Author Archives: nirjaprasad

Nandan Villa stood high at the corner of the cooperative housing society. The mansion was one of the dignified addresses of the locality. The proud owner, Mohan Das, was a retired government officer. He had tastefully invested his earning in making his dream house. Nandan villa was majestic, an iconic landmark of the area. TheContinue reading “A Robinson Crusoe…”

Dulia sat relieved in the Shramik Express taking him back from New Delhi to Ranchi in Jharkhand. He remembered the journey six months back with his contractor from Ranchi to New Delhi. He was going to work at a big project in the national capital. It was also a construction site like the one inContinue reading “DULIA RETURNS HOME”

Our village, on the banks of the river Saryu, had a very calm and a serene atmosphere. Every summer vacation, we would go to my village to spend the holidays with our old grandparents. They would be very delighted to meet us, as we would be meeting each other after almost a year. The twoContinue reading “A natural lockdown…”

We were brimming with enthusiasm as we participated in the mass clapping and clanking of thalis to applaud the doctors, paramedics, cleaning and security staff who have been working day and night to protect their fellow citizens from the epidemic of coronavirus. It was an unbelievable solidarity shown by the people. Nevertheless, the loud soundContinue reading “Coronavirus: Perspective of the sparrows”

The weekend approached with lots of plans to spend it merrily. Our family of four was trying to select the best location for a relaxing and fun filled picnic. The hectic weekdays swept out with ease only on the lookout for a weekend getaway. As the kids packed their badminton rackets, frisbie and skipping ropes,Continue reading “TIES OF LOVE”

Nestled at the foothills of the long mountain range of the Chotanagpur plateau, fringed with jungles of Sal and Sangwan, was the village of Karra. It was Somari’s village. Somari, a simple, naïve girl stayed here with her physically disabled mother and two younger sisters. It was a remote village consisting of a few mudContinue reading “THE JOURNEY BEGINS”

The twinkling tiny bulb strands swaying on the freshly plastered walls of Shishir’s house brightened up the celebrative spirit. The occasion was Shishir’s wedding. The small sleepy village of Srirampur was in full fervour to participate in the marriage ceremony. Jazzing music of the DJ drew groups of youngsters and children to dance to theContinue reading “THE TORCH BEARER”

The door-bell rang. I reluctantly dragged myself out of the bed. The wall clock indicated 8. It was a cold morning with a dense cloud of fog outside. Perhaps, it was drizzling too. It was Christmas. A bright sunny morning would have been very delightful for this festive occasion. But the dull weather had dampenedContinue reading “Santa”

The Harsingar tree artistically stationed at the corner of Kusum tai’s courtyard had strewn the ground with its white blossom. Kusum tai’s half mud and half pucca village house with a small courtyard in the middle was her humble abode. Sparrows and mynahs flocked around the rice bowl perched on the slanting roof top. TheirContinue reading “SHIVA”