The Matchstick

  The Theory of Nothingness ( Originally written for India Film Project IFP s-11's 7 Days Writing Challenge ) It was a cold winter evening. A woman, in her late thirties, walks down a street in New Delhi. She took a mobile device from her bag and opened an e-hailing app on it searching for a ride. After fiddling with the mobile screen for a few moments she dialed a number, the cab driver picked the call on the other end and told her that he would be reaching within 10 minutes.  After a few minutes the cab arrived. She opened the door and entered the cab. The driver, a young man, who must be in his mid forties, greeted her while lowering the volume of his cab radio and requested her to enter her destination in the app. She did as she was told and then she asked him about the estimated time to reach the destination.  The driver glanced at his mobile screen and after a moment of calculation he gently replied, “25 to 30 minutes utmost, ma’am.”  “Okay!” She uttered. ...

“Hey folks! Did you hear? Li’l prince is coming here tomorrow”, Clapping Monkey was excited to announce.   “How do you know for sure?”, the Electronic Boxy Girl Doll asked.  “Well, I heard the shop owner talking to the manager, he said Li’l prince wants to buy some toys”, Monkey replied.  “God! I'm so excited to meet Li’l prince, last time he visited, he bought so many of us and took them with him”, Baby birdie fingerling was dancing in excitement.   “What the hell are you excited for?”, Super villain action figurine came out of the toys, holding a gun in his hands, “Li’l Prince like Action heroes, I am sure he will buy me this time.”   “Okay, but you are not a hero, you are a villain”, Baby birdie cried in anger.   “Hey Hey Hey, calm down guys. We don’t know who Li'l prince will take with him, Li’l prince is the Li’l prince and it will be his decision only”, Clapping Monkey tried to conciliate everyone.   “Monkey is right, th...