Boats are safe on shore but they weren't built for that – I set my sail in the ocean of words
When It HappenedA Short Story by Vasu GangapalliPawan sat on a wooden bench outside the hospital ward, his face buried in his palms. The flickering tube light above him buzzed like something out of a horror film, its sharp shadows deepening the grief etched across his face.“Why are you so sad?” asked a soft, feminine …
When the Future callsA Short Story by Vasu Gangapalli The first time Arjun’s phone rang with his own number flashing on the screen, it was just past midnight.He stared at it, unsettled. Maybe a glitch? Spam? Still, something urged him to swipe.“Hello?” he said cautiously.There was a pause, then his own voice came through, low …
The Clockmaker’s GardenBy Vasu Sree GangapalliRaghunath was a man who had lived his life listening to the heartbeats of clocks. Each tick and tock had been his companion in the small shop he had run for forty years. He had mended watches for soldiers who went to war, for brides on their wedding day, for …
The Dreamer Across UniversesA Short Story by Vasu GangapalliRiya woke up with a gasp, her hands trembling. For weeks, she had been dreaming of a boy named Aarav — someone she had never met, living in a city she had never visited. The dreams weren’t random. They were vivid. Detailed. Real.Meanwhile, in another universe, Aarav …
The Forgotten PhotographA Short Story by Vasu GangapalliThe summer of 1978 in Calcutta was cruelly hot. The Mukherjee family had just returned from cleaning their late grandmother’s attic, their arms filled with yellowed letters, faded postcards, and an old photo album.As the ceiling fan whirred, Asha, the youngest daughter, flipped through the pages, her fingers …
The Last Letterbox A Short Story by Vasu Gangapalli In the heart of the bustling city of Hyderabad, surrounded by glass towers and glowing billboards, there stood something that didn’t belong. Rusted, faded red, its paint peeling in uneven patches—an old letterbox. No one remembered when it was last used. Most people walked past it …
The Tailor of DreamsA Short Story by Vasu Gangapalli The sign above the shop was faded: “Raghav & Sons – Tailors Since 1932.” The paint peeled, the glass cracked. But inside, magic lived in a needle. Raghav, in his late fifties, stitched more than fabric. A jacket carried warmth for the soul. A scarf wrapped …
The Birthday GiftA Short Story by Vasu Gangapalli“Son, what would you like for your birthday this year?” Subramanian asked his ten-year-old son, Pradeep.Pradeep looked at his parents, who were sipping tea in the garden behind their house. “Dad, I’ve had one wish for a long time…”“And what is that, my boy?” Subramanian asked, setting his …
The Train to SomewhereA Short Story by Vasu Gangapalli The train rattled gently over the tracks, the warm glow of the late afternoon sun painting the cabin golden. Three friends—Raghav, Aanya, and Trisha—sat side by side, their laughter filling the space like music. They were heading to Jaipur for a long overdue trip, a break …
“The Soul Who Waited”A Short Story by Vasu Gangapalli There is a place beyond time, where light doesn’t shine, yet everything glows. It is the Waiting Room of Souls—a realm suspended between lifetimes, between the last breath of one existence and the first cry of another. It is neither heaven nor Earth, but something softer, …
Paper boats 