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a group of palm trees with a foggy sky in the background

Light over the landscape

It was eleven at night, and the world lay cloaked in darkness. The moon, shy yet persistent, played hide-and-seek with the clouds, casting fleeting silvery light over the landscape. Around me, the tall coconut trees swayed gently in the breeze, their silhouettes a rhythmic dance against the endless expanse of paddy fields that stretched beyond my makeshift bed. This was my world for the nighta fold-able cot, with me draped in a sleeping bag and enclosed by a mosquito net. For the first time in my life, I was sleeping out in the open, nothing but thin mesh separating me from the stars. In the spaces where clouds hadn’t staked their claim, the sky revealed its glittering secrets, a cosmic reminder of how small and fleeting we are. But I wasn’t here for the stars. I was here for the land. This village was my birthplace, though I hadn’t seen… Light over the landscape

The Union Budget

I switch on the TV eagerly. The finance minister is walking up the steps of the Parliament. She is about to present the union budget. “I think it is a silk sari. Is that color magenta?” my wife said. “What?” I reply. I am more worried about that folder she has in her hand. It is the budget. The Indian Government is presenting its annual budget. All the taxes and rebates come in it. It is usually more taxes and no rebates.  “She has a preference for saris that represent our cultural heritage,” my wife said. “Shh,” I said, increasing the TV volume.  The finance minister’s speech was about to start. Ten minutes later, she stepped into the main part of the speech.“Telecom goods-BCD increased from 10% to 15% on PCBA of specified telecom equipment…” the sound from the TV speaker was echoing in the room. “What does BCD mean?”… The Union Budget

The haunting melody

The music kept getting louder by the minute. I tried blocking it by shutting my ears, but it did not help.