The newspaper, dated 4 September 2004 lies open on the dining table. My eyes are riveted on the news item, “When a mother was made to choose between her two children.” I read the news slowly.`In Beslan, Russia, ZalinaDzandarova cradled her son Alan as he slept with his small face buried against her stomach. He was the child that Dzandarova was able to save, the child she chose to save, really. It was the other one, little Alana, her six-year-old daughter, whose image tormented her: Alana clutching her hand, Alana crying and calling after her. Alana’s sobs disappearing into the distance as Dzandarova rushed out of Middle School No. 1 here on Thursday, clutching Alan in her arms. Guerrillas armed with automatic rifles and explosive belts allowed 26 women and children to leave. About a dozen mothers, like Dzandarova, were allowed to take only one child and forced to leave another…
The screeching of a van’s brakes brought me to the window. I pulled the curtains apart and the burst of sunlight made me blink.…
“Why is Papa wrapped in the national flag, Ma?” asks Mithun plaintively. “Why do you say that?” I say, wondering if he is…
Well, Linda, you’ve gone four thousand miles south, and sixteen years into the past—pretty good for a novice fugitive. The tall, slender woman smiled…
Me and Dad were sitting on the bus stop bench telling knock-knock jokes waiting for Mom when he pointed to the rooftop of a…
Ribak knew that the only way he would calm down would be to lie down. He walked the short distance to his house, and…
Doctor-saab, there is nothing to fear, right? Dr Karmaker bowed his weary head in exhaustion. Or was it frustration? Frustration at his inability…
It’s hard to have a hereditary system that produces the competencies required —J. Mark Baiada, founder of a health care firm which he…
‘Everything will be fine, I know. Medicine is so advanced nowadays.’ When he mentioned orthopaedics as a possible career choice, Dr Neil Ganguly’s…
