SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

“AMICABLE SOLUTION” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

People started gathering at Krishnaveni’s house. She was pronounced dead. She was living alone in her house. Her four sons had deserted her long ago considering her to be a dead weight liability on them. Considering her pitiable situation, she was engaged as a farm labourer, by one of the landlords in the village. She had learnt to live within whatever she received as wages. There was no scope for extravaganza, wastages, or luxuries.Now that she was gone, villagers sent a messenger to get her sons for conducting death related rituals. “Oh! W...

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“NEWLY FOUND FRIENDSHIP” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

It was around 9-30 pm. Hari was about to close the main gate. Just then an old man tired and exhausted came hesitantly and asked for an address. “Is this RK Nagar? Is this door no 36? Are you Mr. Hari? I have a letter for you from your father.” He handed over the letter. Hari ran a quick glance at the letter and noted the contents. The writer had given his phone number at the bottom of the letter after his signature. He very well understood at the first glance itself that the old man had come to a wrong door. Hari took pity on the person w...

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“MAGIC POTION” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Malini was nagging her mother for a bed time story. She is a three-year-old girl with great affinity for her father. Madhavi, her mother thought for a while. Then she said, “Appa has not yet come home. I will tell you story till he comes and I will stop telling after that. Okay? Today I am going to tell you Ramayana in a different style. There are plentiful magic things in this Ramayana. You will really be surprised. One by one you keep counting. To start with, let me tell you about Rama’s birth. The very birth of God Shri Ram was shrouded i...

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“SUREKHA Vs SUREKHA” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

The two ladies were planting a branch of a tree together. One was Surekha. The other woman was also Surekha. First woman was a classical dancer and the other woman was Collector of the district. Both were renowned ladies in their respective fields – the only difference was their area of popularity. The district collector by virtue of her position and profession commanded more respect. That was the reason Surekha the dancer wanted the Collector Surekha to come and preside over a dance programme which was choreographed by her. By advertising t...

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“WHISKERS AND TURBANS” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Rohini was born. After a long time, a baby girl was born in the family. All were excited and thrilled. Her birth was a great hit in the family. The baby girl, her every little movement, her mesmerising smile -- her every single activity kept the house in captivity. She was growing up steadily. Undoubtedly, she was the apple of their eyes. From baby hood to childhood and then on to girlhood – her transition was a delight to the family. The school-going girl was now entering into adulthood and then gradually into her teen age. For graduation, ...

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“BABAY'S DAY IN” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Narayanan called his friend Vijay on phone and said to him “I have good news to share with you. But time being, it is suspense. I can give a clue to you. Do you remember how my daughter was glued to your cell phone and the way she cried when you took it back? For more details, refer to today’s Times of India, Page three”. Vijay replied “Oh! Yes. I read it in the morning. Is it our Tara who did the miraculous job! A prodigal child! Born CID, I suppose! Can’t believe! A baby of 20 months nabbing three hard core criminals! How it happened? I wa...

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“KARUNA AND MOHAN” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

KARUNA AND MOHAN Tara’s happiness knew no bounds. She was overwhelmed with joy. Reason --- she can call herself now by her original name -  Nayantara  as it used to be once upon a time. Thanks to Karuna who made it possible. Nayantara lost her eyesight in her childhood due to a minor accident. Now after about fourteen years, she got her vision back. Her parents wanted that once she could see after the successful operation she must open her eyes first upon the image of Lord MURUGA, their family deity. That should be her first sigh...

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“SAY NO TO AN EXTROVERT GIRL” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #104

Shankar was quite excited to know that his friend Gopal finally agreed to his mother’s request to see the girl. Gopal was quite skeptical about ‘girl-seeing-ritual’. He had discussed this topic many times with Shankar and other friends. Everyone shared their opinion and offered comments and advises. For some friends, it was an outdated practice. For some, an easy opportunity and for a few more, a real nuisance affair. Rohit said both the man and the girl felt awkward and uneasy and under utter tension at that time. Rajan said, “I am fine wit...

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“MIDDLEMEN” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Bikaasingh was stunned when he came to know that his close friend cum financier, Bishen Singh, was under Income Tax Raid. Earlier when he received a summon from them, Bishen Singh ignored it. He thought it was their usual ritual to issue such summons to complete their targets assigned for the year. Bikaasingh was under the opinion that if a person was paying income tax, it meant he was a wealthy and a worthy fellow. But if a person avoided paying tax, how it would be seen by the society … he was not aware. Was it not a crime to avoid paying ...

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“PRAYER -- OM SHANTI” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #101

Lalita was reciting her daily prayers. As it was nearing its ending, she concluded by reciting the Shanti Mantra, --- Let all people be in happiness, --- let all people lead a healthy life, --- let all people see the noble things only, --- Let all people experience that which is good for all, --- let no one suffer, --- Let peace prevail everywhere. Om Shanti Om Shanti Om Shanti. Then she prostrated on bare floor and showered a bunch of flowers on her favourite God Ganesha. She folded her hands and with closed eyes meditated for a few se...

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“A SPECIAL LUNCH AND A PHONE CALL” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #100

Priyanka received a phone call. It was an unknown number. First, she hesitated. Then she picked up the call. The lady on the other side of the call introduced herself as an old friend from Yashoda Hospital and she reminded her about Priyanka’s blood donation stunts. Priyanka remembered the incidence and recollected the lady. She told her, “It was not any stunt Aunty. I genuinely donated blood at that time. Though it was not used for the patient you were referring to. By the way I am not seeking any fame or remuneration for my deeds. Neither ...

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“SUMMER ROAD TRIP” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #99

Women and children were sitting in the front row of the van while the men folk were busy talking and they were seated at the back. They were arguing rather debating over current politics. The little girl Rajani was holding a small nylon cover outside the window and was enjoying it when it got inflated looked like a balloon. As she was holding it on the opposite side of the moving van, the wind was blowing on it and helped it. Her sister Ramya, was guiding her to hold it strong or else it would fly off. In fact, she was the one who started it...

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“AN ORPHAN” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #98

Suryakant opened the newspaper and was grazing through headlines. When he stumbled upon a news item on covid -19 related situation, he was really shocked. A photo of a small kid in tears was blown up and focused. The small boy was standing along with two other elder siblings. The narration went as under… Both parents had tested positive somedays ago. The children somehow managed to keep themselves in seclusion. With tips and help from neighbours they maintained themselves stay alive. But the severity of pandemic was so strong that the parent...

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“SILENT PRAYERS.” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #97

Balaram called his daughter Shilpa and told her that he had arranged for funds for her admission in the course she wanted to join. She was thrilled and expressed her tons of thanks to him. Balaram wanted her to know that it was much beyond his capacity to spend so much on one girl. So, he insisted that she should realize her responsibilities and be sincere in her studies and come out with flying colours. He also wanted to tell her that she, being the eldest, must ensure that her two younger sisters also come up well in life. But he did not s...

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“CENTUM” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #96

Jinnah was staring at one more corpse that came up for cremation. Mani, the van driver told him that the accompanying person who admitted this dead-man at the hospital had tested positive for Corona and he was admitted in another hospital. Hence the patient who died became an orphan. Jinnah told him, “Oh! One more case similar to our Vimala’s.” “Yes, Sir. It is she who formed this group. Almost a month and a half ago since she formed this team of ours. After the group was formed, I came to know from her about her sad experiences. Though I sh...

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