Appy Stories

 It was just another snowy day in Moscow. Ruhana walked the slippery road with utmost caution. Her knee-length skirt fluttered in the occasional gusts of wind. The sky at 8am was still drowsy and leaning on her like Master Maxim's sleepy neck. Now the fairies of dreamland would still be circling him, she thought. If not taken for customary 7am loo visit, he must have wetted the bedding. But that was none of her concerns today. Especially when she had been granted this week off after six laborious months. Tomorrow the vast white bedsheet would have to be scrubbed till her bones poked out through her knuckles. But for now, Ruhana had to make the best of her holiday.  Activating her GPS, she took a turn in a dingy lane. Her heels tic-tacing into the dark alley, overshadowed by steep buildings on both sides. She pressed her bag to her chest, clutched tightly in both hands. That was the only way she knew to alliveate her fears. Ammi had taught her, inanimates placate your anxiety m...

 Ms. Vaidehi Patil- state rank 105- cet score 183/200. The screen ejected my fate. The entire family, literally stood on my head. Baba's stubble pricked my forehead. Aai's hands firm on my shoulders clutched me. Dada's pendant oscillated in front of my eyes as he tried to catch a glimpse of the screen from above. With the above results, the entire Patil household went into a frenzy. Aai rushed to the light lamp near her Bappa whom she had threatened to immerse in water if the results were not in our favour. Baba headed straight to the landline and started calling his brothers, "Haan, our Vaidehi is now a doctor!" Dada went overboard with calling the estate agents, to check what was the trending rate of a decent property for a clinic or hospital. According to him, it was now or never. The dark clouds that had gathered around me a few moments earlier, dispersed like essence in the air. All gone! Who was going to shower appreciation on me? Who was going to check what...

 "Chai, Chai, Chai.. " Chotu meandered his way in the crowded collector's office. Piles of files adorned the fading desks and cupboards. Old or new, complete or incomplete, each file had to be maintained. Each file had a story of someone's loan, someone's land, someone's home or some other's shop. One officer had been alloted many such files. So each desk the files sat smugly, waiting for their pursual. Chotu's call for chai used to be just another futile reason to continue the neglect hammered upon the files. The Babus continued to discuss the last night's cards game. "Waah, what a game it was!" Reminisced one. "Good for you. Walked away with a hefty sum." Fumed another. "Whatever you say, the pakodas were mindblowing!" The third butted with his spherical belly. The tea was long over, with the flies too licking off their share, but the men continued whiling time. The chaprasi dusted the files in disgust. His mask, was...

High in the sky, my wings fly Shaking the fluffy clouds, I fly Against the gusty wind, I fly Hovering over the dead, I fly Casting a shadow of doom, I fly The village of Palampur was full of scavengers. The crows struggled for titbits with shreds of flesh. The vulture's call sent a chill down their spine. They ran for their life like Ranga was running here, few hours back. Shot in the head, stabbed in his chest, Ranga's body was cut into pieces and offered to the vulture God. Binya Devi, herself fed the vultures, each bloody piece. Like a pet, the bird sat on her sturdy stump of an amputated arm. With her right hand, she fed it a chunky piece. As the beast relished the marrow, Binya Devi rubbed congealed Ranga blood on her forehead. Ahaaaaaa.... Binya's predatory cry echoed in the desert. Few crows, from a distance, flew away with their black hearts pounding in their chest.  Standing on the prey, her eyes blazed with anger. Embers glowed in her clenched fist. A throbbing ju...