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Elevator
What starts off seemingly like the usual evening mad rush to get back home from work, quickly takes a dark turn in the 'Elevator'. This 1700-word Flash Fiction is Rathnakumar's writing debut.
6 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2019
2 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Rathnakumar Raghunath
12 books20 followersRathnakumar Raghunath is an author, poet, and multidisciplinary artist based in Chennai, India, whose work explores the many shades of the human experience with warmth, honesty, and emotional depth. Known for its relatability and sincerity, his writing invites readers to see themselves reflected in the stories he tells.
Born in 1988, he discovered his love for storytelling early, winning the Camlin Young Author award for his short story It Happened One Night: And It Changed My Life. Music was his first great love, and a defining moment came in 2003 when he watched French-Canadian icon Céline Dion perform on television — an experience he often describes as life-changing. Drawn to her artistry, emotional authenticity, and humility, he fell in love not only with her music but with the French language itself, later earning a C1 certification from Alliance Française de Madras and an A2 in Spanish from Instituto Hispania.
His creative journey spans theatre, music, and film. During his college years, he wrote and directed award-winning short films, including a project that received the Bimbam Award for Best Concept. He has performed in numerous stage productions and musicals such as Archie: The Musical, Moulin Rouge, Star of Wonder, and Skipping Christmas, and has appeared in concerts including Magic of Musicals and September Symphony, where he opened the show with Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song.” His musical collaborations include performances with the Philharmonic Society of Selangor Choir and appearances on recorded works such as Jere Franklin’s gospel album Jeeva Raagangal and the single “Kindle the Fire.”
Alongside his creative pursuits, he has written the official French subtitles for over 50 films, bringing stories to life across languages and cultures.
His literary career began with the award-winning flash fiction Elevator (2019). He went on to publish Smörgåsbord of Musings, a bestselling debut poetry collection that has sold over 7,000 copies and won The Author Pages Award for Best Debut. This was followed by Charcuterie of Thoughts and Buffet of Reflections, completing The Human Poetry Trilogy, a body of work celebrating the full spectrum of human emotion and experience.
His bibliography also includes the French poetry collection Les Cicatrices, the LGBTQIA+ short story series Digital Pride, the award-winning thriller Comeuppance, and several French-language works including Hémorragie Oculaire, La Louve Vengeresse, and L’Ascenseur. Across genres and languages, his writing is recognized for its emotional resonance and celebration of shared humanity.
Beyond writing, Rathnakumar continues to work professionally in the French language space while pursuing new creative projects across forms and languages. With translations and audio adaptations underway, he remains committed to telling stories that connect people to themselves and to one another. He writes to remind us that even in our quietest moments, we are never truly alone.
Born in 1988, he discovered his love for storytelling early, winning the Camlin Young Author award for his short story It Happened One Night: And It Changed My Life. Music was his first great love, and a defining moment came in 2003 when he watched French-Canadian icon Céline Dion perform on television — an experience he often describes as life-changing. Drawn to her artistry, emotional authenticity, and humility, he fell in love not only with her music but with the French language itself, later earning a C1 certification from Alliance Française de Madras and an A2 in Spanish from Instituto Hispania.
His creative journey spans theatre, music, and film. During his college years, he wrote and directed award-winning short films, including a project that received the Bimbam Award for Best Concept. He has performed in numerous stage productions and musicals such as Archie: The Musical, Moulin Rouge, Star of Wonder, and Skipping Christmas, and has appeared in concerts including Magic of Musicals and September Symphony, where he opened the show with Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song.” His musical collaborations include performances with the Philharmonic Society of Selangor Choir and appearances on recorded works such as Jere Franklin’s gospel album Jeeva Raagangal and the single “Kindle the Fire.”
Alongside his creative pursuits, he has written the official French subtitles for over 50 films, bringing stories to life across languages and cultures.
His literary career began with the award-winning flash fiction Elevator (2019). He went on to publish Smörgåsbord of Musings, a bestselling debut poetry collection that has sold over 7,000 copies and won The Author Pages Award for Best Debut. This was followed by Charcuterie of Thoughts and Buffet of Reflections, completing The Human Poetry Trilogy, a body of work celebrating the full spectrum of human emotion and experience.
His bibliography also includes the French poetry collection Les Cicatrices, the LGBTQIA+ short story series Digital Pride, the award-winning thriller Comeuppance, and several French-language works including Hémorragie Oculaire, La Louve Vengeresse, and L’Ascenseur. Across genres and languages, his writing is recognized for its emotional resonance and celebration of shared humanity.
Beyond writing, Rathnakumar continues to work professionally in the French language space while pursuing new creative projects across forms and languages. With translations and audio adaptations underway, he remains committed to telling stories that connect people to themselves and to one another. He writes to remind us that even in our quietest moments, we are never truly alone.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 12, 2019
Finally, I read it. It was very easy to read and I can actually read it like my mind voice. My mind communicating to myself and dealing with the real world. I don't read books at all 'cause it's not my thing but when I started to read this, it was very easy for me to understand and associate myself with the characters. I like the way the characters compare every situation to something which is very relatable. While I can see the normal day turning into something supernatural gradually, the end twist was so nice. I paused for a moment to thing about the story and felt a chill breeze when I finished it.
September 14, 2020
A very well written short piece! The author's style of writing was one I absolutely enjoyed: a weave of the world outside and the one within. The little moments of humor add a certain element to the piece.
September 25, 2020
This was a quick, grappling, extremely creepy yet captivating read! It barely took me any time to go through it... But the chills stayed on! I don't think I'm gonna want to step into an elevator any time soon 😱😰🥶
December 6, 2019
A short yet interesting read
Author has narrated an interesting short story in a lucid manner.
The narration style makes you feel that you're into the story and experiencing the events by your own.
Author has narrated an interesting short story in a lucid manner.
The narration style makes you feel that you're into the story and experiencing the events by your own.
December 5, 2019
Beautifully written
Loved it , will read it again
The premise is in an elevator which is novel.
It conveys depth and signifies something very meaningful.
Loved it , will read it again
The premise is in an elevator which is novel.
It conveys depth and signifies something very meaningful.
July 3, 2021
Fun read
This short horror story is set in an elevator at an office building.
Halfway through, it seems like yet another office day. But by the end it turns out to be way murkier. The flash fiction is a 15 minute journey from a usual office day to a nightmare.
I loved the author's wit in converting a mundane activity of using lifts into a spooky story. Would love to read more of his work.
This short horror story is set in an elevator at an office building.
Halfway through, it seems like yet another office day. But by the end it turns out to be way murkier. The flash fiction is a 15 minute journey from a usual office day to a nightmare.
I loved the author's wit in converting a mundane activity of using lifts into a spooky story. Would love to read more of his work.
March 19, 2021
That ending left me with my mouth wide open!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews