I was skimming through the newspaper when an article on mental health caught my attention. It was still on my mind when I walked into
Author: Lalitha Ramanathan
The Bibliophile
“Alice! Munchkin, we make a great team, you, and me! Read this chapter and assess if it warrants my attention.” My eight-year-old bibliophile seized the
Finding Zara
8:00 AM, 1st March 2018 “Hurry up, Zara! The train will be here any minute!” Nadia admonished her eight-year-old. “The train will be approaching platform
Surviving the Storm
Stormy gales rage on with ardent fervour, Spread unbridled havoc in their wake, Shatter and uproot my garden with ardour. Smithereens of destruction cause heartache.
The Newbie Who Was Meant to be
The door opened, and the light switched on. Someone entered our dorm. My heart beat faster. One day, I hoped to meet my soulmate. Could this
A Tryst with my Thoughts
‘A Tryst With my Thoughts’ is a collection of thirty-three poems on a variety of topics. Each poem is unique; the subjects range from loss and longing to nature’s beauty, from patriotic tributes to contemporary issues, and from motherhood to raising children.
The Spudfather
1759: Prussia, Prison, and Potato My eyes open, and I glance around. The first light of dawn flickers through the grilled windows. Mon Dieu! How did I
When Devil Married God
This anthology is high on emotions. The characters and try to deal with the challenges life throws at them in their own ways- be it rebellion, or silent endurance. The stories are realistic and mature and not for the faint-hearted as they hit you hard.
Jingle Bell Magic
“Mummy, will I get presents for Christmas?” Sarah looked at her eight-year-old with a lump in her throat. “Darling, the café sales haven’t been good
Broken But Beautiful
“A whole year has almost passed Tell me, what have you amassed?” Her question prompts introspection, And warrants ample inspection. “Misses, losses, heartbreak, and unease,
Home is Where the Cat is
“Go away! Shoo!” The man shot me a look of pure revulsion. I bristled and hissed back at him. He pelted a stone at me,
The Enterprising Assistant
“What do we have here?” I demanded. The husband grinned sheepishly, displaying his newest acquisition that would join his already burgeoning bevy of electronic devices.
Boxing Day
Crammed is my home, boxes galore, a slice of yesterday in each, life-lessons plenty, did each teach. Hits, misses, memories, and more. It’s time to
I’ll Be There For You
Xanadu, 2200 A.D. I’ll be there for you When the rain starts to pour I’ll be there for you Like I’ve been there before Every
Smooth Sailing
April 7th, 1912, Southampton Joseph watched anxiously as the doctor felt Martha’s pulse. “Your wife is with child.” “What?” Joseph asked in alarm. “Her condition
The Goddess Has Risen
Auspicious nights, nine, en masse. Binding hopeful hearts; the thread of faith, Chanting hymns, beckoning the Goddess divine, Dancing and twirling to rhythmic beat. Exquisitely
Top 10 Ideation Techniques for Writers
For many of us, writing is a form of self-expression, a creative outlet, catharsis, and much more. However, at times, have you sat in front
Fifty Shades of Grisaille
“Good morning, Mr. Iyer! Major Raghav is here to see you,” my secretary Nila, announced. My buddy from my army days! I welcomed Raghav in.
The Haunting
It was Sunday morning. Melissa looked fearfully at her husband, Alfred. A prospective buyer was coming to inspect their countryside house, at the insistence of
Birth of a Pearl
A sand grain minute, floated in distress, a speck in foreign zone. Oyster’s open jaw, heralded ingress, charting terrain unknown. Irritant petite, began to oppress.
Islands in the Stream
The poems brim with a nostalgic tone, and you can’t help but traverse down memory lane. Dreams filled with silvery stardust, cottony clouds, azure vibes, and kaleidoscopic skies- readers will find these descriptions hauntingly beautiful.