Boats are safe on shore but they weren't built for that – I set my sail in the ocean of words
Time MachineShort Story by Vasu GangapalliThe rhythmic hum of machinery filled the basement. The smell of heated metal and old wires hung in the air. Rajesh adjusted his goggles, squinting at the panel that glowed faintly blue under flickering lights.“Just one more calibration,” he whispered to himself. His hands trembled, not from fear but from …
Blurry ImageFlash Fiction by Vasu Gangapalli “Son, my eyesight has turned blurry,” Gopichand said, rubbing his temples. “I think it’s time to change my lens.”His son, Ravi, didn’t look up from his laptop. “I’ll take you this weekend, Dad. I’ve got a project deadline to finish first.”Gopichand nodded silently. He didn’t want to burden him. …
“The Girl in the Glass Box”A short story based on true incident by Vasu Gangapalli The first crack of thunder echoed through Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery. The night was a black ocean, waves of rain slamming down as lightning ripped across the sky. The watchman, Ethan, pulled his raincoat tighter and aimed his flashlight down the …
“The Room Full of Lives”A Short Story by Vasu Gangapalli Fiction inspired by true eventsThe studio lights were blinding. Sir Nicholas Winton sat stiffly in the red velvet chair, his weathered hands resting on his lap. He leaned slightly toward his wife, Grete, and whispered,“I don’t know why they’ve invited me, Grete. I’m no celebrity.”Grete …
The WitnessFlash Fiction by Vasu GangapalliWord Count: 373 The night was wrapped in a sheet of silence—until a scream tore through it. Mira Patel stood at her apartment window, clutching a mug of cold coffee. The streetlamp below flickered weakly, painting long shadows on the empty road. At exactly 12:03 a.m., she saw it. A …
The Light That ReturnedA Short Story by Vasu Gangapalli Jayashree clutched her mother’s hand tightly as the first firecracker burst in the night sky. The loud phat-phat echoed through the street. The neighbors cheered, but her little body trembled.“Amma… please, no crackers,” she whispered, tears welling up. Her mother, Savitha, knelt down and cupped her …
The Hollow Beneath A Short Story by Vasu Gangapalli Word count: 1,590The night rain hadn’t stopped. A single streetlight flickered near the bus stop as Meera tightened her shawl and stepped over the puddles.Her heel landed in something soft. She jerked back. The same gaping pothole, bigger now, glistened like a trap.She hissed under her …
The Final DraftA short story by Vasu GangapalliThe cursor blinked at the end of the sentence like a pulse.Riya stared at the screen, her breath uneven.“The boy vanished into the woods, never to return.”She clicked Save and closed her laptop, trying to brush away the uneasy feeling creeping down her spine.The next morning, the news …
“The Dream That Spoke Back”A Short Story by Vasu Gangapalli The clock on Dr. Meera Dev’s clinic wall ticked softly, its sound almost rhythmic against the rain tapping the windowpane. Her 6:00 p.m. appointment—Ananya—sat hunched on the couch, hands clutching the hem of her sweater. “It’s the same dream,” Ananya whispered. “Every night. The same …
The Night He Let GoA Short Story by Vasu GangapalliThe moonlight spilled softly over the crumbling iron gates of the old Ashmore Estate. Elara had moved into the inherited mansion only a month ago, but the nights had never been the same since she met him.Every night at exactly eleven, as the clock tower nearby …
Paper boats 