Shail's Nest

Drawing courtesy Vishakh Mohan Hunger burns scorches and chars Singes my flesh, sears my soul. The fiery flame rises, flares and blazes Turning to ashes, the heart’s desires. I snatch at the scraps thrown my way Clutch at the straws that blow my way Nothing is mine its all half-eaten When hunger gnaws I grab, [...]

Love is in the air…. Those of you in places where spring is in the air might nod your head in affirmation and say, “Oh yess!! Love is indeed in the air!!” That is not the case here in God’s own land of Kerala. We are in the throes of summer. It’s hot and humid. [...]

Without realizing it, I suddenly burst out laughing. I couldn’t help it. He looked at me a trifle offended. Perhaps this had not been the reaction he had been expecting?? But then this had not been what I had been expecting either. I had lulled myself into some sort of false security in a relationship [...]

Having been reading The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy just before dozing off, in all probability I should have been dreaming of Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two headed three armed Galactic President who I am told has been voted the Worst Dressed Sentient Being in the Known Universe for, hold your breath, a total of seven [...]

I love darkness the inky blackness that cloaks and holds in its mysterious folds what I wish to conceal and never reveal. I love darkness its color black which with open arms takes in and clasps deep within its heart all colors beautiful and never lets go. I love darkness the black nights when naked [...]

A lazy afternoon about ten years back, I was relaxing having finished all my work. I was expecting my junior Martian home any minute. The school year-ending exams were going on. That particular day he had a test in Science. Soon he bounds into the room I was in, as is his habit on his [...]

Let me be the song playing on your lips sing me to your fill softly as you will. Let the notes rise as high as the skies and dip so low to the oceans below. Twirling and curling twisting and turning make melody flow now fast now slow As the drums in my heart in [...]

– a short story. She hurriedly stirred the vegetables once and went back to chopping more onions. One needed lots of onions to be sliced finely, fried to a golden brown and sprinkled on top of the potatoes. It added that special flavor. And today she wanted the special flavor to be there more than [...]

I have a pink towel and I guard it with my life. Extreme tactics you think?? Wait till you have to live as the lone Venusian in a house full of Martians!! When you do like I do you’ll know that you simply have to, guard it with your life I mean, if you don’t [...]