COB #52 : Witch Woman

Beware the witch woman cometh…

shadow

Or is she goeth? 😉 😀

For Cee’s Odd Ball Photo Challenge

Have a Happy Happy New Year

SPF: Return Gift

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Return Gift

Words 201

 On a courtesy visit to a distant cousin, I was constrained to accept their lunch invitation. Didi was busy cooking while Jeejaji was out working.

Hot and bored, I tried to make friends with my 6-year–old niece.

“So many toys!” I remarked.

Sia didn’t look up.

“I don’t have any. Give me one?”

“Adults don’t play with toys.”

“Even as a child I didn’t have any toys.”

“Liar.” She looked up. “Even Granny had toys.”

“Well, I don’t remember. Surely you can spare me one?”

You didn’t get me anything.”

“Sia!” Didi came bustling in.

“Let her be.”

“But…”

“Please.”

“Here have samosas.” Didi shook her head at Sia before disappearing.

Sia bent her head.

“Have one.” I offered.

Sia’s eyes flickered but she shook her head.

“Why not?”

“That is only for guests.”

“I am a relative.”

“Mother will scold me.”

“Consider it my ‘gift’ to you.”

Her face shone. “I love samosas.”

“Me too.”

Nibbling, she confided, “Mother makes samosas only for guests. And they eat up all the samosas.”

“Maybe I should come more often?”

She giggled.

“You can take this house. No! Santa. Okay the tree. Or…”

I left with the tree and a nagging conscience.

***

Written for Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less hosted by Alistair Forbes.To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here

 For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 109 and Calvin and Hobbes

 

WPC: Que Sera Sera

As the year draws to a close, the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge prompts us to reflect on our own path. When the year began, I had no inkling of what upheavals lay ahead. And the end of the year has thrown up another kind of twist. As I grapple with the events of the year gone by and consider the myriad developments that have occurred over the years, I can only say that:

clear-pathJust when you think the path ahead is clear and the world is at your feet

no-path you may find yourself floundering in the wilderness

tricky-pathor dogged by tricky paths and trails

rapidsand in the midst of turbulent times.

betaabvBut believe that sooner or later, things will settle down.

malabar Always keep the larger picture in mind, eyes on your destination or goal

mountainWhatever and wherever that might be.

woody-path-12Until then, count your blessings

flower

stop to look at the flowers

sheepcherish those special moments

fighterwhile you hang in there.

“Morning will come, it has no choice” — Marty Rubin

Thank you for visiting – a (virtual) penny for your thoughts 🙂

Here’s wishing you all a Wonderful, Happy New Year

CFFC: Roped!

This time Cee has us me jumping through hoops rope. Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is all about Jumping Rope or Skipping Rope as we call it. I rifled through my collection and found this

real-rope

Hmm, a bit boring and too literal don’t you think? I decided to take Cee’s advice and use my imagination and have tons of fun 😉

So here we go rope hunting 😀

boat

There that looks better doesn’t it? Lots of ropes over there – boats tethered to the barge, buckets dipped into the Ganga for drawing water…

tree-ropes

Lots of ropes hanging from the tree

roping-tree

And this one quite literally ‘roped’ herself to her partner – bonded for life without any rituals or customs.

coir

Raw material being carted to make ropes. But my favorite one is

kid

Loved this image right outside my window of how the kid ‘roped’ in his grandad for a stroll out in the winter Sun 😀

 

Thanks for dropping by  – do let know which one you liked best.

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 108 and Calvin and Hobbes

Just 4 Fun #19

Here we are! The last week of the year 2016 – holidays and celebrations to ring in a brand New Year, a new – oh wait, here’s a

calendar

 

So in this season of new resolutions and new beginnings how about renewing your vows to

hubby

😀 😀

Okay one for the boys too 🙂

boys

Have a super week and a wonderful New Year.

Disclaimer. Over the week, we tend to get a lot of jokes and life philosophies as shares. Some are too good to pass up. Here I share those that appealed to me or tickled my funny bone. Hope you like them too. Please note none of this is stuff is mine – I am just keeping the fun going!

If you too have something worth sharing do leave your link in the comment box or create a pingback to this post.

Thanks for visiting – hope you got a smile or two 🙂

Just 4 Fun will return in 2017 😉

The Bright One

Today it is terribly dull, dreary and overcast in Delhi, so I hunted for something fresh and  cheery 😀

yellow

Doesn’t she look happy and shaped a bit like a Christmas tree?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

For Becca’s Sunday Trees – 267

Save

FFfAW #94: Lost in the Wilderness

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Lost in the Wilderness

Words 175

Admit it Chotti you are lost.

‘Nonsense!’ Furious, Chotti scrubbed her face.

Why did you go off with Rishabh?

‘That %^$@*&!’ Chotti adjusted the stole over her torn neckline.

Just to make Shubham jealous?

‘Shut up dammit.’

A mewling halted her in-house altercation.

Peering though the foliage, Chotti gasped – an abandoned baby.

“Aren’t we a pair?” Chotti muttered as she swaddled the baby in her stole.

At the picnic, her plans to ‘show’ that insufferable obnoxious Shubham had backfired. Rishabh had an agenda of his own and worse, she had lost her phone in the ensuing scuffle.

She was lost.

The baby needed medical care.

ASAP.

The crunch of footsteps alarmed her.

Rishabh?

“You!”

Shubham took in her disheveled appearance and the baby in her arms.

His brow quirked. “That was umm… quick.”

“Very funny.” She glared – she could have hugged him. “Stop following me!”

“Then stop getting into trouble.” He draped his jacket over her.

“Good thing I did!” Chotti retorted, cuddling the baby. “If I hadn’t, she would have been lost forever.”

***

Written for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers – Thank you PJ for hosting and Joy Pixley for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here

 

When it is Not Time

diner-roger-bultot
Photo prompt (c) Roger Bultot

When it is Not Time

Words 98

“Time!” The conductor called.

Passengers trickled out the roadside joint.

Time!” He banged the bus.

Stragglers hurried.

The driver revved the engine.

“Wait! My daughter is in the washroom.”

“The mountain roads are treacherous and it’s getting dark.”

“Please wait just 5 minutes!”

“Take the next bus.”

The bus began rolling.

Protesting, the man exited with his luggage.

The bus roared away showering him with dust.

“Papa! Our bus…”

“The Royal Highnesses. Always late. My rotten kismet.” He alternately cursed them and bemoaned his fate.

Until news came – their bus had fallen into a gorge.

There were no survivors.

 ***

Note: Based on a ‘real’ incident I heard as a child.

Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the irresistible challenge and Roger Bultot for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by the prompt or add your own click here.

Thanks for reading – do let me know your thoughts 🙂

 

 

 

CFFC: Down and Up

Whoosh! That’s how time flies and just as I thought there was tons of time for Cee’s next Fun Foto Challenge – Snakes and Ladders oops I mean Chutes and Ladders I find she’s already roped in the others for her next 😉 Anyway, better late than never right?

Okay so here goes – and I am glad the challenge is not called Snakes and Ladders, Chutes were difficult to get as it is 😀 The pictures are mostly from around the wedding venue I had recently attended.

airport-chute

A luggage chute – will it do?

chute

A chute ramp to the motor boat 😉 Okay now for some ladders

middle

A hard at work decorator or is the electrician?

field-center

Basking in the winter Sun. Can you imagine him doing this in 42o C (108 o F) with 80% humidity? Not just him, millions do it.

double-ladder

Triple bonanza 😀

resting

Enough work, time for a bit of a rest, after a drink or two 😉

cycle

Hic hic hitching a ride home 😀

Thanks for visiting – hope you liked my selection.

Do let me know you were here 🙂

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 106 and Calvin and Hobbes