Suma Jayachandar

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2021

Stories (35)

35 Stories

959 karma pts

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“Bagheera and Me” by Suma Jayachandar

Pa got his transfer order to move to Secunderabad Cantonment in the spring of 2016. I remember Ma breaking the news to me with a serving of chocolate cake, grinning from ear to ear. She was a city girl, and after two and a half years of being stationed at Dinjan which was nestled among the tea gardens interspersed with gigantic trees, with very rare trips to nearby Tinsukia, must have been relieved at the prospect of mov...

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“A Peaceful Outing” by Suma Jayachandar

Detective Srini hated breaking hearts. Unless it was necessary.Maybe that’s why he was regularly assigned these cases.He sat two rows behind his client’s wife, trying to shield himself from the blows the antihero rained on his assailants sending them flying in all directions on the screen.There was just one thought that kept on playing in his mind as his teeth crunched the caramel popcorn- When did I lose the plot of my life? Ms. Goldilocks shifted in her seat. Maybe she too had her nerves jangled enou...

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“The Door” by Suma Jayachandar

“So, is this the best you have on offer?” a sceptical voice inquires.I am jolted out of my corner, from my meditative mood. I put my pen down and smile.There is doubt in slit eyes, pursed lips and the tilt of her head.Oh! This one has high expectations.I see her eyes wandering through the world in my corner. The mountains, the rivers, the deserts. And a mixture of happy, sad and every other variation of characters going on about their lives.She shakes her head. And checks her catalogue.“I...

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“Snippets” by Suma Jayachandar

A fruit-laden jujube branch on a summer morning. Full of promise for a day that could be spent getting tanned playing hopscotch and savouring the tangy delights afterwards. A perfect start for a summer break from school.That was what I had on hand, delivered by post last fortnight. It also had the ring of raucous laughter of Grandma, the smell of salt from a day spent on the beach with Pa, a family vacation in Shimla and more. Strung together with thorny jujube stitches; Fireflies of memories flying off them- scattered, magical and...

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“Photographer, Wedding Photographer” by Suma Jayachandar

CW: Some crude humorI sensed that they could no longer stand each other. So, I sent them running and set a drone after them.You see, I had always wanted to shoot. I grew up watching so many 007 movies, I was confident, by the time I reached a certain age where I could straddle a gun or a lady as the occasion demanded, I would go onto dangerous missions with a 100% success rate, where I and I alone would be humanity’s last hope.But there were three problems. First of all, in my country, there was no majesty ...

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“Peace Lily” by Suma Jayachandar

“A spider plant,” Ma said when she picked me up from school.I was disappointed. Kyra and I had been neighbours since kindergarten. And she had left me a plant! Not a pirate headband or a video game or at least one of the many treasures we had dug out together. That too some…“What plant ma?”“Spy…der plant.” She drawled as she helped me balance myself on the deck of her scooter.“Spy…der plant! Spaay…der plant! SPUDRR plant!!” I rolled the sound of it in my mouth as Ma cruised along the curvy road....

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“Crimson Spurts” by Suma Jayachandar

I wouldn’t have come home, had my brother not left it.I alight from a black and yellow auto-rickshaw. My parents are not expecting me. So, nobody picked me up from the railway station.I pay the driver. He turns the tri-wheeler around and sputters away. I stand in front of imposing gates, with pink and white bougainvillea bursting from its sides. My hands tremble as I unlatch it after nearly 5 years. I crack it open just enough for me to slip in with my backpack.The sweet fragrance of jasmine tries to ward off the bitt...

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“Up Up and Midway!” by Suma Jayachandar

MidWoman tapped at the blinking band on her wrist. She blinked back at the new notification. There it was, a one star! And the comment began with ‘The ill-fitting costume didn’t inspire confidence…’She fumed as she loosened her belt with a ridiculously big M for a buckle. She had an inkling the old pervert would do this to her. He shouldn’t even have been there at the rendezvous.That meant she had to meet TheBoss.She knew she was not in her prime but had she lost her sheen completely?She teleported to a deserte...

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“Hoodwinked” by Suma Jayachandar

The only thing worse than tracing a witness five years after is to find out he has forgotten all about the crime.Or at least the bits that matter.But detective Syed was no greenhorn. He smiled at the 19-year-old who was sitting across the table devouring his second plate of chicken cafreal.“So, is the chicken tangy enough?”“Yes, detective. Thank you for buying me lunch,” Daniel D’Souza grinned, his cheeks still plump with the spicy treat tucked in.“Not at all, thanks for agreeing to meet me here,” Detect...

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“Dear Departed,” by Suma Jayachandar

C.W: This story contains descriptions of the dead and death rituals.March 9th, 2022When the news of your passing finally arrived, I felt relieved. Of course, people will say that is how one would expect a daughter-in-law to feel. But they haven’t had a journey that you and I share. How the ticking clock had turned me from a cowering bride resentful of your possessiveness to the one who gently cradled your head in the crook of her arm and fed you the mashed food.I saw your boy-my husband, repeat t...

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“One Step Closer” by Suma Jayachandar

Note: - This is a sequel to Chalk and Cheese. It can be read as a stand-alone story as well.“You’ll never know unless you try!” declares Anj sputtering bits of lettuce and onion with the mayonnaise dripping down her full mouth. I look sceptically at her burger and then at my bowl of spinach gravy. My sleepless face is reflected in the green oil. I tend to agree with her. Maybe I should have taken up on Anj’s recommendation of a Maharaja Burger. At ‘Naveen Fusion Food’, the only cafeteria on the hospital premises, oil is ...

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“On the Line” by Suma Jayachandar

[🌈St Mary’s Middle School]29 July 2020[Geeta chamchi Co-ord  Dear teachers, Sister will conduct a meeting at 4.00 p.m. on Zoom today. Please download the app and be prepared 😊 💖][Aneesa quick gun HindiMadam, why?][Rita anti-tech Games P.E. teachers also? And where is this Zoom?][Daniel suave ScienceIt’s on Play Store][Rita anti-tech GamesPlay Where!?]

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“BLANK.ZeroZeroOne” by Suma Jayachandar

On planet AUM.108 ashes are sacred. The shadow of its inhabitants is never lonely. For it has two suns. When the two suns are equidistant from AUM.108 its inhabitants congregate. They sit cross-legged on the grey ground, place their purple translucent upper limbs on their knees and close the single eye on their foreheads. And begin to chant. A chakra begins to grow at the base of every throat,...

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“Bubble Rap” by Suma Jayachandar

Do red teddy bears love to rest their furry backs on red pillows?Apparently, on the shelves of Treasure Island, they do. Especially around the second week of February, when the pillows are heart-shaped.It’s 9.30 in the morning. I drink in the rich aroma of Masala Tea from the next shop as I raise the shutters of Mr.Shah’s gift shop. Mr. Shah trusts me enough to let me open the shop early on special days like this. After all, I am the only salesgirl among the whirlpool of workforce to have stay...

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“Chalk and Cheese” by Suma Jayachandar

“All marriages are arranged; some by the bride and the groom and others…well, by others!” boomed the baritone.“I don’t agree Ram. A person should be able to choose a partner for themselves.”“Janaki, don’t put these silly ideas into kids’ heads now. Aren’t we happy together?”“Well, we got lucky!”“Even though we are like…”“Chalk and cheese?” Ma had said and let out a throaty laugh.I was thirteen at the time and was certain I had met the love of my life. I too had joined in the laughter thinking of i...

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Author bio

Wanderer. Seeker. Teacher. Writer

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #121
Another Day in Paradise – read story