Naina Agarwal

एक हाथ की टिक टिक जो अब बंद हो चुकी है, धूप का चश्मा, गले की चेन चमड़े की ब्राउन बेल्ट, नीली स्याही की एक बोतल और इंक पेन, प्रेमचंद की दो कॉपियां, टूटा हुआ स्टेपलर, फटा हुआ बटुआ, कुछ पुरानी रसीदें, परिवार की दर्जन भर तसवीरें और एक आधी भरी हुई डायरी; बाबूजी के बक्से में ये सब मिला | *** 

One more week passed away. Vicky’s desires were seething inside him; he wanted Sheetal at all costs. But a gentleman as he was, Vicky could do nothing except wait for Sheetal to respond to his boiling passions. She, however, continued with her life, focusing on her management job, keeping her career at the forefront. As for her wifey duties, nobody matched her. She cooked for him, kept the house neat and clean, was polite to his parents, never crossed the line in front of his relatives, dressed well, and smiled genuinely at his compliments. But whenever they got alone, she refrained from any physical contact with him.  Sheetal invited relatives and friends turn by turn on dinner every weekend and came across as a near perfect host; she flaunted Vicky as a trophy-husband, and held hands with him in front of the family to showcase the warmth in their relationship. On Social Media too, Sheetal posted couple pictures with romantic captions that suit the newly weds in the pu...

An educated, career-oriented girl coming from his shared Sindhi community, possessing a desirable height and complexion, Sheetal appeared to be good on paper. A photograph attached with the bio-data validated her appearance; Sheetal was substantially beautiful.  Upon their meeting at the café, she aptly fitted Vicky’s template of an ideal woman. Her personality and looks, and the overall aura charmed him, and upon returning home after the meeting, Vicky told his parents that he has chosen his bride.  After a successful movie date the following week, two more meet-ups over drinks, and numerous phone calls and video calls later, Vicky and Sheetal got engaged.  He loved her, and wanted to be near her all the time. On her part, she displayed genuine affection in retaliation. Vicky was charmed. But there was one thing he found troubling – every time he tried to touch her, she moved away. Initially, he connected it with the age-old practice of chastity attached to...

• The story is based on a recent, real life incident. The names of the couple have been changed due to privacy concerns.  "Vicky, Please!" Sheetal cooed in her cuckoo voice, imitating Shraddha Kapoor's character while watching Stree in a half-empty theatre hall, thereby, teasing her fiancè Vicky who shared his name with the male protagonist of the movie. Vicky chuckled at her remark, indicating his pleasure at the silly tease over his namesake. How could he not be! The two had met only a week ago at a café wherein Vicky’s parents asked for Sheetal’s hand from hers.  Sheetal’s brown, lotus-eyes, milk white complexion, and long, luscious hair had already garnered positive reviews from Vicky’s mother, but it was her full lips, fuller hips, lady-like walk toppled with a no-nonsense attitude that captivated his attention. Indeed, Vicky was pleased! The two instantly clicked, and the rest was history. Vicky took her number and thus, began the chain of messages firs...

Sleep, cigarettes, sex,  Time-, travel, caffeine;  Workouts, hangouts, teds,  Coco, poetry, music; Not even red lipstick heals  The damage you have done.  Those self-help books   I greased  With my k ohl l ast night,  Now burn with k aleidoscopic desires.  The wine I coated my w all with  Recalls the h eat of smash.  I w alked on the b roken glass  With my w rists painted in black red.  I suffered hell to steal the F ire  And burn the b ridges between us;  I blocked all the r oads,  And lived in a c loset;  And fed on s niffles. But alas!  *** 

Day within day, My nights are for you. Masks are for them, Marks are for you. Words are for them (elegant, adorned and embellished); Sealed with symphonies, My silences are for you. Stars are for them, And so are the flowers. Heart is for them, My aches are for you. Sighs, giggles, tears, Dark circles are for you. Victories are for them, My battles are for you. Wild, vulgar and dark, Wack, vulnerable, dope; For you are my struggles, Chaos is for you. Them stretches that I wear, Hostilities that I fear, My rules are for them, My crimes are for you. ***