Oh​, mountain! Oh, mountain! How giant and majestic you are In thou, I see an old but a stern man Standing tall, holding the values conquered in life Like the trees and stones, you hold, You make me feel timid

Rushing down the stairs, I stood there slowing my pace A glimpse of your face, with the breeze decorating your hair I see that you are already looking at me, managing a smile. Though it took a while, you eventually smiled, With your arms folded standing there across the wall, You are looking down, blushing! My beautiful doll. Are you shy? I can’t believe what I am seeing, I have craved for this moment. Am I dreaming? My heart is flying, as I stand in delight. And I take my first step into your world, take me inside. As we talk and I see your face illuminate It’s hard to not look, cause you are so filled with grace

It was about 8:45 pm, and I was waiting for a bus in order to go home after twelve hours of college. As accustomed, the bus was not going on time. The whole bus stop was free with just three girls, two boys and an old man who sat on the bench at the bus stop. The boys in the group were shouting and laughing while the girls stood whispering. I stood for about half an hour beside the group and was exhausted carrying the heavy bag which had a big fat organic chemistry book in it. I went back and sat on the bench at the stop beside the old Man as there was only one bench left. All of a sudden out of nowhere came a man who was wearing a saffron colour dhoti and had three horizontal lines on his forehead representing a Shiva’s follower. He was naked top except for a chain which had Rudrakshas. He had a turban of the same saffron colour. He was dancing, not even considering his surroundings. Girls who were near the bus stop started smiling by looking at his dance as it is not quite good. I was watching him intensely to comprehend what he was doing and all I understood was a man was dancing that too foolishly. This man stopped dancing as soon as he could see girls beside him. He shouted immediately “Mata! Aashirvaad dho” connotation “Oh Mother, give me your blessings” the girls who contemplation he was barmy as soon as they saw him dancing inveterate it when he shouted.

I don’t know who I am. I don’t know where I am but I know I’m with someone. It is very dark here. I know that I’m with her and that she is my protector. No matter the amount of pain I cause, she loves me and her love knows no reason. Till this day, I don’t know who I am, but now I can feel my heartbeat because of her. No one on this earth can measure her love. Her love is precious. Yes, I’m in love with her. She’s my first love. Many people say that love is a great feeling which comes and goes to every person. Our love is not the love that everyone experiences. Our love doesn’t start with each staring at each other and then continue as friendship and so on. Our love is blind and unconditional. Cover Photo by Pankaj Tottada ​Her love is love before first sight. Her love is filled with happiness, pain, tears and for all these, she has a meaning to love. Hers is the purest of pure love. Although I sleep, kick, move or no matter what I do, her heart is full of happiness. She made a world of heaven for me and that is where I live. Our hearts are beating together and we await to see each other. Months passed. I couldn’t wait. I started fighting to see her and she understood my desire but couldn’t bear my journey. She was crying in a lot of pain, shouting and wailing. Successfully I came to see her. A lot of lulls descended.

Disclaimer:  For ages above 18 only.  Prologue Radha: Oh, God! It is already 4:30 pm. I have to be there by 5:30. I will be late to meet Rohit. Deepti: Calm down. You are never late, Radha. You know that! Radha: I know, but I still need to wrap up my work, and it will take another 15 minutes or so. © Writers Pouch Deepti: Well, if you keep worrying without wrapping it up. It might take more than 15 minutes. Radha: You are right! Deepti: And also, that dumb ass will not be on time, so all you will end up doing is reaching before time and waiting. So take a chill pill. Radha: You know, I don ’ t mind waiting, but I mind being late and making the other person wait. Deepti: Clearly, it says you respect others' time more than yours. Radha: It is not like that. Deepti: Oh, is it? Radha: Holy God, it is 4:47 Radha: I better hurry up, Deepti. Radha: I will see you on Monday. Deepti: Make me proud! Radha: Shut up. I have been waiting to meet him for two weeks now, and for this day, I have lost count. And every second felt like forever for the last two weeks, and now the time is running like a marathon when I ’ m late. I would have booked the cab an hour ago, had I known it would take an hour to reach my pick-up place. Finally, the man of the need arrived. I boarded the cab and checked the time, and it was 4:55. The estimated arrival time was 5:26 pm. Hopefully, I will make it on time. I could feel the excitement in my stomach. Butterflies are what I would call them. I couldn ’ t wait anymore. I wanted to see him. I have missed him so much. There is something about him that makes my heart jump. He is annoying and irritating 99.99% of the time, but somehow, I can ’ t resist him. All this while the time was running, now it feels like it has stopped. I had to distract myself. I closed my eyes and started to imagine what the evening would be like. Part I - The Day I reached a beautiful resort called Golden Flames that I had been planning to visit with him for months now, and finally, I was there. Moments later, he joined too & we entered the villa, and I closed the door behind me, and he was taking a look at the place. I couldn ’ t resist anymore. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him. For a second, he didn ’ t respond, and that felt like forever. Before I could pull back, he kissed me passionately and sincerely. I played with his hair, and he kissed me precisely as I wanted him to. He pulled me so close to him that the air couldn ’ t cross through us. I lost track of time, and we broke the kiss to get some air. And I don ’ t know what got into me. I just ran upstairs. He followed me. For the First time, he spoke nothing. I was watching the sunset. It was beautiful. It seemed like it could rain badly. He showered me with kisses on the back of my neck.

Archana, a girl in her twenties, returned after an exhausting day at work. This was pretty much how most of her evenings were, but all she needed was one hot cup of coffee and a hot shower to reset her mind and state. Opening her door, she heard the television in the main hall, separated by a partition and presumed it was her mother. Not wanting to bother her, she walked straight into her room as calmly as possible. She took a warm shower, and when she opened her phone returning to her room to dress up, she saw a couple of texts from her brother, Arun.  Illustrated by Nandini Jalan Not believing what she had read, Archana called him, and he just mumbled something so quickly that she did not even comprehend him. She asked him to take a deep breath before asking him to repeat. Following her suggestion, her brother took a moment to stop panicking and then stated, “On the news, they say there is a shape-shifter on a killing spree. The police have at least found seven people dead by now…” To which Archana shrieked, “Are you serious?”

“अरे! सोनल ये कैसी नाराज़गी है? कुछ बोलोगी तो सही?” सोनल के पीछे-पीछे चलते हुए  विशाल ने बड़े प्यार से पूछा। “देखो, कहीं ऐसा न  हो कि मैं पुकारता रह जाऊँ और तुम इतनी दूर चली जाओ कि मेरी आवाज़ तुम तक पहुँच ही न पाए।” विशाल की बात सुनते ही सोनल झट से  पलटकर बोली “आवाज़ तो क्या मुझे तो तुम्हारी  दिल की धड़कने भी साफ़ सुनाई देती है, फिर दूरियों से रूह के रिश्ते और भी प्रगाढ़ हो जाते हैं" सोनल ने संयत स्वर में कहा। “खैर यह बताओ आज फिर तुम मेरा बर्थ-डे भूल गए ना?” स्नेहा बोयापल्ली द्वारा कवर फ़ोटो “तुम्हारा जन्मदिन मैं कैसे भूल सकता हूँ?” कहते हुए विशाल ने सोनल के सामने सरप्राईज़ गिफ्ट पेश किया। सोनल झट से गिफ्ट विशाल के हाथों से छीनते हुए बोली “बड़े सरप्राईज़ देते हो, एक दिन मैं तुम्हें ऐसा सरप्राईज़ दूँगी कि देखते रह जाओगे।” “जाने भी दो, विशाल का दिल कितना विशाल है ये तुम क्या जानोगी?” “सोनल आज किसी बड़े रेस्तोरां में चलते हैं तुम्हरा बर्थ-डे सेलिब्रेट करने” विशाल ने प्रस्ताव रखा।  रेस्तरां के रूमानियत भरे माहौल मे सोनल  ने  विशाल से पूछा ”शादी के बारे में क्या सोचा है विशाल?” “बस नये जॉब मिलते ही मैं शादी की बात करूँगा घर में, तुम चिंता मत करो।” विशाल ने दिलासा देते हुए उत्तर दिया। विधि के विधान से  अनभिज्ञ, सोनल और विशाल अनजान थें कि ये उनकी आखरी मुलाकात है। खुशियों की बारिश में सराबोर होकर जैसे ही सोनल घर पहुँची उसने देखा कि माँ-पिताजी किसी गंभीर विषय पर चर्चा कर रहे थें। सोनल को सामने देख बाबूजी का चेहरा एकाएक दमक उठा।

Diwali is a festival in India which is celebrated with great enthusiasm. It has many stories associated with it and I would like to share a folk story which is popular in the southern part of India. So, once upon a time, there lived a Brahmin family in a kingdom. The king of that kingdom was righteous and polite. He always wanted his people in the kingdom to be happy and prosperous. In this Brahmin family, the head of the family was blind and was named Satyakama and his wife’s name was Sumati. They were very poor and struggled for basic needs. Since Sumati was devoted to Goddess Laxmi, she prayed to remove poverty from her family. Seeing her sincerity and righteousness, Goddess Lakshmi visited in her dream and told her that she should put oil lamps all over the house on the new moon day of Ashwin.

A knock on the door with a familiar voice calling out. Suddenly all the surrounding sounds drowned out, making the heartbeat get seemingly louder. It always begins with a knock. A knock followed by the harsh sound of a door slamming against the wall. A man enters and pads through the one-room like a monster on the prowl, eyes bloodshot with the drink. He corners the trembling child. His movements are slow and deliberate, like a seasoned actor theatrically pulling out a well-worn brown leather belt. He holds it by the end, the golden buckle swinging in the air threateningly, and starts curling it around his fist. The shiny metal of the buckle reflects in his squinty eyes. He snaps it in the air, the sharp sound echoing in the small room, looking at and savouring the fear emanating from the child. More than the red welts shining on the skin, this is what he loves and feeds on - the palpable fear, the shining tears, the dead look in the eyes, the resigned acceptance of her lot in life. He hits the child where it hurts the most - over the wounds of yesterday and the day before, over the cigarette burns and the fading bruises.

Earlier today, as my mom dropped me off at my music class, I felt different. I couldn’t hear the air, but I could feel it and hear the honks of vehicles. I could smell children screaming with joy on the side of the road. In the past few days, I’ve nearly recovered. All my senses except the hearing seem to be working well. Maybe that was what my music teacher was talking about; the feeling of not being able to accomplish anything on my own has gone away. Feeling independent feels great, again. Tragedy I lost my hearing sense following the incident. When the festival season arrived, we started lighting crackers. Massive fires raged all over the place. An enormous cracker misfired and exploded massively just next to me. Chaos reigned all around. As soon as I saw everyone was okay, I was unable to hear anything. My eardrums burst when I heard the gigantic noise. I was bleeding as I checked. I lost consciousness, and I fell to the ground quite unconsciously. The last thing I saw before collapsing was my parents running towards me. I had no idea what was happening. I distinctly remember getting into that ambulance, later lying on a stretcher in a hospital lobby. Then, all of a sudden, I was completely disoriented. ​ My dizziness arose several days after my surgery and operation, and everyone was gesturing and showing signs to me. I thought they were crazy until I saw my parents. They were doing the same thing as everyone else. My ears did not work. All I could hear was tinnitus and a few buzzing noises. Suddenly, I realised that I could not hear any sound. Tears started falling as I realised I could not hear anything. My head started hurting, and I was depressed. A part of me was screaming, “Why is it always me? Why do I always have to give up on my dreams?” Even machines were no good. I couldn’t even listen to what I was saying. I was very sad and down. I didn’t know what had happened to me. I didn’t know how to cope.

Resting on the stairs that led to Ganga, Richa recalled how their chest numbers were called. Looking at the unending flow, Richa thought, “Now that you have done what you thought wouldn’t have been possible, do you have the strength to live with it?” Listening to the water as the sunset, Richa told herself, “You should have told them the moment you lost your passion but you wanted to keep them happy…” Coming from a family where all men served in the army, it wasn’t easy to follow some other path. For a long time, even Richa dreamed of serving her country but it was during her bachelor’s that she first felt her right knee hurt. ​ Presuming it might be due to lack of stamina, Richa neglected it for a while before she had to rush to a couple of doctors in order to get it diagnosed. As the pain worsened, the doctors became more clueless. Undergoing arthroscopy to find out the cause of her pain but that didn’t help except for the confirmation that the pain is caused due to the muscle atrophy in her leg and it grew weaker and weaker day by day.

It was just another normal day at college until lunch break because out of nowhere he came and stood before me proposing in the corridor that led to our class. It was unbelievable to even realise how the moment I had wished for years didn’t make any difference when it really happened. We had been friends since the first year of our bachelors and it was no secret that I admired him so much that all of our friends teased us observing our dynamic, from the first semester itself. He honestly had a lasting impression on me ever since we first met. Maybe I was too gullible back then or maybe he really had a vibe that somehow made me feel I was pretty close to him for no reason and life felt like a fairy tale with love in the air. ​ In the first year, I didn’t say a word but always hoped he would propose, but he didn’t. In the second year, my love for him kept on increasing and my hopes were off the charts considering how we were now seniors and couples popped up every day in our class, but he didn’t. Not wanting to waste a single day in our third year, I proposed on the very first day of our fifth semester, but to my surprise, he mentioned that I wasn’t the love of his life.