Apr 29, 2020Maps guide usA silhouette of solitude — a bunch of leaves that spike and poke, like stationary spindles on a needle. Black and white. Wound taut, peaking, against the backdrop of a bluish greyish white sky. Swallowing like a slow ageing fish, soothing their skins in the golden hue. Black and white. The roofs slant…Poetry1 min read
Apr 24, 2020FreedomThe teal sky welcomes its newest pal – a bird, in place of airplanes; seen through wrought iron windows, against the background of curry leaves simmering in oil, and runners whizzing past toddlers learning to ride their tiny bicycles. A dreamcatcher waves in the breeze, casting filigreed shadows on the balcony…Coronavirus2 min read
Apr 10, 2020A bunch of corianderThis morning I oiled my hair and washed it. My hair usually fell in beautiful dark brown ringlets all over my shoulder, on normal days, without me having to as much as even brush it. Expecting that result, as always, I tugged the thin thorthu (thorthu is a Malayalam word…Short Story4 min read
Apr 7, 2020Wretched missile birdsKhirki, Pune. 2000. ‘SHIMB, there was a gun firing mishap and the route to our galaxy has been engraved on the rice fields this morning. Would you come check it out before the villagers can find out?’ ‘What?’ ‘Yes, there was a tear in the galactic pathway and a testing…Short Story6 min read
Apr 4, 2020Whose God is it anyway?I spent much of my days indoors — feeding a pigeon that brought its entire clan over, gave birth to more pigeons and shat unceremoniously all over my balcony after groaning all night from what I would like to assume it is— pregnancy pain. I hadn’t bathed in days and…Short Story6 min read
Apr 3, 2020Léa1997. Normandy, France. 6 AM. Five year old Pierre sits on his front porch, holding a fresh glass of warm milk. Acres of expansive and lush green farmland lay sprawled in front of him. Cows graze about — their collar bells tinkling and ear tags dancing in the chill spring…Short Story6 min read
Apr 2, 2020Pineapple on pizzaMy eyes opened. I woke up unbelievably aware of the time. It was 4 am, signalled by the arrival of devotees at the Lalbaugcha Raja market to get a darshan of Mumbai’s oldest Ganesha– one last time before he could be immersed in the brackish Arabian Sea tomorrow. I was…Short Story5 min read
Nov 24, 2019Where I grew upWhere I grew up I didn't grow up in bungalows with long hallways and Afghan mosaic tiles that glittered in the sun and streamed through…thevirtualparchment.com The piece originally appeared on my personal website.Nostalgia1 min read
Apr 7, 2019On the IJStories from Amsterdam. Hey! Thanks for stopping by. This story has moved here.Love1 min readOn the IJStories from Amsterdam.Photo by Eugen Esanu on UnsplashHey! Thanks for stopping by. This story has moved here.----
Mar 26, 2019The Red EnvelopeIt happened to me. She took it out of her bag, and carefully opened the edges, thrusting a ballpoint pen and slowly rolling it into the seal flap so as to not disturb the pretty red envelope, and hopefully the letter inside it. She pulled it out with much enthusiasm…Fiction3 min read
