Stories During Power Cuts 🌧️🕯️

Power cuts in the coastal towns of Andhra during the monsoons were an event, not an inconvenience. The moment the fans stopped and the house went dark, a collective sigh would be followed by the lighting of candles. Suddenly, the living room transformed into a cozy sanctuary. We would gather around, making shadow puppets on the wall—a flying bird, a barking dog—while our elders shared ghost stories or tales from their childhood. The rhythmic pitter-patter of the rain outside and the warm glow of the candle inside created an atmosphere of pure togetherness. We didn't need screens; we had each other and the magic of imagination.