Short Story

By Shabir Ahmad Mir Up in the north, deep in the mountains, a two days trek on foot or a day’s on a mule back (and of late an 8 hours drive) from the town...

Aijaz Ganai Drung, a picturesque tourist attraction under the mighty shadow of Afarvat Mountain and in the lap of Gulmarg, is dying; yes dying, even before it properly was born. Drung is an extremely diverse picnic...

Mohd Hanief Ganie | Walkul Lolab When you wake up early in the morning,go outdoors,into nature,to appreciate its beauty and it’s importance,and to take forward the call that Nature is beautiful. Connecting People to nature is...

by Younis Kaloo Five-month pregnant Rashida crossed the road and sat on the concrete step of a shop owned by a prominent businessman of the locality, knowing the impossibility of a ride to Srinagar. Looking around...

by Younis Kaloo Near the marble-topped stairs of a metro station in Delhi, 10 year-old Gaurav sets his makeshift stall in the early morning.  With an urgency to reach their respective destinations on time, commuters...

by Shabir Ahmad Mir In the mirror, he could see the calendar hanging from the wall behind him. He could even see the hole besides the calendar. He changed his angle of vision and now...

By Younis Kaloo Srinagar Whenever one of us was happy, we would jump on each other’s back in sheer enthusiasm, press one face against the other and shout all the expressions of joy. It would...

By Younis Kaloo  “It is my turn, Rehet Mouj’i.”  “No, no, it is mine. Give me first, Rehet Mouj’i.”  “I have enough for all of you. Have faith in God.” Rehet Mouj is not distributing Teher but looks...

By Shabir Ahmad Mir On the bulge of Amira Kadal, I stare at the fish in their basket, murmuring between themselves about their estrangement from the Jhelum that flows underneath belligerently. Or, maybe, they are just...

By Shabir Ahmad Mir The encounter started at 8:13 p.m. How can I be so precise ? Or better still, how does one determine when exactly an encounter starts? The answer, I think, depends upon to whom ...

By Tasavur Mushtaq Sleep eludes me from last many nights. Even after hectic days, the evenings are long. Nights are blank. I changed place but it did not work to get me sleep. As soon...

Saima Rashid I had a dream. Last night. Well, you might ask, what’s new in that? We all dream almost every night, right? But no, it was a different one. I am sure none of...

By Nadeem Shah Standing outside the black-painted gate of this three-storey house in Srinagar’s volatile Maisuma locality, Junaid moves his hand towards the doorbell. He is perspiring and nervous – a bit frightened, too. It’s...

By Nadeem Shah In the uptown Srinagar’s Gonikhan area, Syethe – a neighbourhood bully sat on a shop front in a melancholic state. It was a cold winter evening, with mini clouds of breath preceding...

By Saima Rashid It is raining smoothly outside. The tapping on rooftop is invigorating a strange sense of resemblance in her. Who sits standstill in such weather? A thought flashes a flicker of smile on...