Border Control - By Suparna Ghansham

Written By: Suparna Ghansham

Category: Short Story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the realm of storytelling, few narratives capture the delicate balance of love and sacrifice as masterfully as "Border Control" by Suparna Ghansham. Submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this short story delves into the complexities of human emotions and the heart-wrenching decisions one makes for the sake of family. Suparna Ghansham, with a keen eye for emotional nuance, invites readers into a world where love and duty collide.

About the Work

"Border Control" is a poignant exploration of the inner turmoil faced by a protagonist torn between the love for a partner and the responsibilities towards their children. The narrative is steeped in emotional depth, creating a vivid tapestry of longing and heartache. Suparna Ghansham weaves a story filled with rich imagery and profound introspection, capturing the essence of a love that cannot be, and the sacrifices made in its wake.

Border Control

Original Submission by Suparna Ghansham

Border Control

She’s coming over again. I told her it was over, as heart-wrenching as it was, but she was coming over again. I had to do it. I had to break her heart, to save my children’s hearts. After all that, she was coming over again. I couldn’t even tell her not to come over because God knows I wanted to see her. When she called I felt as though my heart was a puppet in her hands, pulling the strings, making it squirm in pain, trying to make it face the wrong direction. She’s on her way.

I had met her about a year ago with some friends on one of my few and rare bar-hopping nights. She was friends with my friends’ friends and when we were introduced, I couldn’t muster a “Hi”. I just stared at her like a blazing idiot. She must have thought I was an arrogant sod, but I really couldn’t say anything. It was not beauty, although she is quite a looker, it was not inexperience; I’ve had a few in my time. It was a cloud that just decided to hang over us causing tension and discomfort. A good discomfort though. It was as though the cloud was pulling us together and it wanted to envelope us in its tufts of white. But nothing happened. Because I was a blazing idiot.

My kids are the purpose of my existence. I don’t care much for the woman. She’s quite a nutcase. I’ve had to front a healthy marriage for my kids but it was just like a utility. I left because I got a job offer in Sydney, and I really needed to get away from the nutcase. She was turning me into a nutcase.

And yeah, a few months later, I met her. Someone I felt a sense of belonging with although I didn’t know her. Someone I just knew would be a significant part of my life one day. And she was. She still is. I met her again a couple of months after that first time on another one of my rare bar-hopping nights. That time, I spoke to her. I asked her for her number and she happily gave it to me. I felt very attracted to her wit, her mannerisms and her toes. Yes, her toes. They were immaculately painted a deep scarlet.

I saw her often after that and we developed a very close relationship. There were days when I couldn’t wait to receive a text message from her, or to hear her voice, or to see her again. I was in love. Damn, I still am. And she’s coming over.

Our relationship had its physical aspects to it but I always felt as though I was wronging my kids whenever it happened. I didn’t like that feeling. I tried to keep it from her as much as I could because I didn’t want to stop her from enjoying herself. She deserves a good time. She deserves the best in the world. She also deserves a good man, who is single. I would keep wishing that I were single. I wanted her to meet my mum, my dad, my kids too! But I had to keep telling myself that couldn’t happen. It was impossible. I couldn’t break their hearts by leaving their mum. Mums and Dads need to be together, don’t they?

Damn, she’s still got the keys. I get a hug from her and a peck on the cheek. “I brought dinner.” She opens up the brown bag stuffed with my favourite corn and tuna sandwiches, along with a salad for her. She’s been on a health tip for a while now.

My head’s trying to assemble some sentences and I’m waiting for them to flow to my tongue, but nothing’s happening. “You doing okay?” I tell her I am okay. She says, “I’ve missed you.”. Then she says, “Do you really need to go to Adelaide for Christmas? The thing is if you do, I think my system will shut down.” I tell her I have to see the kids and it was just a matter of two weeks. And then I finally say, “And it’s over between us anyway. You should be getting used to me not being around. You shouldn’t even be here.” I’m dying inside, but I have to do this. For the sake of my kids. My heart’s tugging at me. I feel a tightness in my chest. I feel a vacuum inside me. I have to do this.

“I thought you’d be happy to see me. I know that you still love me and I can hear your heart speaking to me when your mouth’s speaking to me and I hear completely different words. I’m not going to try to convince you that we should be together. I understand where you’re coming from. I just think that we should enjoy the times we have, until you go home for a holiday, or for good.”

Why is she so good? She’s not sensible, but she’s good. My heart’s begging me to accept her and my mind is putting up barricades. Border control. I tell her it’s not going to do her any good if she hangs around me and it’s not going to do me any good either. I get up, walk towards the door, and politely ask her to leave. My heart’s left me. Scarlet toenails walk towards me. The colour of the blood coursing through my veins. I look up at her face and I see tears. She doesn’t say a word. Scarlet toenails are walking away from me. Along with my heart. The door shuts. She’s gone. She’s left the key on the table. She’s gone.

I clench my chest because I couldn’t bear the pain and fall to my knees. I pray to the God I never prayed to or acknowledged before. I feel my system shutting down.

She’s gone.

994 words

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating the art of storytelling and poetry. This competition provides writers from around the world with the opportunity to share their creative voices, fostering a global community of literary expression.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Suparna Ghansham for sharing "Border Control" with us. Your contribution to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 is truly valued. Thank you for inviting us into a world of love, sacrifice, and the profound choices that define us.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.