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Horns blared frequently and with enough intensity to turn a person deaf, the thrum of bodies swiping against each other created an uneasy experience, the crisp air of evening was marred by the choking fumes of the vehicles. This was not how Naina had imagined the main market of…
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An early bird chirped at the windowsill, tilting its head to avoid the sun’s reflection unsuccessfully and then pecked the glass impatiently. The woman stirred at the sound, tried to turn over but found herself trapped in warmth. Opening her eyes, she blearily blinked at the figure next to…
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New Year, as celebrated in Gujarat on the day after Diwali, began with an argument in Agarwal house… Over plates of fafda-jalebi, Taiji was announcing her opinion about how Naina shouldn’t be allowed to step out of the house since her wedding was fixed. Tauji was supporting his wife,…
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It was a particular humid day in the city of dreams – the weather was peculiar, a smattering of grey clouds dotting the pristine blue sky but no wind, and absolutely no sign of the rains Mumbai was so famous for even though it was already July. A young…
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Naina sat on the mattress in her bedroom, surrounded by three dresses that she considered to be her best ones from whatever she had brought from bua-dadi’s home, but still she was unable to decide which one to wear. Today was the day she was getting married to Sameer…
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Udaipur… Just the name brought so many memories that sometimes she felt overwhelmed. It was their first college trip and her second long trip after Mt. Abu. Even then it had been so difficult to get permission from home, especially with Taiji repeatedly broadcasting, “jawan ladkiya hai… kuch unch-neech…