Boats are safe on shore but they weren't built for that – I set my sail in the ocean of words
The Hypnotist’s ShadowA Short Story by Vasu GangapalliThe hall erupted in applause as Dr. Anirudh Verma closed his performance with a flourish.A dozen volunteers had walked on stage nervous and skeptical, yet walked off laughing, claiming they couldn’t remember their own names for a few minutes. The audience adored him.“Thank you, thank you,” Anirudh said, …
KEEP MOVING FORWARD A Short Story by Vasu Gangapalli The Present Varun sat outside the operation theater, his hands pressed against his face, his heart pounding with both fear and hope. The fluorescent light above flickered like in a horror movie. His mind drifted back to the conversation he had with his wife, Suchitra, a …
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 Secret of Secrets (2025) – Dan Brown’s New Thriller Book Review:I didn’t expect to find myself reading Dan Brown’s latest novel, but when I learned that The Secret of Secrets was releasing, I couldn’t resist pre-ordering it. Like his previous works, this book immerses you in the fascinating world of Robert Langdon, and once …
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 …
Paper boats 