Niyantha Shekar

It was not supposed to be called Shiva Park.

Mani, the councillor responsible for the park’s creation, was a rational man who pretended to be religious because most of his constituents were religious. So, he showed his face at the neighbourhood temple once a week, and donated an agreeable amount to the yearly chariot festival. He was a practical atheist who kept his views on religion to himself. His rise to councillor had come about, after all, because he was a genial man who didn’t offend public sentiment. He knew that he had to pick his battles to survive in public service.

His battle was the construction of a new park. 

I’ve written a new short story, ‘Shiva Park’, that’s been published by Muse India. You can read it here.