAISLEY DUPATTA* – Part Two”
