This isn't a movie review. This is a love letter to perhaps Makoto Shinkai's greatest work of art. As a regular anime fanatic, there is always something to nitpick about in every anime, but for Kimi wo Na wa, perfection oozes out of every single frame. The premise is as old as science fiction stories … Continue reading Your Name
Asphodel
" Are you sure you want this? " I asked nervously, gripping the handle. She nodded. Lilly looked at me, her face red. The sun cast an orange hue. I started jogging, pushing her wheelchair in the park. The wheels squeaked and I could feel the wind rushing by my ears. Lilly held on to … Continue reading Asphodel
Sakura (3)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 I turned my head to see a tall well built man with long hair, strewn over eyes, almost covering his eyes. He was dressed causally in a blue Tshirt and jeans. He opened the door with such force, I almost fell off the chair in surprise. The man grabbed the chair … Continue reading Sakura (3)
Sakura (2)
Chapter 2 [Click here for Part1] I chuckled. “You’re a weird one, Mikasa. What’s your secret, I wonder” “I’m gonna die soon” I looked up at her. She was writing something in a diary. “ What happened to peace and quiet?” “Thank god” “ What are you even talking about?” “You just heard that I’m … Continue reading Sakura (2)
Sakura (1)
Chapter 1 Kaneki [Part 2 here] it was another usual hectic Monday. Mondays were the worst. Absolutely worst. The hangover of weekend makes it worse. The noise of the other people made it worse. The only redeeming thing was the class teacher walking in. “Alright everyone, settle down, settle down!” She called out. Everyone hushed … Continue reading Sakura (1)
Gone With the Wind
Part 1 and Part 2 I stood in the rain, holding an umbrella. I was waiting for Aisha to come by. She was Aurelia's room mate, and our mutual friend. She was bringing over my stuff Aurelia still had. It had been four months since that fateful night, when I discovered she had been cheating … Continue reading Gone With the Wind
Ellie and Ed
"I'm gonna kill you Ed!" Elle screamed at me. She wasn't angry though. She was laughing. We were stuck in the rain. "Well, genius, what are we gonna do now?" She asked, turning to me. I had to remember how to breath because every time she looked at me, I forgot. She was wearing her … Continue reading Ellie and Ed
Gust Of Wind
"And that's the three branches of Trigemminal nerve,aka the dentist's nerve. Maxillary, mandibular, and ophthalmic, hence, the tri" the professor droned on. I glanced at my watch. There was still 30 minutes left on the clock. I looked at the whiteboard idly. I'd give anything to get out of class right now. Maybe I can … Continue reading Gust Of Wind
House Of Cards
The cup of tea that stood between us was almost cold. “What do you mean you aren’t going home?” I asked incredulously. She stirred her cup slowly. “Problems with my family. You know how it is.” She slammed her fist, looked up. “I’m not going!!” She looked determined. “Look, Aurelia, you have to go. It … Continue reading House Of Cards
The Covid Epidemic
Dear Future Me, This isn't a rant or a fear inducing, eye catching story. Nor is it a scientific piece detailing the covid-19 virus. This is a reminder to you, my future self after everything goes back to normal, that things won't be normal. The year is 2016. I'm a depressed teen looking idly out … Continue reading The Covid Epidemic
The One
Cicadas and crickets sang. It was 2:39AM. Nothing good ever happens after 2 AM. Every bad decision, every heartbreak I could trace back to a time after 2 AM. Of course sometimes alcohol was involved, but that's just the catalyst. Not the reactant.There was the time I broke up with my toxic girlfriend to be … Continue reading The One
Broken Things Can Be Loved
This is an reply to Megha Rao's "Do You Tell Her About Me" Broken things don't need to be fixed. There's a beauty in your chaos. When I saw your Auburn hair, Flaring like the locks of Medusa. You scared me, but fear is an aphrodisiac. And you had everything that I always lacked. I … Continue reading Broken Things Can Be Loved
Thunderstorms
Read the comic strip that inspired the short story here I hate rainy season, I thought to myself, standing in front of the window in this storm. It's not the way the sky bleeds water that irritates me. Not the cold wind or the general wetness or the puddles or the road blockage. No. I … Continue reading Thunderstorms
THE LEAF
I saw a leaf blowing in the breeze. Here, in the middle of the city, sitting in a park bench, drenched in the noise of the city, I saw a leaf twisting and turning in the wind. My phone was in my hands. It was a ritual now. Coming here in my lunch break. Sitting … Continue reading THE LEAF
The Café
Today was the four hundred and seventh day I found myself in the Café Sella. I don't know where they get their names. Sella turcica was a depression in the skull for the pituitary gland. But I hardly think that's the derivation for the name. I don't know. I'm to drowsy from the sleeping pills. … Continue reading The Café
The First Time
How do I start? Well, a lot of things happened. My fiance cheated on me since I was away. I returned to find out and fell back into depression. Katy gifted me a kitten to soak up my grief. I met my ex again by accident and finally had some closure. Oh, and also, there … Continue reading The First Time
For Your Friend
If I am to die tonight, Will there be no light? Will the birds stop their song? Will you realise where you went wrong? If this is my last breath, Will I spend it in wrath? Will you be my last regret? Or apologize, for what you said. How could I let it all fall? … Continue reading For Your Friend
Closure (?)
Click for Part 1 and Part 2 on the Rick & Sasha series My radio receiver crackled. "The VIP is arriving, ETA 14 minutes, is Checkpoint 4 secure?" "Rick here, Checkpoint 4 secure" I responded, looking around. My station was charged with securing the event. It was a rock concert. Me and the detective squad … Continue reading Closure (?)
The Spiral
I was taught by my parents growing up that it's always my fault. My mother had a rule. If I fought with any kid, I'd get beaten. ( by her when she found out, of course). If any kid hit me and I retaliated in self-defence, I'd get beaten. Needless to say, to my young … Continue reading The Spiral
The Raid (Part 3)
Read Part 1 Read Part 2 TWENTY YEARS LATER 1209 HOURS SOMEWHERE IN NORTHERN MUMBAI “Pixie, this is Brutus. Team Two is ready on your mark.” The voice in the earpiece crackled. A woman, in full combat gear, checked her rifle, a Remington 870 MCRx.” She pressed a button on her earpiece. “Brutus, this is … Continue reading The Raid (Part 3)
The Raid (Part Two)
Read Part 1 here Sabre's lifeless body fell on the floor. “You have spirit, I’ll give you that!” Rahim laughed. “How could you betray us? We are your team!” Velcro shouted. Pacman stayed silent. “It wasn’t easy. For years, I wanted a baby. And the night my wife was due, some stuck up politician wanted … Continue reading The Raid (Part Two)
Ruchi’s Room
Click here to read the first story in Jack and Ruchi series “So, I know you can’t see Ruchi, but goddamn it your room is beautiful!” I heard Jack say. I laughed nervously. “Really, you think so?” Mom let Jack come over before, but this was the first time I was allowed to take Jack … Continue reading Ruchi’s Room
47 Days Since
Dear Sasha, 47. It's been 47 days since I walked out of that bar. I still remember how it went down. We met at the airport. But something wasn't right. You didn't look at my eyes, you were absent-minded, you kept avoiding my questions. My detective alert was in red zone, but I thought, all … Continue reading 47 Days Since
The Raid (Part 1)
Read Part 2 here 0226 Hours Undisclosed Location Rural Navi Mumbai “Gold Eagle, this is Angeldust, standby for greenlight!” The radio crackled. Four men were crouched in the darkness in the bushes, in front of a three story building. . They were armed with suppressed MTARs, with dual band optics. The team leader turned to … Continue reading The Raid (Part 1)
Morituri Nolumus Mori
There is no glory in suicide. There is glory every other kind of death. Dying for an idea, for freedom, for what's right. Dying in the line of duty. Dying for the sake of innocent human lives. But to take one's life, dying for themselves is considered an act most heinous and most criminal. Society … Continue reading Morituri Nolumus Mori
In The Afterglow
Maybe I was meant to be this way.A broken ugly mess.Don't know where I'll go from here.Dreams I dream less and less. I know you think you don't deserve me.Or anything I do for you.And you have fallen so many times.You don't believe anything to be true. It's hard to believe that life is fairWhen … Continue reading In The Afterglow
Audere est Facere
Sgt. Pauls gripped his Lee-Enfield, now muddied and fatigued by war. On more than one occasion, it had saved his life in the War. He checked his ammunition. HIs face bloodied, sweat trickling down his brows. The trench shook and trembled with the thunderous thunder of the German Panzers. "Looks like this is the end … Continue reading Audere est Facere
Rick and Sasha
(AUTHOR'S NOTE : CLICK HERE FOR THE NEXT STORY IN THIS ARC.) I saw her standing outside the pub. Waiting, for me. "Hey!" I waved. "I got your text!" She smiled, and without warning, punched me in the gut. "Hey! What was that for?" "For blowing me off for a month! Not picking up the … Continue reading Rick and Sasha
On Time Travel
According to the Avengers: Endgame, changing the past doesn't alter the future. Bruce Banner says, "if you travel to the past, that past becomes your future. And your former present becomes the past. Which can’t now be changed by your new future." While it does make sense in some way, the truth is, it doesn't … Continue reading On Time Travel
Paris
We both wanted to visit Paris. It was our Fifth Anniversary. Months of planning. Preparation. And finally here we are. Its evening now, the sun is on the horizon. Social media duly updated. Obligatory selfies duly taken. Here we are, just her and me, finally together in the city of Love. As we walk, hand … Continue reading Paris
Jack and Ruchi
I wanted to ask her something for a long time. But the moment never came up. Today, I decided, would be the day. "How you've been?" I asked Ruchi, as I waited for her in the only hallway of our high school. Her head turned to the direction of my voice, her lips curled into … Continue reading Jack and Ruchi
On Quantum Mechanics
I spent 3 nights in a row staring at my computer screen just thinking, "What to write?" I wrote a horror story. Left it. I wrote something about love, and what it has become now. Left it. I realised. I just couldn't fathom what to write. This would be my 4th attempt. I thought I'd … Continue reading On Quantum Mechanics
Dear Pearl
Dear Pearl,Today you realised finally that we are not what we used to be anymore. So much changed in just a couple of years. We were kids when we met first. So young, so full of life, of hope, of optimism. I was drawn to the sound of your laughter, to the your halo your … Continue reading Dear Pearl
Fallout
When we first met, we were both stranger in a new city. Grieving for home. For everything, everyone left behind. But there was something in you. Your smile. Your eyes. Or maybe you reminded me too much of her. We grew closer, as if gravity pulling. I was a black hole. Unable to let go. … Continue reading Fallout
First
I've done a lot of this. Writing. Poems. Novels. Short stories. Stories about spies. About panthers. (no connection to T'challa). Poems are my repertoire. That's a word I learnt from Assassins Creed 3. I've done it all. Except blog. I had time in my hands and words in my head. So lets do it, I … Continue reading First
Testing
Attention please.
Stories are meant to be told 