Tales in the City Volume IV

By Sudipta Seal Gean Viray, Shaurya Arya Ishrat Ali Lalljee and Swati Bhattacharya Revathi Raj Iyer

""He told her about his city, about its nooks and crooks and everything in between. He told her about its shattered windows and broken people, about everything he loved and hated in it. Sometimes, when he was in a good mood, Nik told her about himself; his beginnings and the things he's done to climb to the top. "

― Andrea Tomi

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ukiyoto Publishing
• Release date: Nov 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9789360490485

Book preview

Tales in the City

Volume IV

Adapted into Short Film

Ukiyoto Publishing

All global publishing rights are held by

Ukiyoto Publishing

Published in 2022

Content Copyright © Ukiyoto

ISBN

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated, without the publisher’s prior consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published.

Contents

Short Story by Gean Viray

Short Story by Sudipta Seal

Short Story by Dr. Ishrat Ali Lalljee

Short Story by Shaurya Arya

Short Story by Revathi Raj Iyer

Short Story by Swati Bhattacharyya

About the Authors

Short Story by Gean Viray

July 07's Ice Cream

Diane wanted ice cream for her birthday. Her parents could barely afford money for their daily needs. His father works in construction by day and sells balut outside their home by night. Her mother works as a store clerk in the nearby grocery. For now, she’s an only child but will be expecting brothers-twins- in the next months.  Thus, the challenges they face financially deprives her any privilege other than the basics.  For their family, ice cream would be a luxury.

Whenever she sees other children enjoying this treat, she marvels at the different shapes, sizes and colours it comes with. She looks in awe at the heave of its smoke and how it flows in its downward position. She had a taste once, when she went to their somewhat richer neighbour’s birthday party. With just one bite, she instantly fell in love with it. The sweetness and the coldness are nothing short of divine as the flavours burst in her mouth.

Papa, I want that ice cream with five flavours and I’ll eat it every day! She ran to give her father a hug. It doesn’t taste good at all. Plus, it will make all of your teeth rot until they fall off Her father would say and then tickle her instead. Her mother’s heart breaks a little whenever she hears these lies to appease their guilt. When it was only the two of them awake at night, they questioned the life choices that brought them to this moment.

Marrying young. Dropping out of high school to take care of their child. Leaving their province hoping for a better life in the city. Renting small apartments made out of scraps of wood. Was it all wrong?

Are you regretting that you chose me? Rowell would ask Helen out of a mix of sadness and frustration.

No. You have, and are still, doing all that you can for our family. I have loved you in a deeper way because of that. But I’m scared about making the wrong choice for our children. She rubbed her belly as she spoke. Rowell held her hand and caressed both the mother and children. 

The day after was like any other day at work. Rowell commuted to his work. It took him two and a half hours, one tricycle, one jeepney and one bus ride to get there. Like any other day, it was hot, damp and ungodly crowded, both in the waiting line and actual ride.