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| 'The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World' |
- Brian Mendonca
When John spoke to me about a storytelling session I was all ears. I was passing through Pune and was keen to meet up with him.
The first thing I needed to do was to select a story. I considered my short story 'Maria's Boutique' but I would have to dig it up. I found it and I uploaded it on my blog.
When John said that the story needed to be by another author, I instantly thought of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 'The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World.'
Hosts Shalini and Rohit warmly welcomed me to their new apartment at Kharadi. As everyone came in, I noticed they thoughtfully brought a snack which they kept on the table.
After the snacks were eaten, and cups of coffee passed around, John called the meeting to order.
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| Montresor and Fortunato |
His chose to tell the story ' The Cask of Amontillado' by Edgar Allan Poe. He held us spellbound as he voiced the dialogues of Montresor and Fortunato. The story led to a discussion on the motives for revenge.
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| Last scene from 'Khol Do.' |
Hardika narrated Manto's story 'Khol Do' bringing into discussion the themes of hate and sexual violence to women during the Partition and now.
I managed to tell Marquez's story to those who had gathered. However, instead of Esteban I named the character Escobar - the drug lord of the Medelin cartel from a crime serial on Columbia. During the discussion we noted how the unconscious plays a part in storytelling.
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| The Lawyer in 'The Wager' |
'The Wager' by Anton Chekov was narrated by Natraj. Like Hardika, he chose to stand and present the story. The story led to a discussion on how years in solitude can change ones priorities in life.
Shalini shared a beautiful story about how a mirror plays a part in choosing a bride for the king.
Dressed for the part, Elaine shared memories of the grandmother in Kashmir. She even brought a firan to show us how it keeps the person warm.
Peter, who animated the discussion, ended with a humorous story on the consequences of drinking too much water. It had the group in splits.
It was a beautiful morning in the company of tales. Karadi Tales touched our lives and made us reconsider our values.
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Pic at the top from a Claymation Film adaptation of the story here. Eric Girardi Literature Honors final project by Ms. Corvino (2013). 5.55 mins. Courtesy @thecorneroftheroom. 'Khol Do' narrated by RJ Sayema. With line drawings. Courtesy Radio Mirchi 98.4 FM, 15 mins. 2024. Karadi Tales is an independent publishing house for children based in Chennai. Updated 22/5/26.
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