Available in an eBook! I: A Concerned Friend On a sunny day, as soon as Doctor George opened his clinic, he had a friend waiting for him. Though it had been a few weeks since he last had a patient, he pretended to be a busy man and invited her to his cabin after killing twenty minutes doing absolutely nothing. After both of them settled, the doctor could observe that Ana was quite tense. Before he even asked her what happened, she mentioned, “George, I didn’t know whom else to consult. I need your help to find my friend.” Cover Photo by Pankaj Tottada Asking her to take a deep breath, George took two cups from the shelf beside him and served coffee from the flask he carried from home every morning. Passing a cup to Ana, he mentioned, “I’ll certainly help you. Could you tell me everything in detail and not rush through?” Looking into the doctor’s black eyes, Ana replied, “One of my friends is missing, and I cannot help but feel that he is in danger.” George was sceptical. This was the first time Ana was reaching out to help someone. For all the time he knew her, this was the last thing he expected of her. So after tasting his sweet coffee served with milk, he asked, “Can you tell me details about your friend?” Ana took her first sip of coffee before stating, “His name is Felix, and we are colleagues. In fact, we share a cubicle at work.” George realised this wasn’t just a friend she was talking about. Ana described Felix as unique compared to the other guys she worked with. She mentioned that he was an introvert and seldom shared his views. Looking at her troubled oval face and ponytail, George suspected Ana might really be invested in Felix, considering how she doesn’t usually care for others, let alone observe anyone around her. Meanwhile, Ana continued, “Exactly four days ago, he resigned from his job, and when I asked for a reason, Felix told me he was going in search of his Señorita.” With his eyebrows raised, George confirmed, “Isn’t that just a title to address a young lady in Spanish?” Ana nodded in agreement. Placing his cup of coffee on the rectangular table that separated them, George tried to clarify, “So your friend left his job and is wandering in search of a girl?” Ana nodded again. Feeling confused, George interjected, “By any chance, is he travelling to Spain?” Ana thought about it for a moment before saying, “I’m not sure. I have come to you suspecting he is lost in his loneliness and is destroying himself.” Taking a deep breath, George questioned, “And why do you think so?” Looking at the doctor for a moment as he curiously waited for her answer, Ana replied, “After he left his job, I visited him at his home. He wasn’t there, so using my spare key, I entered his home and witnessed his thoughts through his wall paintings and took time to read his diary too.” After finishing her sentence, Ana passed the diary to the doctor. Taking it, George replied, “I’m sure this might inform me more about him than he does in person. I’ll need time to comprehend his intentions.” Ana impatiently pleaded, “Please get it done as soon as you can.” II: The Suggested Book Ana tried to track Felix with the help of the cyber police, but since he wasn’t carrying his phone, they couldn’t trace him. Even trying to locate him through money vending machines didn’t help because the last time he used them, he was in the city. Meanwhile, a few police officers checked the travel records to confirm that Felix hadn’t left the country. Every contact Ana sought told her they didn’t know where he was or where he would have gone.

Available in an eBook! Naina looked into his black eyes as he said, “I love you too.” She couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t believe that he accepted her proposal even after being in a relationship with Jayshree for three years. Cover Photo by Pankaj Tottada Leaning toward her, Nandan was about to kiss her when Naina woke up. Taking a deep breath while feeling the sun’s kiss, she stared at Nandan, who was asleep beside her. Sitting up on the bed, Naina wondered, “Why is he arriving late every night?”

12 सितम्बर 2026 तक मुफ़्त। निशा की नीरावता में जब पथ शून्य सा हो जाता है, क्षण-क्षण बीतते समय संग मन का संशय बढ़ जाता है। तम के घोर अँधेरों से उसको तनिक न भय होता, भय उन दृष्टियों से लगता जिनमें मानव पशु संजोता। नयन तो मानव के हैं पर क्रूर वासना से दहक रहे, मानो किसी हिंस्र वनचर के दंत अमा में दमक रहे। एकता पाठक मिश्रा द्वारा सचित्र निशा के अंतिम प्रहर से उसको भय का स्पर्श नहीं, भय उस क्षण का है जब घर पहुँचूँ पर हर्ष नहीं। जब प्रश्नों के तीक्ष्ण बाण मेरे अस्तित्व को छू जाते, चिन्ता के आवरण तले संशय के स्वर गूँज जाते। लोकमत के चार जनों से हृदय कभी न काँपता है, पर अपनों के विश्वास का टूट जाना संतापता है। कोसों की दूरी चल लेना उसके साहस का प्रत्यक्ष है, पर घर के वे चार कदम मानो पर्वत के समकक्ष हैं। बाह्य जगत की न्यायसभा उसको भयभीत न करती है, अपनों के मध्य खड़ी हो, उत्तर देना ही व्यथा बनती है। वही युवती जो जग से संघर्षों में विजयी होती, घर की दहलीज़ पर आकर क्यों बार-बार पराजित होती! खुलकर श्वास लेने का अवसर उसे कहाँ मिलता? समाज की ऊँची दीवारों में उसका आकाश है सिमटता। स्वप्न विशाल पंख प्रबल हैं उड़ने को आतुर प्राण यहाँ, पर प्रश्नों के कठोर जाल में बँध जाता उसका गगन वहाँ। सत्य यही — डराती नहीं अमा, न सूने पथ की कोई कहानी। भय तो उन अपनों से है, जो छीन लें उसकी परवाज़ पुरानी। श्रेय यह कविता देवांशी शर्मा द्वारा लिखी गई है, समीक्षा संस्कृति शर्मा द्वारा की गई है, संपादन निधि पांडे द्वारा किया गया है, चित्रण एकता पाठक मिश्रा द्वारा लिया गया है।

25 अक्टूबर 2026 तक मुफ़्त। अब जब विश्व युद्ध होगा, मैं और तुम विपरीत दलों में होंगे। तुम बंदूक वालों के साथ होगे, और मैं उन बंदूक की नलियों में फूल डाल दूंगी। तुम लोगों को गोलियों से घायल कर दोगे, और मैं पानी लिए हुए भागती दिख जाऊं शायद! रोहित हर्षा द्वारा कवर फ़ोटो तुम लहू बहाने वालों को, हथियार तेज़ करने के यंत्र दोगे, और मैं हल्दी के लेप की कटोरी लिए मिलूंगी। तुम नफ़रत के बीज बोते रहना, मैं खुरपी लिए रोपाई करती मिलूंगी। तुम लोगों को तुच्छ, अर्थविहीन समझना मैं अस्तित्व का बोध कराती रहूंगी। तुम औरतों से सारे हक छीनोगे तो, मैं नारी क्रांति की आवाज़ बनूंगी। और अगर तुमने अंत में मुझे भी मार दिया, तो मेरी राख से आंधी उठेगी, और तुम्हारी आंखों में पड़ कर तुम्हें अंधा कर देगी। मेरी अस्थियों के लिए नदियां नहीं बचेंगी, और तुम्हारी प्यास के लिए भी। तुम मुझसे मेरी ज़मीन छीन सकते हो, तुम मुझसे मेरा अस्तित्व नहीं छीन सकते। श्रेय यह कविता निधि पांडे द्वारा लिखी गई है, समीक्षा एड्लिन डिसूजा द्वारा की गई है, संपादन लक्ष्मी चिंतालपति द्वारा किया गया है, फोटो रोहित हर्षा द्वारा लिया गया है।

निकला जब-जब मैं कर्मपथ पर अपनों ने मुझे ललकारा है। कहते घमंड किस बात की तुम में? जो तू इतना इठलाता है।

Available in an eBook! Mr P woke up, surprised, listening to the nine o’clock bell from the college clock. As always, his roommate had already left. It didn’t matter which day it was; his roommate would leave without bothering to wake him up. Once, Mr P even missed a quiz depending on him. Neither could Mr P blame him, nor could he find another roommate, considering how everyone hated his hygiene. Getting down from his untidy bed, Mr P went to the common washroom, only to find all three sinks being used. He waited for a while, but everyone seemed to be taking their own time. Cover Photo by Pankaj Tottada Not intending to be too late, Mr P smelt himself before starting to walk to the canteen. He felt that he neither needed a shower that day nor a notebook for his class. The last time he wrote notes was two semesters ago. It was the last time he even tried to pay attention in order to achieve something in his life.

Available in an eBook! Five-year-old John was celebrating his birthday & there were many things that his friends enjoyed that evening. The cake, chocolates, and soft drinks were excellent, and they all awaited their visible return gifts, but just before they took them, a magician came to the party. Excited, they all assembled around the magician, and he cast one spell to turn his hat into a silver basket from which he took out a golden bunny.

Available in an eBook! It was just another cold night when a boy & his father went for a stroll after dinner as they always did. Today, however, the boy was bugged with a question. After much pondering, he decided to ask about it when he reached the bench leading to the pond. When they did, the little boy asked, “Papa, what’s the difference between a man and a woman?”

Available in an eBook! One night, the fisherman’s daughter woke up in the middle of the night. As she looked from her balcony, she saw the sparkling, still lake behind their house. She ran and woke up her father. Puzzled, he awoke, rubbed his eyes, looked at his tiny bundle of joy, and stared at the clock, reading the time as half past one.

Available in an eBook! On a cold evening, in a lonely park, a troubled kid & an old man sat on a bench as black clouds covered the sky & the trees hummed the tunes of nature, dancing to the wind.

Available in an eBook! Five-year-old Molly asked her dad, “What is happiness?” So the next day, her dad surprised her with a toy, a speaking Barbie, and she was overjoyed and spent every waking and sleeping moment with it. A week later, her dad promised another gift.