Short Story: Lodger at the Death Hotel – Kashi

Ria Chowdhury narrates a captivating tale about the death hotels in Kashi and the mysterious ways in which it connects people.

“Nothing is more seductive for man than his freedom of conscience, but nothing is a greater cause of suffering.”

Throughout school, college, and even now at university, I was led to believe that I am a high-performing individual. Well, academically and Co-curricular activities-wise, with good communication. However, none of these landed me in any goddamn internship, while all my classmates did. Well, not just me, Akshay, and I couldn’t get through any! He is a good friend and a disgustingly well-read person, but he comes from a very privileged background, and I believe that the rich need not worry!

Not landing an internship didn’t feel like a failure for much longer. Instead, it turned out to be an unusual and inexplicable experience of my life. I would also hesitate to call it an experience, as it involves a real human being. Are human beings an experience for each other? Can we call it that? Does it deem the value or increase it? A trip can be an experience, but a person you aren’t going to meet again, an experience?

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