Month: January 2017

WPS: Why on Earth!

This is my entry to the flash fiction challenge What Pegman Saw inspired by any view of a given location on Google maps. The challenge is to write a story in 150 words or less.This week’s location is of Buffalo N.Y. suggested by Y. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here

screen-shot-2017-01-31-at-6-57-03-pmTo see the location Google maps, click here

Why on Earth!

Words 142

As I walked down the street, the roads lengthened, elongated, stretched and merged. Rows and rows of houses and not a person in sight.

Would I die of thirst in a foreign country?

Dare I knock on a door?

Where oh where did the one with streaked hair live? Surely she would spare me some…

I stilled.

Mesmerized I rubbed my eyes.

A clear blue lake with the faintest of ripples encased by the greenest of greens.

Parched, I stepped forward only to draw back in fright. Whoosh!

A massive black apparition emerged from the waters.

Shaking off the droplets and turning its curly horned head, the buffalo grinned at me, flapped its wings and took off into the sky.

Hmm, not a particularly graceful ascent, but definitely an interesting piece with a lot of movement, I thought just as I woke.

***

Thanks for reading – look forward to your reactions.

Just 4 Fun #23

Another week and another Monday. Too soon don’t you think? Actually worse for me – after about 22 months consisting of only Sundays, I am back to Monday blues. Not really – at least not yet 😉

Anyway time for some laughs

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Children say (and think!) the darndest things don’t they? And the fallout is usually this:

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But then it’s probably the fault of the education system

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Now if only there was some way to keep the children pure and unsullied by ‘adult’ expectations…

Below are letters that children have written to God

Dear God:

1. I didn’t think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset You made on Tuesday. That was cool.

2. Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don’t You keep the ones You have already made.

3. If You watch me in church on Sunday, I’ll show You my new shoes.”

4. I bet it is very hard to love everyone in the whole world. There are only four people in our family and I’m having a hard time loving all of them.”

5. In school they told us what You do. Who does it when You are on vacation?

6. Did You mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident?

7. Who draws the lines around the countries?

8. Thank You for the baby brother, but I think you got confused because what I prayed for was a puppy.

9. I want to be just like my Daddy when I get big, but not with so much hair all over.

10. I think about You sometimes, even when I’m not praying.

11. We read Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday school they said You did it. So, I bet he stole Your idea.

12. Please send a new baby for Mommy. The baby you sent last week cries too much.

13. Could you please give my brother some brains? So far he doesn’t have any.

14. Thank you for the nice day today. You even fooled the TV weather man.

15. Please help me in school. I need help in spelling, adding, history, geography, and writing. I don’t need help in anything else.

So which one is your favorite?  I know it’s a tough call, but I think mine is 3, 4 and 6 😀

Have a super week ahead!

Disclaimer: Over the week, I 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.

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

The Buxom Lady

comely-miss

See what I mean 😉 😀

For Becca’s Sunday Trees – 272

Have a super Sunday!

The Last Bastion

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The Last Bastion

Words 102

“Wow!” Suresh stared at the gleaming vintage car, quite out of place in the rustic surroundings.

“Maharaja Pratap Chand’s car.” The decrepit grandson reclined on a charpoy under a tree.

“A goldmine Grandpa! If you sell it, our family fortunes will take a turn for the better.”

“We won’t sell the last symbol of our Royal heritage.”

“Of what use are symbols if we are dead?”

Grandpa pulled at his hookah.

“Would you consider renting it?”

“We, of royal families, don0t dabble in petty businesses.”

“The film industry would give good money.”

“If they need it, they may borrow it. For free.”

***

Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting and to Al Forbes for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt, click here

Thanks for reading – would love to hear from you 🙂

SPF: Ill-timed

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Ill-timed

Words 198

“Must you go?”

“What a question?” Professor Ray was incredulous. “After all these years don’t you know that I always honor my commitments?”

“Even at the cost of your wife’s life?”

“Now don’t be so melodramatic Madhu. It’s just a broken arm.”

“How will I manage alone?”

“Ask the maid to stay.”

“They haven’t even sent you the tickets like they usually do.” Madhu pointed out.

“The invitation letter clearly mentions all travel expenses and local hospitality will be borne by them.”

“It’s not like you have to catch the local train! You have to go to a different country. They should have sent you the tickets.”

“Roberts is an old friend. I have been to many conferences organized by him. Tickets or reimbursement have never been an issue.”

“But still you should confirm with him. It’s not a small amount.”

“What should I say? Show me the money first? I am academician not a businessman.”

“Surely there are other ways to ask?”

“Stop fussing!” Ray overruled Madhu’s objections and left for the conference.

 

“Roberts,” Ray called him from the hotel, “I am here for your conference. Have you changed the venue?”

“Conference? But that is next year.”

***

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

 Thanks for reading – have you ever mixed up dates? 😀

 

COB: Of This & That

It’s been a while since I posted Oddballs but nevertheless, since you are here, how about a cup of coffee?

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One for you and one for me 😉

Now cast your eye upwards (after you scroll down)

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I liked the wall decor but I couldn’t quite make out what the flying yellow man is doing up there. Providing competition to Spiderman and his ilk? And speaking of yellow…

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Truly I had no intentions of capturing him this yellow man and wanted to delete the photo. But I found it weird that he is apparently jogging at a popular tourist attraction in Vienna – Schönbrunn Palace.

Odd isn’t it? But then again the palace grounds are extensive, perhaps he thought of killing two birds with one stone – sightseeing while working out 😀

What do you think?

Have a great weekend and thanks for visiting.

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 117 and A Tangled Web -2

WPC: Amazing Grace

The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge is all about being graceful and dance is all about grace. India is a treasure house of dances ranging from regional folk dances to classical dances. As a child I was fascinated with the classical dance forms. I learned a bit of Bharatnatyam and even had the opportunity to give a stage performance in a school competition – mostly because there was no other taker from our house 😉 But I will have you know that I stood second 😀 No there weren’t two competitors (as my dear brother who was late for the performance suggested) – there were five. Yeah and I was just as incredulous as you but what stands out most in my memory is that my dance teacher said that she wasn’t surprised. A lovely cherished memory! There are other memories too associated with that day but perhaps another day, another challenge 😉

As far as grace is concerned, of all the classical Indian dance forms, I have to confess that I personally find the Odissi dance form to be the most graceful. Odissi is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temples of Odisha, an eastern coastal state of India. Here are a couple of my beautiful and graceful friend’s photo – I have shared these before but I couldn’t resist posting them again.

handmudra1Isn’t she stunning?

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Odissi dancers

So who’s is your favorite?

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 116 AND for IPK fans/readers of SS here's the first part of A Tangled Web

 

 

Just 4 Fun #22 B

Edit 1: Clearly I was/am addicted to the internet – why else would I have two 22 Just 4 Funs? Ahh well numbers are not my thing – words now – actually the less said about them the better!

Carry on and have fun 😀

A new week begins and what if the internet doesn’t work?

internet-link

We are all linked via the link and all questions lead to us to the same place

google

Did you hear about the one – is Google male or female?

Votes veered towards female for Google completes your question before you finish typing 😀

That reminds me…

wi-fi

Here’s a bit of a evolutionary lesson for the selfie takers

 

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And some cheer for Whatsapp addicts

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I hope you enjoyed these. If you have any other gems and pearls, please do share. And please note, none of these are mine. I am trying to just keep the fun going and beat the Monday blues.

Have a super week ahead. Do let me know which one was your favorite

 

Outstanding

mohali

“Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.”  Karen Ravn

 

For Becca’s Sunday Trees -271

Dead End

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Photo (c) Dale Rogerson

Dead End

Words 95

She cries.

It’s a girl.

Toddling and lisping, she brings cheer.

Cracking school and college collecting degrees, trophies and hearts.

Job in hand, hunt begins for the one who would ‘let’ her serve and nurture his family.

But wait – was she tall slim and fair?

With a long plait, a fat bank balance?

That would be her ticket to a baby or two or as many as it took for a boy or two.

Straddling office and home she is saddled with strictures; failures are hers achievers are his.

It’s a girl.

She cries.

***

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting it and to Dale Rogerson for the photo. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.