Sharma Ji, ka beta
One day, Sharma Ji proudly told me, “My son has settled abroad.” I said, “Good to hear that.” (I felt jealous) He continued, “My son has asked me to visit him. Soon we will be traveling…
Horoscope
Soon you will be a multi-millionaire. Soon you will meet your soulmate. Who does not like to hear about a glorious future? These nice-sounding words do elevate our sad and depressing mood. It is a kind…
Time travel
My parents wanted me to excel in everything - singing, dancing, swimming, football, and academics. My interest in subjects slowly turned into hatred. I lived in constant fear of my parents that any sudden change in…
Price of Positivity
As a young boy, I quickly learned that to survive in this world, I had to get along with difficult people. Overlooking their weakness and focusing on the bright side seemed like the right thing to…
Around the world in 8 dollars
I had 1 lakh in my account and 3 lakhs in a fixed deposit when I rented an apartment and started living independently. That 1 lakh was a great moral support. The situation got better after…
God, please save me
Although I was illiterate, I managed to educate my children. Two of my sons became doctors and settled abroad, while my two daughters became professionals and married. I was happy and proud of them. During times…
It’s complicated or not
I fell in love with this beautiful girl in my class, Rekha. Every romantic movie and song seems to be telling the story of my heart. My best friend also liked her. After secretly admiring her…
Haunting Past
I worked as a government official before the India-Pakistan partition. My colleagues called me Binal Babu. Our staff included both Hindus and Muslims, working under English officers. Even though the British ruled over us and there…
A Lot Like Love
Every time we experience something different in a new relationship, never felt this before. But after a while, we somehow lose interest. The feeling simply evaporates, leaving us confused. How did it change so suddenly within…
Young mind and money
“It’s so cool these days that young people in their twenties live independently and get highly paid at MNCs. They enjoy holidays with their friends, parties, shopping, and more,” my teenage daughter told me one day.…