When Bhima swung her hips gracefully as she walked, every male within a hundred yards would turn his head to stare. Bubbling with vitality, her eyes brilliant and her skin flushed, the men couldn’t help but be jealous of Madhu who had managed to get a wife as bewitching as Bhima.
Just as the men were jealous of Madhu, the women were jealous of Bhima, for none of their husbands was as generous, as loving as Madhu. In fact, the day that Madhu had got her those silver anklets, she’d proudly shown all the women, and that was a day they’d still not forgotten. The gentle music of the anklets that sounded whenever Bhima walked would never let them forget.
However, things are almost never as they seem. And as Bhima would soon find out, there are consequences to everything, even seemingly harmless actions. A story that is as much about human behaviour as it is about relationships, ‘The Silver Anklets’ is unexpectedly brilliant and typical Nergis Dalal.
We all know of at least one person who is slightly eccentric, slightly dubious, and more than a little quirky. However, Miss Krishna could very well leave them all behind with her lack of boundaries, her inability to pick up on social cues or her (slightly questionable) love for fine things. But Miss Krishna was the author’s cross to bear and she bears it with as much good humour as possible, even through unannounced visits and unwanted gifts.
Every person has a side that they never reveal to anyone, even those closest to them. And as the author was about to find out, so did Miss Krishna.
Surprisingly funny and endearing in its strangeness, The Connoisseur is as well-written as it is tender. Read on.
The girls had always disliked him—Mr Krishna—an old family friend and their next-door neighbour. He was old, smelly and always hugged them longer than was necessary. So when they were tasked with reading him the entire newspaper everyday—forced to spend even more time with him—naturally, they were upset. But there is not much one can argue with against a good deed. And suffer they would, for a tiny piece of fudge at the end.
There is so much that we choose to ignore—even things that are blatantly obvious—by giving the benefit of the doubt to the wrong person. But the girls knew—they always know—and yet, in the powerlessness of their youth, they would have no option but to remain in their suffering. Was there really no end?
‘Happiness is a Box of Fudge’ by Nergis Dalal uncovers a disquieting reality that unfortunately plagues countless homes across the world. Heartbreakingly powerful and delicately crafted, Dalal truly shows her skills in the form with this beautiful short story.
For as long as the villagers could remember, the temple had been there, guarding the little village at the foot of its hill. Legend had it that the temple’s three little bells, which produced the sweetest sound, had special magical powers, powers that had saved the village more than a few times from various mishaps.
But Dilip Singh did not believe in legends. He believed in making things happen for himself, even if it meant stealing the jewels adorning the goddess of the temple to help him get started. Could a temple that had protected the village until now, protect itself?
An intriguing story about the power of collective faith and how it manifests itself in the real world, ‘The Temple Bells’ is another fantastic short story by the queen of the form, Nergis Dalal.
Everyone was astonished when Mr Vale had married again. The new Mrs Vale was pink and healthy, with a square, firm figure, and a face that always wore an expression of determined good humour, but she was nothing like the old Mrs Vale.
The old Mrs Vale was all over the house—in the study, in the living room, on the walls and even in the curtains. She may have died but she had never left. The new Mrs Vale loved Mr Vale—there were no doubts about that, but could she live in a house that still kept another, almost rival love, alive?
Engaging, thrilling, and a little twisted, The Intruder is a peculiar little horror story from the master of powerful short fiction: Nergis Dalal. Read on.
There is an old legend that on the night of the full moon, if you float a lighted wick down the waters of the Pushkar Lake until it reaches the temple in the middle, then whatever you have wished for comes true. On one such night, Bishen and his father, after travelling 100 miles from Neelkote, arrived in Pushkar for the biggest animal fair in India to sell Moti, their only remaining stallion.
Bishen had always had a special connection with Moti, their half Arab, half Kathiawar horse. And he would have liked anything but to part from him. Could the legend prove itself and give Bishen the miracle he so desperately needed?
Heart-warming and crafted with tender care, ‘The Silver Stallion’ is a fine example of Nergis Dalal doing what she does best: tell powerful short stories. Read on.
It was a week before Christmas and despite the general cheer of holiday festivities all around, Arun had woken up to the familiar feeling of depression. He was six now, and too big to cry, or so his mother had told him. But what has age got to do with tears and when they choose to spill out of one’s eyes?
For most people, the Christmas spirit was about family, togetherness and happiness. And yet, here was Arun, spending his Christmas in hope, and yearning for a miracle. A miracle that would somehow bring the same Christmas spirit into his home.
A perfect story that will leave you warm and fuzzy this holiday season, ‘Christmas Means Love’ depicts the importance of family and love and why they matter more than anything else.
Mrs Oliver didn’t exactly look like a model who was about to pose for Robie DeSilva in the nude for a painting. But an arrangement was made because he needed a model and she was a woman in need.
All of Robie’s doubts, however, disappeared as soon as Mrs Oliver lay on the couch. Seeing her in a new light, Robie knew exactly how he would paint her. And soon, the world would know exactly how to see her. And yet, for Mrs Oliver, life would carry on as if nothing unusual had ever occurred.
It is interesting how strangers can sometimes see the real us much more easily than our friends or family. And even more interesting is the fact that despite this knowledge, we keep a farce going. Exploring such curiosities in human behaviour is a specialty of Nergis Dalal’s and nowhere does she portray it better than in The Nude.
An Indian boy and a Japanese-English girl meet in London’s Regent’s Park Zoo while watching sea lions. And just like that, a relationship begins. To say it was an unusual relationship would be an understatement. He was a curious but lonely man and she was a quiet, elegant woman. He had questions but she never felt the need to provide answers. She didn’t need much but gave him plenty.
Good things, however unusual they may be, never do last. He knew it and maybe she did too. So how long would they be able to go on?
Heartfelt, touching and quite revealing, Once for the Asking is a study in the strange ways of human behaviour and how we choose to treat one another because of it.
When Mrs Kapoor suddenly died, everyone was frightened and disturbed. One minute she was alive, cooking up some delectable dish or other in the kitchen, and the next, she had collapsed from a stroke. Of course, the Mehras, the Singhs and the Sharmas were immediately there for Mr Kapoor. Since the Kapoors didn’t have any children, their friends made sure Mr Kapoor was taken care of. Until the day Mr Kapoor suddenly disappeared without a word.
Everyone had their own theory about Mr Kapoor: maybe he needed to be around family; maybe he needed to get out of town; maybe he just needed time. But then, a month later, Mr Kapoor returned with a new—and French!—wife and none of his friends knew how to react.
How one reacts to unexpected situations usually tells a lot about a person’s character. The French Wife by Nergis Dalal is an interesting perspective on human behaviour and why we do the things that we do.
