Sivaram Govindaraj

“POWER OF DARKNESS” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #92

Arjun was a young man – tall, muscular and with a rugged look. He was only 27 but his hairline was receding. Perhaps to make up for it he had grown an outsize moustache. He had a degree in commerce and had now to decide on taking up a job, or study further to become a chartered accountant. It was at this stage he had lost his parents to covid in his home town. He had now come back to his third floor flat in the city which was now his own. Arjun had an admirable quality. He would readily go to the help of those who needed it irrespective of s...

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“THROWING LIGHT” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #92

(This story is set on a small island state in the planet GAIA2 which is earth’s twin though backward by about 800 years and is still evolving.) Awake! For morning in the bowl of night/Has flung the stone that puts the stars to flight/I start a story I will tell you anon/Of a Chief which I now start upon. The Chief who was head of the island was tall wide and handsome. He was young too and was a law unto himself. That morning he was in his garden looking at the plants and flowers and the butterflies darting amidst them Hearing a noise he turn...

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“ART OF ACCEPTANCE” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #91

I am a member of a library which is very old. The books are stacked at great heights and I have to climb built-in ladders to search for the titles I need. One day I was looking for a book on the Art Of Living (AOL). The catalog showed about 6 authors having written on the subject. I found an AOL book written by a Dutchman translated into English besides into other European languages. I was browsing it when another book on the shelf tumbled down. I came down and picked up the fallen book. Before replacing it on the shelf I opened it and read ...

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“FROM MY CATALOG” by Sivaram Govindaraj

I am male aged 40 with a rural background. I work for the government of India as an agricultural expert often going into agricultural areas on work. Of course I am now city based with many contacts and experiences. My dad had been an avid diarist and had left me several of his diaries. One condensed example from his diary: (I am avoiding names as the substance alone is significant.)’ A and B were neighbours with a common fence separating their properties. A’s mango tree always dropped its ripe and unripe mangos into B’s garden which B would ...

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“A REMEMBRANCE” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #91

Looking at the building in the business district of a city in India, you wouldn’t believe it contained a library. It occupied floors 3 and 4 of a high rise. The ground floor was shared by a firm selling paints and another, a medical products dealer named Apollo Pharmacy. On the third floor you will be in a well-lit large hall with marble flooring, containing reference books, children’s books besides dailies and periodicals. The 4th floor is similarly built and contains books which could be lent to members. Books in the vernacular were more n...

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“MOTHER NATURE CULT” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #90

This story is set in the island of Rambu in planet GAIA2 which is earth’s twin about 8 centuries behind but is still evolving. The king of Rambu summoned his prime minister (PM) who came. The king said “Can you tell me about that man named Poly?” “He is the head of Mother Nature cult and has introduced new types of worship of Nature. He venerates trees and plant life and halts pollution of waterways and rivers. It was he who introduced Nature day when he wants the entire population to bathe naked in the sea to avoid polluting water bodies l...

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“THE JOURNEY” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #90

I was thankful that I was able to board the 6.30 PM train and occupy a seat as it was overly crowded. The problem was the 6 o’clock train had been cancelled as power had been cut following heavy rains earlier in the evening. I have to introduce myself! I am Pinto who has a degree in art. I am tall and fair and people say I have a winning smile always. My resume has been sent to a French art school and I was told I would likely be awarded a scholarship to study art further in that country. How am I dressed? I have on a blue T-shirt over grey ...

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“SPEAKING TREE” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #90

Trees fulfil wants of men and other creatures with bark, branches, buds, flowers. foliage, greens, leaves, nuts, oils, roots, seeds, shadow, sweet smelling sap, timber, tender roots, toddy, twigs, wood and unripe fruit. A tree branch is the first choice of a human wanting to commit suicide by hanging in a public place or shelter for a brigand to escape from wild beasts. They also bring misery into human lives by falling on people taking shelter under them. Historians count the rings within barks to date the age of trees. One product of the t...

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“INVERTED TALE” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #89

THE PRESENT: The obstetrician lifted the little one and clipped the umbilical cord after gently smacking its back. She  said to the mother “You wanted a girl. Here is your Lily.” Within herself the doctor said “A spitting image of the ugly mother.” Lenny looked at Lily and was deeply doubly disappointed: She had wanted a handsome boy though she had mentioned her preference for a girl to hospital staff she had befriended. And the child was ugly. The child was put to nurse. A couple of hours later her husband came and after seeing Li...

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“ PEOPLE VERSUS THE KING” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #88

The kingdom of Anaka is on earth’s twin planet GAIA2 which is still evolving about 800 years behind. A committee of the Governing Council was in session with the King and his Prime Minister (PM) present. Jellon the prosecutor was making a case against wrong doings. Jellon addressed HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS (HRH) and  PM and said “People of Anaka have our king as protector. He has largely ruled wisely and well. Still there are some cases where citizens are unhappy. I will bring before this Council those cases. I will start with the constr...

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“AESOPUS EMENDATUS” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #88

I am writing this blog about the American writer Ambrose Bierce (1842- 1914) who has published many literary works. Here is a sampling from his DEVIL’S DICTIONARY: ABSCOND: To move in a mysterious way commonly with the property of another. ADAMANT: A mineral found beneath a corset. Soluble in solicitate of gold. ADDER: A species of snake so called from its habit of adding funeral outlays to the other expenses of living. ASS: “Hail holy Ass, the quiring angels sing;/Priest of Unreason and of Discords King!/Great co-Creator, let Thy glory shin...

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“ENCHANTED PARK” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #86

It was time of the Spring Festival. The park named Flowerland had flowers in abundance. The beauty of the flowers and their smell captivated people. Before it was opened to the public the Fairy Godmother announced “I’m making this Flowerland into an Enchanted one where people who come alive can repent.” The first to answer came up and said “I’m Lady Constance Chatterley. All must’ve heard of me.” The second who came said “I’m Mellors who was the game keeper in the Chatterley estate. I was told I had also to repent.” Connie said “The flowers...

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“AFTER MISFORTUNE STRUCK” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #86

I was back home after 24 months. I liked the feeling of being free and at home. My son had picked me up at the appointed hour which was 3 PM. I surveyed my garden. The plants were in good shape. A gardener saluted me and I acknowledged. He was new. The old fellow must have quit I thought. I knew an honest couple had taken care of my house in my absence. I got a phone call which my son passed on to me as I had as yet no phone of my own. It was the head of a religious organisation which I had sustained during my years in power. I thanked the c...

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“TRIP TO FLOWERLAND” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #86

Planet Gaia2 is earth’s twin but is evolving about 8 centuries behind. In the kingdom of Anaka in Gaia2, there lived a woman named Slim. Slim she was as her name suggested. She was tall and fair and attractive with her abundant hair swept back and tied into knots. She wore the same dress of the kingdom which only covered her, waist down. She had been married to a man named Spark and they had lived a happy life. Spark was an adventurous type and one day decided to visit a kingdom where he was told the mountain sent up red hot rock very often....

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“I AND MY CITY” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #85

The City is far older than me and is my provenance. I had never in the past reflected on my relationship with my City but am looking to it now. I ask myself if I like my City. To answer that question let us take a practical example. A man marries a woman who isn’t particularly attractive but has redeeming features of practical life - acceptance of fortitude and tolerance to cope with the vicissitudes of life and you forget to look particularly for her beauty. You accept her. You get used to her. You may find you can’t live without her. It is...

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