The no job

I was exhausted, all I wanted was a good hot shower and to zone out in front of the TV, but I knew I wouldn’t get any as soon as I got in.  Kory was fiddling with the remote, the set-top gizmo was blinking wildly in response, and the screen was flashing on and off to angry buzzes and beeps.  He looked up as I threw down my gear on the sofa.

“Some friend of yours called a million times.  Asked to call back.  Seemed pretty desperate.”

“What name? Why didn’t you tell him to call the cell?”  Really, Kory could be seriously weird.

“Sounded something like Raavan.  Or maybe Ravin and I misheard.  I did tell him.  He said he couldn’t cope with cells and stuff, fixed line was as far as he was prepared to go, what with his family problems.  Maybe I misunderstood that too.  He sounded odd, quite insane actually.”

The Teacher's Fee : Excerpt

Eklavya’s not quite a hero, a bit player

many like him in that ancient epic

a one-off conflict, a scene here or there

and promptly dismissed in a casual flick.

How does that justify writing long odes

the complex crafted lyrics, line by line

moving glass beads of sounds on an abacus?

all praise’s for demigods

why should anyone carefully realign

the praise towards a mere man with so much fuss?

The quality of steadfastness is rare

rare indeed the mind which has the intrinsic

strings in place to wing it on a prayer

with a statue overseeing his technique

his aim and skills, all arrows straight, all lines toed

and stand fast at payback time and not decline

the cruel fee: his weapon arm made useless.

Admit it. It was odd -

that a Master should spot the statue at the shrine

and gauge the pupil with an eye this ruthless.