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M.T. Vasudevan Nair

Naalukettu – The House Around The Courtyard

He would grow up. Grow up and become a big man. His hands would become very strong. He would not have to fear anyone. He would be able to stand up and hold his head high. If someone asked, ‘Who’s that there?’ he would say unhesitatingly in a firm voice, ‘It’s me, Kondunni Nair’s son, Appunni.’ And then, the day would come—he would certainly meet...

Bimal Kar

Aangurlata

Placed second in the Mozhi Prize 2024 IT didn’t seem to Aangur—Aangurlata—that disaster had broken in her room. She did not dissolve into tears and throw herself upon Nanda. Did not clutch his cold feet to her bosom or begin to hit her head against the wall. She did not even push the door wide open— it was already ajar—and run ...

Abdul Rasheed

Lord Cornwallis and Queen Elizabeth

Placed third in the Mozhi Prize 2024 The modest Rose puts forth a Thorn. The humble Sheep a threat’ning Horn. While the Lily white shall in Love delight. Nor a thorn nor a threat stain her beauty bright.- William Blake NATURALLY, the names of the two lovers in this story are not their true ones. These are, in fac...

Sameena Nazir

Kallo

Winner of the Mozhi Prize 2024 THE day the whore Kallo was chased out of the neighbourhood for disgracing herself with her uncle, Mushtari Bano, too, heartbroken from her husband’s betrayal, decided to end things by drinking kerosene. Poor, pious Mushtari Bano abided by every fast and prayer and saw Kallo only from afar— how could she know t...

Nirmal Verma

A Sliver of Sunlight

Placed third in the Mozhi Prize 2023 MAY I sit on this bench? No, please don’t get up—I’ll sit here in the corner. You are probably wondering why I don’t go to another bench. Such a big park—vacant benches everywhere—why do I want to squeeze in near you? If you don’t mind, I’d like to tell you something—the bench you are sitting on is m...

Jeyamohan

Filfilee

Placed second in the Mozhi Prize 2022 IN Samaria, men who don't drink in the summer are branded lazy. The only way to survive the maddening heat and sultry dust is to swill pitchers of chilled, stomach-churning yayin. Eyes watering from the dried peppers of Abyssinia, the pungent yayin assaults the tongue with a sourness to match. The body e...

Chandra

A House Without Cats

Winner of the Mozhi Prize 2022 OUR entire street was festooned with strings of mango leaves. The scent of the leaves wafted through the air. Anna and I turned up the volume of the tape deck churning out music. The music could probably be heard well beyond the temple tank, at the Meenakshi Amman temple. The street was packed with people. My h...

Senthil Jaganathan

Cotton Fever

Placed third in the Mozhi Prize 2022 WHEN we reached Kumbakonam bus station that morning, time was half past six. It was made possible only because we had woken up as early as 4 am. Amma got down from the bus and told us that her legs had gone numb. She took each step carefully, as if walking on water. From a tea shop at the bus station, App...

Mannu Bhandari

The Lonely Woman

Placed second in the Mozhi Prize 2023 SOMA Bua is old. Soma Bua has been abandoned. Soma Bua is lonely. Soma Bua’s young son died years ago, and her own youth passed with him. Her husband was so stricken with grief at the loss of their son that he renounced his wife and household to become an ascetic, and there wasn’t a soul in the ...

Fahmida Riaz

Flights of Birds

Winner of the Mozhi Prize 2023 THE first day of the week was the hardest. At the office, a team of six people awaited the woman officer. The new dictionary project had begun. She was the project lead and was requested to begin by establishing the principles of lexicography for the new dictionary. Principles of lexicography, my god! ...

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