Available in an eBook! I ask my life, why can’t I be Why is there still a clue out of the blue I can’t process, so it’s still a mess. I am by myself, can never be you. Therefore, my life should just go through I don’t know much, so don’t ask me much. What my life has been, what it might be

Available in an eBook! I was manufactured in Mumbai, and my manufacturer made thousands more like me before naming all of us “Street Racer”. I wasn’t as popular as my peers, but I had my own merits, like not being too heavy and travelling faster than most. After being shipped to Visakhapatnam along with many others, I was covered in plastic before being put on display as a spectacle in the showroom. Cover Photo by Ravindra Patoju For weeks, I only had admirers. However, since I lacked the strength, many buyers would just walk away, deciding I could not carry their weight. In time, the sales manager informed the main dealer that the Street Racer model was not being bought by the public, and I’ve lost hope of having brothers in the future. In time, I even lost hope and concluded that I wouldn’t be purchased. I dreaded the thought of being dismantled, like many unsuccessful models, and used as spare parts for upcoming models. However, to my rescue, on 18th May 2009, my master chose me, and his father purchased me.

Available in an eBook! I shed tears for the loss of a chance at happiness. But I forgot that it was never mine, to begin with. I sigh as he leaves But I’m secretly glad of that as well.

Available in an eBook! I sat at the airport, staring at the bracelet, with a lot of disappointment. Slowly, I recalled the moments when I laughed with her, touched her silky hair, looked into her eyes, and heard her sweet voice, which always made me smile. Eshita… my enigma. As I was lost in my thoughts, a middle-aged man asked, “Could you take your bag?” Cover Photo by Prabhath Narapareddy Noticing that a lot of other seats were empty, I hesitantly picked up my bag, and he sat beside me. After he settled, he asked, “That’s a wonderful bracelet. Care to tell me the story behind it?” Noticing me confused, he continued, “I would like to kill some time. The plane to Stockholm is delayed by two hours.”

Available in an eBook! Winning or achieving by bringing another down, An evil grin resulting from someone’s frown, Chopping off a King’s head to snatch the crown, Floating on the water by making one drown, Gives what satisfaction? Compared to a smile from a clown, Or making our own chocolate cake in a rich brown, Or stitching for our mother a handmade gown, Or laying down one’s life to save a whole town! Cover Photo by Pankaj Tottada ​Welcome to India. The land of spicy food, sarees, billions of Gods, Bollywood, unique culture and whatnot. We have basically everything here! Well, almost. But what we do have, and something which I am personally very proud of since I’m a part of it, are the IITs, the Indian Institutes of Technology. They are the best Engineering colleges in India, without a doubt, and definitely among the best in the world. Many in the country want to be part of these institutes at some point in their lives. But there are only 16 IITs, with a cumulative intake of nearly 11,000 per year. Since our population is around 120 crores, it is clear that not everyone carries the IIT brand. This leads to the next obvious question: Who are those few? The answer to this is the JEE, arguably the world’s toughest exam. Children are now made to start preparing for it as early as the 6th grade, when they probably don’t even know what the acronym IIT stands for! This leads to intense competition among the children to become one of the top 11,000 in the country. The word ‘topper’ becomes a nickname of sorts, which is desired by all but is destined to be given to only one, with the others left in a fit of anger and revenge on that person. It leads to the destruction of many friendships and relationships. The innocent and fragile mind of a child is forced to compete with peers and develop a sense of selfishness.

Available in an eBook! The mist of mind clouds me, As I see you glee, Under the sparkling moonlight, Beside the seashore and thicket of this night, My heart retreats to your place,

Available in an eBook! I opened my umbrella along with my heart for her. A surprised look on her face immediately drained with the rain, and she took a step inside the temple, where I pray. Thereby initiating the umbrella walk. Her voice was so enchanting. Illustrated by Nikhil Narayanasa Her face felt like the cold breeze, freezing my gaze. Little could I hear the outside world. Little could I see it as if it shrank and shrank until the round umbrella became my entire world A world with only her and me

Available in an eBook! Walking through the galore of life, I found Happiness, thrill, and strife without bounds A lot of paths were there to trod. It was only my God and me. That instant, I thought. Let all the feelings in me. Be completely engrossed in there.

Available in an eBook! Out of all the men in the world, daughters always say, “Fathers are the sweetest”. When I think of my childhood, the first memory I cherish to this day is how my dad encouraged me to be strong. He wanted me to be a very strong girl. So when I was four years old, I broke a bone in my thumb finger, and it gave me a lot of trouble. The doctors said there was some minor internal distortion and that it must be operated on to improve. Upon hearing this, I reckon my father must have lost all his good senses. Cover Photo by Pankaj Tottada Everyone knows how childish men suddenly become after fathering daughters; my father epitomised this. It was hard for him to decide what to do. To let his little daughter know the smell of medicines and the pain of toxins, nah... One day, when I went to him complaining about the pain in my thumb, he gently made me sit on his lap before saying, “Sweetheart, the more you pay attention to the pain, the stronger it will become. So stop thinking about it, and one day it will leave you.”

Available in an eBook! A woman was revered as a Goddess in ancient times. But in recent times, is she still a Goddess? Is she seen as the epitome of a nation? Is she still considered the nation’s pride? Not anymore. Rather than being perceived as a harbinger of happiness, she is seen as an albatross in the whole world. Her life has become worse than purgatory. The beleaguered women have no ray of hope or no reason for happiness. This is an occurrence in Bihar (one of many states in India) where many female babies are killed after birth. There was a woman who always dreamt of a baby girl when she was pregnant. Later, she dreamt of the baby saying that she didn’t want to come out into this merciless world. She didn’t want to become a burden to her family, and she didn’t want to be killed as soon as she came into this brutal world. She didn’t want her baby to suffer, so she hanged herself the next day. This is the plight of many women across the world. Her life is in peril. Every minute, every second, she leads a spasmodic and erratic life. Every day, we come across how women suspected of infidelity are brutally killed. The world is having a heaving dearth of chivalrous men. But she never raised her voice against the brutality she underwent. She still waits for a new scintillation to come into her life with a hope for mirth and gaiety to enter her life.

Available in an eBook! Every nerve in the body is throbbing to break free. Each drop of blood screams in exasperation. When you become your own nemesis The pain is consuming you entirely. The darkness is throttling your hope. Walls of steel are closing all around.

Available in an eBook! I was sitting on a lonely beach, Building castles in the wet sand. A nonchalant wave sweeps it away. Making a mockery of my dreams I crumble down in despair, Until a pair of hands helps me, To build it stronger this time. I look up and see your smiling visage.