short story
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The Ingredients Are Already in Your Kitchen
– a Talesmith Short by Rajesh Muthuraj Everyone in Kaveripatti knew Meera as the woman who watched dreams instead of chasing them. She sat outside her tiny tea stall every evening, stirring sugar into boiling milk, watching buses go past the crossroads heading to cities where people wore sharper clothes, spoke faster English, and probably Read more
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Autobiography of a ‘Bay Leaf’
– a Talesmith short by Rajesh Muthuraj Hello, humans.Yes, I’m that mysterious brown leaf you throw out of biryani like it’s a parking ticket. Let me introduce myself properly:I am Tejpatta. Aroma specialist. Flavour consultant. And the most disrespected celebrity in the kitchen. My life begins with glory, plucked from a tall handsome tree.Chefs whisper, Read more
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The Pocket Hero
– a Talesmith Short by Rajesh Muthuraj If there is one object in the world that deserves a national award but will never get one, it is the humble handkerchief. Let’s be honest:No one has ever said, “Wow, what a beautiful handkerchief you have!”Nobody proudly displays their hanky on Instagram.And absolutely no one has created Read more
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Stuffed Wallet, Stuffed Mind
– a Talesmith Short by Rajesh Muthuraj Raghav’s wallet had become a living creature. Not officially, but because of the way it behaved. Every time he tried to close it, it would spring back open with a dramatic “thwack”, as if shouting, “Please do not stuff anything more, am already full!” Inside were things no archaeologist could identify: Read more
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Tiny Boil, Huge Drama
– a Talesmith Short by Rajesh Muthuraj If life ever feels too calm, too peaceful, too under control, don’t worry.A boil on your tongue will arrive uninvited to restore chaos. Honestly, it’s shocking how a creature smaller than an ant, invisible to everyone except you, can take over the entire mood. One moment I was Read more
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What About Your Tank?
A Talesmith Short by Rajesh Muthuraj Have you ever noticed a fuel tanker on the road?That mighty vehicle thundering down the highway, carrying thousands of litres of petrol to fill up every car, bike, and generator it meets along the way. It looks so powerful, doesn’t it? The symbol of energy and supply. The one Read more
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The Joy in Every Bite
A Talesmith Short by Rajesh Muthuraj There is something beautifully human about the way we eat. Notice how almost everyone, no matter where they come from, quietly saves the best bite for last, the crispiest chip, the softest piece of roti, the sweetest part of a mango. It’s never planned or spoken; it’s just something Read more
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Husbands on Wheels: The DMart Diaries
a Talesmith Short by Rajesh Muthuraj If you ever visit DMart on a Sunday evening, look closely. Amid the chaos of carts crashing, kids crying, and loud announcements of “Buy 2 get 1 free on toilet cleaners!”, you’ll find a distinct species roaming the aisles: The Poor Men with Trolleys. They are easy to spot.Expression: Read more
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घर की मुर्गी – दाल बराबर?
a Talesmith short by Rajesh Muthuraj अपमान का अचार रसोई नगर की सुबह हमेशा की तरह शांति से शुरू हुई जब तक कि किसी ने वो जानी-मानी कहावत नहीं बोल दी:“घर की मुर्गी दाल बराबर!” बस फिर क्या था, मुर्गी मैडम का प्रेशर कुकर फट पड़ा।वो घमंड से अपनी पंख फड़फड़ाते हुए बोलीं,“बस! अब तो Read more
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The First Dosa Always Dies for a Cause
By Rajesh Muthuraj | A Talesmith Original Every kitchen has its fallen hero. The gas hisses. The tawa gleams. The batter waits, innocent and confident, like a student ready for the exam it will definitely fail. You swirl the ladle with all the grace of a master chef on a cooking show. For a moment, Read more
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The JOKE That BROKE Him
By Talesmith The lights dim.Spotlight on.A single mic. Ravi walks up, that trademark grin plastered on his face — the kind that looks confident from far away and exhausted up close.He taps the mic, clears his throat. The laughter hit him like applause therapy.And for a moment, he forgot everything else. “Do you know what’s Read more
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Alexa, Stop My Mother!
A Talesmith Story by Rajesh Muthuraj Ravi bought Alexa for one reason: peace.He lived alone, worked from home, and wanted help managing his life.A friendly AI who’d wake him gently, play classical music, and say things like “You’re doing great, Ravi!” He didn’t know Alexa would soon be replaced… by a higher authority. Day 1: Read more
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When the FAN Needed a FAN
In the living room of Flat No. 302, Gulmohar Residency, lived a ceiling fan named Fanoo — a three-bladed veteran who had survived everything: summer heatwaves, tantrums of toddlers, and at least two cricket matches played indoors. Fanoo was a hard worker. He spun from dawn till dinner, and sometimes even through midnight arguments that Read more
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The Thirsty Crow 2.0: Startup Edition
One hot afternoon, a crow was flying around with his tongue out like a dog. He was desperately thirsty. Finally, he spotted a half-empty plastic water bottle near a roadside bench. Only a little water sat stubbornly at the bottom. The crow’s eyes lit up. “Aha! This is exactly like my grandfather’s famous story. Drop Read more
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The Broom That Refused to Bend
Once upon a time, there was a brand-new broom who thought he was no ordinary broom.He would stand proudly in the corner, chest out, bristles fluffed, and declare:“I am the Shah Rukh Khan of sweeping! Look at my tall, straight figure! Other brooms bend and look crooked, but I— I am a gentleman broom, a Read more
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Meena, The Dabba Collector
Meena had no hobbies like gardening, knitting, or reading novels. Her true love was collecting dabbas. If an ice cream tub entered the house, it never left. If a biscuit tin came, it stayed forever. Even chutney packets from hotels were carefully washed, dried, and stored in a dabba of their own. Her husband, Rakesh, Read more
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Two Hours, One Journey – The Ride That Transformed a Lifetime
Chapter 1: The Meet-Cute in Traffic Rajiv’s phone buzzed relentlessly as he dashed out of his office building, the harsh midday sun turning the city sidewalks into a shimmering mirage. His sharp-collared shirt was slightly crumpled from the stress of the morning, and his tie hung a little loose—just like his patience. “Just one more Read more
