The Artiste and the Wishing Tree

SONG AND STORY is a series of articles that stitches pieces of fiction writing with songs that have popularly been a part of dance repertoires. Born out of an exploration under the UNBOXED series, these articles aim at providing parallel, contra-indicative or juxtaposing contexts to popular poetry such as and not limited to Javalis, Padams and Devarnamas. With utmost respect for the poet/author and composer of the songs, the fiction writing that accompanies the songs is not meant in any way to disregard the original context. Should any reader choose to explore these pieces further, I urge you to access and understand the original contexts too.  As Meera tied the laces on her shoes, the fluorescent colour on the shoe sides triggered off that odd feeling in the pit of her stomach. She shook it off, quite literally shaking her head, picked up her keys and stepped out. Her walk to the Indian store was only 5 minutes but she preferred to use the chore as an excuse to walk around the nei...

SONG AND STORY is a series of articles that stitches pieces of fiction writing with songs that have popularly been a part of dance repertoires. Born out of an exploration under the UNBOXED series, these articles aim at providing parallel, contra-indicative or juxtaposing contexts to popular poetry such as and not limited to Javalis, Padams and Devarnamas. With utmost respect for the poet/author and composer of the songs, the fiction writing that accompanies the songs is not meant in any way to disregard the original context. Should any reader choose to explore these pieces further, I urge you to access and understand the original contexts too.   Rainbow in the dark, I have heard, lives atop the tallest peak, and beyond. Thorns and tentacles you must pass, There she lives, in splendour and warmth. Can rainbows be seen at night? Kamali thought she just saw one. Five years since the day she made her decision. Walking out of that house, that life, that marriage was as dramatic a...

SONG AND STORY is a series of articles that stitches pieces of fiction writing with songs that have popularly been a part of dance repertoires. Born out of an exploration under the UNBOXED series, these articles aim at providing parallel, contra-indicative or juxtaposing contexts to popular poetry such as and not limited to Javalis, Padams and Devarnamas. With utmost respect for the poet/author and composer of the songs, the fiction writing that accompanies the songs is not meant in any way to disregard the original context. Should any reader choose to explore these pieces further, I urge you to access and understand the original contexts too. My Name is Rathna. I am 9 years old. I live in the Village of Mangalam; my father says it is the most beautiful village in the entire world. My mother says that Mangalam is only second best to Harihalli. And Ajji … well Ajji usually sighs when I ask her what she thinks.“Huh… Mangalam is all I can remember and all I know. But I have heard that Kas...

This is a series of articles that stitches pieces of fiction writing with songs that have popularly been a part of dance repertoires. Born out of an exploration under the UNBOXED series, these articles aim at providing parallel, contra-indicative or juxtaposing contexts to popular poetry such as and not limited to Javalis, Padams and Devarnamas. With utmost respect for the poet/author and composer of the songs, the fiction writing that accompanies the songs is not meant in any way to disregard the original context. Should any reader choose to explore these pieces further, I urge you to access and understand the original contexts too. Lalitha- The Lone Bird Knows In a distant village, dusty roads wound their way through the pastures and thickets. The sun was sinking over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of blue and purple. The pastures were engulfed in an eerie silence- the cows had long gone back after a day of grazing. There was hardly any fertile grass left in these parche...