Lark Zuffenberg wakes up to the loud archaic ringing of a phone. “Who is it Jarrvis?”, he says addressing his home AI butler. “I don’t know sir” “How’s that possible. You are connected to all devices at my home.” “Sir it is a landline phone ringing. For some reason, you still have one.” Lark suddenly gets up remembering the emergency landline phone he has in his bedroom. Feeling anxious he picks up the phone. “Lark here” “Sir it is me Jason but please don’t say my name or anything loud except just the words Ok or ambiguous sentences.” “Why what’s happening?” “Sir, you will have to come to the AI lab so we can talk in private.” “Why, just V-call

“Why is Radha Aunty going to the mountain top temple at such time. Even the pujari no longer goes there regularly?”, asked Meena to her vegetable vendor Radhika. “Oh! she visits the temple daily of the Goddess and she says she will continue to do so till she fulfills her wish.” “What is her wish?”, asked Meena. “I don’t know we will ask her when she comes down in the afternoon. She has had a very sad yet eventful life.” “Why, what is her story?” “Her husband passed away fifteen years back leaving her alone with their four young sons with the eldest just ten years old. He left nothing for them but she never gave up hope and raised

Sangai woke up with a start at the makeshift hidden home they had found near the edge of the jungle. He must have slept crying yesterday night. He still couldn’t believe their bad luck. He had warned his Dad that he did not like those new burly men who had come to the village. He could tell by their stares and jibes that they had some mal intention for his beautiful mother but they both had dismissed his talks and said that they are harmless. His father had said, “they just talk like that and wouldn’t dare anything while I am here. And everyone in the village talks about your mom’s beauty. She is the most beautiful.” Sangai had calmed

It started like a joke, a scientist, a professor, and a spiritual Guru meet in a bar. However, it was not to drink but a gathering of regional leaders to discuss the ongoing coronavirus containment measures. Once that was done and discussed with the three old friends sat down for a chat. It was the Professor who first started the discussion, ”John you are a spiritualist, what is your thought about this pandemic? Don’t you think God has abandoned us by letting mankind be affected by such a devastating virus attack.” “You know God works in mysterious ways. This could be a test to check human resolve or punishment or even a warning,” replied John to Michael. “You know I

A group Video Chat between drinking buddies during the lockdown. “Bro, I am the worst sufferer of this lockdown. Firstly my boss is after me to do more work since I save on the commuting time and then the remaining time I spend either in Kitchen cleaning utensils or washing clothes. I should have chosen the cleaning duties,” said Hardeep. “No dude, that is even worse. I can lift 20 KG dumbells but these cleaning duties are killing my back. I am counting the days till we get our maid back. I think Rahul did the wise thing by taking cooking duties,” said Aman. “It was fun the first few days but frankly now all I want to make is

Anna was at her wit’s end. Ever since she was back from the hospital, she was all alone. It was the same at the hospital but at least there were other people and she had her phone. She could talk to everyone. She suspected the over-friendly ward boy Ramesh to have stolen her phone when they dropped her home. She can’t even go out and buy a new phone due to the post-treatment safety instructions. She had to stay in quarantine for 14 days. “Today is the last day. Thank goodness,” she reminded herself. This lockdown and especially her quarantine had taught her the importance of family and friends. She felt so guilty of being so engrossed in work that