Fiction: On Life, Love And Our Desires
I am a teller of stories and therefore an optimist, a believer in the ethical bend of the human heart, a believer in the mind’s disgust with fraud and its appetite for truth, a believer in the ferocity of beauty. So, from my point of view, which is that of a storyteller, I see your life as already artful, waiting, just waiting and ready for you to make it art. ~ Toni Morrison
Scandinavian Crime Fiction That Excels In The Art of Being Moody and Riveting
- I work with a lot of Danes, and I find them quietly fascinating. They're humble, economical with words and rarely interrupt in meetings. Even if they are the subject matter experts, they don't find the excessive need to show off their merits like some of us...
A Lifetime of Poems, Fiction & Essays – Read by Rachana
Hey, welcome! I write about the enduring human spirit via essays, stories, and poetry. This podcast is my way of bringing those pieces to life in audio, so you can listen while you’re on a walk, driving, cooking, or just needing a moment of reflection....
Short Story Fiction: Yours Forever – Love and Reform Collide in New Delhi
- “When are you getting married Ky?!” These days, Anu texts him with her question. And her prank-playing boy was never far behind with a retort.. “It’s tomorrow mamma, didn’t you get my Evite?!” This time, the reply was puzzling. “Mom, I am moving to New Delhi...
Short Story Fiction: The Room Was Empty, Except for Him
- Jeffrey had never worried about making a mark in this world or leaving a genetic legacy. He knew very well that outside of the retired teachers’ roster at Johns Creek High School in Georgia, he had no other identity. However, a few times he wondered if his...
Queen: A Powerful Short Story of Womanhood by Nadella Anuradha – English Translation of క్వీన్ – Part II
- Continued from Part I - Madhuri fell silent. Was this really the same child who, until recently, would come running to them for everything, calling out “Amma, Nanna,” and shadowing their every move? Something about this moment felt different, as if a quiet...
Queen: A Powerful Short Story of Womanhood by Nadella Anuradha – English Translation of క్వీన్ – Part I
- What can I say about Pune that hasn’t been said yet? The city is just breathtakingly beautiful. Nudged deeply into the surrounding hills, its air has the scent of rain-soaked earth and the gentle hum of a city that still remembers how to slow down. Banyan...
I Was Not There – A Short Story Collection By Rachana
- 2010: Rwanda: Genocide, Love and Resilience: This piece is close to my heart, as it is semi-autobiographical, but the story line is pure fiction. It is a tribute to a person in my life, who has been a great influence on me. His name, profession, his location...
Short Story Fiction: got tragedy ™
- Diane sat in her car and thought about it. She decided that it was a NPR (National Public Radio) kind of a day. So, she turned on the radio and switched it from Q100, the more popular channel, to NPR. Andrew Pete and his BBC Newshour were on. To her,...
Short Story Fiction: This Time, Another Place.
- I Barring the phone, 4 year old Mira did not have to compete much with her brother for her father’s attention. 6 year old Rohan had his own iPad that he kept busy with. “Daddy, daddy, look, I am so sassy!! I am dancing, see? Daddy!” Mira screamed in thrills...
A Novella – How Green Were Our Valleys – Part II
- Continued from PART I - VII The next night, I lay in bed, wide eyed and wished for midnight to arrive fast. The night breeze gently blew the pale cotton curtains inside and out. I stared outside at the deep purple flowers in red potted plants in...
A Novella – How Green Were Our Valleys
- I I will try my best to not sound cynical. But, that's my natural monotone these days - never getting excited or disappointed about anything in life, in general. Call it the adapted bashfulness that comes with age, if you will. There is a prelude to every act...
Short Story Fiction: Some Dress Rehearsals Are For Dead Mothers – Part II
- Continued From Part I HERE. - V In 2014, as the school year came to a close at the end of May , as I walked to the bus stop, I felt dreadful at the thought of the huge summer break of 10 weeks that was upon us. Children are a lot of fun, but...
Short Story Fiction: Some Dress Rehearsals Are For Dead Mothers – Part I
- I As long as I will live or drop dead tomorrow, no one will dispute the fact that I am an ordinary immigrant mother from India with spectacular hopes of raising my children with splendid grades on ALL their mark sheets, regardless of (for me atleast) whether...
The Ultimate Guide to Rachana Nadella-Somayajula’s Essays, Fiction, and Poetry – Complete List Inside!
Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam I will either find a way, or make one.
Short Story Fiction: Rwanda: Genocide, Love and Resilience
I It was a familiar voice on the other end of the phone. One that I had heard over coffee or lunch for many years, but missed in the past 7 years. “How have you been? I have a layover in Atlanta on the 9th, for a couple of hours. I am flying to Rwanda, and have...
Short Story Fiction: Darling, Be Gentle on My Curves
“Tiny spaces and small handbags make you look big. Now that’s rule number one. Make sure you are always photographed or spotted in an open space. Oh well, at this moment, there is no much control over that, I guess. Not an inch to breathe with full lung...
Short Story Fiction: Thanks To Cupid, Lalitha Found Jimmy
- I had never met Lalitha until last Thursday. When everyone around us was congratulating her, I did too. "Sooo… What are you celebrating, can I ask?!!" I asked her with a big smile on my face and my hand reaching out to shake hers. "Oh yeah, sure! Jimmy and I...
Short Story Fiction: When I Die, Can You Cry?
- On Saturday, October 9th, only a few hours after Tom and I had feverishly defended her choices for boyfriends with her mother, Sirisha had tied a knot around her neck just a few yards away from us. To imagine her as desperate and lonely enough to end her life...