Blog – World of Aanya Gupta

20 Dec

Milky Blue Orbs

Picture credits: Pinterest Milky blue orbs glazed over, almost translucent in the pearly white ocean on top of which they floated gently. The liquidated corners filled with the medicine poured into the iris as it dilated, then contracted again. Regular patterns, like a boat rocking in shallow, undulating waves. Like a mother placating a screaming […]

Greed overtakes Need: Is a Reset Necessary?

16 Nov

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Greed overtakes Need: Is a Reset Necessary?

Selected for the top 20 national finalists for the Nanhi Chhaan Essay Competition. There is a large Cabinet in the attic, which is 5 feet tall but not very wide, of classic Ikea finishing and rusted handles covered with splotches of grime. On the top left corner is a freshly woven spider web with gossamer […]

22 Sep

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Mango People

For me, mangoes have always been associated with the summer. Those sweltering lazy afternoons or the sun soaked evenings with my mouth full of sweet juice. What forms an inevitable part of my summer memories is something surprisingly versatile, and also the national fruit of India. Mangoes originated some 30 million years ago, hailing from […]

16 Sep

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Prayers for Mankind

The following are 4 original shlokas (prayers or hymns) which follow the style of the Panchatantra, ancient animal folktales from India which teach valuable lessons for the betterment of mankind. Shlok 4 “The courage to stand up for good is equal to have the courage to stand against evil.” They came in single filed groups, […]

11 Aug

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Exercises in Style- IV, V, VI

Ghazal (poetry of longing; 5 stanzas) She gazes at the mirror with a scheming stare, Reflection striking back its own gleaming stare. Thick eyebrows, thin smile, pasty complexion All together, delivering an unredeeming stare. The page in her diary is stark and empty, Meager obligations with their streaming stare. Yesterday, it was too full as […]

11 Aug

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The Walk

The first time we found out about it was after the accident, after we had come home and I found him lying on the bathroom floor in a puddle of grimy water. The doctors explained it really well, backed up their fake sympathetic smiles with medical jargon and suggestions for support groups. I remember marking […]

29 Jun

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Firsts

My favourite topic to talk about is me. How I understood comfort, felt anger, fell in love, got my heart broken and was proud of myself. It’s all about I, it’s all about me, it’s all about myself. “Your head is full of snakes, you’re Medusa!” The chuckles seemed to run across the room punctuated […]

12 May

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Ravaged

She gazed out, out towards the pier. The boats were rocking gently under the effect of the undulating waves which caressed their sides like pairs of firm, guiding hands. The light breeze tickled her bare shoulders, lending a flush to her cheeks which was quickly masked under the shadows of the fast disappearing sun. The […]

25 Dec

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I, II, III- Exercises in Style

Inspired by Raymond Queneau’s works (I wanted this to be a set of 50 pieces, let’s see where I get till). The same piece written over and over again in different styles. Notation (main plot line): The woman looks into the mirror. Her reflection stares back at her. Her too-thick eyebrows, too thin smile, too […]