Month: February 2017
The Bedecked One
Isn’t she gorgeous? Wondering why I call her the ‘bedecked’ one?
Notice the cummerbund?
And she’s wearing bangles too! A bit creepy no doubt but then each to their choice – who am I to judge, right?
For Becca’s Sunday Trees – 276
Thanks for visiting – do let me know what you think of the jewelry π
Have a great day.
FFfAW #103: The Wager
The Wager
Words 168
βYou didnβt!β She scowled.
βDonβt you know by now that I never lose a wager?β There was a ghost of a twinkle in his eyes.
βOne of these days you will.β
He paled.
He fought for breath.
βDoctor!β
He held her hand. βNo. Stay. Itβs time.β
βItβs not fair!β she sank down beside him.
βDidnβt I bet I would go first?β His voice was a whisper.
βTake me with you,β she pleaded.
βYou havenβt even cleared security check, but I have my boarding pass,β he gloated.
βI donβt care! Pull some strings,β she cried, βget me my boarding pass.β
βKhushiβ¦β
βWhy must you always break my heart?β She gripped his hands. βWhy must you always win?β
β70 years gone in a flash.β
And so was he.
She stood up with a crash.
To stop him.
To follow him.
Blinded by tears, she stumbled.
With no one to break her fall, she cracked her head on the floor.
He couldnβt always win.
She wouldnβt let him.
Not this time.
***
Written for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers – a story in 175 words or less. Thank you PJ for hosting and Dawn M. Miller for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.
Thank you for reading – look forward to your comments and reactions
SPF: It’s a Match
Itβs a Match
Words 202
Devansh edged towards the balcony. He needed some fresh air. Mom was going to be disappointed β again. Now she would insist that he go to India to find his soul mate.
As if they grew on trees over there.
ββ¦fossilized dreams and aspirationsβ¦β
βThatβs it! Itβs off.β
βAre you crazy? To break off our wedding for such a flimsyβ¦β
βThis is a flimsy reason? Do you have any clue, any notion of my emotions, my sentiments? I see no future for us.β
βYouβre impossible. I am leaving.β
βYouβre still here?β
Rohit brushed past Devansh and vanished.
Devansh hesitated.
Unable to help himself, he picked up a drink and stepped out into the balcony.
βHere, have a drink.β
Mishti glared at him. βTrying to drug me?β
Devansh rolled his eyes. He downed half the glass and held it out to her.
βWhat happened?β Devansh leaned against the railing.
βThat moronβ¦β
βWhat did he do?β
βHe didnβt like my plans for our honeymoon.β
βWhat plans?β
βA dinosaur expedition. I have been dreaming of it for years. But now all my plans, my money, ticketsβ¦β
Devanshβ eyes gleamed. βMaybe we could do it?β
βWhat? The wedding?β
Devansh coughed. βWe could explore that after the expedition.β
Β ***
Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less. Thanks to Alistair Forbes for hosting and the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.
CFFC: Kolam
If you are a regular visitor to my blog you may have noticed that I have already published my photos for this weekβs fun foto challenge hosted by Cee on Looking Down on Things. But as I mentioned, I have a few more photos to share on this topic.
I opted for a separate post for these photos because they are an insight into Indian art, thought, philosophy and way of life.
In many parts of India (and Asia), patterns are created on the floor in living rooms or courtyards using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, colored sand or flower petals. Usually these patterns (rangoli or alpana) are made on the occasion of religious festivals and auspicious functions such as weddings. But in South India, these drawings called kolam (among other things depending on region) are made in front of the house, every morning.
Kolams are not only decorative but are also believed to bring prosperity. Kolams were traditionally made of coarse rice flour – it serves as food for ants so that they donβt have to walk too far for a decent meal. It is also an invitation to birds and other smaller creatures. Kolams symbolize thinking beyond the self; the philosophy that the greatest joy is in giving rather than receiving. Only if you give, will you receive.And no one is too poor to feed another or welcome another.
Every morning, women of the house clean their homes, courtyard, road and draw patterns with rice flour. The kolams are generally drawn while the surface is still damp so the design will hold better. As a child I remember watching Aunty as she drew bigger and bigger patterns without moving from her crouched position on the floor with just a flick of her wrist holding the rice powder between her thumb and forefinger. It was like magic.
Walking back from the beach after witnessing a breathtaking sunrise, I was taken aback to see kolams on the road. The streets were deserted now but soon they would be bustling with activity. The patterns were sure to be trampled upon β why would anyone deliberately let their work of art be destroyed?
It was only later that I began to see the glimmerings of the deeper philosophy behind this tradition. Kolams on the road symbolize the impermanence of life and everything in it. It is a daily reminder to go ahead with our tasks without being attached to it.
Todayβs work wonβt last forever, be prepared to do it over and over again, all the days of your life. Be grateful for the new day, this life and another opportunity to create a new kolam, once again.
CFFC: Looking Down
This week Cee wants us to lower our gazes and have fun while doing so. So here I am off on my travels keeping my eyes firmly on the ground π
Ready? Steady? Po…yep off to Pondicherry or Puducherry as it is now known as:
This cool bag caught my bleary barely open eyes in the wee hours of the morning.
Look what I got fooling around with the photo – cool isnt it? Anyway on with the trip
Looking down on sunrise was quite an experience
A glimpse of the hotel lobby on the 6th floor.
Looking down on the roof tops, I squinted as I tried to decipher where the sky ended and the sea began…
At the beach, to catch the sunrise – the camera took this shot when I wasn’t looking.
And finally, we come a full circle – back at the airport. On the floor, a flower arrangement outside a spa.
But that’s not all from meΒ π
If Cee allows, I would like to have another edition of looking down
Thanks for joining me on this gig – do share your thoughts, views and opinions π
COB: Sweet Dreams
I clicked this photo on my recent travels and thought it deserved a post of its own.
Clearly he doesn’t much care for the stone floor, bird feed or the creepy crawlies. π
I thought it was quite apt for Cee’s Odd Ball Photo Challenge – what do you think?
WPC: Out of the World
The Veiled Rebecca depicts the veiled bride of Isaac. Created by the Italian artist Giovanni Benzoni, it stands at a height of 167.0Β cm with the statue and its round pedestal carved from a single block of marble without any joints.
Another closer view of the stunning work of art. How he managed to create the appearance of a transparent veil from marble is beyond my comprehension. I cannot even remove the reflection of the light π¦
Benzoni is believed to have made four copies of this sculpture, one of which is kept at the Salar Jung Museum Hyderabad. I am sure he was so stunned by his own creation that he wanted to make sure it was no fluke or magic!Β Apparently, the only difference between this and the other three is that in this one the right hand is lifting the veil while in the other it is the left hand.
Did you notice the fingers in this picture and the one above? In one it seems as it the fist is sort of clenched but in the other, the fingers seem to be unfurled. Quite magical don’t you think?
I could stare at it whole day long – the flowing robes, the posture, the poise, the grace, the fluidity of stone, the….
Linked to Daily Post’s Weekly – against the odds
The Story Club for this month is overdue. If anyone is interested, please suggest a story, otherwise I would like to propose ‘The Kabuliwala‘ by Rabindranath Tagore. I hope to post my review over the weekend. I would be happy if you join the discussion.
Have a good day and thanks for visiting.
The Blow
I have just returned from a vacation and the photo below says it all π
But nonetheless, here goes:
The Blow
Words 86
βYou look lovely.β Su hugged me.
βThanks.β I smiled.
βYes,β said Ana. βI remember telling you that this color really suits you.β
βThanks.β I flushed and paled.
I tottered away.
βWhat’s the matter?β The Husband asked.
βThat Ana…β I gritted my teeth.
“But she just complimented you.” He frowned.
βCompliment my foot. She just dished me a swift upper cut.β
βAre you crazy?β
βOh God!β I moaned, βwhy didnβt you warn me?β
βAbout what?β
βThat I wore the same sari at the last wedding we attended.β
***
Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and Liz for the photo prompt. To read more stories inspired by this prompt click here
Thanks for reading – look forward to reading your reactions.
CFFC: Let’s Face It
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge theme this week is about things that look like faces. A very interesting topic don’t you think? I remember as children when we went out family trips, my sister and I would hang out of the window and laugh at the ‘faces’ made by passing vehicles – especially trucks and buses. They really look different and funny. Have a look next time when you are on an ‘are we there yet‘ zone. Hmm come to think of it it was Ma who told us about the faces π
Anyhow, here are a few ‘faces’ from my archives:
A smiley cake with a blue nose – baked by my 12-year old niece
An ‘otter’ in the woods
A double mouthed skeleton or perhaps that’s the nose and the mouth is busy eating up the earth…
She looks about ready to swallow anything and everything in her path doesnt she?
Can you see the Tree Man standing guard in the distance?
Accessories can do wonders for your looks π
Thanks for visiting – do let me know which one is your favorite π
Stories and more 