Why did my wife go down with the Covid-19 virus? Isolated for fifteen days, initially with a high viral count? Why did God allow this to happen? Such thoughts rankled in me. A few days before the viral attack, a young friend, from another faith had rung me up, “Uncle,…
Smiling, Despite an Alcoholic Husband..!
She was standing alone, inside the badly lit store, sipping a soft drink. It was late in the evening. “Nothing cold at home?” I joked, knowing she lived just above the shop. “He locked the fridge,” she said. “I’m sorry,” I said, as she sipped the remainder of the drink…
Are YOU Courteous at Home?
“Your husband,” I told the pretty lady standing at the entrance of the park where I walk everyday, “is such a polite man!” “Why what does he do?” asked the lady. “He wishes everybody during his morning walk,” said the chairman of the committee which maintained the park. “He helps…
Feel Good Headlines..!
“Economy at Doorstep of Recovery, says RBI guv” the headlines in today’s paper said and immediately felt a sense of deep peace settling over me. I was startled out of my restful repose by the clanging of my doorbell. Hastily wearing my mask, I opened the door, to see two…
The Class Reunion..!
She was late, and from outside the hall she heard the sound of noisy revelry flowing. She entered, and heard everyone gasp, “Kamala, is it you?” came the lone voice of Premila, sounding much older but still familiar, after all Premila and she had sat next to each other for…
Compromising with Covid..!
It beats me, we haven’t beaten Covid yet. Everybody but everybody has a remedy for it, and most of them who have found one, call me up to suggest how they’re beating the virus, “Have a hot water bath every two hours!” says a friend. “But that will lead to…
A Longer, Whiter Beard..!
It was on one of these Zoom calls that this pretty friend asked, “What’s with the beard Bob?” “I’ve always had a beard!” I replied quickly. “True, but you’re suddenly growing it longer!” “So that you will start believing in me!” I said a little angrily. “You mean you’re growing…
Stand Tall Like The Bamboo..!
A doctor friend dropped in one night, he appeared sad and beaten. A patient who had been operated upon in his hospital had gone into coma for no fault of his or his staff and now he was hounded by the media, police and even members of the local community,…
Wagging the Dog’s Tail..!
My daughter was furious as she walked into the room. “What are you doing dad?” she exclaimed. “Wagging the dog’s tail!” I replied very matter of fact, as I physically held my bewildered dog and forcibly shook his tail. “But why?” she asked. “Trying to make it happy,” I said….
Lifted up…!
While thinking of my late mother I remembered a conversation I’d had with her: ‘Bob d’you remember the times Dad carried you, when you walked with him on the hills?” “Yes, ma,” I’d said. “You were scared to jump from one rock to another, and Dad used to stoop down,…
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.