Short Story: New No. Old No.

Raju Narsing Rao narrates a poignant tale on how the world is changing at a fast pace and there are still some humans who want to cling onto whatever bits of the familiar past, in whatever way they can.

Sourav’s flight landed in Chennai bang on time. The air outside the airport was warm, humid, and unfamiliar. He had been warned about the city’s notorious weather. His Airbnb was an hour’s drive from the airport. He had specifically chosen it in spite of being more expensive, as it was very near the Krishnamacchari Yoga Mandiram, a premier Yoga studio. He had heard a lot about it and was looking forward to the three-month program here. He checked in; it was late at night, and he collapsed into a deep, dreamless sleep. 

The morning that greeted him the next day was unexpectedly pleasant, with a cool breeze coming in from the beach. “So the obnoxious Chennai heat has been kinder to me. “ He smiled to himself. 

He began exploring the neighborhood of the Airbnb. There was construction debris all around  — bricks, sand, broken tiles — as though the area was permanently in a state of development. Independent houses desperately requiring a facelift co-existed amicably among modern apartment blocks.