CasualRead
-
The Mark Beneath the Skin
In the attic’s filtered light, Rishabh brushed the dust off an old photo. A boy, smiling beside a dog—his birthmark identical to Rishabh’s. Scrawled in faded ink: Manoj, 1956–1979. He paused. Counted. Manoj was twenty-three—just like Rishabh would be in… Continue reading
-
Highway Robbery: Crows of Alandur
Meet the cleverest thieves you’ve never noticed. On a rusted billboard above Alandur’s snarling traffic, a gang prepares to strike. Not men with knives, but crows with sharp eyes and sharper instincts. Their target? A steaming parcel of vada, tucked… Continue reading
-
After the Last Ray
Smitha had heard the rumours.“Don’t step out after the sun sets.”“Darkness is not your friend.” Solvanta was a lush, green tropical island that flourished through the trade of a rare but exquisite fruit called the Lunaka. A vibrant, oval-shaped delicacy with… Continue reading
-
Fate’s Awakening – Episode 4
“Smitha… Smitha…”Her mother’s gentle voice called her back, nudging her softly into reality. Smitha blinked open her eyes slowly. She was greeted by her mother’s familiar, warm smile. She returned the smile, though her eyes felt heavy. As her senses… Continue reading
-
Fate’s Awakening – Episode 3
Smitha ran blindly towards the safety of the wall. Her breath ragged, sweat stinging her eyes, blurring her vision. Each time she wiped her face, the momentary darkness sent a fresh wave of panic through her. But no matter how… Continue reading
-
Pepper – A Chronicle of Events
These are the factual events that took place based on which the previous chapters were written. 3000 BCE: Sumerian records depict Kerala as the garden of spices – The Malabar forests. Ancient Babylonian, Syrians and Egyptians also traded with them.1213… Continue reading
-
Fate’s Awakening – Episode 2
I was back in my room, the muffled voices of my parents seeping through the walls. My father was trying to console my mother, who had broken down after the announcement—the same announcement that declared our God was now dead.… Continue reading
-
Fate’s Awakening – Episode 1
Ayisha and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember. We met when she joined my class at eight years old, and from that moment, we were inseparable. We grew up in the same small town—I… Continue reading
-
Pepper: From Currency to Common Spice – Part 2
Through the eyes of an ancient being who has witnessed centuries of change, this series explores how once-rare delicacies have become everyday staples. Today, we continue with pepper—a common spice that once ruled as the currency of the world. (Part… Continue reading
-
Pepper: From Currency to Common Spice – Part 1
Through the eyes of an ancient being who has witnessed centuries of change, this series explores how once-rare delicacies have become everyday staples. Today, we delve into pepper—a common spice that once ruled as the currency of the world. Eldrin’s… Continue reading
An Average Being 