Bombay Rains

Day 502, Who would have thought we’d get here? A long time ago; I hadn’t. I was just a young, idealistic, foolish young thing. This number had aged me in years and not days. Every day’s struggle had started to show in every line and crevice of my skin. The gradual wearing out process of age had accelerated and here I stood; far older than my meek 35 years. Struggle is an intrinsic part of life is what they say. Without struggle, nothing can be achieved in our billion-strong nation. Not just struggle but the daily act of putting on clothes, getting dressed and walking out to face an uninspiring, redundant existence. We were taught to be the ultimate sacrificial lamb. To do all we had to for our nation, our ‘cause’. When I first entered my consciousness, I was fired up to do all I could. Everything to save the world, save my nation, save the forests, save the wild boar; save anything and everything. I wanted to validate my presence on this planet, do some good and leave happy. A...

some say death is scary. some say that when death comes for them, they will look him in the eye and tell him to bugger off. no one really does. most just sleep right through it. everyone close their eyes- no one wants to see death truly. death comes in many ways- stealthily, unexpectedly but no one ever expects death. no one but frank. frank simply put was an oddball. ofcourse he would take great offense at that statement. i can just hear him- "excuse me sir! i am many things, an oddball i am not!" who cares. frank was an old man who had been through all of life's circus. he had earned, worked and just when it was his turn to truly live- someone tried to kill him. it wasn't a very smart attempt i must say- scallops filled with peanuts. frank was deathly allergic to peanuts; he ended up spending a month in the ICU. but then on, he was on his guard, yes he was. not a waking moment was spent not alert. and the nights- yes.... the nights were spent in dreams. dream...