It could have either been a careless mason, or that the area under the tile was crumbling and had to be broken. And so, broken it was. Not just the area beneath the tile, but the tile also. The mason did his job, plastered the area underneath that needed reinforcing…
Robert Clements is a journalist and newspaper columnist. With an estimated 6 million readership, his column, Bob’s Banter is published in over 30 newspapers and magazines in nearly every state in India, as well as in the top newspapers of Bangladesh, London and Dubai and is also translated into Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
How to Choose a Contractor..!
The doorbell rang and the watchman outside gave me a smart salute and handed me a piece of paper to sign, ‘There is a managing committee meeting in the society office sir,’ he said. ‘Secretary sahib wants you to come down immediately.’ I swore to myself as I signed the…
Trust and the Glass Bowl..!
A month or two ago I visited the little home in which I grew up. It was locked, but I found a window open and delicately placing my phone inside, took a picture of a shelf. The shelf was where a little glass bowl used to lie. I don’t remember…
Burning the Old Man..!
“What are you doing?” I gasped as I saw the old man on fire just before midnight of the old year.. “Burning the Old Man!” said the group of youngsters. “Help!” shouted the old man, as the flames reached his beard. “Ha, ha, ha!” shouted the boys with glee, and…
New Year and the Vanishing Sheriff..!
Some of the saddest incidents that took place in the US, were blacks being lynched! Artist sketches of the macabre event showed terror on their faces and diametrically opposite expressions on the faces of those who’d decided to string him up. The poor man knew there was nothing he could…
They Will Vote for Me Anyway…!
“Can you imagine,” said the elected representative, poking a fat finger into my ribs, “the people want a new bus terminus.” “Yes,” I said, “I’ve heard about that.” “What do we need a bus terminus for,” he said, “when we have an international airport here.” “Yes,” I said again. “Our…
Her Nose, My Cheeks..!
Today, they’re five years old! And I reproduce what I wrote of them when they surfaced on earth: There’s two young men, twins, who’ve come into my life, and as I hold either one or the other of my daughter’s newborns in my hands, I hear voices, “He’s got your…
Old Shoes and A Long Ago Christmas..!
Now, I’m not one to panic over small sounds coming out of nowhere, but these here voices were coming from boots and even a pair of shoes in my room, “Bob, write about us today please!” You don’t disobey shoes and boots considering they can bite, so it’s shoes and…
The Last Days of the Year..!
Two Thousand Twenty Two was not in the best of moods as the last few days of her reign on earth drew to a close, “I’m not sure I want to go!” she said, to no one in particular, but she knew she was being heard by the years past…
It’s All In The Eggs She Made..!
T’was the day after Christmas. The fight had started the night before, and now the next morning, like two animals wary of each other, they went about their morning chores. It had started at a friend’s place, a party………. “You drink too much,” she had said. “Just two,” he had…
Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.