‘Your usual, ma’am?’ She nods like she does daily – head tilted half an inch to the front and her … More
Author: Varad
Self-published author/ Social media neanderthal.
The Thirsty Ghost
Unfortunately, there are no supernatural entities in India starting with the letter ‘T.’ There are mentions of the monstrous creature … More
Fade Away
I had always been interested in photographs. No, not the images captured on the photo paper, but the way chemicals … More
Skondhokata
The last train of the night slowed down to a stop in the Keshabpur railway station. Amar yawned and waved … More
Qliphoth
‘Majestic! Absolutely majestic!’ Vishal Kapur exclaimed on seeing the scenic vistas from the balcony of the Skyline apartments. His daughter … More
Pisasu – the flesh-eating demon
Inspector Mudassar Basha was stumped. Nothing made sense in the case. There was a crime and there was an accused, … More
Odiyaan – the animagi hitmen
It was a dark, moonless night. Somewhere an owl hooted and a stray dog howled. The man walked with brisk … More
Naale Baa – Come Tomorrow
‘Sujith, how are you coping up man?’ Ravi’s beaming face filled up one of the four squares on his mobile … More
Mohini – the insatiable lover
Ganpath hated his master. As an Indian, he was programmed to hate the goras. They did come into his country … More
Kutti Chathan – the prankster
My father was an honest man. He was a goldsmith, but an unsuccessful one. Despite possessing the skills to make … More
Jann is a Jinn
Abu was a poor fisherman. Every morning, he rowed his boat to the middle of the ocean, where he cast … More
Ichadhari Naagin, the shape-shifting cobra
Are you a writer? Here’s a great opportunity to get published. The Hive is inviting submissions for their next anthology. … More
Hadal the female goblin
Are you a writer? Here’s a great opportunity to get published. The Hive is inviting submissions for their next anthology. … More
Ghoda Paak – the Assamese Centaur
Rain poured like a thousand watery whips lashing on his skin. Yet the rider didn’t stop. He urged his horse … More
Evil Eyes aka Buri Nazar (Drishti)
When I was a kid, my mom used to apply the most hideous makeup possible on my face. First, she’d … More
Daayan – the fiendish female spirit
The hunter watched as the couple lay down exhausted after their lovemaking. The girl’s lustrous black hair was spread on … More
Chir Batti – the ghost lights
The great salty landscape of the Rann of Kutch stretched like a huge white canvas under the stars. Talhah pedalled … More
Brahmarakshasa – part scholar, part demon
The fierce afternoon sun scorched the parched earth, leaving cracks and dead plants in its wake. The couple labored along … More
Asura – Indra vs Vritra
The sky’s blackish-indigo canvas was peppered with flashes of lightning. The sound of the crashing thunder was drowned by the … More
AtoZ 2020 – Theme Reveal
I have a love-hate relationship with the AtoZ challenge. In 2018, I participated for the first time, wrote a bunch … More
New Home
The home we left had no doors or windows. That’s where we ate, slept, and procreated. Anyone on the … More
The Promised Land
They alighted the rickety jeeps at midnight. The man to whom they had bequeathed their money pointed the way forward … More
Box Office
He left his home to become the first filmmaker of South India. He faced obstacles at every corner. He lied … More
The Burden
Usually, I’d have left long back. A honeymooning couple holding hands, whispering and giggling without a care in the world. … More
The Kettle, The Iron Box, and The Ladle
‘Ma, not these again!’ I cringed at the the old item trifecta displayed prominently on the showcase of our new … More
Sailfish
Bart was supposed to be a star! Scratch that – a superstar! Coach used to claim that Bart’s mother had … More
The Tipping Point
The barbed wire fence was cut after the war that had raged for half a century came crashing to a … More
Snow!
‘Grandpa! Look, It’s snowing!’ Five-year-old Emily jumped in glee, her little hands coming together in a joyous clap. I smile … More
Jump
‘It’s all about your core and balance,’ Ralph murmurs. ‘Parkour is tapping into the courage you didn’t know you had.’ … More
Hate Prevails
‘Do you know that Hamburg was nearly wiped out of the map during WWII?’ My parents were impressed. They had … More
Bluebeard
They said that he never remained married for long and his wives vanished mysteriously. When his eyes fell on me, … More
I’m Done
Thank you for your best wishes and concern, my friends! Unfortunately, I haven’t enjoyed a moment of this year’s AtoZ. Last year’s … More
Hand-holding and Handhelds
The short vacation after the term tests came to an end just as it appeared it had started. The little … More
Goobaloo
‘Our forests were much different than the ones around Vanarapuri,’ Fathi took a swig of fresh tender coconut water and … More
Fatty and the Flying Monkey
The next few weeks went in a blur for Suri and Nila. First, they had their term tests and the … More
Escapades and Excitement
The ruins of Vanarapuri were precisely that – just ruins. Though they did have a dark history attached to them, … More
Desperate for a Friend
It was a cool Sunday afternoon in Vanarapuri. Suri woke up after his siesta and sniffed the pleasant smells that … More
Cool Down, Cool Girl!
‘Nila, what is that you are wearing?’ A curious expression hovered on her mother Tara’s face. They were having … More
Bets and Buts
It was a warm and sunny day in Vanarapuri. Suri was gamboling on the branches outside. His mistimed leap during … More
And, Suri Loses A Race
Inside a deep, dark jungle, hidden to the outside world was the beautiful monkey city of Vanarapuri. It was home … More
Monsters
The monsters are killing us. We were a proud community who made fabric that was appreciated everywhere. We were the … More
Theme Reveal A To Z Challenge 2019
Time has indeed flown in a hurry. I had quite the eventful debut in the AtoZ Challenge last year (read … More
Relics
Mom and Dad were already awake and bustling when I woke up. I lumber down the stairs to see Mom … More
The Legend of The Scooter Assassin
‘Ever heard about the Scooter Assassin?’ ‘Who?’ ‘Only the greatest hit-man ever.’ ‘Really?’ ‘Yup! Ninety-nine perfect kills. An absolute legend.’ … More
Of Past Things
‘Do you see that old building there?’ Don nodded eagerly to his Grandmother’s question. ‘Si, Abuelita! I do.’ ‘That was … More
Glass Roses
The package arrives precisely at 3 PM. There is a ‘Fragile’ sticker plastered on it. Sometimes, I wonder at his … More
Spark the change
I saw a spark and decided to keep it safe in the hollow of a forest tree. The forest smoldered and … More
Three Reclining Chairs Outside Humanity
They gazed at the desolate landscape around them and sighed. Their faces were weary and weathered. They felt old, not … More
The Car
He walks at a steady pace, tapping his cane on the mud-caked road. The car is still there, a grotesque … More
Not Today
I began 2019 with a nice trek on the Himalayas. We saw the snow-capped magnificence of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third … More
L.E.R.T 