Day 4, 11 a.m., Desai Residence, It was a sleepless night, but Tara was used to that. She quietly sat in the living room sketching. She loved sketching pretty butterflies and cheerful cartoons. They soothed her soul.  Desert scenes, warriors and desert women disturbed her now. She avoided doing that unless she had to. The [...]

Parasrao was astride a camel, in Baroli in 16th Century Rajasthan, waiting for the priest to bless the camel train that he was to escort to the King’s palace.  The King was building an impressive fort, and he was proud that he had been given the duty to escort the sculptors and their finished pillars and frescos [...]

It is a sad day, uneasy and bleak The state of our country makes me weep Youth that should be full of life and cheer Laughing and partying, making a career Are picking up AK 47s instead of a cricket bat Killing and dying in a complete blood bath   Did they even think, did [...]

Day 3, 4 p.m. Chandigarh, Chibber Residence     Stigmata?  What on earth is that?   I have seen it once before, a Roman Catholic lady, she was an old woman, an Indian immigrant in U.K.  She had crucifixtion marks on her hands and feet.  She was uneducated and deeply religious.  Quite unlike your sister.  They appear in some [...]

Day 3, 10 a.m. Noida Sector 48 Police Station   Reports had started coming in. Vikram and Vandana Joshi were retired school teachers. They lived a simple life, making ends meet through tuitions. They had two daughters who were married and settled abroad. They had no money, so theft was not a motive. The house [...]

Amrit Singh Chibber, also known as AC was a fighter.  The sixth child of a marginal farmer, he had fought his way into success.  As a young man, he had chosen wisely.  The options open to young poor men in Punjab were limited, they could either become criminals, terrorists or soldiers.  Army did not appeal [...]

1 p.m. Police Station, Sector 48, Noida  Day 2 It had been an eventful morning, but SHO Sharma was deeply thankful that this was one murder in which his police station was mercifully spared media bashing.  He could see the vans of the news channels parked outside the thana, but they were keeping to themselves. [...]

8 a.m. day 2, Police Station Sector 48 Noida S.H.O. Sharma was sipping his morning cup of tea when he heard a lot of loud voices “Abbey bhenchod, kahan ghusse ja raha hai?” came Inspector Pandey’s voice angrily Sharma picked up his glass of tea and looked out into the main hall A dusty and [...]

I have always been fascinated by Iago and motiveless malignity.  Hence this story – I will keep adding to it.  Do give me feedback   NORTH INDIA:  SUMMER 2006    DAY 1 Noida It was about 3 am in the night when Mohan Nagpal woke up as he stumbled against the swing in a strange [...]

I’d like to jog, but don’t since I jiggle From places that make male eyes swivel My flab it is hep, it has a mind of its own and muscles and joints?They squeak and groan Ravin is my nightmare, the horror He’s trimmer and looks so dapper Neelesh is not slim, but neither is he [...]