Our Archive

Welcom to our archive

Too Many Temples > Blog > 2023 > August

in Stories

Eating with their fingers

Suppose a lad from Jersey gets off a train at Southall station. His grip on the strap from his guitar bag tightens as he gets his head down to complete his journey. It’ll be years before he admits that he was scared. It’s busy. So, so busy. With colours. The clothes. The different cultures. The […]
Posted by
Ranj
View Post
Posted on August 20, 2023
in Stories

Divorce

When you’re married, divorce is always on the table. Ok, it’s probably not. Cos your relationship is different… until all the stories you hear from those around you, at all those parties you got to, every weekend, start to sound like yours. How do I bring this back to the band? We’ve broken up a […]
Posted by
Ranj
View Post
Posted on August 19, 2023
in Stories

Outtathaway

I sat at the till for my first day in my first job. My long Richard Ashcroft-inspired locks covering my face, deliberately in front of my ears and semi-covering my eyes, enough to see what was in front of me and enough to hide me away from what was in front of me. In front […]
Posted by
Ranj
View Post
Posted on August 18, 2023
in Stories

Little Nav

‘You can be a better front man.’ He’s matter of fact about it. I’ve just given everything on stage. Euphoric. And he’s put a pin it. Not sure what to do with this information, I smile and stifle any kind of emotion. I had a weird relationship with Little Nav. I called him Little Nav […]
Posted by
Ranj
View Post
Posted on August 13, 2023
in Uncategorized

Practicing non-violence

Sarb didn’t like confrontation. Doesn’t. He’d rock up at mum’s house wearing a polite half-smile, and a non-confrontational collarless shirt. Pastel colours, nothing too strong. Maybe a white one, or a light grey one. He’d speak Punjabi or Hindi softly, not too brash. My family nodded and smiled, and he responded. Nicely. Sarb was nice. […]
Posted by
Ranj
View Post
Posted on August 8, 2023
in Uncategorized

Turmeric milk

‘She’s gone inside… And she doesn’t know it, but she’s in danger. That fool is going to ruin her. He is sly – and make sure you eat. You’re looking gaunt – I want to know where my kids are. Tell me where they are. They’ve disappeared. You don’t know the pain of a mother. […]
Posted by
Ranj
View Post
Posted on August 6, 2023
in Uncategorized

‘You dribble, you shoot, you hope for the best’

Zaki looked like he should be in a band. That was the first thing I thought as he met us at the door of his grandma’s house in Southall. The journey was familiar. His gran was sweet. In broken English, she made a plea to take care of her baby. I found comfort in this […]
Posted by
Ranj
View Post
Posted on August 6, 2023
in Stories

Lemon Tree

The gloom had descended again. Sahib had kept her up all night. Sahib was really young, and he was scared of the dark. He would move away from dark spots in the room or stare at them from the brighter parts of the room. He couldn’t sleep in his own bed. And he was deeply […]
Posted by
Ranj
View Post
Posted on August 4, 2023