The land did not yet know what it was meant to become. It lay open and undecided, grass bending unevenly where the wind found reason to pass, red earth showing through in patches that refused neatness. A line of trees stood at a distance, their shade unoffered, their patience untested. Jamsetji Tata stood still long enough for the place to forget him, long enough for the sounds to resume their ordinary business. Insects worked the afternoon. A bird called and was answered. Nothing waited for instruction…
To read the full story and 19 other short stories in this series click on the links below:
This story is a part of the book “Lives Between the Dates“, my first printed collection of short stories, bringing together twenty well thought moments from twenty well known lives across twenty Indian cities. These stories do not revisit achievement. They enter the quieter hours around it. The hesitation before action. The doubt behind conviction.
Rooted in real places and shaped by history, this collection gathers the unrecorded moments that define a life more truthfully than any monument.
If you have found something here that stayed with you, some of my other books are now available in print and digital editions. They gather longer journeys, quieter questions, and stories that continue beyond this page.
Weekend Stories by Trishikh 
Strange that a site of construction should feel so peaceful. In America, when I see land slated for construction I hold my breath. I think of the animals that will be displaced. And the major mess that will be made. Dust in the air. This feels different. Thank you.
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Since I am reading the book I am not commenting on these snippets. I will post my views once I have finished the book. Good luck.
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Sure Geeta, I look orward to that. I will share a consolidated post for this book tomorrow, containing short paragraphs on all the stories. When you finish reading the book, maybe you can comment there for the whole book. Of course if you want to comment on any individual story at any time, there are these snippet posts, where you can do so.
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Thank you very much Trishikh for understanding. I will do it.
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This is a beautifully reflective and evocative piece. The opening scene is written with such quiet elegance that the reader can almost feel the stillness of the land and the slow rhythm of nature. The way you place Jamsetji Tata within that landscape is particularly striking—it shifts the focus from grand achievements to the silent moments of contemplation that often precede them.
Your idea of exploring the “lives between the dates” is both original and meaningful. By looking beyond well-known accomplishments and entering the quieter spaces of doubt, hesitation, and reflection, you offer readers a deeper and more human perspective on history.
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Dear Vermaji, thank you for reading the piece with such attentiveness.
I have always felt that before any great idea takes form, there is first a stretch of quiet ground where a person simply stands and considers. With Jamsetji Tata, that silent interval fascinated me more than the achievement that history later records. The land, the stillness, the slow patience of nature seemed the right companions for that moment of contemplation.
I am glad the spirit of Lives Between the Dates resonated with you. The milestones are already well known, but the hesitations and reflections that precede them often remain unspoken. Those quieter spaces reveal a far more human dimension of the lives we admire.
Your thoughtful reading and generous words are deeply encouraging. It is always heartening to know that these quiet intervals are being noticed and valued.
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🙏👍
Aum Shanti
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Thank you.
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