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, I’m fallen.
They throw me bits and [...]

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. But [...]

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 feelings remain secrets
though without masks
never disclosed
nor exposed
and hidden from even open eyes.
[...]

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 rhythm to yours beat
with your lips beloved mine
make me music divine.
-Shail Mohan (Dec [...]

– 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 [...]