“Oh Madam, one rupee please. One, just one. My brother hasn’t had a drop of milk since two days. Please Madam, please.” Seven-year-old Chunni tapped
Author: Mithila Gogate
Lie with me
“Mumma, your lip looks funny. Shall I kiss your pain away?” “Don’t worry baby. Mumma is okay.” “Mumma, why was Daddy yelling at you? “It’s
Thorns & Roses
PROLOGUE *Wynter* Dunborough Manor April 1485 ‘… regret to inform you that Sir Winburn St Royans, Baron Dunborough, was fatally wounded in the battle at
A Fatal Attraction
It’s been an hour, maybe two Bewitched by a strange voodoo Your lips, tenderly caress mine So deep, that our senses entwine You sway and
Sepia Dream
Where are you, my child? I hear you Shuffle, giggle behind the door. As I catch you, you’ll squeal some more. So, I turn the
The Night Redundant
A little spritz of fragrance, subtle, appealing Bergamot notes to lure them in. Coquettish smiles, giggles galore Dilly-dallying under the silver moonlight. Ebbing and flowing,
How I Met Your Mummy
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon. The Gupta household was enveloped in a sluggish, meal-induced inertia. Rajul was rolling on the floor, reading an ill-written,
Solace, No More
Crunch…Thud! He muffled a scream by biting down his palm, hard. He tasted blood, it’s nauseating tang. But it wasn’t strong enough to obliterate the
The Blood Diamond
Effulgence, searing, branding meMy soul parched, yearning to break freeThe slithering river, fecundTeeming with riches, it beckoned. A diamond, elusive. Contorted at an odd angleBowed spine
When Hope Dies
Apathy, gloom, Spell doom Of murdered innocence, Of life’s evanescence, An evil dominance. A nation demolished, cataclysmal Attacks and wounds, visceral. Patriarchy, anarchy metastasizes, dismal
Let Her Be
Pain, tears, sweat, nerves, is felt by them all In-vitro, natural, surrogate The bundle may arrive late, early. Breast milk, top feed, tube fed or
Besprinkled
Pirouetting with autumn leaves, Meandering through time and space, I’m omnipresent, nestled in books, memories, and eaves. I’ll malign when you fall from grace, Shine
The Gilded Cage
His dewy, sparkling eyes traced the clouds for the bright ball of fire. “Kizis!”, came a gurgling laugh as little Ahanu clapped his grubby hands
The Eternal Wait
The road was lonely but for him. In the shrubbery lining the deserted road, fireflies shimmered; their warm glow lighting up the darkness. Parked under
The Quest for Aztlan
A shrill alarm broke through Anna’s haze of a dream. She opened one groggy eye to peek at her little alarm clock. “Uggghhh! Few more
Perfectly Imperfect
Saavni pouted her lips, and smeared a generous layer of lip gloss, touched up her blush and kohl-lined her doe eyes. Staring at her reflection
A Psychedelic Love
Cuddled in your warmth, doodling purple roses, Basking in an afterglow, high on desire. I breathe you in, musk and a hint of mystique A
The Chosen One
“Om mani padme hum.” Bodhin’s soft voice reverberated in the cave. Breathing in the crisp, morning air he tried to find a sound to focus
They Dared to Dream
They dared to dream of better tomorrow, Ostracised, humiliated, exiled. They took the plunge and swam against the flow, Challenged a society ossified. An ode
The Noose of Trust
29 August 2019, District Sessions Court Kshama hesitated on the first step. She had never been to a court before. Her foot faltered and slipped