The Black Book of Anthology

Chapter 1, Start of Summer (Part 03) White Swan While being there, in Dehradun, I got close to an elder sister, we would chat late till night, about topics close to our hearts. We would share our lives tales with each other. Her family, her problem, my life, and my problem. In the dim light, I would chat late till the night itself felt sleepy, and then when ending the chats and saying our ‘good nights’ and ‘take cares’, we would just tease each other about waking up late till night. I always found it funny, how we two always found time to talk at night, when almost the house was asleep. Sometimes we would call, and her sweet voice would filter through the earphones to my mind. I would sometimes find her outside in the garden at night, at the terrace, or in bed. She would tell me stories, and I would ask questions about life to each other. What better way to define a person than a poem?  Enchanted Forest A Forest, looks normal from afar But, when you're close She bewitches you, with...

  Chapter 1, Start of Summer (Part 02) A Saddened Journey  12/June/2022  The packing is complete, and we are off to catch the bus. With every gust of wind that touches us, we are reminded of the purpose of our journey; to see Tai Ji, who is in the last stage of stomach cancer, chances are low....but we are trying everything. The bus is mostly empty, but as the time of departure approaches, it starts to get crowded. To be honest, night travel by bus is quite different, and it makes me long to travel with my friends like this. The slow humming of the crowd and the sounds of the bus fill the environment with dark blue ambient lighting. Mother by my side, a book in my hands, and lofi songs in my ears. The bus gradually makes its way out of the city, then rushes to its destination. I won't disagree that it's a bumpy ride, but it's a peacefully gloomy ride to Deharadun. During half-sleep, I create plans for the future. Some will get fulfilled, and some will wonder at the dre...

Chapter 1, Start of Summer (Part 01) First Day of School As souls move together in time, in a small rusty van. They grow and connect, and time shows them many faces and many conditions. A small, rusty van where around twelve children could be cramped in the back and two in the front, excluding the driver. It holds: sliding doors that hung to its sides; a yellow stripe that went around it like a snake; comfortable seats covered with leather; a sweet driver uncle; and a lot of memories that we treasure, cherish, remember, hate, and neglect. I remember we had given our tenth board exams in mid-spring, and now we move onward with results in our hands and toppers in the skies. It was my first day in the 11th grade. The weather was just starting to warm up. As COVID had also cooled a bit, we didn't have to wear masks any longer. Before even starting the day, before even reaching the school, before even all of it. Under the morning sunshine, I moved forward to the point from which I bo...