Lights. Camera. RCNM.

“The poor bastard never saw it coming.” He spoke these words sitting on the kerb with his head in his hands.  I didn't know what to tell him. I’d been watching all along. I was at the sink rinsing my coffee cup when he left at 7:30, as usual. And as soon as the garage door closed, I saw their curtains disappear. Well, that caught my eye.  She was ripping them down. I knew then something was wrong, this being mid-December and no time for spring cleaning. I stood for awhile, peeking between the blinds.  I like to know what’s going on in my neighbourhood. She stood at the bare window for a minute or two, staring wide-eyed at the neglected lawn, naked trees, and the cement-coloured sky.  I raised my hand up just in case she looked but she didn't–she saw the dog, his dog, big stupid thing licking himself on the front lawn like it was the only thing to do. She took the things he never liked: the pillow she’d embroidere...

Today I saw a lady, with hair as black as raven and skin as flair as milk. I walked past her as I moved towards the ticket counter at a train station. As I watched, she lifted her h and and pushed away a strand of hair that whipped against her face as a train whooshed past. While I stood in the line, waiting for my turn I couldn’t help but stare at her as she leaned against the wall, the tinsel in her hair shining and the glass bangles on her hand tinkling. From where I stood, she looked perfect her blue sari swaying in the wind. I remember her touching the bangles on her hand; her nimble fingers running across the smooth surface of the bangles enclosed her slender wrist. As I pushed my way back to the front of the line, I turned again to catch a glimpse of this lady. I don’t know what about her caught my eye. May be it was her beauty, may be it was the peace in her eyes. From where I stood far away, I saw she wasn’t really there in the world I stood in. She had drifted away,...

"A tragic situation exists precisely when virtue does not triumph but when it is still felt that man is nobler than the forces which destroy him." - George Orwell The universe we live in is built up of opposing forces which counterbalance each other and exist in a state of volatile equilibrium. Yin and yang, light and dark, virtue and vice - the conflict is eternal.  This is why not every story can have a happy ending. Smiles can become tears, dreams can turn into nightmares and life can translate into death in the blink of an eye. This is known as tragedy.  One wrong step, one false judgment, one fatal mistake can bring an end to the flawed existence of life. This is tragedy. It is well established that misery and death can help man achieve a philosophical zenith. It is part and parcel of life, yet so unnerving and unbelievable. Hence, tragic stories often break right through the cluster of one's thoughts and pierce right into the heart.  ...