Kamya gazed at the fumes which seemed to be taking the form of an abstract artwork. The artist in her always found inspiration in the mundane. The brain wave had swept her away into the tides of unbridled, cathartic imagination. Though blissfully submerged, she was brought back to the realms of reality soon enough. It was that sane, soothing voice which had made her almost jump up in exhilaration.
Category Archives: Micro Fiction
the comfortable nothing
That empty feeling has become a part of me. Indispensable to my existence. It gives me the fuel to keep running through the mundane. I do not feel exhausted anymore because there is nothing remaining to get drained out from within.
The moment someone starts filling the gaps and voids, I begin to feel uneasy, unsettled, sometimes even anxious. This unknown space is deceptive. I know the bliss is temporary. Which is why I dash into the emptiness again – that feeling of nothing, but a comfortable nothing.
~ Anupama Dalmia ~
When she’s a child on a rainy day
The atmosphere was abuzz with the boisterous banter between them. They giggled. They crackled. They chortled. They rolled. She hurtled around the park tickling the other kids, while trying to escape their tickles.
it was back!
The room was brimming with euphoria. The guffaws seamlessly fused into the clanking of the glasses. Humourous anecdotes were shared – some new and some fond reminiscences.
As I stood up to fetch the bowl of nachos from the kitchen, I scanned the hall and let out a smile. It was amazing to witness how my girl squad had managed to sprawl together on the miniature sofa.
Those Thirty Minutes!
“Only thirty minutes, please! I promise it won’t go beyond that”, Saachi pleaded.
“Ok fine! But, do not expect more than this from me. My company does not pay me to babysit kids. I have to work my ass off so that you can all have a chilled out life.” responded Vihaan in a tone that reeked of high-handedness.
and so the adventure begins…
Ananya tenderly caressed her toddler’s forehead before scuttling towards the kitchen. The utensils were strewn around on the platform and the succulent tomatoes lay splattered on the floor. She let out a long sign of despair. Though exhausted to the bone, she got into action instantly. She had no choice in any case. Later that night, while rummaging through the cabinet for her 13-year-old’s report card, Ananya wondered if her humdrum existence would ever take an exciting turn. Suddenly, her eyes sparkled at the sight of her childhood love.
“Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”
…And so the adventure began!
~ Anupama Dalmia ~
What’s our Worth?
Some days are like that. You struggle as a mother. You crumble due to the daily grind. You find yourself on crossroads. You end up feeling lost. Doubts creep in. Loneliness kicks in. You unwillingly answer a call from an unknown number.
And then you hear a voice after five years! It’s a wedding invitation. You had counseled her when she was rescued from the clutches of trafficking. Suddenly, things fall into perspective. You are reminded of what defines you. You realize that this is the true measure of your worth – the lives you have touched along the way.
~ Anupama Dalmia ~
The Vicious Circle
Streams of sweat dribbled down her forehead. She cursed the searing and sultry weather for the umpteenth time as her palms worked efficiently and pummelled the flour with accurate precision to knead the perfect dough. Satisfied with the outcome, she decided to catch some shut-eye and trudged towards the living room.
The Valentine’s Day that wasn’t
It was a special day for us. A milestone of sorts! We celebrated the occasion with pomp and ebullience. Love and bliss filled the air with an intoxicating charm that elevated our spirits to a new high. First month birthdays are memorable indeed.
As we gaped at her angelic toothless grin in awe, she let out a loud wail signalling that it was time for a diaper change. It suddenly struck me then. It was Valentine’s Day too! I smiled as I watched him clean her up while I rested. That day I realized love comes in many forms.
~ Anupama Dalmia ~
THE STORIES THAT NEVER CHANGE
The devil-may-care youngsters were sprinting across the open field, engrossed in blowing and bursting balloons. All of a sudden, Danny stopped and stared at Diya straight in the eyes.
“Diya, I think it’s time to tell you the truth. You are not my biological sister. We had found you on the lane next to our house. “
There was deafening silence for a few minutes followed by an uproarious laughter.
“You are so mean! You got me for a moment.” , yelled Diya while running behind Danny to punch him.
Some stories remain the same. Only the siblings change.
~ Anupama Dalmia~