From Deepa's Desk

It was one of those rare and strange circumstances when silence reigned at the dining table. Usually, there was non-stop chatter. Arguments and hot debates were quite frequent. But today, there was absolute silence.  Amit cleared his throat. "May be it is not a big deal like we are making it to be."  His wife Chitra nodded her head, lost in thoughts. "Yeah... This is just a new phase and we need to adjust to it." Mehta, Amit's father, said. "Do not go all alpha on her if she comes home late. It is Anju's 14th birthday and the child deserves to enjoy with her friends." "Huh." Raaji, Amit's mother smirked and shook her head. Mehta turned to look at her sharply. "What was that 'Huh' for?" He asked, sounding irritated. Raaji eagerly leaned towards the table, seemingly enjoying it. "When Amit came late one day, you blew a gasket around the entire building, approaching every flat and asking whether the family knew abo...

With a shivering hand, Kannan carefully applied chandanam on his forehead. He stood before the idol of Lord Krishna with folded hands. What is this, Kanna? 100? You kept me on earth for a hundred years?? Have you no intention of calling me to You? This year, You have to summon me! He glared at the deity in mock anger. He looked at the ground and again at the idol of the Lord. Kanna, should I attempt? Can I trust You to support this old devotee? Don’t play your games with me! He slowly bowed his body and to his relief, he could prostrate himself on the ground. Ah, you kept my honour! He sent out a silent note of thanks to the deity of the temple. “Eh Kannan, Birthday Wishes!” His best friend of more than eight decades, Menon called out to him. Kannan marched with an unsteady gait towards him and sat beside him at the raised podium on the side of the temple. “Thank you. You aren’t much behind. Just two more years for you to reach the three-digit figure!” Kannan joked. Menon shr...