Sep 26, 2012

A Legacy of Passion

It was the break of dawn; a time of rest and slumber for the people in the small town.  But not for the lone young woman who was in the throes of pain. Labour pains had begun more than twelve hours ago, but had yet to cease. Beads of sweat lined the forehead of the gynaecologist in charge. This was not just another delivery, for it was her daughter who lay on the operation table. She prayed for the umpteenth time and chided herself for daring to oversee her own daughter’s delivery. Her fear for her delicate daughter’s well being had made her take that decision but now she regretted it. Waiting outside the operation theatre would have been a better and rational choice.

Finally at 4:30 am, the event occurred. A bawling, red faced infant came out of the struggling mother.  All that the woman saw was a head full of hair, before she fainted. As the proud grandmother nestled the baby in her arms, she heaved a sigh of relief. And that was how I entered the world.

Sep 16, 2012

Borra Caves : Magnificent and Mysterious

At a distance of 100 kms from the coastal city of Visakhapatnam, lie the magnificent million - year old Borra caves. They are located in the Araku valley of the Ananthagiri hills in the Eastern Ghats of India. Nestled among gentle, sloping hills, at an elevation of 2313 feet, Borra caves are a picture of mystery and beauty. Measuring up to 100 m horizontally and 75 m vertically at the entrance, these are few of the largest and deepest caves in India. The caves stretch for about 200 m into the hills.

Discovered in 1807 by a British geologist, William King, these natural caves were supposedly formed by the pressure exerted by the Gosthani river on the hills. The river now flows through the caves.


I pay a visit to the caves in the humid month of May, and am told that the ideal months for the trip are November and December. Yet, the place is swarming with tourists.




An arched entrance greets me as I make my way slowly into the colossal caves.

Sep 9, 2012

The Old Photograph

This post is the last in the series Fiction.  It is a descriptive piece about an old photograph.

Year : 2100


As I frantically searched for my old books in the attic, I stumbled upon a small wooden box. Strangely enough, I hadn't noticed it before. Curiosity got the better of me and I dusted the box lightly before I pried it open. It contained a single photograph placed on a velvet cloth. I picked it up to get a better look.


Yellow with age, the photograph was reminiscent of good old times. As it nestled in my palms, I couldn't help but stare at the people in it. What struck me was the happiness that radiated from within them.The family of six stood huddled in a semi circle of sorts as they posed for a picture. Misty mountains and green forests could be seen in the backdrop, which added beauty to the scene.

Sep 2, 2012

A Busy Street

This post is the third one in the series Fiction

The rooster crowed loudly, indicating the onset of morning. This was a cue for the residents of the neighbourhood, who were instantly up and about. The sound of suprabathams soon filled the air and beautiful kolams decorated the street. A bright, sunny day dawned.

In a short while, motorists were battling for space with pedestrians as there was no pavement. Moreover, roadside vendors occupied most of the space in the narrow street. Women in cotton sarees and flowers in their hair could be seen bargaining with the vegetable vendors. Men in formals sped away on their motorbikes. School children chatted nineteen to a dozen as they waited for the bus. Noise, chaos and commotion prevailed everywhere. The scene on the busy street was a sight to behold.


As the hours ticked away, darkness descended and street lights sprang to life.
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