InklingsInsight

It was Arya's first day at school after her tenth board examination. There was chaos in everyone's mind, wondering which stream to take. Arya was in the same phase, too. She was a class topper, so her teachers and parents insisted she opt for the Science stream and become a doctor or professor. But her inclination was towards the art side because Arya loved literature by heart. From a very young age, she started writing poems and non-fiction works. When she went to school, her friends herded her, asking if she had chosen her stream yet. Arya shrugged her shoulders and nodded. Her friends felt doomed. They used to consider her their support system. They were waiting to follow her lead in deciding their future. Arya sat at her seat, scribbling something in her journal. She did not realize she didodle different shapes, making it heart-shaped with some letters inscribed in formations. Before she could figure it out, the teacher entered, and everyone stood, greeting the teacher in u...

Do you have a best friend turned enemy? Taru, a twenty-six-year-old lady, a soul honest by heart and kind by nature, had a friend who turned into an enemy, an enemy, as in a friendship that choked due to toxicity.  Taru used to live in a one-RK studio apartment in a metropolitan city independently. Two years back, she lost touch with her best friend due to insecurity and toxicity, or a reason unknown would be the most suitable to admit. Initially, she tried to reach out to her but received no response. Taru started recalling the incidents where she felt exploited.  In her hectic schedule, in a day or two, she would remember the days when everything seemed perfect. With time, she started understanding some friendships should end before people bound by them choke. She analyzed her past incidents with her best friend Sakhi, where she felt like a commodity more than a friend.  After a few years, an unexpected happened. Taru never wished to run into Sakhi ever again. Taru had ...

The first light of dawn caressed the mountain peaks of the Himalayas as visible from the window of Shruti and her husband Arun's hotel room's window in Kasol. Shruti woke with a yawn and stretched her hands in laziness due to the light falling on her face from the window. Seeing Arun sleeping, she smiled and touched wood as a sign to keep bad omen away from him. When she was looking at Arun, he opened her eyes and smiled. He asked her what she was thinking. Being married for two years now, they understand each other and would know something is troubling their partners. Arun knew Shruti's past was miserable, so he tried everything to keep her happy and give her the best she deserved. After Arun's insistence, Shruti spoke. "I wondered about how beautiful our past two years had been, and you have always supported me at every point of life. You came as a good-luck charm in my life who saved me from every evil that entails." After hearing Shruti, Arun pulled her in...

The light entering through the window of Adya's room disturbed her dreamy sleep. She turned to the other side, covering his face with her blanket. Mumma, mumma, Ruhi called her. And the most annoying sound of the day, the alarm started ringing.   Adya, being a single mom, works religiously to give her daughter Ruhi the best life without any regret or remorse. She is on her toes to fulfill what she and Ruhi plan for their lives. But today was a Sunday, so Adya was reluctant to wake up at her usual time. Ruhi, a five-year-old girl, was ready to shed her first milk tooth. She saw Adya not attending her. Ruhi started jumping on the bed, shouting, "Mom, Mom, see my tooth is out now." Hearing this, Adya woke up with a jolt. She took Ruhi in her arms and caressed her, asking, "Did it hurt when it detached?" Ruhi could see a sense of worry in her mother's eyes and could not take it. She got up from her lap and giggled. Ruhi said, "Oh! My mellow-dramatic mother,...

In the gentle embrace of the daylight, the house of two twins, Mia and Sia, awakened with their tantrums to not go to school. Mrs Sati, a mom on duty, tried everything to tempt them to go to school, but they did not change their minds.  Mia is a soft-hearted and innocent girl, while Sia is notorious and a kid. But today, it seemed Sia's soul also impacted Mia. Both were behaving annoyingly, as her mother described to their father. It was their dad's turn to convince them to go to school. He tried to be humorous and engaging while talking with them, opposite to their mom. She frowned at her husband for being so effortless with the girls, as she knew it was challenging to convince them today until a miracle happened. Mrs. Sati's phone rang with a WhatsApp message notification. While Mr. Sati tried to convince Mia and Sia, Mrs Sati announced it was Riya's birthday today, and her mom invited the girls for a birthday bash in the evening at their place. Mia and Sia tapped on ...

Suru decided to go on a weekend getaway with her husband, Tanay. But her work commitments did not allow her to spend her weekends in leisure, and this long weekend was one such. They planned their trip long back, making all the bookings, and did not feel like canceling it due to mere work stuff that never ends, coming at the last minute. (Flashback to the scene where this condition arose.) While Suru was packing up for the day on Thursday evening, she received an email from his annoying boss, Raghu, who would nag during work hours and choose to trouble his subordinates at odd hours. After thinking for a few minutes, she decided to check the mail due to her habit of being more productive than required, which usually led her to problems. As she opened the mail, she saw his boss addressed the mail to fifteen more people, equivalent to entire team members. Before even reading the subject line, she guessed what it would be about. She dropped herself on the chair, holding her head with her p...

Students' chatter and laughter could be heard from a distance when Ria entered the school's main door with books clutched tightly in her hands. She wore the nineteenth-century wristwatch inherited from her grandfather on her left wrist. It was her first day at college. She was nervous and excited about starting a new phase of her life. Ria walked confidently in her high heels and black bodycon dress. She did not realize all eyes were on her as she walked towards her classroom. Not only boys but girls were in awe of her look. It was a fan moment for her that she did not recognize. After finding her classroom, she sat on the first bench as her usual topper self. She arranged her books for the first period. Soon, the professor entered the class.  Everybody stood to greet the lecturer. The class began with the introduction of the teacher and the students. As Ria's turn came, all eyes were on her again. She spoke in a soft voice, mesmerizing every ear in the class. Amongst all t...