Three Poems on Guwahati and Beyond by Ayaan Halder
Poetry by Ayaan Halder: ‘And then the browning milk that has gushed into his shoes, and mine, / Carries us over / To someone else’s pyre. / The wind, by then, has ravaged his leaf.’
Short story by Karan Madhok: “Now, Lady, Miss: Please take the flowers and lean into your husband, like this, as if you are falling into him. Just a little. That’s why in English they say, ‘falling’ in love, no? Bas, gir jao unpar!”
What’s in a name? India has a long history of rebranding cities, streets, and buildings to reflect the political influence of the time. Instead of this empty tokenism, Vipin Labroo argues for the country to shift priorities towards its more pressing concerns.
Poetry by Ayaan Halder: ‘And then the browning milk that has gushed into his shoes, and mine, / Carries us over / To someone else’s pyre. / The wind, by then, has ravaged his leaf.’
Creative Nonfiction by Shobhita Rewal: ‘Rotund Japanese purple enlarged. A plushie abandoned. Soot-stained lips float past. Saliva upon the metal in the skin. Chivalry ain’t dead yet, innit? Plebians need the masala but give this to me anyway.’