By Kid#1

Yamraj “You were to get fifteen souls, why did you come back with only five?”

Yamdoot “Don’t blame me. Blame the U.P.A. and the inflation. People don’t even go for drives because they worried about the petrol prices.”

Yamraj “Hmmm.  This government needs to be set right. I’ll go and possess Arnab Goswami.”

Editor’s note: this tag is doing the rounds on Facebook.  I prefer to respond on my blog.  People, feel free to take up the tag

THE ESCAPE

He loved her madly, she reminded him of a hummingbird, small, full of life. He was scared she would fly away. He tried to clip her wings, with frowns, by imposing boundaries. Every unkind word, every restraint cut into her soul. One day she broke free, they called it suicide, but he knew the truth.

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MOM’S GIFT

He unpacked the parcel.

“What did your mother send you?” she asked

“A pullover” he said, unfolding it and shaking out the tissue

“It’s so huge” she laughed

He just smiled quietly.  After she left he wore it and snuggled by the heater blissfully, reliving the childhood feeling of being cuddled in his mother’s lap.

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A VAMPIRIC LOVE AFFAIR

“I wish we’d met earlier, I was gorgeous then” she complained, her soft lips pouting

“I’m glad we did not, your beauty could kill me” he said, drawing her into his arms.

“How much do you love me?”

“I’d die for you” he said smitten.

Her fangs dug into his throat … and he did.

Oh, he is just normal teenager, experimenting

He’s just rebelling, he will settle down soon

He is a good kid, his company’s bad

Its just a little pot and alcohol

Then the cops called, he’d killed and stolen to feed his habit. In panic they rushed to help him, but it was too late.

The cell phone rang, the number flashing was just the one to avoid. The doorbell rang, he peered through the peephole, and withdrew. He signaled to his wife to say that he wasn’t at home and ran into the loo. Every day he played a cat and mouse game, he hated them, damn recovery agents.

1. To wear what I want
2. To go visit my parents without permission
3. To have my own friends
4. Make choices about eating and sleep timing
5. Have rights on my own body
7. Have a say on financial matters
6. Guilt free shopping
7. Have hobbies
8. In short, To Be Myself

She was marrying his childhood buddy. He felt abandoned and angry.

He made them a perfect gift. He built a box with cardboard and glue, neat compartments; one large one for the brinjal and four small for the onion, tomato, green chilli and coriander.

They were making bharta of their life – so why not?

Ignoring her, they gathered in a corner sipping their chai, envy making them bond in bitchiness. Desperately they hunted for flaws in her life. Why did she have everything, rich husband, young lover, and perfect kids? How did she manage to remain slim and wrinkle free?

How dare she highlight their flaws by showing up?

He was forty and successful and powerful.  She, his mistress, was 21, mother of twins and abandoned.  For her he was a meal ticket, for him she was lust and rewards of success. Thirty years later, he’s old, lonely cocooned in wealth, she loves him, but loves her family more – its young and lively