The Envelope

The study was off-limits for Dolly. The pigtailed troublemaker had an inquisitive nature, fuelled by her natural curiosity. The most recent object of her curiosity, was the vintage sealed envelope on her father’s study table. The crimson waxed seal was tempting at best. Dolly’s imagination soared at the possibility. However, she knew she could not

Grin and bear it

His owners named him Grin. They hoped that the name might influence the puppy to look a tad more cheery. They were the sort to believe that names had contained a power equivalent to a magic spell. Grin, much to their chagrin was immune to spells.  The cream coloured Boston Terrier’s muzzle hung heavy, with

Friends?

“You’re such a beauty.” Her fingers stroked through the stray’s tangled white fur.The doleful coffee-brown eyes lightened with a spark of joy. The stray whipped back its ears, the raggedy stump of a tail slapped against the ground in gratitude. “Woof. Woof.”Abigail laughed. She’d been overthinking alone on the bench with a despondent stare. However,

Aposematism

As they trudge up the narrow hiking trail, curving around the ridges of the thickets in the mountain the two friends are certain they’ve lost their way. “This is your fault, you wanted to explore a lesser known trail!” The first one complains. The other friend grumbles. The two glance around, boots crunching over the

Happiness

“I don’t know where I stashed it.”“Stashed what?” The youngster asked.  Grandfather gazed at him through the horn wood spectacles as the septuagenarian opened various drawers around the house. “Happiness.” The youngster was befuddled. Happiness? To his innocent eyes, happiness was everywhere.  It was in the smile that Papa flashed him when he did well

Nothing Bothers Me

Nothing bothers me.  I repeat the phrase over again as the rain cascasdes over me.  I dreamed of touching the clouds, soft and fluffly. Angelic. However, today the weather has shown its wicked side. Thunder and lightning crack havoc and I am caught between. This is the closest to god I’ll ever be. The clouds

Truth, Easily.

The smell of burning paper is what draws me to the balcony. The smoke filters upward as flames eat the leaves. After all, tree pulp and trees are the easiest fuel to a fire. I pick a paper swishing across the floor in an attempt to escape.  When the flames die down, I have a

Raised

“She looks awfully serious. A brooder.” The new owners commented as they stared at the puppy. Ensconced in a mesh carrier bag, the puppy had small upright ears, tawny trimmed fur and a small snout with a patch of white, as though she’d smeared flour over her face. The puppy’s ears pricked at the owners statement.

The Paintbrush #JusJoJan 2023

The set of twelve acrylic colors had been on her mind all night. A set of rainbow with a black and a white. Slender tube colors packed into a neon yellow cardboard box.

The Last Gulab Jamun #JusJoJan 2023

Aparna goes hunting for her favourite sweet. After all who can resist the mighty Gulab Jamun?

The Display

Neelima pondered over what to do with the old boots she’d found in the garden shed. Ferns had begun to sprout within the porous fabric making Neelima frown. Caked with patches and stains of endless hours in the mud, they weathered every season with the vanity that only hunting boots could muster. Ma cared for