Illusion

    Looking forward to a 28-hour journey, Arya had moved to the top berth to lie down and watch the unfinished movie on her laptop with headphones on. She usually doesn't start conversations on trains and keeps to herself. The right berth was already occupied by a couple and their daughter. So, she got really comfortable and dozed off to sleep after some time.   She felt the train halt and immediately woke up and checked her surroundings. The couple and their daughter had already left the train. She could hear someone talking. "Yes, maa, I have found the berth and I got the food too", the boy at the lower berth said. He was on a call. He had a good physique and his voice was good.  After some time more people arrived and he moved to his side of the top berth.   "Can I plug my laptop here?" he asked. "I am sorry?" Arya said, removing her earphones. "Can I plug my laptop here?" he said again. "Yeah sure," Arya said unplugging the char

Ciara planted marigolds every winter without fail and it was larger than any regular variety that grew. She had a different glow on her face when she looked at the garden full of marigolds. She loved them. This was the first weekend since Ciara passed away and the only thing I can think about was blooming marigolds. So, I went to the cemetery and tied a ribbon on her grave this morning. I came back and as I strolled through the bushes, waiting patiently, for the marigolds to grow again, I saw Arun walking towards me. “Can we head for brunch?” Arun said looking down on me. "It won't take much time and it's on me." As we drove away and waited at a red signal intersection, a few meters away from the cemetery, I saw small children selling roses. "I hate roses". "What?" "I hate roses", I repeated. "They don't serve roses where we are going to eat. Can we proceed now?" Arun said, being his usual sarcasti