Patmaj

Songs From a Room

They sat on the same sofa. But far apart. He was listening to his Dylan on his headphones. She was perched up on the other end of the sofa, her feet tucked underneath her with a stole wrapped around her. She had Emily Dickinson opened but she was hardly reading it. She was lost inContinue reading “Songs From a Room”

A Pack of Croutons

She rolled the windows down, as she drove out of the city and entered the highways. The cool fresh breeze caressing her face as she drove on the smooth roads made her feel alive again. Away from the concrete jungle, she felt recharged amidst the greenery around her. She drove on, as Vashti Bunyan alternatedContinue reading “A Pack of Croutons”

Seven Days

“The denominations need to be small. No large notes remember”, the gruff voice sounded even more menacing in its ice cold avatar. She heard it and it registered it in her brain. She knew she couldn’t afford to forget this one. She came home and looked at her husband. He was busy on his laptopContinue reading “Seven Days”

Strangers in a park

He sat on the rickety bench in the park, his hand fidgeting with a crumpled old photograph, as he reminisced. His mind was racing away with a thousand thoughts at that moment and he needed to calm down. He needed to take long deep breaths to cool down. “It’s a terrible thing to be cheatedContinue reading “Strangers in a park”

Perspectives

He saw her across the corridor. He was certain it was her. He was about to swipe his card to enter his room when he heard that laugh. It was too familiar for him not to look up and turn at the direction from where it came. And then he saw her. With her husband.Continue reading “Perspectives”

Charlie’s Motel (Highway 62 Revisited)

He knew he couldn’t reach his destination that day. It was evening already and he still had over 200 miles to cover. He didn’t trust his night driving skills too much and decided to take a halt. It was the dreaded Highway 62 and he wanted to stop and take shelter for the night inContinue reading “Charlie’s Motel (Highway 62 Revisited)”

Kidnap

She kept looking at him and carried on laughing. Her mouth was gagged and there were bruise marks on her face. Her hands were tied at the back. She knelt in the corner of the old store room. And she laughed and laughed. “Stop it!!! What the hell is wrong with you,” he asked her,Continue reading “Kidnap”

Amrita-Imroze: Love Unconditional

Amrita Pritam was married at a young age. Married to a cloth merchant in Lahore, her marriage was a loveless one and she moved with her family to Delhi after partition. Once in Delhi, Amrita began working with AIR on a radio programme of Punjabi poetry. She however soon fell head over heels in loveContinue reading “Amrita-Imroze: Love Unconditional”

The Window Seat

He always loved a window seat. Even if it meant sitting right behind in the bus. The jerks and bumps would be more he knew but he didn’t mind as long as he got to sit by the window. He loved gazing out in the open on a speeding bus. Meadows, fields, cottages, hillocks passingContinue reading “The Window Seat”

Pani Puri

Tears kept streaming down his eyes. He was embarrassed by it. Especially since she was sitting right opposite him at the table. He knew her eyes were on him. But he couldn’t help it. The tears refused to stop. “Still can’t handle the spice eh,” she laughed as she looked at his hapless face. SheContinue reading “Pani Puri”