SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

“GALWAN” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #50

Kuppusamy was shocked to read the newspaper. On opening the newspaper in the morning, the first thing that struck him, the very headline was maddening. As many as twenty Jawans were martyred. There was a hush-hush news about it yesterday night in his colony. He ignored it thinking it could be about someone testing positive on Corona. He refused to put on TV and have a first-hand ‘Breaking News’ on it. Daily he had been hearing about COVID-19. No wonder, he was deadly tired of listening to the menace called COVID-19 all the time. It was some ...

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“BOY ON THE BURNING DECK” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #49

Waltair was not paying much attention to the discussion going on in his class room. A small poetry about a ‘Boy on the burning deck’ was being explained. While others were busy paying attention to the teacher, who was discussing various aspects of the poetry, Waltair alone was sitting disinterested and aloof. Teacher noticed him and questioned. In a very stern voice he asked “What are you doing there eh? Stand up. Look at me and answer.” Waltair said in his low tone that he never liked any poetry or story with tragic ends. He said he was bus...

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“SUPERMAN” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #48

Ramachandran, a medical practitioner, was known for his consultation fee of Rs 10/-A tenner only. His son, Pratap did not like his father’s so called ‘noble action’. Unable to argue with him, he kept a donation box at the side table. People who wanted to contribute could do so. Though his father did not agree, he did not contest also. Pratap was of the opinion that being a specialist in the professional line, his father should not hesitate to charge market rate for his services. This would enable him to keep the clinic with a robust and posh...

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“EIGHTH WONDER” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #47

Punyakoti came to Dr.Nagi Reddy’s Hospital. He went to Reception and enquired about Mangal Murthy’s room. The lady there in stead of directing him to the room, said in exclamation, “Oh! That brief case patient! He is now at Room no 103. Go straight and the staircase is on your left side.” Punyakoti gave a blank stare at the lady and wondered why she called him ‘brief case patient’. Without asking any further questions he then proceeded towards the staircase. In the room, he found Mangal Murthy to be very weak and his son Cheenu was present ...

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“MISSION POSSIBLE” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #46

APPA – 60 was written boldly on a blank paper and kept on a bundle of papers in such a way that it would catch my attention easily. Just below that, were two blank sheets and below that was a list of stories selected from my stock. From the list it was clear that in all those stories, the role of father was highlighted and glorified as friend philosopher or guide or at best a role-model. I smiled unto myself, “Oh! What a nice gesture!” Anybody would have claimed them to be great children, but I did not. All forming part of celebration of my ...

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“TONSURE” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #45

Vijay red with rage, barged into Sumathy’s room and threw the folded newspaper on her face. In a low but threatening voice he warned her. “You have a similar fate waiting for you. Just note it. If you don’t mend your ways, you are doomed for sure.” Sumathy frightened by his aggressive behaviour and forceful tone, took the paper and went through the piece of news. It was about a gruesome attack on George Floyd by American Police. What a ghastly report on the incident which shook the world over! A picture was also there at the middle of the n...

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“GOD PROMISE” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #44

“Baba, I have a news to share with you. It may be disturbing.” Sudhanshu told his father. Dash Babu replied, “Never mind that. I am so hardened by fate that nothing disturbs me, now. From the time Protima left us, I am half dead. Without knowing that she was the real culprit. I had gone mad with rage and unnecessarily banged my friend Panigrahi. How rude I was that day! I simply lost control over my tongue. To say ‘Get out and do not show your face again’ was too much. Words are like arrows shot. Gone means gone. Once uttered, cannot be take...

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“SUPER BOSS” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #43

Mixed sounds of many ladies talking and laughing were heard from the ladies’ room adjacent to the dining hall of office canteen. Sunanda was there. But she was not in the group of those women making sounds. She opened her lunch box. She was in a hurry to finish her lunch and go back to her work. She did not participate in the chit-chat of the loud laughter-group of other women staff. It seemed that a few women during their lunch recess, had gone to ‘Chennai Silks Showroom’, where seasonal discount sale was going on, purchased a few sarees an...

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“ZODIAC SIGNS” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #42

Meena observed that her mother was late in returning home. Yet another day of late coming, long waiting. Of late she had been coming home late. Mithun, her brother, comforted her. ‘After all, she was working hard for our sake and we needed to empathise with her and not pester her when she returns home.’ “We do not know about her workload at her office. At home also she is working for us without complaining. Have you ever seen her fretting or getting angry with us? There could be some reason for her to come late. Don’t worry. She had taken ca...

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“ZODIAC SIGNS” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Meena observed that her mother was late in returning home. Yet another day of late coming, long waiting. Of late she had been coming home late. Mithun, her brother, comforted her. ‘After all, she was working hard for our sake and we needed to empathise with her and not pester her when she returns home.’ “We do not know about her workload at her office. At home also she is working for us without complaining. Have you ever seen her fretting or getting angry with us? There could be some reason for her to come late. Don’t worry. She had taken ca...

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“LIFE FIRST” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #41

The rains, the trains and the elephants are all objects enchanting forever. Heavy rains, speedy trains, swaying elephants are very attractive. For children specially, once they notice any of them, life comes to a standstill. Ananya too was no different. In fact, she had an obsession with elephants. Some years ago, her father had taken his family to Thailand and Ananya had a chance to go on Elephant Safari. It was a free ride for children. She was too small to sit alone on the elephant. Her father had tucked her with him. Initially, she was s...

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“A FOE” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #40

Priyanka came to know that her friend’s husband was admitted into Yashodha hospital for dialysis. Since the hospital was near her home at a walkable distance, she thought of visiting her. She bought some fruits and went to see her. At the hospital at every point she had to enquire and go further. She had to enquire and find out the floor number, room number, visitors’ timings, any do’s and don’ts’... She had to enquire where was the lift and get there. She came out of lift and looked for the room where her friend’s husband was admitted. Ther...

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“LOTTERY TICKET” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #40

Keerti, daughter of famous cinema producer cum director, Mister Partibhan lifted half a dozen newspapers left in the verandah of the house and handed them over to her father. She wished him good luck. “At least let today be your luckiest day, Appa. Let your hunt for spicy news turns out to be successful.”  Yrs. She was right. The director was looking for a theme for his next motion picture. He wanted that it should be based on a true incident. A real life-story! Exactly for that reason, he was scanning through the newspapers for in...

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“BHAIRAVAN” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #38

Naagu was working from home and his boss was on the line. “Yes Sir. It will be done. No problem. By the way, let me ----” Before he could complete his conversation, he got distracted by the dog under his feet. Buddy, his daughter’s pet dog was circling him and scratching and making funny sounds, trying to catch his attention. Naagu yelled at his wife to fetch the stupid stuff and throw him out. “Not at all allowing me to carry on my work even for five minutes at a stretch. What my boss will think? Will he not believe that I am playing with t...

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“QUEEN'S NECKLACE” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #37

QUEEN’S NECKLACEManikarnika was standing near the bathing ghat of mighty river Ganga at Haridwar. There were many signboards cautioning the pilgrims and travellers. One board displayed, ’Slippery steps. Caution’, another one advised, ’Keep the place clean’, one more cautioned, ‘Beware of Pickpockets’, another one said, ‘Don’t use soap or shampoo’, one more instructed, ‘Don’t litter, don’t pollute’. She was watching the people taking a holy dip in the river, some reciting hymns and some just enjoying their bath in the running water. Almost ev...

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