अपने हिस्से की सांस, मैंने शिव के पास रख दी है। और सारी मन्नतों के धागे, पीपल के पेड़ से खोल आई हूँं। सोचती हूँं! अब ब्रह्मा से पूछूँं, शनि और सूर्य के युद्ध में, पृथ्वी बीच में आ जाए तो ? लोग कहते हैं, यमुना का पानी जहरीला है।

8th March 2005 The exam season was in full swing, and the photocopy shop was swamped with students. Govind, with a smug smile on his face, was standing in front of the canteen, sipping his tea and reminiscing about his college days. Little did he know he was about to be plunged into a dark and twisted mystery. On the surface, it seemed like DCP Sharma had assigned him a minor case of a paper leak at a local college. Meanwhile, Inspector Ankitha joined him and handed him a file. She told him that the local police had received a call from the college principal stating that the master copy of a question paper was nowhere to be found and that the Professor who had set the paper was also missing. She also disclosed that after a few days of investigation, they found his car abandoned in the hills behind the college, but the Professor was still missing. Cover Photo by Kevin Braun “Alright! If the local authorities are already involved, why are we here?” asked Govind. “Apparently, the Principal & our DCP are good friends. The former did not want any stain on the college’s reputation,” replied Ankitha, sitting beside Govind. “What did the local inspector deduce?” inquired Govind, flipping through the file. “He suspects that the Professor is dead; the inspector could not be here since he is on a family vacation from today. However, he did instruct his team to support us,” replied Ankitha, hiding her smile. Suddenly, the bustling atmosphere of the college grew silent, and there were whispers in the air. Govind looked around, trying to comprehend the sudden shift in the atmosphere, and saw a man walking towards them. He was wearing polished leather shoes and a brown suit, and he was in his early fifties. “That’s the college Principal,” whispered Ankitha, standing up. Govind got up and shook the Principal’s hand as he approached them.

सबसे कामयाब दिनों में, सबसे ज्यादा एकांकी महसूस करना नियति रही है मेरी। मैं जानती हूँ, मेरी नाव में छेद है। पर मुझे, उस पार पहुंचना है। मझधार गहरा है, और मेरा विश्वास अनंत।

मैं जब भी पतंग बनाने जाती हूँ, मुझसे चिड़िया बन जाती है। छत बनाने की कोशिश करती हूँ, तो आसमान बन जाता हैं। सोचती हूँ, पतंग को आसमान मे उड़ाऊ, या चिड़िया को?

Once upon a time, a fledgling was orphaned at birth. Yet, since it opened its eyes, a lovely princess fed her each dawn and dusk. A silver bowl always lay replenished with water in the middle of the cage, and her world was forever scented. This felt very like it was heaven. In time, as the little princess grew, so did the birdie. Its wings bloomed, and it felt the cage shrink a bit. Yet, it was always happy, albeit a little curious about the feathery arms.

लिखने को, एक असीम वृत्तांत लिखा जाना चाहिए, वर्तमान और बीते हुए कल पर। सारी घटनाएँं, किसी समानांतर संयोग की तरह, घटती जा रही हैं। इसे या तो जिया जा सकता है, या लिखा जा सकता है।

One evening, Joe wandered alone on the shore. He randomly picked a pebble and put it in his pocket. That night he placed it under the pillow, and as Joe slept, he dreamt that the pebble had turned into a diamond. Excited, he woke up only to realise it was a vain dream.   The following day, Joe awoke to see his entire room filled with light. The pebble had indeed turned into a diamond to the kiss of the sneaking sunlight.

After getting everything she ever sought, a twenty-six-year-old daughter asked her ageing father one cold night, “Why is nothing ever enough?”   When her father looked confused, the daughter continued, “I seem to have a perfect life. Great friends. Unlimited attention. Words flow from my fingertips. And yet, it’s somehow not enough. Is there something wrong with me?”  Realising her question, the father replied, “Well, it’s only a human tendency.”

For almost a decade, when people of Theri left for work every morning, they passed by one peculiar Hibiscus shrub just outside the community gate that always sparkled afresh.  It seemed magical, for never once did anyone note a single bangle of a brown leaf hanging upon its wooden arms. Many often discussed how this one shrub always managed to escape the curse of time.

A man once visited a Zen master seeking the secret to happiness. The master thought about it for a moment before asking the seeker to rest in his hermitage. He promised to reveal the secret upon returning from a quick trip. Saying this, the master left.

In the midst of a heavy storm, three great scholars arrived at a boat on the banks of a river in full flow. The boatman coming from the other side was docking his boat when they asked to be ferried across.  Showing them the river at full speed, he asked them to rest for a while and then take a call the next day. Despite his pleas, they demanded to be taken across at once. When he tried to reason them out of it, their ego wounded, each of them began to extol about their abilities and greatness.

मैं, पाताल की तलहटी से जन्मी हूँं, पत्थरों को फाड़ कर, उगी हुई घास हूँं। अब तुम मुझे नहीं मिटा सकते, अब बहुत देर हो चुकी है। बहुत!