by Barsa Ray
I’m delighted to have my short story Goddess published in Wasafiri 123.
The story is about Durga, a browbeaten wife and daughter-in-law, who is ground down by her domestic and work life. Her pair of extra hands help her accomplish her never-ending list of tasks. Durga thinks everyone has these invisible arms, which are taboo to discuss, not knowing that she has them because she is the goddess Durga.
This story was rejected a dozen times, until I submitted it to Wasafiri's open call. It had been shortlisted by the Toronto Journal and accompanied by an encouraging message to keep submitting it, which I did. Lucky number 13!
Each time I re-submitted, I played around with it, expanding and reducing the roles the characters played and the relationships between them, and adding sensory detail. One of the things that worked in the final submission, as mentioned by the editor, was the world building of Kolkata, where the goddess Durga is worshipped in a grand, 10-day festival each year.
"We found this to be a compelling read about feminine power in the face of life's struggles. The magical realist elements worked well in the real-life context of the character's grinding life. We loved the surreal qualities of Salt Lake City emerging from drained marshes, the old city bulging and bursting at the seams. Seriously beautiful. We love that the child, Kartik, sticks up and defends his mother. And the story reminded us of Banu Mushtaq's stories from Heart Lamp. Really great!"
Wasafiri 123 is now available to read online. You can order physical copies via their website shop.
About the author
Barsa Ray's short stories publications include Wasafiri, Mslexia, Peepal Tree and Sans Press. Her work was nominated for the BBC National Short Story Award 2026. Her poetry has been published by Magma, Peepal Tree Press, Covert Literary, and Indian Literature among others. She’s been selected as a New Northern Poet for 2026 by Word Up North/Ilkley Literature Festival.
Visit Barsa Ray's linktree for more information about her work.
