Thursday, February 5, 2009

The rhyme of self-obsession



That gentleman, framed thither,
Looks quite come-hither.

That’s a mirror, dear me!
Now that I know, I can see.

Might seem fat to ignorant eyes.
Fine food is his favourite vice.

Dare you call his eyes bovine?
Milk of kindness through them shine.

Likes to live his life king-size.
Though royal bills often surprise.

Feels great wonder at many other.
Life is not as taught by mother.

Fights life back with all his tongue,
Semi-soft biceps, ox-strong lung.

His arsenal does boast some more,
Very many arguments in store.

The sharpened ifs, buts and whys.
Spellbinds many a learned wise.

Sometimes the logic has such finesse,
It begets a whole new breed of menace.

Instead of going for opponent’s throat,
The traitor sinks his master’s boat.

Professional hazard, tells he with smile,
Pressing down the bubbling bile.

His bile is travelling upright now,
Mauling a great soul, how dare he allow?

But you must admit, honest bright,
He did not give in without fight.

Even when he’s in self-combat,
A charming verse comes out of that.

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2009: 55 Word Flash Fiction Contest Entry 2: Theme - Cheating



First-time-in-the-city-for-treatment-pocket-got-picked-badly-need-money-to-go-home. Mohit has been far too long in Mumbai to fall for that routine. The disease was supposedly severe chest pain. Thankfully the cure-all-snake oil seller was just a stone's throw away. “Dawa nahi saab, paisa!” she croaked.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2009: 55 Word Flash Fiction Contest Entry 1: Theme - Cheating


Angelina Jolie was all over her latest conquest, Dave Montgomery. Dave was merely grateful. “Oh Angel!” He moaned.


“Honey, aren’t you sweet! You’ve never called me angel in bed before.” Cawed Anne Montgomery in shrill surprise.


"Anne, how many times I've told ya to shut the hell up when we are doing it?" snapped Dave.



Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Saadat Hasan Manto: Urdu for Humanity First


To a mad world, caught in a turmoil of terror, anything written in an Islamic language, seems to be a potential pamphlet for Zihad. We would like to invite this mad world in for a quiet cup of tea, iced perhaps,and meet Saadat Hasan Manto, the finest Urdu writer the world has even seen. Who like the rest of the great souls, was never afraid of putting humanity before religion. And was thoroughly punished for it. Here's an account of his zihad against zihad.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Monday, December 15, 2008

Salvador Dali & Walt Disney: A Destino 58 Years in the Making


If you thought Salvador Dali and Walt Disney had nothing in common except the ‘D’ in their surnames, get prepared to be proven wrong. Destino – a five-minute animated short film was the child of Dali’s feverish imagination and Disney’s singular storytelling. But it’s one of those rare cases where the story behind the film is almost as surreal as the film itself. Welcome to arid plains, vicious eyeballs, melting clocks, unrequited love and a wait that lasted 58 years. Read more.

Friday, August 8, 2008