shortstories
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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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Learn the Art of Being Useful – From Sugarcane
– a Talesmith short by Rajesh Muthuraj In a sugarcane field somewhere in India, stood Ramu the Cane; tall, green, and extremely proud of himself. Ramu believed height was personality. He often looked down (literally) on shorter plants and said, “Look at me. Six feet of pure potential.” The grass rolled its eyes. The tomatoes 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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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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The Uselessly Useful Words
It was evening in the Dictionary Café, a place where words hung out after a hard day of being overused. The menu had items like Grammar Rolls, Punctuation Pie, and the chef’s special: Word Salad. At table 23, two regular customers sat complaining. Actually: (adjusting his glasses) “Actually… I’m exhausted. I was used 47 times Read more
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The Four O’Clock Squad
Every Sunday at exactly 4:00 p.m., four friends—Rajesh, Robert, Michael, and Vivian—met at Lakshmi Tea Stall, a place with stools so wobbly you got a free leg workout, walls decorated with chai stains, and a ceiling fan that rotated only when bribed with a kick. The menu hadn’t changed since 1983, which was fine because Read more
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The Four O’Clock Squad
Every Sunday at exactly 4:00 p.m., four friends—Rajesh, Robert, Michael, and Vivian—met at Lakshmi Tea Stall, a place with stools so wobbly you got a free leg workout, walls decorated with chai stains, and a ceiling fan that rotated only when bribed with a kick. The menu hadn’t changed since 1983, which was fine because Read more
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The Ultimate Zomato Mix-up
It was a Sunday evening, and Arjun had a plan. A solid, well-researched, emotionally fulfilling plan: This wasn’t just food. This was therapy. The Zomato delivery guy arrived earlier than expected, smiling like a man who’d just discovered the secret to immortality but couldn’t share it because of company policy. He handed over the bag Read more
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TEDTalk by Vada Pav: “How to Be Hot, Humble, and Hugely Popular”
[Lights dim. The big red TED letters glow on stage. A trolley rolls out with a steaming hot vada pav neatly placed on tissue paper. The mic stand is lowered to its height. While some in the audience gasp, some laugh nervously.] Opening Vada Pav:Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. [pause]Or should I say… hungry ladies Read more
