"DISCOURSE"GLOBAL LITERATURE MAGAZINE
TITLE: CONDOLENCES
AUTHOR:ARITI JANKIE
(USA)
Ariti Jankie's short story showcases a commendable creative flow, seamlessly guiding readers through a captivating narrative. The craft is evident in the well-structured plot, engaging characters, and a satisfying resolution. Jankie's use of creative language paints vivid imagery, evoking emotions effortlessly. The story's brevity adds to its charm, leaving a lasting impact in just a few words.
The writer's ability to convey depth in such a concise format is admirable. Ariti Jankie's storytelling prowess shines, making this short story a delightful read. Her talent for weaving a compelling tale with limited words is truly praiseworthy.
CONDOLENCES
If she didn’t have a monster for a brother, she would never have survived her brother-in-law. He was a criminal.
One morning, Shivani was sitting in the living room chatting with her husband’s cousin who had come to visit from abroad. Suddenly, the front door burst open and in a split second Tiger had her guest pinned against the wall. He punched and slammed the smaller man. Shivani rushed in, tearing the men apart. She didn’t understand a word of what Tiger was saying.
She separated them, grabbed the visitor’s hand and took him to the back door.
“Just go away for now, I will handle Tiger,” she said.
Shivani was a foreigner, a mother of two and a journalist with the local newspaper in India’s capital city of New Delhi. She was versed in the English language but was yet to get a handle on Hindi and Punjabi.
Tiger frothing from the mouth was still screaming and shouting. His wife had climbed down the stairs from the second floor apartment where they lived.
Shivani told him in no uncertain terms, “I will not tolerate physical violence in my home.” His wife pulled at his arm and took him back up the stairs.
He filed a report at the police station saying that Shivani was squatting on his property. The police came to the house. Shivani’s father-in-law set the record straight. He terrorized family members until one of them reported him.
Tiger Jeet Singh was a diplomat employed in India’s foreign service. The report got him transferred to the then war torn Kabul. He came home when his father died and immediately began looking with a microscope at the dead man’s fingernails throwing suspicion on Shivani, the daughter-in-law who had been looking after the gentle old man. Nonetheless, it was Shivani who was the only one who could talk to him about the funeral rites etc.
On a hot summer day, the news came.
Tiger Jeet was no more.
Tears came to Shivani’s eyes. Years has passed since she had left India and banish the rage, the ignorance and the dramatics that all but crippled her marital family. Be that as it may, she was a mother of two grown children now and ever so often with the turn of the head or the sound of their voices, each brought Tiger alive, to make him a part of the family.
She mourned the loss of the man who during his teenage years was accused of killing his schoolmate. If circumstances had been different he could, Shivani mused very well have been as dynamic as either one of her two offspring.
The call of Azaan
The sound of the conch shell blowing
Indians landing on the moon.
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"Discourse" Global Literature Magazine.
Founder and Editor
Aamir Abdullah (Pakistan)
Co-Editors
Mumtaz Husain(USA)
Dr.Ratan Ghosh(India)
Haleema Abdulazeez(Nigeria)
Aasma Tahir(Pakiatan)
Najia Ahmed(Canada)
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