HERE I AM and other stories (Last Part) Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi Acknowledgements Thanks is a pale word for my editor Gita Ramaswamy; but for her interest this book would not have happened. Thanks are also due to Vemana Vasanthalakshmi who has constantly encouraged me to write. My heartfelt gratitude to all the friendly translators who […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 16. Stop Pretending Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: D. Kesava Rao The monsoon afternoon was so hot that it was redolent of the month of Vaisakha. Gita covered her mouth with the pallu of her sari to avoid breathing the polluted air. She was on her way home, in […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 15. Will he come home? Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: Y. Padmavathi Today, the hour-long, 9999th episode of the daily serial, Royal Family, is scheduled for telecast. In today’s episode, all the actors will recall their experiences of enacting scenes and memories of memorable episodes; they will flick their […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 14. Vasundhara’s Story Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: A. Suneetha Lalita woke up and looked for the milk sachet in the plastic bag hung over the outer door. Not finding it, she took out the sachet kept in the refrigerator the previous day, put it to boil, and went […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 13. The Seven Colours of a Rainbow Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: B. Shyamasundari Returning home after working in the vegetable garden, Swarna saw a group of women in front of her house, clustered around Premalathamma’s scooter. Neigh-bours, aunties, grandmothers – they were all there. There was invariably a […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 12. The Awakening Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: Gorrepati Samyukta The old man was about six feet tall, and wore a clean white, ironed dhoti and shirt. A few silver strands shone here and there on his head. Holding his little finger was a […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 11. Supermom Syndrome Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: Sujatha Gopal ‘id Anuradha stop the Wheel of Time like the mythical Sumathi who stopped the sun?’ mused Surya Rao. He sat up in bed in anxiety. ‘The Wheel of Time hasn’t stopped; Anuradha has,’ mocked the clock, chiming nine. Anuradha […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 10. Palanquin Bearer Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: P. Satyavathi How to take the Ayyappa deeksha the day after tomorrow. ‘ey Manga! Can you hear me? Ayyagaru is going, You must dust the house and mop the floor clean . . . you have to come early in the […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 9. Nameless Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: R. Srivatsan and Sreelakshmi Manklets and tiny gold drop earrings. She looks at them, ‘ alachmi sits on the threshold, holding silver her eyes brimming with tears. She has been sitting like this for six months. The madam in whose house she […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 8. Equations Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: Raj Karamchedu How she laughed when I stood behind the camera and made crazy faces! Bachi uncle grabbed that laughter and turned the whole house into a festival of lights. Placing the sparkle of that laughter on the picture of the Niagara […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 7. Here I Am Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: Rigobertha Prabhatha I fell in love with my face when I saw it in the mirror before going across the river. I was bursting with excitement, my heart full of the desires of life and youthful exuberance. With three colourful […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 6. Go-dhooli Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: Vadrewu Panduranga Rao One Sunday afternoon, caught in a drizzle and stepping into our house, I noticed father and mother feverishly busy in the kitchen, cooking and arguing with each other. The debate did not concern cuisine – it was about our […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 5. Father Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: C.L.L. Jayaprada Dark clouds were gathering over the sinking sun with strong summer gales, hail and dust. Every last Sunday of the month, Amma and her friend Dr Meherunnisa used to visit the elderly in the old age home, to buy things […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 4. City of Spells and City of Charms (Part-2) Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: Lakshmi Gudipati One morning, Anasuya was resting on her bed by the window with her daughter’s childhood slate on her chest and her eyes half-closed. Her husband was about to step out to go to […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 4. City of Spells and City of Charms (Part-1) Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: Lakshmi Gudipati I seek to uncover treasured sculptures among ancient ruins. I enrich the soil around the once mighty, hacked remains of trees, hoping desperately for new saplings to sprout from the roots. My daughter […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 3. A Prince and a Princess Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: C.L.L. Jayaprada Vasantha laughed loudly, chatting with Aruna who was in the USA, the song from the music system at her side virtually shaking the earth. Vasundhara came into the room, yelling, ‘I’ve been calling you for the […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 2. Damayanti’s Daughter (Part-2) Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: Sashi Kumar Anuradha ma’am was reading aloud ‘The Forsaken Merman’ written by Mathew Arnold: Call once yet In a voice that she will know: ‘Margaret! Margaret!’ (Call once more) to a mother’s ear; Children’s voices should be dear Children’s voices, […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 2. Damayanti’s Daughter (Part – 1) Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: Sashi Kumar I usually pull the window blinds down on Sundays to keep the sun out. But my roommate Sneha, who gets up at six in the morning – be it a Sunday […]
Continue ReadingHERE I AM and other stories 1. The Thieving Cat Telugu Original: P.Sathyavathi English Translation: Sashi Kumar Keen to reach home before the scheduled power cut, Seetaratnam took a shared auto to her bus stop. She got down from the bus and hurried to her house all out of breath. Her spirits lifted on seeing her […]
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