Olive Chaudhuri

//  As I sat there, looking down my terrace with a cigarette between my fingers, I felt empty. It felt like all the reasons I loved about being alive, are suddenly my reasons to end my breathing. I was smiling with tears, as smoke exhaled after every drag was vanishing in heavy winds like the 15 stories high building is consuming more cigarettes than my lungs. “Aasra!” Namit said out of breath. “I knew I would find you here” “Hey” I smiled. His presence to me does what charging do to a dying battery. He came and sat with me carefully. “This part of terrace has no railings, you should be very careful here Aasra, especially during nights.” He was right how come I never thought about jumping from here? How will it feel like? Then I can hear my own voice roaring in air like thunder while going down. But, what about the burden of culpability I am carrying? Will it vanish with my breathing? “Aasra” He signalled on the cigarette which was now ignited to the verge of the filter end and abo...

//  I woke up in the middle of the night. I was sweating profusely. I wiped the sweat off from my face and took a deep breath. I slid out from the blanket as my t-shirt was also soaked in sweat and I was feeling drained. I was about to get up when I heard the sound of the bathroom door closing loudly. I got up, muttering in anger. "I've told her a thousand times." But Jaanvi won't ever understand it as usual. Just, when I was about to get out from the bed to scold her, I saw the ceiling fan and the lights swinging. Maybe I was still dizzy by sleep, but I didn't have time for that. I had to teach my wife a lesson for a billionth time, to close the bathroom door gently. I went to the bathroom, but couldn't find her there. I turned towards the bed and found her tucking in the blanket. "What's wrong?" She asked in a groggy tone. "You've got to close that door a little lightly, I've already told you so many times." "Mmm.. Sorry ...