Abracadabra
It was August 2020 when my wife and I arrived in Toronto, Canada; right in the middle of a strict lockdown. As soon as we landed, we were required to isolate for fourteen days, as per the law. In many ways, the lockdown that had begun months earlier in India simply continued for us in Canada. Those long days of isolation were challenging, but they also opened the door to deep reflection and unexpected creative energy. Strangely enough, this became one of the most productive periods for my storytelling instincts. My mind worked overtime, weaving essays and stories—some of which found their way into this book, while others may appear in future works.
Each story was written at a different time over the past five years, so the treatment, tone, and voice may vary, reflecting how my writing has evolved through its many ups and downs during that period.
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Here’s to you, Dad! Abracadabra – A Magic Potion Brewed from Short Stories is dedicated to my father, Harinder Singh—a loving, nurturing parent and a gifted storyteller. He worked at the Government of India Press in Nilokheri, a small town in Haryana, where he printed and reviewed government documents, reports, gazettes, books, and magazines. Every night, the three of us—my sister, my brother, and I—would curl up on the bed, waiting eagerly for his stories. And every night, Dad delivered something new: tales from Sikhism, the Panchatantra, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and stories of India’s freedom fighters. He always had something fascinating to share, and he narrated everything with warmth and flair.
As a child, I was endlessly captivated by fantasy—by magic, mythical creatures, and grand adventures. In those tales, the word abracadabra was essential: a symbol of wonder, enchantment, and the magician’s hat—a limitless well of possibilities. I had no particular theme in mind when I began writing this book. Each time the “hat” (my mind) stirred, it produced something new, just like a magician revealing one surprise after another.
This book is a collection of stories with no deliberate connection—some born from my odd imagination, others from drifting thoughts and treasured memories. A few are rooted in real life. Inside these pages, you’ll find a bit of everything: adventure, slices of everyday life, moments of confusion, and nostalgic glimpses of the 80s.
I began writing this book shortly after we arrived in Canada, and the COVID-19 isolation became the perfect opportunity for my mind to blend countless ideas into stories. Many of the pieces featured here were written years ago—some as essays, others as chapters in my personal journal. This is my first attempt at putting together an anthology—a single volume created by blending different emotional ingredients to cook up the perfect magic potion.
So go on—say abracadabra and step into a world full of stories.
See you on the other side!
