James stood before the oak tree, listening to the sniggers from Vernon and Lily. “Having second thoughts, James? Just concede already!” Vernon’s voice croaked through
Author: Sheerin Shahab
Sheerin is a reader, a nature lover, an amateur photographer, and a chai and chocolate lover, not above stealing a few from her daughter's stash in emergencies, which do arise with remarkable regularity when there is a four-year-old around.
A Swirl of Moonbeam
The gate of the Town Hall had been mounted with a shiny bright yellow silk banner. It called for all dancers from sixteen to sixty
Trail XIII – The Path to Perdition
It consists of thirteen stories by thirteen different writers in different genres. The stories differ in their genres from the thrill of psychological horror to the mindless mayhem of splatterpunk but they unanimously keep your attention riveted to the words at hand.
A Treacherous Affair
2:30am, Saturday morning Aaj ki raat koi aane wala hai, baba re baba… crooned Asha Bhonsle in her dulcet voice and Meenal shuddered. Just the
An Umbrella Rescue
Shashi stood half-hidden behind the window of her kitchen, which opened towards their next-door neighbour’s yard. The glass of water in her hands was the
A Dip in The Mist
Ashutosh fumed as he stepped out of the hotel. They had poor meals, poorer service, and had the audacity to advise him to stay indoors
Absolute Truths
I stand before the familiar door, with trepidation in my heart. The toran of cheap plastic marigolds, in garish mustard and orange, the ones you
Chir Batti
Karuna swore a few choice epithets under her breath. A few guests looked up from their seats in the reception area, shocked. It wasn’t noon
Imprecation
Hafeez had been climbing for the better part of an hour. Another hour remained until his destination. The view was wonderful. Moss covered pebbles, like
A Shadow Cast
It was a warm spring day. The bees were buzzing over the blossoms blooming like cherubic cheeks in warm golden sunshine. The lush green foliage
A Midsummer’s Dance of Fireflies
Jugnu stood staring at the painting taking the pride of place in her latest exhibition. Had it once again failed? This portal to the past
Cat Among the Pigeons
Chubby Chick and Cheeky Chick lay around the coop listlessly. Henrika was a little worried. The chicks had lost their chirpiness. Chubby was chubby no
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
The sound of retching emanating from the bathroom jars like sandpaper grating on glass. It’s drowned by splashing sounds and the gurgle of water disappearing
The Strike of the Spud
Silence reigned in the kitchen. The vegetables huddled together in a hurried conference. The onions smirked on their shelf. The potatoes sat huffed up on
A Mother’s Wish
Amina Bi had one son, and she pinned all her hopes on the chubby little thing. She didn’t have much else. A husband who’d married
An Unnamed Terror
Harini wiped the beads of sweat pooling on her forehead with the back of her hand and stared at the slowly expanding stain on the
The Broken Hearted Girl
Standing here unmoving for decades I’ve witnessed many tales, some happy, some not. These are the stories that teach us fortitude and give us courage
A Dream of Hope
I’m having the same dream again. This is the third time in as many months. I’m out of breath, huffing, and puffing, as I lift
Dark Corners
What are the things that haunt us? Spirits, ghosts, and unfulfilled souls. But there are others. Cocooned in the dark recesses of our hearts and
A Kind Act
The morning light scattered through the white lace curtains, the only luxury in the sparsely furnished room. The bare turquoise walls feebly tried to lift