Shail's Nest

A new tag is doing the rounds in blog-town kick-started by none other than The Indian Homemaker.  Pal has also tagged me on the same one. The tag requirement: List at least ten things you have ever wanted to do or have done which your gender is not supposed to. Hmm… On reading it, a [...]

Blogadda has started it all by asking a simple and seemingly innocent question of the blogosphere. What do women want?? With blogs mushrooming overnight and by the day too for that matter churning out answers, adding to the already humongous pile of information one would think, this tricky question has now been taken care of. [...]

- A 55 words story “Who spilt the paint??” the mother asked angrily. “Not I… ” Little heads shook denying. “It’s you!” the mother accused her. “I didn’t” she said indignantly. “Liar!!!” The boy smiled weakly, in embarrassment. “It’s him,” she pointed. “Oh was it you darling??” the mother smiled, hugging the son. The non-liar [...]

– a 55 word story “Show me your lunch-box!” the mother-in-law demanded. She obediently showed the small-sized rotis, the sparse vegetables. “Three??!” she hissed spitefully, taking one out, throwing it to the dog. At noon, her co-workers shared from their lunch-boxes. Her eyes overflowed at their kindness, remembering with sadness, the unkind grandmother of the [...]

- a 55 word story “Go inside” “Why??” “You can read in your room” “I want to sit here and read. It’s cooler here…” “Some boys are loitering outside.” “So??” “They are staring at you…” “So??” She didn’t see the slap coming. “Go inside, now!” She went in quietly. She learnt: When boys ogled her, [...]

A humble dedication from me to all the girl children of the world who face the ignominy of gender discrimination. You tell me I was born Very near midnight When there was no light On a very dark night. Is it my fault I was born at night?? Tell me Mother Doesn’t day follow night?? [...]