eShorts

It had been a mistake to put the piano in the basement.  The chances of going down to play in the cold damp room had been slim even then.  Neena had plonked a few notes a couple of times over…

Demonetization Woes 2016 Nina picked up her cell phone on the third ring. “When are you leaving for India? We must meet before you go.”  Sheila sounded her usual friendly self. “We’re leaving in two days. It’s ok, don’t trouble…

ONE WAY OUT A short story in three parts (with facts in Part 4) Part 1: Anitha He’s late again. Anitha checked her watch for the umpteenth time, and sighed.  She should be used to Venkat’s lateness. Shifting her hand-bag…

The old woman stared back uncompromisingly.  Wrinkles deepened as her forehead furrowed over her non-existent eyebrows.  The tiredness lifted momentarily from eyes that crinkled in defiance.  Then the shoulders shrugged and she turned away. “Oh well, what’s new. I’ve been…

Finally the day had come.  Nina had waited for this day for a long time.  Since the first announcement in 2008. No, since even before that.  Every time she had searched for parking downtown all those previous years.  Every time…

A KIDNAPPING There was still a sharp nip in the air, but her little boy had been pleading to go to the park all morning.  Now lunch was done.  Sheila gladly put kitchen chores on the backburner as she bundled…

“Ma! Ma! I don’t want to die!” Ten-year-old Surya came running up to Leela.  Her thirteen-year-old brother was hard at her heels, brandishing a magazine that carried the story of the Deorala sati in all its gory detail.  “When you…

Four days before her daughter Shalini’s wedding.  Susan looked around the room.  Almost everybody was here. Her parents from India. Her brother, sister-in-law, nephew, and grandnephew from New Jersey.  Her husband Joe’s sister and her twenty-something daughter from Toronto.  Joe’s…