Deepak! Yes, Jyoti? Why is the dog crying today? You don't believe in such superstitions. God knows why ¦ am really scared today. Scared of what?...Of darkness? No Deepak, not when you are with...

What was that song! I canât remember the words. The meaning was like thisâ¦The heart is repeatedly searching for those lazy days and nightsâ¦When in the winters we would be sitting in the verandah in the soft sunshine. Sometimes duri...

By Sundri Uttamchandani

By Sundri Uttamchandani

Kiki was sitting on the window, keeping her head on the cold iron rods. Her gaze was on the white pigeon-like clouds. Her silk sari had spread in all directions exactly like the troubled waterfall that had not been able to contain itself...

Bhoori Alias Papad wari - By Smt. Sundri Uttamchandni

By coming to live in Chandralok building, Parbati who was lovingly called Pali suddenly became known as Abaali/poor thing. A senior woman, heavy built was the one who had given her the title of recluce. Whe she had first spotted Parbati...

After two months Ram-Ma had returned today from Ajmer. Adjusting her pallu on her head and bringing it further on her forehead, she entered into her house but on seeing the fresh blue paint on the wall she thought to herself that perhaps...

To jini Ji Taat

I burst out laughing looking at the wheat-skinned boy. Putting her arm around me and kissing my forehead, my grandmother said, "Well done dear Shamlee! You have saved our family honor. If you had rejected even this boy, your brother had...

If the past could be washed away with the flow of tears, then Radha was ready to spend her entire life crying. But in the loneliness of the night when she felt helpless because of her tears, she got up from her bed. She dried her tears w...

Uncle bought two eggs that day. He stylishly handed the money to his grandson and said, âTake this money and go get bread.â Aunt had taken out all the old clothes and was altering them. Pushing her spectacles upwards, she looked at u...

My hospital is quite small. Perhaps there are too many visitors that make it appear small. Inspite of its size it has given me a vast experience of the world and my mind is filled with a strange sense of peace. It feels as the whole of K...

Sindhunagar is the pilgrim centre for the Sindhis... The voice of the bhajans (Bhagat) could be heard at dawn like the call of a homeless bird - "Where are my ancestors, Where is my Maleer...? Alas, where has destiny brought us..." Barra...

Getting down from the train at Baroda station, Niyali looked around for few minutes and then picking up her bag, she walked out of the station. "Why has no one come to receive me?" she wondered and frowned. An autorickshaw driver came an...

Pyar Pyar Peera Peera

Although I did not reside on a higher floor but I was in a hurry, that is why I told Aruna, who stays on the ground floor, "If you have thirty rupees, please give me, I shall return it later. My husband needs it to fill petrol". Aruna im...

3.DESTINY REVEALED It was evening. An old man, holding his waist, was pacing about in the large rooms of Vishnu Villa. The cracks in the floor of the rooms seemed to be sympathizing with the wrinkled face of the old man. The rays of the...

masum iltija

"Leela, I'm liking this sight very much today." Controlling her laughter Leela said, "What sight?" "Arey this sight before us, which we are seeing. It looks as if our whole Sindhi Nagar, all five camps have lit up in these lights and app...

The fact was that the ship of my life had long been broken. But when a person finds a plank of wood in the middle of the sea, their desire to live is strongly aroused. However, in the next instance, on seeing a crocodile one wonders abou...

"Swami, you can take care of the old traditions but not me, why? It is my wish not to stay away from you even for a moment."

It was not an easy job to blow off eighteen candles at once and it was also not possible that after the problem of blowing the candles was sorted out the friends would not clap. The entire atmosphere grew beautiful with the sound of the...

Picking up the Gita,the mother called out to her daughter saying, "Anita, I suppose that during the period when this Gita was written, the people must have definitely had some appliance like the T.V. Otherwise, how could Sanjay have narr...

As it is the rainy days are gloomy, and if dark clouds sometimes go far off and pour somewhere else, the atmosphere tends to become deserted. When cool winds mixed with the fragrance of the earth touch the body it raises a strange loneli...

Like a beautiful flower Nandini had bloomed in her parent's garden. Her parents too had nurtured her with great care. When her aunt's revolutionary nephew looked at twenty year old Nandini's beauty, lowering his heard he murmured, "Nandi...

It was evening. An old man, holding his waist, was pacing about in the large rooms of Vishnu Villa. The cracks in the floor of the rooms seemed to be sympathizing with the wrinkled face of the old man. The rays of the setting Sun failed...

rajni ain arsi

Even though Parbati was not less happy, yet she told her husband, "I don't know why but I cannot what Deepchand said.." Irritated, Shankerdas said, "I think you are also a bit crazy, how he can go back on his word which he has gave in fr...

The envelope carried my address on the front, but the back? My heart felt a 1000 volt shock! I leaned on the back of the chair. For a while, the name âNeelamâ kept staring at me like a strangerâ¦

I donât know what got into me that I turned Subhadradeviâs photo upside down. As Ravi got home, his gaze immediately fell on the upside down photograph and he asked, âWho turned this photograph?â For a moment I thought of saying...

The college clock was showing 6 oâclock, and Sarla and Gulli came to the ticket counter, asking for tickets from Balram.While handing over the tickets to them hurriedly, Balram said, âBetter hurry up, the program has already begun."

Amma used to say, "A sensible daughter is much better than a spoilt son like you". The friend said, "Come once to Kalyan camp and you shall see the other side of the world too". I liked the friend's manly nature as well as the advice. Wh...

Touching the Rose flowers to her lips, he asked, "My fragrant flower, do you know whom does the man select?" The gentle touch of the fragrant petals had brought on a contented smile on her lips. She could have replied, but... "Man choose...

The film shooting has stopped and the disturbance that had gathered in the mind has also ended. The demons arose in my mind when the actors were enacting in front of the camera, under the bright lights; how much noise they had created in...

However much I hurry it has been impossible for me to reach office in time. The other day because I had completed writing a play I was happy that I did not have to fear anyone today. I had just one compulsion that somehow I should go to...

Sitting with her hands around her knees, swaying her body, Rukma was looking sadly outside the window. She softly whispered, "Shanti, I am too mischievous. If I had not troubled him, he would have never said "I am going to the hostel bec...

kari raat

Doll-like Devika was loved by her husband very much, but she could not get along with her âin-laws. She would tell everybody that both the old in-laws are angry at my ways of life and dressing. Over and above all that when Devika produ...

I got a job in a school after great difficulties. There was a melody in the air. Perhaps the melody was always there but my mind was worried about a job and had for sometime distanced itself from the sweetness of life. The streams flowin...

While sipping his tea from the saucer, Vimal saw the reflection of a bulb on the ceiling which was shaking and shining - as if the Moon had fallen into a pond and the lifeless pond got a soul. Eight days had passed since Vimal had encoun...

By: Sundri Uttamchandani Published in the 'Indian Literature' Vol 187 by Sahitya Akademi

"Has Sunita gone to sleep early today?" "First you have some water and then you ask about Sunita". "But is she okay?" "Yes, she is absolutely fine. Wake up Sunita. You have got your dad worried". Sunita woke up. Putting a glass of water...

Varied people had gathered at Sunita's mother's house. Incense sticks and dhoop were lit in one corner of the room. All the furniture from the room had been removed and dhurries and carpets were spread on the floor. Many women and a few...

Sometimes small incidents give a new turn to life. Actually my life is full of many incidents, strange and painful... many incidents have occurred in my life because my life has been like a drop that always has been flowing. It has seen...

I've been in Mr. Idnani's office since just six months, but I could have never imagined that my boss would value my drafting skills so much. Our Steno-typist Anita was on leave, so it was my duty to take dictation from my boss and type a...

Sometimes small incidents give a new turn to life. Actually my life is full of many incidents, strange and painful...many incidents have occurred in my life because my life has been like a drop that always has been flowing. It has seen m...

pakhe sunhbo pahinje

"What has happened to you Daulat's mother? "Shamdas asked, looking away from the newspaper. "What do you mean what's happened to me? I'm quite fine". "Then why this noise of utensils, shouting at the children and pulling up th maid since...

As soon as Motalbai landed from Lagos, my house started to resemble a foreign land - shiny suitcases, tape-recorder, grinding machine, thermos, and whisky bottles. Over and above this, when Motalâs daughter broke a perfume bottle, its...

As Seelwanti stepped out to throw away the potato peels, she saw at a distance Gulli and Heera fighting amongst themselves. Both had caught each otherâs hairâ¦She immediately kept the plate of potato peels at the door and ran towards...

Court..

The doctor said that Geeta had cancer. Ratan had tears in his eyes. Was Geeta alive only for a few days? Rattan forgot all about his business. All the time he only sat beside her. The scooter outside had gathered rust. The relatives bega...

A symbol of a new era was in Indu's arms and the earth was submerged in darkness. In that moment her tired arms brought up a thought to her brain, 'Let Yugaantar die, whole day of duty and in the night his howling!' The lightning of doub...

College friends had left one by one, but their arguments could not leave my mind. I was repeating each sentence of their arguments while lying down on my bed. I was surprised when I realized that the whole argument had become a round fig...

"What are you saying Tirath" "I'm saying the truth aunty! I didn't have that line on my palm that stands for love". "You are looking up and hiding your tears...I am feeling wounded". Tirath looked at aunty and gave a faint smile. "My dea...

Saroj's plight was similar to that of a grain of wheat between the grinding mill. Her sister-in-law said, "My dear, you are still young, you don't know what happens to those who do not consider 'Mata' as a 'Devi'" Saroj kept listening to...

purza…. Purza

It looks as if on a deserted night, in some room full of musical instruments, the song, the meody, the beat has left the room. Only the windows of the room are open from which the shimmering rays of the Moon were seeping in. Certain desi...

Chandi, the match-maker had a great sense of humour. But that day, I was shocked to see her at my door because her evergreen laughter was missing. I asked her, âAmmi! All is well, right?â

Suraj Saheb met me during the event. Pulling out a visiting card from his pocket and handing it to me, he said, âAs friends whoâve studied together for seven years, our love for each other will not allow us to be content with meeting...

"Since many days you are not getting sleep early as before."

Sitting in a comfortable position, with one leg over the other, Mohan could visualise his life in the smoke from his cigarette. Much of his life had passed by and now it had stopped at a strange junction. Last night Mohan had actually hi...

Handing the child to her mother, Shaila said, "Here, take your Sonu". Before the mother could even take the child, the younger sister caught the child and ran away. "Oh...oh...oh..." shouting, Shaila ran with one foot in her slipper and...

"Keep quiet, she is coming". "Gope Sir, I've heard you. Why are you acting now?" Sheela said on entering the room. "Okay, tell me what did you hear Sheel Babhi?" Gope put down the razor, without completing his shave. "Oh, the same thing...

When Naina's sister got married and went off to Ajmer, her heart was filled with loneliness and depression. In a small town of Devlali, she had enough free time after school and she would spend time with her dolls made of cloth and plast...

Dear Moon, you are still smiling up there? Perhaps you haven't heard anything. In any case what would you do even if you had listened? The walls of the house heard and they did not collapse. When both, the mother and son had said this, t...

dil shisho aahe

"Falling in love with thankless people I wasted my young years". The melodious and sweet voice of Geetu was coming out from the bathroom, mingling with the cool morning breeze. It reached the ears of Gul's mother who stopped midway while...

Swami, I donât know what obligations bind me because all bonds have been broken. I thought that that stormy night, which uprooted so many trees and destroyed my entire heart was the last night. I never imagined that just a year later,...

All this was not there then - such a big hall, a circular sofa up to half the wall, on the left a dining table with eight chairs, two chandeliers on the ceiling and a big fan between them. On the wall on the left side, I have also instal...

Clouds.

He asked "Will you listen to a poem?" Controlling a jerk within her, Sheela said, "I don't like poems". Deepak looked into her eyes. Sheela felt as if someone is holding two lamps in a dark room and her gaze fell on the scattered poverty...

vchan te vchan kedanh

It is said that even a King should bear a daughter but Gopi had two daughters. Her real daughter and a step-daughter. I don't know how the poor lady had brought them up by educating them. They were just a couple of years apart. Today her...

Vich dakhan te

I have never understood how a discrepancy arose between my name and my life! My actual name is 'Khushali', but since I would make everybody laugh during childhood, I was simply called 'Khushi'. But the sorrows in my life have put my name...

mamta

And lost within himself, he quietly came and sat in the teachers' room. How loud the teachers were all talking to each other. For some moments this noise felt like a flock of crows hovering around a dead crow to Sachanand.But as he lifte...

Janki hadnât been married a mere year or two back - she had spent 35 years in her marital home. She was not an active deer anymore - running around all day and climbing stairs while skipping 2 steps at a time. When she went to the terr...

After she completed the hostel rounds for the night, the warden had now reached her room. However, until she hadnât closed her door, the girls sitting on the parapet in the hostel compound suppressed their laughter using their handkerc...

(The story is set in the sixties in Kalyan camp. When the Sindhis migrated to India, they started whatever business possible to survive, upholding the dignity of labour).

"Hari, did you like this hotel?" Chetan asked. "Chetan you have this knack of understanding others' liking" Harjas said. Chetan and Harjas were relaxing by the poolside of the hotel, on iron chairs with soft cushions. Chetan had turned t...

"You had loved me; I have not loved you". "What are you saying Neelma!" "Finally, I have been able to say this after suffering twenty-seven years of marriage". "Neelu, we have children of marriageable age. What is all this that you are s...

After migrating from Sindh when Gangaram and Sobhraj brought their wives and settled them in camps, the sisters-in-laws would both protest together on everything. They said, "We can't stay here. There are such big rats that frighten even...

As soon as Gopal stepped into the house, Sita shouted from the kitchen, "Who is it?" and as soon as she recognised the voice, "It is me", she put the food in a plate and kept it on the table. Putting his school books away in a drawer, Go...

jamun Varo

When she came for the first time for the promotion of a shampoo brand, she called me aunty. She started speaking in English about the qualities and the price of the shampoo in a sweet voice. I told her, âYou have just climbed four flig...

As Ram's mother entered the hall, wiping the sweat from her neck, she noticed that a crowd had gathered to see her. She laughed and said, "Kishin's mother, what has happened to you? You did not come yourself to receive me at the airport....

"Mummy, I'm telling you a fact that this son of yours has been spoilt in America" Naresh had just begun eating and on hearing this sentence from Kavita he began looking at his mother's face. The mother was about to put a morsel of dal-an...

After getting ready, Sheela was looking around the drawing room. Two single beds were combined and a double bed sheet was put over them. As Sheela was adjusting Rajnigandha flowers in a tall vase, over the showcase, and as she changed th...

I stay in London. Twenty years ago, when I had come to Bombay my cousin Neena's daughters were young. The eldest was thirteen years old. This time Neena wrote, "Don't you remember that in childhood we were more of best friends than cousi...

chachi chela mau

Sunder's mother got to know that today there was her would-to-be daughter-in-law's dance show on TV. So, she came to her neighbour Jhaman-ma's house early, to watch the show. When Jhaman saw the show, he caught Sunder's mother's shoulder...

Sawman … Abhiman

As soon as I woke up, I asked the servant, "What time is it Raju?" "Seven" As if a scorpion had stung me. I have never seen a scorpion but I have heard many stories about its sting from my mother) "You fellow! Why didn't you wake me earl...

"You are wearing a nice sari" "What nice!" Indu said, smoothening the pleats and shaking the border at her feet and looking up she said, "I am wearing it simply because my Shammi bought it. Otherwise I have a high taste. On my own I woul...

taraf

"Dhanu. Dhanu. What is this? What is this..." Saying this, Girdhari caught hold of Dhanu's plait and turned her face towards where is hand was pointing. Dhanu said, "Leave me you rascal. Why are you pulling my plait?" "I am asking you wh...

Vlar khan vivhirial