He stood there waiting. She didn't come. Period!

Why does every blogger I seem to come across these days want to use a third-person voice to write fiction?

The problem with being a hypochondriac is that someday one of your fears will come true.

Do we go on living till we die? Or do we keep postponing death hoping we will learn to live soon?

If God appeared in front of you and told you that you were an idiot would you accept it and move on, or become an atheist so you don't have to believe what He said?

It's 6:00 am. I want to tell you that none of you really exist. You are all creations of my dream. When l wake up in half an hour all of you will cease to exist. So if there was ever something you wanted to do in life, now is the time.

Smiley, the shit has hit the roof. Can you please get the broom from the kitchen?.... And a bucket. Thanks!

Ice on a tree

where leaves should have been

displaced identities

circling the free

what I'm now

isn't what I was a year ago or two

but they call me by that name still

and whoever it is inside answers

Shall we then say a silent prayer

For all the abandoned bags of polythene

hanging from trees

And tired sheets of yesterday's news

still waiting to cross the streets

Inspired by books he read as a child, and those notions (and hope) still locked in his brain, S went to the forests to meditate and seek knowledge. Four years hence, he returned with knowledge and proof - a diploma of a degree in Eastern Philosophy.

As someone named Bob Dylan once said: Times they are a-changin'. Unfortunately, not everyone knows that.

Character Arc

Ok. While making stir-fry make sure you don't use too much water.

hmm.

Did you listen to me? What are you doing?? I said don't use too much water.

Alright. Alright. But how do I get the water out? It's frozen.

How would I know? Google it?

Nice. You tell me to take out the water, and you can't tell me how to remove the water.

Listen OK. (in a tone as if asking a question). I'm the reason you are cooking at all. Else you would be eating those unhealthy sandwiches outside, of which you have already told me you are sick and tired.

Alright. I hear you. Now what do I search for?

Do I need to tell you everything?

What have you told me so far apart from telling me not to use too much water in the stir fry?

Listen. Now don't make me start.

Ok. I was joking.

Let's see. stir fry frozen vegetables. OK I see something promising. What's this? Where is the recipe?

What??

The search results mentioned recipe with frozen vegetables. I clicked it. It just shows a list of other recipes, but not one with frozen vegetables.

What? Show me.... See if there's a cached page.

Good idea. Well. Same thing.

OK. Try another link. Hmm... Quick and easy... many frozen food manufacturers... try that one. Try searching for frozen. OK. Good option... Just toss in a wok and fry.

This says just put it in a wok and fry. Where did you read about not using too much water?

I learnt it from experience.

What?? What do you mean?

I used frozen vegetables once and the fried rice came out soggy. Almost like pulav.

Then what did you do?

Nothing.

What? So you mean, you never tried cooking another way?

No.

And from that one experience you told me to make sure I don't use too much water.

Well. I saw and I learnt.

What did you learn? How could you be sure it was the frozen vegetables that made the rice soggy? Did you cook with the lid on?

Yeah.

What about the rice? May be you put too much water in there.

I don't think so.

But are you sure? That could have done it too. And if you cooked with the lid closed, the water couldn't have evaporated because of that.

Ok. Let's cook now. I'm hungry.

Looks like I'm the better cook here. You are doing the dishes.

What? Why?

The deal was I do the dishes because you promised to help with the recipe. But you are not keeping your end of the deal. I know what I need to do. You are doing the dishes.

No. I'm not.

OK. Then have your soggy pulav yourself. I'm going out and eating a sandwich.

What?? No. Wait. I'll do the dishes. Can I use the dishwasher?

What for three vessels? You'll get this big a bill at the end of the month.

OK. I'll wash them myself. But can you help?

I'll  put them in the cupboard tomorrow.

OK. But will you wash your plate?

I always wash my own plates.

OK. Now cook please. I'm hungry. By the way, we've almost out of salt.

Is there enough for tonight?

I doubt it.

Well. Good in a way. I won't be putting too much salt in there.

After the storm, the cumulus rode the blue skies

looking nonchalantly at the mayhem their predecessors had left beneath

Watching them was akin to watching people doing small talk,

walking behind a funeral march of a distant relative.

if it's february, then it must be the carpal tunnels.

He prayed: "I hope all opinionated people disappear from the face of this earth!"

PooF! 

And just like that he vanished into thin air. But then wasn't it said be careful what you wish for, lest it come true...

Where did it go?

The inspiration I'd left in the fridge last night?

Somebody broke into my house today.

Whoever it was, they must have stolen it.

Only emptiness remains in the fridge.

My head wanted to explode last night.

I'd to make an incision, slowly pouring out the inspiration

into an empty old bottle of jelly, the only thing I had.

I kept it in the fridge,

hoping to have it with tea today, or in a moment of need.

But alas, it's gone now.

Only emptiness remains in the fridge.

Two ripe old leaves of the fall

drifted away in careless abandon

Unaware of the snow

that was to fall the next day

New Years Day

The New Year has arrived.

It announced its arrival quite rudely, waking me from my sleep

New Years is a special day. Its the day you spend every moment

reminding yourself that it is special.

So that morning I woke up, as I brushed my teeth

reminding myself all the time that it was the first day of the year

I wistfully wished that the first had been a Monday.

A start of the year on the start of the week. A match made in heaven. But alas.

Then as I made coffee, I decided that two spoonfuls of sugar

would usher the year well. And one spoonful of instant coffee.

The first newspaper of the year sadly reported the same news as one year ago.

Of crystal balls, late night parties and hungover people. I kept it aside.

Family and friends kept calling.

Everybody has ESP on New Years because we know what each phone call is about.

Lunch was ordinary: yogurt and then rice with curds.

I usually have it the other way around, but I wanted it to be special today

I skipped my afternoon nap.

It wasn't part of any resolution, I had work to do

I didn't watch any movie because that would have take two hours away.

Instead I read a book. It stretches time.

As evening passed by and night approached

trepidation grew inside: had I done justice for this very special day?

A day like this comes only once a year.

And a year is a long time to wait.

To calm my anxiety, I lay on my bed,

thinking of the resolutions I should perhaps make

Maybe I still have time, maybe I should get up and try something.

I still have two hours left; that's enough time to do something.

And as I thought about these and other things, as the cold winds rattled the windows,

I slowly slipped into slumber, marking an end for the first day of the year.

A very special day indeed.