Another Raksha Bandhan. He had always wished for a kid sister, who would tie him a rakhi.
“Mom, why can’t I have a sis?” he queries.
The mother gives him a blank expression. She has just undergone her third abortion.
“Can’t afford daughters,” her husband, a rickshaw puller, would say.
Vijai Pant is a school teacher in India. In his free time he lets his creative juices flow in the form of stories and poems.
“Hunger has been banished,” he thundered.
The crowd roared. Kalawati, too, feebly cheered.
They had been ferried in a truck to the election meeting. Meeting over, she clutched the 500 rupee note which she had been promised and hurried home. She didn’t want to lose one more child to starvation.
Vijai Pant is a teacher in a school in India. In his free time he lets his creative juices flow as a freelance writer and poet.
“Hand over that bag. Quick,” the man snarled.
He remembered inspirational words from his father, martyred in Kargil: “Always be brave.”
No time for valour, he reasoned.
He gingerly surrendered the bag. The man unzipped it, gave an evil smile, and shot him.
There is no fixed time for valour.
Vijai Pant is a language teacher in a school in India. He is also a freelance writer.
Deadline is only some hours away.
His writer’s mind is obsessed with other thoughts.
He unsuccessfully tries to focus on the given assignment.
Eventually he gives up.
Sleep still eludes him.
Time ticks.
Notification beeps.
It reads, “You are my first thought each morning.”
He doesn’t respond.
He simply smiles.
Vijai Pant is a language teacher in a school in India. He is also a freelance writer.
Rukmini was tremendously busy throughout her vacations, clicking eye catching snaps and then continuously checking for new notifications on different sites.
“How were your holidays?” you ask.
“Great fun!” she answers, but her face does not light up.
She’s still awaiting that one comment for which the trip was made.
Vijai Pant is a language teacher in a school in India. He is also a freelance writer.
“I’ll take her around,” volunteered little Jayati, wheeling the spastic Anna out. Ten years separated the two.
“She, too, yearns for your love,” commented my wife.
At bed time, I explained why Anna needed more care. “She’s a ‘special’ child,” I said.
“I also want to be ‘special’,” Jayati replied.
Vijai Pant is a language teacher in a school in India. He is also a freelance writer.
Jai had decided to be completely honest with his wife. He shared his past with an understanding Nisha. When Vandana came wanting her letters back, he unhesitatingly returned these, while Nisha dreamingly looked on.
That night, Nisha snuggled up to Jai and whispered, “I also want to tell you something.”
Vijai Pant is a language teacher in a school in India. He is also a freelance writer.