Motherji: A Tale of Grief and Grace in Delhi

Akhil Sharma's short story "Motherji" follows Radha, a 74-year-old widow in Delhi, who begins offering water to men queuing outside a government liquor shop that opened near the Clocktower and the Old Vegetable Market. The shop's presence rekindles her grief for her son Kookoo, who died of alcoholism. To earn blessings and combat loneliness, she starts a daily ritual of giving water to the drinkers. One day, a young boy leaves his blind and brain-damaged brother Arvind under her care, calling her "Motherji." Initially frightened, Radha eventually takes Arvind in, cleans his wounds, and ties him to herself with a rope when going out. Rumors spread that she has resurrected her son, and she becomes a local holy figure. After her death, her tenement becomes a pilgrimage site, and Arvind disappears. The story explores themes of grief, compassion, and the search for meaning, set against the backdrop of urban Delhi. It was published in The New Yorker's flash fiction section.