The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity. ― Leo Tolstoy We live here. In this city. A Godforsaken one. We live in wooden houses, brick ones, painted building, muddy cottages. We live in owned mansions—we also live in a rented house even worse- face-me&slap-you. We are city people. We go to…
Nostalgia
We all ran the corridors together to make sure we were always ahead of the headmaster. If one did get caught, we all took the blame being ready to be held accountable for every one’s mistakes. This unity is something I was willing to give up to settle sooner. It was never a happy family,…
To My Brother In Heaven
Dear Brother, Some may say it is unwise of me to write a letter to you when you are somewhere this letter cannot reach, but there are things I want to tell you, show you and talk to you about. Life has never been an easy ride for me. I have our family; they are…
The Moment Between Impulse and Control
We step onto the roof in anticipation. Just the two of us and a bottle of wine, a cool summer breeze caressing our faces. “What now?” I ask. “We’ll just have to wait,” you say, your eyes already fixed on the night sky. I lie down by your side, trying to stay still as if…
A Small Sri Lankan World
My mum says the EasyJet cashier was my father’s brother’s friend’s housemate for two years when they first came to England, back when Appa* thickened the chicken curry up with cornflakes. She says he played UNO with me growing up, used to work in Dunkin Donuts, bring me the glazed ones every Friday. She says…
Undivided Love
‘I have never seen Inam this serious.’ I thought. Something was seriously wrong. His thick black eyebrows narrowed, jaws stiffened and fair skin turned red. ‘What is wrong, sweetheart?’ He didn’t seem to hear me as his fingers went fast on the grey keypad on his table. I called him again. ‘Inam, what is wrong?’…
Love Song #777
for Maria Your favourite colour is purple and mine is blue and how’s this for romanticism but combined they resemble the shade of a pretty majestic bruise. Before I met you, I’ve seen sunsets merely going through the motions, a wash of luminescent hues rooted in a never-ending sky of circumstance and survival. Every tint…
Unforeseen
‘Funny how you’ve got to get your heart broken ninety-nine times to feel numb on your hundredth’, she tweeted. Letting her long black hair on the floor from the edge of her bed, she took a look at her mother at a reversed view standing at her doorway with hands on hips. “The first face…
The One Who Walked Away
With a heart heavier than the dress she wore that day, she walked up to the beautifully adorned stage that waited to glow as she took the seat that was meant for her. ‘Smile, it’s your big day!’, her closest cousin reminded her as she placed the heavy dupatta to cover the stage halfway. Women…
Expectations
Just always be the better person. And make your intentions pure. What and who you are is what will be remembered. Pain is inevitable in our journey and it will always exist, but if you focus on understanding what you are and what you are feeling at the moment, and why you’re feeling it, you…