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Board on the wall

There is a board on the wall near my college entrance. It has photographs of all the principals from the past on it. The mug shots go back a century. Only one photo was missing: the current guy’s. The man who ordered my suspension for a week. My crime? I released the frogs kept for dissection in our zoology lab. My question is, what is wrong with that? I hate violence, especially against those who cannot fight back. I think the word that I am searching for is a pacifist. Not only that, but I wanted to discuss my side of the story with him, but he refused to listen. In other countries, students bunk classes and protest climate change. And guess what? They get nominated for the Nobel Prize. Here, I get suspended. The system is unjust. “One-week suspension, starting from Monday,” he said; it was Friday.Under normal circumstances,… Board on the wall

My home

The distance from the airport to my home was about twenty kilometers. The flight was on time. Even with light traffic, the cab would get me to my destination in about half an hour.“Turn right at the junction. Then it is straight from there.” I said.“I know the place,” said the driver. He was upset that I was giving out the directions! Ha, typical of my home state. We were a proud people.“Sorry, I am returning after three decades, I am a bit excited,” I said.“Hmm.”That was all the driver had to say.“I left after both my parents passed away. They met with an accident. My father was driving. I lived alone after that for a couple of months. I left at the first opportunity. I have been living in Mumbai for the last three decades. I never thought I would be coming back. But, now there is a conference… My home

I will be late

It is 10.15 a.m. I will be late. I did not hear the alarm. It was set for seven a.m. That happens when you go to sleep at 2 a.m. The project submission date is fast approaching. Late hours are the new normal. “I want everyone in the office by 10 a.m. sharp.” It was easy for my project manager. He lived right next to the office. The rent in that area was more than my monthly salary. He can afford it; I cannot.  I live on the outskirts of Mumbai. The local trains are always jam-packed with passengers. I usually manage to squeeze in. At my age, it is better to be sandwiched inside than hanging out of the open door. I have seen too many people spread out on the tracks to take that kind of risk. The platform is packed with commuters. The peak hours are from… I will be late