Knots and Braids
by Gaurav Bhalla
She says: Why can’t you put the spice bottles back in the rack when you are done with them?
He says: I was looking for paprika.
She says: You’d find it if you put it back in the same place every time.
He says: Should I make my omelet with olives … or capers … or both?
She says: Reminds me, did you pay the property tax bill?
He says: Hot pan, warm oil, perfect for a fluffy brown omelet.
She says: There’s a very hefty fine if we don’t pay the property tax on time.
He says: You were saying?
She says: Forget it. Asking you to do anything is a waste of time, should just do everything myself.
He says: Yes, the property tax, would have paid it, couldn’t find the bill.
She says: It’s on the kitchen desk. Did you bother looking?
He says: Have you seen the kitchen desk?
She says: What about it?
He says: Looks like the local landfill.
She says: 90% of the junk on that desk is yours—car keys, wallet, watch, Wall Street Journal. Why don’t you dump your junk on your own desk?
He says: My desk’s in the basement.
She says: All hail the Lord of the Manor. Fie, fie, fie.
He says: Ah, the play begins.
She says: Want to know the ending?
He says: NO.
She says: Want to know the ending?
He says: Let’s not go there.
She says: Let’s, I’m sick and tired of running this show single-handed and being dumped upon.
He says: Adam Smith, division of labor.
She says: Labor gets paid, I don’t.
He says: What are you suggesting?
She says: When you started your company, you asked me for an eight-year divorce.
He says: A temporary one.
She says: It’s coming up on thirteen years.
He says: Thirteen years! My how time flies.
She says: Time’s up. Choose.
He says: Choose what?
She says: Cut it out, you know damn well what I’m talking about.
He says: Would you like some of my gourmet …?
She says: Your omelet’s burning.
Gaurav Bhalla is an entrepreneur, educator, and former global C-suite executive. Published in both business and literature, his writing focuses on cross-cultural themes that aim to deepen people’s understanding of themselves and others. His short stories have been published in India, UK, and USA. Recently, his short stories have appeared in Jimson Weed, Defenestrationism.net, and The Writing Disorder.
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Upcoming
01/13 • Edward Thomas-Herrera
01/20 • Zero Laforga
01/27 • Jack Bedell
02/03 • TBD
02/10 • Gaurav Bhalla
02/17 • Callie Dean
02/24 • TBD