Lakshmi M Nair

Continued… Meera stood mesmerized, the sight in front of her was such. She observed this woman closely now. At first look one may think she was from the same village, but on closer observation, Meera was sure that this woman was not from anywhere nearby. Her dressing had this nonchalant elegance that came with money. She was wearing one of those pure cotton sarees, but it seemed completely disheveled. A bright lightning struck, lighting up that woman’s face for a few seconds. ‘Damini’! For some reason that name resounded in Meera's mind. The lady before her looked as fierce and bright as the lightning that had just struck. Damini, her eyes ablaze with a strange energy that seemed to pull Meera to her. Damini! A name as eerily beautiful as the woman before her. Meera stood awestruck in her spot, for that lightning had not just revealed Damini's face,but also her whole form. Damini's face and body were covered in bruises. Some blue, some black, probably based on how long each...

Continued… Though she was skeptical, yet there was no other option but to step inside. What Meera did not expect was to stumble upon another person waiting inside. Though come to think of it, the parked car should have been hint enough for her to think of another person’s presence there.  There stood a woman only partially visible under the glow of that distant streetlight. Her countenance seemed defensive. She stood there, shivering with cold, or was she trembling in fear Meera couldn't be sure. Her face was sweaty with hair falling out of a loose bun framing her oval face. She seemed startled at spotting Meera there. What caught meeras attention was the deranged look in her eyes. It darted around in a frenzy, as if looking for something.  Meera hesitated for a moment before stepping in. She stepped in with some trepidation, for something didn't feel right. Meera had no other choice though. She let go of her inhibitions and stepped in. She then gave a weak smile to the lady a...

The day had started just as any other day. Morning had gone by in a frenzy, what with all those calls and meetings. Meera shut off her laptop and packed up for the day. Someone had earlier mentioned the probability of heavy rains. She wanted to make it home before the rains hit.  Daily around rush hour, her otherwise beautiful city started looking like the underbelly of an ugly beast. God bless them, for if it rained, then it would be as if the beast had rolled over in the bowels of hell.  She picked her phone once again to check for a cab. Her phone screen seemed to mock her now with the notification “No cabs available”. She had been trying for almost half an hour now. In frustration she stood up and left her office building. Maybe she would get a bus.  Horns blared everywhere around her. Heavy clouds drifted in slowly, throwing dark shadows over the city. Meera increased her pace. She wanted to escape the torrent of rain before it hit in full force. How she wanted to es...

Nights always made me feel alive.  Calling me a creature. of the night will not be too far off the mark. As the city embraces its nightly mistress, I lie awake, staring at the twinkling orbs of gas, far up in the sky. It fascinates me, those patterns on the vast expanse of space that extends over and beyond the reach of one’s eyes. They are my fellow travellers, my companions on lonely nights and my guide on the days I wish to travel.  I remember reading about constellations as a child. Those days I used to feel guilty about not being able to identify any, other than the Orion's belt, but as years progressed, I realised my joy in the stars did not decline one bit for not being able to recognise the constellations. Just laying on soft dewy grass, gazing at the stars, time would cease to exist, yet pass by so fast. That's the beauty of distancing oneself from all things ‘in’, you know, for contradictory to common belief, one does not fade into non entity if they steer clear of s...

Lately I have come across a weird phenomenon goin on wherever I look. I agree it's something that's been present in our society since ages past, but having witnessed some really awkward situations faced by people am close to, I feel like putting some voice to it. What am talking about here is the way our parents keep interfering with every little aspect of our life. Don't get me wrong here. I am not going to lecture about how parents should let their children be, or how they should not be giving advice on every small thing. I am a complete mamma's girl and can't take a single decision without her advice(and why shouldn't it be so, she has seen more of life than me). But there needs to be a limit to such interference. Just weeks ago I witnessed a friend of mine being forced to get engaged to someone in whom he has no interest whatsoever. He agreed to it only because his mother's health is getting affected. Now that's some good reason I agree. But his pare...

It rained that night. Did you see it my love, or were you still locked up behind those closed cabins in one of your never ceasing meetings? I had waited, you know. For hours; nay, for days. Maybe I had always hoped you would notice all those small signs that I could no longer hold it together. Ours had been a whirlwind romance. Something straight out of the storybooks they said. Unlike any other, they said. Those days had been more fun and frolic than just holding hands or gazing at the stars. Pranks after prank we pulled on each other, trying to best each other and nearly splitting our sides with laughter at the end of the day. We had been the best of friends, even though we were just too different from each other.  It seemed right too, for don't they say that opposites attract? You were the positives to all my negatives. I believed that with all my heart. I believed that with you by my side, I could only grow from strength to strength. Wasn't that a perfect way to kick start ...