Random Strokes

Which is the first multi-storeyed building in Hyderabad? No prizes for guessing. Of course, it is the city’s most famous icon -- Charminar. And do you know there is a cat’s head designed in the apex of one of the small arches on the eastern side? It was perhaps meant to be a deterrent to rats, the cause of plague. And when the epidemic ended, Charminar was raised to commemorate its riddance. A by-lane from the Charminar leads to the sprawling market of Laad (bangles) bazaar.One of the shops is owned by Fatima.A girl in her early twenties.Her eyes are captivating.Glimpses of which are visible through her veiled face.A strong girl who lost her parents when she was very young and the only relative is her ailing old uncle who lives with her.. After her parents died her uncle raised her up.The bangle shop at Ladd bazaar is owned by him.Fatima's uncle had inherited it from his ancestors.Fatima was pursuing her graduation in Social Psychology from the Osmania University....

Aamir - A young banker in early thirties.Recently married. Ayesha - An young woman and Aamirs wife.Working with an IT major. Sharon - a kid who loves to play Riz - a kid who loves to play Friday evening.The worlds retiring home.Some to loved ones.Some to friends.Some heading nowhere.Aamir was one of them. Aamir is a young banker.An MBA grad from a reputed college.Drawing a handsome salary.Drives a sedan.Dines at expensive places.Travels five star.Pays his bills on time.A good looking handsome guy with an equally hot and intelligent wife.And yes he is married for 2 years now. Ayesha is in her late twenties.An engineering grad.A perfect example of beauty with brains.Soft spoken.Tender attitude.Ambitious yet humble.Yes she loves shopping and possesses credit cards ! A trivial issue led to a mjor fallout between the two.They wernt meeting eyes.Aamir handled his clients really well;Ayesha her codes.Neither could handle their lives though. The sky we...

If we are united in our hatred for politics so are we united in our love for the Durga Puja.People who stay away from home choose this occasion to visit our hometowns in Bengal.It was no way different for Avik.He could manage a week's leave. The wind has caught a sudden chill.The leaves and flowers all pale.A festive mood has caught us all.Everyone looking forward for those few days of enjoyment and togetherness with friends and family.Avik boarded a morning flight to Kolkata. "Since you are seated at the emergency let me brief you about the security issues," the air hostess muttered .Avik happened to be a frequent flier and could almost recite those lines along with her. The monotony was broken by the sudden appearance of the fellow passenger. She was well past her teens.Had sharp features.Neatly done hair.Light eye makeup and heavy gloss.A smart suit with jeans.Classy platinum ear rings and a side laptop.She wasn't very tall. "Let me help you k...

"God is a circle of infinite radius having infinite centers and considering each human being to be discrete points inside the circle,are at equal distances from God !" Akshay said these solemnly without blinking even once Since when did you start taking interest in such matters? Inquired Vijay Do I look one who would venture into reading all this...common you guys know me ! That's exactly why we are worried.Hey everything's fine ? - Akash chipped in. Akshay ,Vijay and Ajay are friends from college.They have shared everything ....well almost everything.Studied together,cheated together,hit out on girls together and even got rejected together.The most important part they all even got married almost at the same time.It has been a year that they met and after much effort they planned for a get together at Akshay's place in Delhi.Their wives also came along. According to our Vedas there are 330 million Gods and Goddess! Dude did you get hit by so...

"Stand Down ....Stand Down.... ." a sharp tone swept across across all walkie talkies held by the cops. It was near 2 AM on the Christmas eve.The cops had been on duty throught the day.Huge forces were deployed.The "Stand Down" order brought some relief.Everyone started to disperse. "Avik what about dinner?Come lets enjoy the Christmas eve with few rounds of Scotch.Game young man?" the Additional SP said these light heartedly to Avik. "Oh thank you sir ; please carry on." "As you wish young man,Merry Christmas" Avik was an Inspector with the Police force.In his late twenties,dedicated to his work,soft spoken and has  lately started putting on weight at wrong places.However he always longed a physique of a Spartan !As the jeep of Additional SP sped past,Avik courted a salute and proceeded to his chamber inside the police station.He had just lit a cigarette that a commotion broke outside followed by a girl who dashed inside his c...

It had been a long day.Pushy clients,quarter end pressure and infinite abuse combined to form a cocktail in Avik's head.The drive to home either has not been pleasant.Clogging at various junctions in the city.In one of the junctions read a digital sign board with date and temperature."12th March, 36 deg C ". A quick freshening up.Then what?After pondering for quite sometime decided to hit the pool.It has been almost a decade and a half that Avik went swimming. The evening breeze blowing gently.The pool was on the roof top.Few more high rises besides.The horizon is still red but darkness has engulfed.Lights from the neighboring high rises falling on the water and diffusing in a blissful orchestra.The water seemed to wash off the sun rays still on his skin. Avik was still in the water.From what seemed from there was a solitary figure on the farther side of the pool.He could not see clearly from the distance but could make out it was a girl.Somewhat skinny,curly dark hair...

"I do " and life changes ! I am sure many of my friends can relate to what I am trying to hint at.The past two to three months have seen the Indians most active trying to wed their children.Many of your friends boyfriends and girlfriends get married during this period.An exercise which starts well in advance from finding a suitable boy or girl (just in case you are useless and believe in outsourcing the same to parents).The whole exercise assumes herculean proportions with slowly the whole family and friends giving you options.Most of us haven't had much of a choice in our entire lifetime.Be it choosing a the stream of study,career ,you were even given names without your consultation!However this is probably the only time when we are asked to exercise our choice.More often than not if we are given an option ,we choose. Isn't that a great strategy! Marriage has been termed as an institution.I beg to differ.It is more of an economy.Movies,songs,event management,caterer...