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വർഷങ്ങൾ പിന്നേം കടന്നു പൊയ്ക്കൊണ്ട് ഇരുന്നു. ഒടുവിൽ എല്ലാരേം മൂക്കും വായും മൂടി കെട്ടി വെക്കാൻ പഠിപ്പിച്ച കൊറോണ കാലം വന്നു ചേർന്നു. ലോകം മൊത്തം സ്തംഭിച്ച അവസ്ഥ. എൻ്റെ സ്വപ്നത്തിൽ പോലും ആളുകൾ മാസ്ക് ധരിച്ച് വന്നു ചേർന്ന്. ദൈവഹിതം ആണല്ലോ സർവതും. ഈ സമയത്ത് എൻ്റെ അനിയൻ്റെ ഭാര്യ ഒരു ആണ് കുഞ്ഞിന് ജന്മം നൽകുന്നു. യാദൃച്ഛികം എന്ന് പറയുന്നില്ല; മനഃപൂർവം തന്നെ ആ കുഞ്ഞിൻ്റെ പേര് അച്ചാച്ചൻ ൻ്റെ പേരിൻ്റെ വകഭേദം ആരുന്നു. അത് അവിടെ നിക്കട്ടെ. അതല്ല ഇവിടെ വിഷയം. അപ്പൊ ഈ കുഞ്ഞും അമ്മേം അച്ഛനു

അങ്ങനെ അഞ്ചു ആണ്ട് ബലി കഴിഞ്ഞ ഒരു വേനൽ കാലം. ഞാനും വലിയമ്മയും മൂപ്പത്തിയാരുടെ മകനും കൂടെ മധുരൈ മീനാക്ഷി അമ്മനെ കാണാൻ ആയി അവിടെ പോകുന്നു. മീനാക്ഷിയും സുന്ദരേശനും അലങ്കാര ഗോപുരങ്ങളും ഒക്കെ കൂടെ അതി ഗംഭീരവും മനസ്സിനെ ശാന്തവു മാക്കുന്ന ഒരു അന്തരീക്ഷം. എല്ലാം ആസ്വദിച്ചു ഞങൾ ഇങ്ങനെ നടന്നു. ദൈവഹിതം ആണല്ലോ സർവതും.വലിയമ്മ വേച്ചു വേച്ചു ആണ് നടക്കുന്നെ. ഇടക്ക് എവിടെ എങ്കിലും നിൽക്കുമ്പോൾ ശരീരത്തിൻ്റെ വലതു ഭാഗം നന്നായി വിറക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ആ കൈ ഞാൻ പിടിച്ചോണ്ട് മെല്ലെ നടന്നു. ക്ഷേത്ര ദർശനത്ത

തനിയാവർത്തനം (ബാലൻ മാഷിൻ്റെ അല്ല, എൻ്റെ) കുറച്ചു കാലം മുന്നത്തെ കഥ ആണ് ഇത്. എന്ന് വെച്ചാൽ ഒരു 15 വർഷം മുൻപ്. ആ സമയത്ത് എൻ്റെ അച്ചാച്ചൻ - അച്ഛൻറെ അഛൻ അല്ല കേട്ടോ. അമ്മയുടെ അഛൻ. എങ്ങനെ ആ വിളിപ്പേര് വന്നു എന്ന് ചോദിച്ചാൽ, അത് ഞങ്ങളുടെ തലമുറയിലെ ആദ്യത്തെ സന്തതി, എൻ്റെ വലിയമ്മയുടെ മകൾക്ക് ഒരു ചെറിയ ആശയ കുഴപ്പം സംഭവിച്ചു. അപ്പൂപ്പനെ കേറി അച്ചാച്ചൻ എന്നു വിളിച്ചു. പിന്നെ വന്ന അടുത്ത സന്തതി ആയ എനിക്ക് അത് മാറ്റിക്കൂടാരുന്നോ എന്ന് നിങ്ങൾക്ക് തോന്നാം. പക്ഷേ എനിക്ക് ആവർത്തനം ആണ് ഇഷ്ടം.

One fine day at Champaca Bookstore, I found this book, The Girl Who Kept Falling in Love. Catchy enough to pique my interest, I brought it home. The die-hard romantic in me didn’t touch it for three months, waiting for the right moment. Then one day, I skimmed through the blurb. That was it. It was time. This is no regular rom-com. I realized that right in the first chapter. But was I disappointed? Not at all. The book felt like that cup of chai you have after years of coffee

"Will deserting your wife and serving your brother make your more noble? Then, let me hate you for that. Let me hate you for the forthcoming fourteen years-that endless chasm you have driven between us" What would you do if your husband chooses his brother over you? How will your bear the pain of being left out by your husband at a completely unfamiliar place? Why should you wait for 14 long years for his return when he did not love you enough to leave you? Half way throug

It was in the summer of 2003, I read God of Small Things and fell in love with it instantly. Ammu, Estha, Rahel, and Velutha became a part of me and the novel set standards for my choice of books for the years to come. Even after 10 years of reading it, I clearly remembered every instance, character, and even some dialogues. (I first heard of Elvis Presley from Rahel and how the shrub 'communist pacha' got its name in Kerala). Nonetheless, I was smitten by the plot, character

Book: Glitter and Gloss Author: Vibha Batra Price: Rs.147 Genre: Romance Synopsis: Meet Misha, an aspiring make-up artist with some major identity issues. Her beau, Akshay, is an Indian version of Christian Grey (sans the kinky part, of course). The novel is all about how they fall in love in the most clichéd way and how their love surpasses all the (quintessential) hurdles that happens in a love story. Review: Though the novel at times look like a direct rip-off of 'You are

Book: When the Signal Turns Red Author: Jayanand Ukey Price: Rs. 175 Genre: Romance Synopsis: Girish Khedekar, the protagonist in this novel is just out of college and all set to join the numero uno IT Company of the country. He is in love with Prajakta Chitre who is also on her way to join an international IT giant. They plan to build up a good career before letting their families know about their relationship. Unexpectedly their families get involved before Girish can join

When I woke up, all I could see were darkness and a little red light flickering at a distance. I frantically spread my hands and searched for Anu Chechi. I could feel the pillows and bed sheet next to me. ‘Chechi? Are you here?' I whispered; panic rising in my voice. Some angry crickets and nocturnal birds chirped. I felt a chill down my spine when realized that I am alone in the room. "Please sleep next to me, I am so scared of dark, please", I had pleaded to her for which s

“Am I bad?”, she asked in a shaky voice without looking at me. She was lying in the couch since last night and had been sobbing and ranting. I really didn’t know how to console her. It is true that she has been my roommate for almost two years but I am yet to understand her completely. It is not that she is mysterious or has hidden secrets. There is something unique about this girl that makes the guys drool over and girls envy. And here she is back from a night out, still in

My baby had fallen asleep. They say ‘to sleep like a baby’ for a reason. It is indeed a blessing to sleep like her; oblivious to what is happening around her. But I know she will wake up and pounce on me with many questions. Innocent doubts, blabbering, silly question, but too complex to answer! The bus has reached a long way from where we started and it was getting crowded. We got a window seat in the end. Far away from the chaos of the bus and its commuters, tucked inside o

I have always wondered why my journeys always seem to be endless. It is not just the destination, routes or the purpose; it is the journey itself that remain incomplete. I could feel this each time I get down from a train or bus after a long journey. This sense of void sticks to me even if I am with family, friends or even when I travel alone. I was prepared for the strangling emptiness this time too. Books, music, landscapes, nothing can comply. And this journey is going to

Don’t be amused if you find a beeline of vehicles on the Trivandrum-Nagercoil highway starting right from Karamana. Traffic blocks have indeed formed an indispensable part of our life but sometimes you just can’t resist the temptation to scream at our road authorities. Especially during mornings when the last thing you want is to reach office one hour late. It may take a long time to see our renovated ultra modern bus terminal at Thampanoor but don’t be disappointed. There ar

Is it broken promises or broken hearts? Infidelity; no more a forbidden fruit. It was happiness that formed a blanket around me And I could feel my body feeling hot In a matter of time I was drenched in sweat. Is it your love or wedding vows that choked me? Love is an abstract term, very much. I said I am in love, and that was a lie. How can I be? When I didn’t know how it felt? I shed tears in the nuptial bed Not for the chastity but for the void that followed. I never said

I could hear music everywhere. The city was vivid with everyone preparing for the upcoming Navarathri festival. This is my first year in Chennai and all this preparation is new to me. In Kerala we do celebrate the festival, not with this much fervor. It is a simple function celebrated completely at home and at temples. But here, the celebration is everywhere. Each one of the shop is crowded with lively souls buying things for Ayutha pooja which was the very next day. The pave

"If you are not interested in what I am talking, say it frankly”, I was beginning to get irritated seeing his cold replies. “Why do you always judge my expressions wrong, I am listening to you, for heaven’s sake!” he retorted. We were sitting in a bus and I didn’t want to attract unnecessary attention. “Please, keep your voice down! Why are we fighting?” already the girl sitting in front of us was eavesdropping. “I didn’t start a fight; you are the one who always judges me wr

I suddenly woke up from a pleasant dream with a jerk. I could hear the rustle of utensils from kitchen, and the rhythm of grinding coconut. When I got hold of the mobile phone and checked the time, it was barely 5.30 am. Wonder why mom is awake so early! I have to leave at eight thirty and this is too early to start cooking considering her expertise and speed. “Amma, why are you awake so early?” No reply. Maybe she didn’t hear my sleepy voice. “AMMAAA..CAN YOU HEAR ME?” I sho

I am just an ordinary girl. I am down when i lose And I envy others when they win I throw tantrums and i may cry And often; I back bite. You may think that I am mad. So am I When I am sad. I am just an ordinary girl. But I know when to hold you tight And apologize when we fight. When you say, I can smile and be with you all the while. I can say" You are my world" And live it up to the word. I ain't saint. I ain't genius. You may know me or may be not I am just an ordinary gir

Smile. Handshake. Embrace. There are reasons to love. Feelings that lie beneath; Craving for concern; Shock by the betrayal; And one moment that takes everything away. Friendship. Who? When? Why? There are reasons to trust. Searching for a hug; Back up with laughter; Moments of togetherness; And one instant that justifies everything. Goodbye. Tears. Memories. To know only a little more.

"I am bored" she said, with stress on each word that clearly showed that she was bored. "That is because you don't engage yourself. You just sit and think and do nothing else. Anyone will be bored in this case". He was buttoning his shirt. She maintained a lying posture in the bed and kept looking at him. She watched his fingers carefully at his fingers that moved so fast. ' Who must have invented the buttons?' She thought. "Do one thing... try applying for some job. Then you