Woman In White.
The woman in white stood before the shrine of her favourite God, the pot-bellied, lovable figure with the elephant head. He seemed to beckon with his four arms saying “ Make haste with your offerings, dear lady. Don't you know I have an insatiable appetite for fruits...
Nymph From The Wilds.
Andrew Greaves was the new Manager of the Nalabari Tea Estates in Assam . He was in the grips of a cultural shock. “Not all the stack of books I've read over the months, could have prepared me for this primitive country. Jungles, tea-gardens, and hideous -looking...
I Want To Hold Your Hand.
Helena preened herself before the mirror. Her starched white uniform crackled as she tightened her belt. She adjusted her cap for the umpteenth time. “Hmm,” she said, “Not bad at all.” Helena was now a staff nurse. She topped her class with distinction. She knew how...
Child Of My Dreams.
The little bundle of joy lay deeply asleep, wrapped in a fluffy pink blanket. Her mother cuddled her in a protective embrace. She smiled when Laila ran a finger over her smooth cheek, oblivious of the threat to her security. Laila hugged her daughter. “You're my dream...
Capers In Cyberspace.
The face that stared back at me from the mirror had very little resemblance to the man who had fled his hometown in disgrace three years ago. A different hair style, a thick moustache, horn rimmed glasses, and an acquired manner of speech had given me a quiet dignity...
Band-aid For A Broken Heart.
He was there for the third day in succession, peering through the iron bars of her gate. She couldn't ignore him any more. She'd have to chase him away. “Hey you there,” she shouted, “Don't expect anything from me. Get off with you.” “I'm not a beggar, Ma'am,” the boy...
The Red Rose.
Julia smiled when she saw a red rose stuck in her latch. “Who would have thought of sending me a rose on Valentine's Day?” she wondered. “I've been such an unlovable person these last three years that people actually shun me.” Julia was once a charming young woman...
The Plucky Goldsmith.
On a hot summer's day, a goldsmith was travelling from his village, to a neighbouring town. He had to cross a stream. At this time of the year, the water wasn't deep, so the goldsmith hitched up his mundu , and stepped into the water. As he did so, he saw a tiger...
The Duckling Parade.
Mother Duck was proud of her eight little ducklings. They were just a few weeks old and still looked like yellow balls of wool. “I must take them to the pond,” she thought, “I want to teach them to swim.” “But Mama, we have just learnt to walk. How can we swim so...
The Sluggard.
Uma sighed as she went about her work. Vijay her last child was causing her much worry. He was so different from her other children. Whenever she asked him to do a job he would say, “Later Mother. I promise I'll do it.” But the work never got done. If she continued...
