The Jet Lagged Parrot (Smitha Bhat )

We were one of those typical , so often caricatured apartment complexes – full of stolidly middle class families, energetically involved in each other’s lives, extremely right wing and righteous. Then how, how did we get drawn in to a web of attempted homicide, adultery and gang wars? It all started with the parrot. continue... Loved the jetlagged parrot. Some of the phrasing had me laughing out loud. "Slinking sideways like an embarrassed crab". I can relate to the names - lived a few years in Chennai. In fact, it added to the characterization for me, as certain names echo some physical attribute or personality trait, but I think that layer of fun is generally lost on non-regional audience. It is upto you, if you want to keep it that way, or not. On the other hand, I wouldn't ask R.K.Narayan to update 'Swami and Friends' to 'Nitin and Buddies', or 'Ricky and his homies'. Jugal is right about quoted dialogue needing to appear on separate lines, in a single para containing the conversation. The story slowed because of digressions at 8th-9th para ("Usha's son is visiting", and "killer exams"), and 19th para ("crush on maths teacher"), didn't contribute directly to the storyline. You don't need a background story on every character - that works better in a longer story, but tends to slow the pace in a short piece. I liked the seduction/adultery theme related to the parrot's singing (rock music's effect? nice commentary), the building society meet, and the last para's return to Rajashekar's attempted seduction. Humor flowed, Aparna