I am sure nobody noticed but I missed last month’s Story Club. And in my defense, there is so much to do and so little time! Anyway to make up, this month, instead of one story, I am attempting to tackle two short stories. Both are penned by the same author WW Jacobs, a British author who is mostly known for his macabre and haunting story The Monkey’s Paw although he mostly wrote humor stories.
If you haven’t read The Monkey’s Paw, please do read it before reading further. I don’t think there are any spoilers ahead but the read is not likely to make much sense unless you are familiar with the story.
The Monkey’s Paw has been a personal favorite for as long as I remember. And not only that, it left a permanent impact on me. That the monkey’s paw is from India and cursed/blessed by an Indian fakir somehow made the story all the more real for me. Whenever I read the story I go back to the drawing room of my first home where I lived as a child, and can almost hear the knock on the door, see the man standing at the door, the horrified silence…
The message ‘Be careful of what you ask for you may get it’ has remained with me ever since then and has sort of become my guiding principle for life as well.
I am quite paranoid and wary about not wishing. Indian mythological stories too have strengthened the belief that nothing good really comes out of wishes being granted. That in fact things could turn out to be worse than ever before. That it was better to make peace with what one had than hanker for things beyond us.
Like the famous Hindi poet, Sri Harivansh Rai Bachchan told his son Amitabh Bachchan, India’s megastar – Man ka ho to achcha aur na ho toh achcha
Translated, this reads as – If it happens as you wish it is good, but if it doesn’t, then it is even better.
Strange and quite incomprehensible isnt it? But what it means is that if things don’t happen according to your wish, then it is occurring as per the wishes of a higher force who is looking out for you and preventing you from treading paths that are bound to spell disaster for you. Only you don’t know it yet.
Anyway to come back to the story, I realized, that my memory of the story was sketchy and didn’t quite remember about the other two wishes. Perhaps I was too preoccupied by the outcome of the first wish to really comprehend what followed.
But now as I read it again, the end is what nags me. What if he had not made the third and the final wish? Who was it at the door? Would Herbert have returned? How far can things be reversed? Or was it all meant to be? Was fate playing a cruel game of her own? Having some fun at the expense of gullible disbelieving mortals? I wonder and wonder and wish that the father hadn’t wished the third wish.
Oops I forgot…
I don’t wish do I?
After that heavy piece here is a humorous piece from WW Jacob – The Golden Venture. It is a lighthearted fun read which reiterates that nothing good comes out of bad. A comfortable and fun story. I hope you read this one too and share your reactions as well. As for me, for the second story, that is all I am going to say because while reading it I was led astray. I found the characters and story so engaging that I was inspired to pen a short story.
I am posting that story The Inheritance separately – click to read it.
As always I would love to know your reactions, opinions, suggestions and even better, if you feel like it, post a review of the stories or pen an inspired version of your own. Drop a link in the comment box and I will be along for a read.
A quick recap of the Story Club:Rules are simple (and breakable) :
- Advance announcement of name of short story, one that is freely available on the net.
- Story maybe a folktale or in the local language. But an English translation should be freely available on the net. Or participant could post the translated version along with his or her review.
- Bloggers should post on their blog.
- The basic idea is to gain from each others rich heritage of literature and be able to understand a little bit more than before and of course have fun!
Anyone interested in hosting the next month’s Story Club? Please feel free to may email me at mysilverstreaks@gmail.com
If you don’t want to host a story club, but if you have a favorite short story, do share it – thanks!
At the Delhi airport – I think!
A view of the sky from the sky 🙂
The Mumbai sky at Worli sea face as the Sun bids adieu for the night.
Same place, same day, just a little later. The colors are magical, don’t you think?
A dull and completely overcast monsoon laden Mumbai sky. The crow seems to be think he is master of all he surveys – or is she the Queen?
Let’s zip across the globe to Prague for a more cheery sky view.
This is at Salzburg where the hills are alive with the sound of music….
At the Vienna Schonbrunn palace gardens.
And back again to Paradise beach near Puducherry, India – thatched huts, the hot Sun and sand, but the same blue sky.
The blue cloudless skies at Golconda Fort, near Hyderabad, India
I loved the cloud swirls over the sky at Chidambaram. If this is your first visit and would like to know a bit more about this magnificent structure click 
I have to confess this is my favorite sky picture. Which one is yours?
“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable” – Christopher Reeve
This one is at the Chennai airport. You can see the reflection of the parking lot from where we caught our cab to Puducherry
A bright pink building right next to the hotel where we stayed.
A row of autorickshaws determined to outdo the Sun’s brightness
The bright truck caught my eye and it was only later that I notice the contrast provided by the ‘widowed’ tempo on the other side 😀
A lady riding a cycle wearing a sari – quite a rare sight
A tiger striped bench for the tired
A row of neatly lined chairs outside the cafe
After you are rested you may like to do a bit of memento shopping while you inhale Puducherry! Dont miss the massive tree in the backdrop.
A few moments to marvel at the wild flowers growing out of nowhere
Hmm…I found it odd that 
If that doesn’t get your attention, I don’t know what will!
Get up at the crack of dawn – actually even before that to catch the Sun rise.
Then be too captivated to leave the mesmerising pull of the ocean, the rising sun, the spraying surf, the salty tangy wind messing up your hair (and heart), the shrieks of carefree laughter fun and frolic.
We managed to drag ourselves away only to gape in awe and wonder at the intricate designs and workmanship.
Explore the quaint sleepy town in search of a highly recommended rooftop cafe which was closed for repairs
And land up for dinner at the very same place we had first thought of staying at while shortlisting hotels.
And off again for a picturesque boat ride to Paradise beach.
But Paradise beach was anything but. The hot sun and sand deterred us from venturing out into the tempting waters. But, I have to confess that we were the only ones to beat a hasty retreat. The others had come armed with food, beachwear and hats. But the sand was really hot….
In our defence, there were other greener pastures and bigger goals to be achieved – after a long trudge in the blistering heat.
Matrimandir, at the Auroville is a modern structure built for the practice of Yoga. Matrimandir has a lotus-shaped dome almost 30 meters high and is covered by golden discs that reflect sunlight.
Auroville is an experimental township or a universal town, designed by famous architect Roger Anger. Auroville is a popular tourist attraction of Puducherry. Another view of the Matrimandir framed through the trees – which view do you prefer?
On the way despite the heat I marvel at the sticks and stones
Be grateful for any shaded paths
It was an exhilarating trip no doubt but by the end of it I was guilty of sidelining the massive banyan tree and making a beeline for the bus.
Stories and more 