Month: August 2016

Frames

Managed to frame the brightest of them all just as it sneaked out from behind the clouds:

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On the way down from Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland by the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, which has a maximum gradient of 48% and an average gradient of 35%:

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A green frame at the Radhanagar beach, Havelock island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

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A concrete view of my secret Amazon forest (or at least how I imagine it to be):

A more concrete view

For the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Frame

Thought for the day:

“It’s funny how the beauty of art has so much more to do with the frame than the artwork itself.” ― Chuck Palahniuk, Choke 

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 80 along with Calvin :D

 

Just 4 Fun #3

Here’s wishing everyone a super week ahead 😀

 

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Got anything to share that will spread some cheer and joy? Do leave your link in the comment box or create a pingback to this post.

Have a great week ahead and don’t forget to have some fun too.

The Stowaway

Written for Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less based on the photo prompt provided this week by Georgia Koch. Thank you Rochelle and Georgia.

For other stories on this prompt click here

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Photo Prompt – Copyright Georgia Koch

The Stowaway

Words 102

“Accept it darling,” he said, “my time’s up.”

“What about me?” she held his hand in a death grip.

He smiled. “Your boat is yet to dock. I’ll just go on ahead and arrange things…”

“No!” she flared up. “I don’t like your ‘arrangements’. Remember how you messed up the kitchen?”

“But you loved redoing it.”

A tear rolled down her cheek.

“I thought you believed in destiny? That we are married for seven lives?”*

“I need to buy medicines.” She dashed across the busy street.

Impatient (and skeptical), she thought it prudent to give fate a helping hand.

—

*According to Hinduism, marriage between a couple is not limited to this life only, it extends to seven or more lives.

The Wrestlers

Out in the field, beyond the shade:

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A ringside view of the wrestling match:

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And the winner is:

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For Becca’s Sunday Trees – 250

SPF: A Fatherly Lesson

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A Fatherly Lesson

Words 195

“You don’t want to go to school?” Hariya shook Ramu, his 8-year-old son. “You want to play in the jungle all day?”

Ramu nodded.

Enraged, Hariya dragged him into the jungle. “Then stay with the animals and ghosts of the jungle.” Hariya walked away.

Ramu explored the jungle to his heart’s content but it wasn’t much fun without his friends. Plus he was hungry. He decided to return home, but to his despair, he couldn’t find his way out. “Amma! Babuji!” Ramu screamed loud and long but no one came.

Darkness fell abruptly and closed in on him. Fear gripped him. He ran to the lone lamp and looked around in dread at the shadows hovering over him. He clung to the lamppost and held on for dear life. Then the unthinkable happened. The bulb flickered and died. Darkness engulfed him, threatening, choking, strangling, “Amma! Babuji! Where are you? Please take me home. I promise I will always go to school.” The wind howled and the trees swayed. Leaves blew into his face. Terrified, Ramu bolted but something held him back.

He opened his mouth in a soundless scream and collapsed in a dead faint.

***

 Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less.

Note: Unfortunately, the above narrative is not completely imaginary. Recently there were reports of a 7-year-old boy being abandoned near a bear infested jungle by his father as a punishment for misbehavior. Fortunately, the police rescued him after a week of intense search. But another 12-year-old boy wasn’t as lucky as his father stabbed him to death for not studying for a school exam.

 

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 79 along with Hobbes having  fun at Calvin's expense :D

 

CFFC: Partners for Life

The other day I spotted a pair of geese:

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Excited, I moved in for a closer shot:

But no matter how much I tried, the goose just wouldn’t let me click his mate. It honked and glared and pretended to be interested in the distal most piece juicy stem.

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Can you beat that?

The typical Indian male I supposed and walked away (or at least pretended to but the goose wasn’t that much of a goose – it wasn’t buying or budging).

Until I really walked away. That’s when I noticed:

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She was injured or ill and he was merely trying to keep away an opportunistic predator.

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Blessed to witness such a rare and precious sight.

 

Begin Again

 

Hello friends,

Please accept my apologies for being absent without intimation. That life will end for all those who are born is inescapable; yet when life takes one of its expected stoppages, it is nevertheless inexplicably unexpected and heartbreaking.

Whole or not, ready or not, it is time to pick up the pieces and begin again. I hope to start posting regularly once again from the 24th of August. Do mark the date on your calendar and make sure to join in for I need your company more than ever before.

Thank you for being there and not giving up on me.

Wishing all brothers and sisters a very Happy Rakshabandhan. Do watch this heartwarming advertisement that sensitively captures the essence of Rakhi. A warning though – the video is in Hindi and subtitles (auto-generated) in French.