The Blue Parchment Club

Sauria are the true lizards of the lizard family. Geckos, which are the most common form of these lizards, frequently hang out in my room. They hang upside down from the ceiling, always keeping a wary eye out for me. Were they here during the time that I had been away as well? I remember hanging like they do, precariously from tall trees made slippery by the constant rain. Scared, silent and still, we stayed there clutching our guns as if they were life jackets. Two days it took for the rest of the platoon to clear the route for us, before we could climb down from our ‘strategic positions.’ We could be people once more, instead of lizards. Maybe that’s why I feel closer to the geckos now that I’m back – I’ve somewhat seen the world from their vantage point. Or, maybe they’re like the surrogate pets that I’ve never had the courage to keep. I hope they don’t let go and disappear after hearing about them being the surrogate pets. The truth is, to put it rather bluntly, I’m scared. I...

She is not allowed to stay with her male cousins anymore. The same fat boy who wore her frocks as a toddler, she wore his pants in return; the tall and skinny structure who bit her thigh, she kicked his balls in return; the best brother who shared his part of sweets, she offered hers. Rigidities of gender never haunted her until puberty struck her hard.  Her helpless heart, caged, cries every night under the silence of the world, wanting to break free.  The poetess of the class, adjusts her piece of clothing, inhales the air of confidence before presenting the seminar amongst adults. She is scared to narrate the tale of truth. They live on lies now. Every character wears a mask in the other half journey of contradictions. There are questions to be answered, blindly accepted norms to be challenged, there is an urge to live in the world of constant entries and exit.  In the city of chaos, she is looked down upon with the setting of the sun. The glass of wine she ...

Recollecting the best moments past month, I sit, I write, I make memories today                                                         ~ Himani mahalwal My entry through the majestic gate, the building that stood tall,the portrait of the old queen,took me back to the Victorian setting. I took a picture, uploaded on social platform and moved myself inside. It felt, exactly where I wanted to be. I scribbled every weekend and knit with the needlelike pen some of the best fabrics. Fabric of different colours and intertwined stories to tell. In the midst of the the journey, as I made the first step inside the cube like classroom, eyes followed me. I wore purple Indian attire with dazzling jhumki's and Jaipuri Kolhapuri. A hoarse voice prompted me to turn back.  " Hey, you look different, join us." Now I exactly knew that wearing...

Come closer Come into this Come closer What beautiful battlefields you are You are quite the beauty If no one has ever told you that before, know that right now You are quite the beauty There is joy in how your mouth dances with your teeth Your smile is simply a sign of how sacred your life actually is So step into it Come closer Know that whatever God prays to He asked of it to make something of worth He woke from His dreams Scraped soil from the spaces stuck somewhere inside Himself He made you He made you and He was happy You make the world happy Come into this Come closer Know that something softer than us but just as holy Planted pieces of himself into our feet That we might one day dance our way back Know that you are almost home Come, just a little bit closer There are birds beating their wings beneath your breastplates Gentle sparrows that ache to sing Come...