• Home

    Home


  • Articles

    Articles


  • Happenings

    Happenings


  • Eksentriks

    Eksentriks


  • Community

    Community

  • Home
  • Asian Arts Magazine  ▾
    • Arts
    • Culture
    • Films
    • Literature
    • Music
    • Performing Arts
    • Photography
    • Poems
    • Stories
  • Artist Registry
  • Arts Community
  • Happenings

  • Log In
  • Submit Stories & Poems
  • List Your Events
  • Get Featured
  • Donate

  • What Is Eksentrika?
  • Get In Touch With Us
  • FAQ
  • Join Our Monthly Newsletter
  • Eksentrika Facebook
  • Eksentrika Instagram
  • Eksentrika Twitter
  • Eksentrika Linkedin
  • Eksentrika Telegram
  • Home
  • Get Featured
  • Asian Arts Magazine
  • Artist Registry
Arts & Culture Malaysia | Eksentrika
Eksentrika Login
SHORT STORY | Dal For Lalita by Lavinia Grace Sebastian
Lavinia Grace Sebastian

Written by Lavinia Grace Sebastian

SHORT STORY | Dal For Lalita by Lavinia Grace Sebastian

Share this article via


Arya puts a pot on the stove. 

“That’s where she used to sit,” she said, pointing at the dining table. Indeed, empty chairs stood around it.

A soup ladle clanked into the pot. Arya bent down to get some lentils from a basket. They sounded like gravel in her hands. A fire was lit, and the small flickering heated up the pot. Water was poured in like a spring and soon, dal was simmering in the pot. The rich aroma was enraptured under the lid. Steam came out from two tiny holes like a dragon’s breath. 

Arya then chops off the stems of two dried chilies. 

“Dal was her favourite.” 

The knife hits the board with peaceful precision. 

Some chili seeds burst out onto the board. 

“She liked dal with chili,” said Arya, opening the lid. 

An eruption of hearty herbal scent fills the kitchen. Arya throws in the chilies and stirs the pot. The dal simmers like molten gold with rubies.

“Every meal time she would sit down and say, ‘What’s for lunch Ama? What’s for dinner Ama?’”

Arya poured the dal into a shiny glass bowl.

She picks it up and turns around, and realises she is talking to no one.

Cover image by PULSÍTOS.com on Unsplash. The copyright of this piece belongs to the author of this literary work.  

Copied and pasted from Eksentrika.

Submit your short stories, poems, essays, reviews, and more here. 

telegram eksentrika

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Contribute to Us

We accept short stories, poems, opinion pieces, and essays on a complimentary basis.

SUBMIT

Other Stories You May Like

SHORT STORY | Embracing The Fall by A.K. Tolentino

Embracing The Fall by A.K. Tolentino

A. K. Tolentino

SHORT STORY | Alone by Maryam Abdul Wahab

Alone by Maryam Abdul Wahab

Maryam AbdulWahab

SHORT STORY | The Year of Living Haruki-Murakamily by Connla Stokes

The Year of Living Haruki-Murakamily by Connla Stokes

Connla_Stokes

Mr. Karofsky’s Big Mistake by Lavinia Grace Sebastian

Mr. Karofsky’s Big Mistake by Lavinia Grace Sebastian

Lavinia Grace Sebastian

Eksentrika story photo scaled

December Nights by Susanna Lim

Susanna Lim

SHORT STORY Prayers From Above by Anuradha Chelliah

SHORT STORY | Prayers From Above by Anuradha Chelliah

Anuradha Chelliah

About Eksentrika

Eksentrika is an arts community and an online Asian arts magazine with an artist registry. Join us to get inspired and find Asian artists here!

Quick Links

  • About Eksentrika
  • Contact Us
  • F.A.Q.

Join Our Newsletter

 


All Rights Reserved © 2021 Eksentrika | By eJeeban Web Design Company

  • Eksentrika Facebook
  • Eksentrika Instagram
  • Eksentrika Twitter
  • Eksentrika Linkedin
  • Eksentrika Telegram