Suddenly, from out of nowhere, people started pouring into our town; not just a few small crowds, but a multitude of them. Our shelter was flooded with folks day in and day out. And there were who had no room anywhere. They started cooking on somebody’s front porch. A few others set up tents…… Continue reading Heavenly Bliss by Poranki Dakshina Murthy
Category: Telugu Stories in English
TWO GLASS BUBBLES by Nidadavolu Malathi
We are living in a glass bubble Constantly looking for germs Washing hands with lotion Brushing teeth Wearing socks and shoes Also, worrying about athlete’s foot Washing all the fruits and vegetables With special anti-bacterial waters Swallowing follow up pills. A woman with similar habits feels a sudden urge to see the world She crosses the…… Continue reading TWO GLASS BUBBLES by Nidadavolu Malathi
Yalla Achuta Ramayya. Freedom in the Cage
(Translated by Sharada, Australia) “Parvati! You are hardly twenty years old. Your beauty is totally wasted, like the moonlight on a forest. Come with me. I will show you, what it is like to be alive. to be happy. I will take you with me into the blissful heaven,” Ramesh hugged Parvati. Parvati moved away…… Continue reading Yalla Achuta Ramayya. Freedom in the Cage
Sripathi. The Enemy.
(Translated by B. Indira) Cinnodu stood with the empty bucket after pouring the cane extract into the container. Jagganna sat close to the fire, which had been cooking the sugarcane extract, to warm himself. His eyelids were dropping under heavy sleep. “Did you hear…?” he asked Cinnodu. Cinnodu looked askance. He stood staring into Jagganna’s…… Continue reading Sripathi. The Enemy.
Andallu and the Onions by I. V. S. Atchyutavalli
Andallu stood before the mirror, tucked a huge bunch of roses in her long braid, and finished the braid with the gold bells tying tightly at the end. Rolling her big beautiful eyes all over the image in the mirror, she watched herself as if she was taken by her beauty. She did not notice…… Continue reading Andallu and the Onions by I. V. S. Atchyutavalli
All this, Just For You! by Nidadavolu Malathi
Snowstorm is blasting away! Trees and cars on the street are barely visible. Dharani is sitting by the window and watching the blast. “Thank goodness it is Sunday,” she told herself for the fourth time. Or else, it would have been a hell of a ride to work. She is brooding over the argument she…… Continue reading All this, Just For You! by Nidadavolu Malathi
LIFE AS A RITUAL By Nidadavolu Malathi
Sitapati took his wife Sita to the restaurant on their sixteenth anniversary per local custom. Sita is watching the people around. There are about 2 or 3 at each table- a young couple, an old man and his wife, a father and two children, another mother with six children, probably a birthday party. They all…… Continue reading LIFE AS A RITUAL By Nidadavolu Malathi
SHORTCHANGING FEMINISM by Nidadavolu Malathi
“You held me tight in your strong arms.” Sita was sitting in the living room holding the 8-page letter Gayatri wrote to Sita’s husband Sitapati. The letter left a bad taste in her mouth. Her face turned pale. Sitapati has been acting strange for a few days now. Sita noticed that much. All of a…… Continue reading SHORTCHANGING FEMINISM by Nidadavolu Malathi
Bommireddipalli Surya Rao. A Creator.
Gangayya woke up early in the morning, took bath, put on ash patches on his body, the kumkum dot on his forehead, picked the machete and stepped outside into the street. He was facing the only problem—must earn the day’s wages, and fill his stomach. There was nothing more he would ask for. But then,…… Continue reading Bommireddipalli Surya Rao. A Creator.
Revisiting childhood by Kandukuri Venkata Mahalakshmi
Katyayini start wondering. To be frank, why is she going there now? Did her cousin and his wife really invite her because of their affection for her, because they wanted her to attend the wedding? Her cousin mailed the invitation card announcing his daughter’s wedding, which looked more like a matter of formality. Katyayini saw…… Continue reading Revisiting childhood by Kandukuri Venkata Mahalakshmi