CFFC: Be Colorful

Yay! It’s time for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge and the topic this week is the letter B and the topic needs to be any color that starts with the letter B. Initially I was stumped but when I scrolled through my recent clicks I had zillions which fit the bill. Shall we get started? What? You dont have so much time? Okay fine – just a few, then, or maybe just a few more than just a few 😉

Ready? Of we go…

TrainA blue train from the window of my train 😀

BuffaloA black buffalo with two black crows taking a little rest between flights.

BranchesBare brown branches amidst the lush greenery. Not everyone flourishes at the same time.

SeatsTrying to catch the egrets from between two brown seats. Stretching it a bit too far eh 😀

Bench

Brick red benches at a deserted tiny station with blue and white fencing

StreamThe brown mud of a dried up stream. Had enough of the train journey? Let’s climb down shall we?

StairsDown the stairs with brown wooden paneling

ScreenA battered brown screen. Wonder why only the lower portion is damaged?

PeacockA blue peacock painted on the wall of a roadside restaurant. Pretty neat huh?

CloudsTime to fly back home braving thick black ominous clouds over blue mountains.

DoughnutsMust be hungry after that long round trip? Go on have a doughnut, it’s free. But make sure to choose only a brown one otherwise you are sure to get a rap on your knuckles. What say Cee? 😉 😀

Thanks for your company – have a super day!

 

 

SPF: Come into my Parlor

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Come into my Parlor

Words 200

 “May the best man win!” The colonel toasted the three hapless men sitting in front of him.

Sundari stood behind the colonel, calm and watchful. To look at her one would wonder that only three people had turned up. But then the conditions in the advertisement had been very specific and applications stringently scrutinized.

“To stake your claim on Sundari, you will have to either level that hill in 24 hours, or vanquish the enemy at our borders, or,” he broke off chortling, “marry my daughter.

“Papa!” Tullika gasped.

The colonel ignored Tullika. “Well?”

“This is preposterous,” stuttered the greying gentleman, “to give your precious racehorse to whosoever marries Tullika! If I were younger I would have broken your nose.” He strode off.

“Well?” The colonel was unfazed.

Rakesh, the taller one, bowed, “It would be my pleasure…”

“Really?” hands on her hips, Tullika cut in, “So desperate for a freebie? Be warned, I am high-maintenance, wacky, cranky, fat and ugly.”

“I am game,” Dhruv butted in, “but you’ve got to ditch your crankiness.”

“Fat chance,” she crossed her arms.

“What if I forgo Sundari?”

The colonel shook hands with Rakesh. “Thanks for playing along. Let them battle it out.”

 ***

A/N: Five characters in 200 words – was I too ambitious? Do let me know and thanks for reading.

Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less. Thanks to Alistair Forbes for hosting the challenge and Dawn Miller for the amazing photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 169

 

 

 

The Critical Ingredient

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The Critical Ingredient

Words 101

 Smriti stared at the decorated nuptial bed in dismay. Which was worse, bedding a complete stranger or her best friend?

“Who needs enemies when you have friends like ours, right?” Shirish murmured behind her.

Her embarrassment eased. She laughed. “I am hungry.”

“Me too.” Awkwardness flared until she caught the teasing glint.

She punched him.

“Ouch!” he protested.

“Wow!” She gaped at the swanky kitchen.

“Like it?”

“I should have married you 30 years ago.” She choked.

He scratched his head. “I couldn’t have afforded a modular kitchen then.”

She slid into his arms. “But you made me laugh even then.”

***

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

 

A Package Deal

For this week’s Sunday Trees, I have something that is not technically a tree. But that does not detract from its greatness or usefulness 😉 Presenting to you all – the largest herbaceous flowering plant, that is the banana plant.

BantreeThe banana plant has uses other than that of dishing out a complete packaged clean food in bunches. The green leaves were traditionally used as plates and in fact still are in some parts of the country, particularly during festivals and special occasions. The leaves are also used to package and steam food tied up with strings made from the stem, which gives the dish a unique flavor.

BtreeContained within in indistinguishable untidy jungle of leaves is the stem which is also edible. But that is not on my list of foods to eat again before I die – more like to avoid 😉 Further, all parts of the plant are believed to have medicinal properties and have been used in Ayurveda for the treatment of various ailments. For example, cooked flowers are used for bronchitis, dysentery and ulcers. Plant sap is used for stings and bites. The young leaves can be used as a poultice for skin irritations.

BandFlowersA closer shot of the young bananas hanging and the flower. In my part of the country, West Bengal, the dishes cooked with the flower is a delicacy and a personal favorite, unlike the stem. Although I have to confess I haven’t tried my hand at cooking it – preparation and extraction of edible bits is tedious and taxing 😉

That’s all I know about this fascinating tree oops plant.

Anyone like to add their bit?

By the way did you hear about little Tommy who declared, “Of course I know how to spell banana, I just don’t know when to stop” 😉 😀

I hope it’s okay Becca, that this week I shared a plant masquerading as a tree rather than a real tree 🙂

Thanks for visiting – have a great week!

 

SPF: Escape Velocity

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Escape Velocity

 Words 201

Sundar rang the bell, just as Rima came up behind him.

“Where the hell were you?” He rounded upon her. “You made me wait in the heat.”

“I was right behind you,” she opened the door, “and your AC cab just dropped you. I went walking in the heat to drop Neelam to a birthday party.” She held out a glass of chilled water.

“Shut up! How dare you talk to me like that?” He snarled.

“I am learning.” She tapped her chin. “I need to work on my tone.”

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing. Everything is just perfect.” She spread out her arms and twirled on her toes.

“Stop this nonsense right now!” He yelled. “Otherwise,” he raised his hand.

She grabbed their son’s bat. “Otherwise what?” Her voice was firm and even.

“What happened?” he dropped his hand. Where was his meek cowering wife?

Rima laughed. “Didn’t you hear the death knell of male dominance?”

“What rot are you talking?”

“The triple talaq* got banned.”

It was his turn to laugh. “That is for Muslim women. And…”

“The ruling has empowered all women.”

“Rubbish! My word is still the law…”

She hefted the bat. “Overruled by 3 against 1.”

***

 *The Supreme Court of India in a historic verdict on 22nd August 2017 struck down the practice of instant triple talaq by a 3:2 majority in India as unconstitutional and illegal. Triple talaq is a form of Islamic divorce that allows any Muslim man to divorce his wife by simply saying talaq thrice, over Skype, telephone, Whatsapp or by courier. This has not only empowered and liberated Muslim women but also revived hopes of doing away with other myriad social malpractices that continue in the name of religion and tradition.

The eclipse of 1,400 years is finally over and as you can see I am over the moon. 😀

Hip Hip Hurrah!

P.S Regarding the title, just in case it is too technical and the connection obscure, escape velocity is the lowest velocity, which a body must have in order to escape the gravitational attraction of a particular planet or other object.

Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less. Thanks to Alistair Forbes for hosting this challenge and the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 167

There is Always a Way

Rock treeWhen the going gets tough, the tough get going 

From the Sound of Music
Climb every mountain,
Search high and low,
Follow every highway,
Every path you know.
 
Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
‘Till you find your dream.
 
A dream that will need
All the love you can give,
Every day of your life
For as long as you live.
Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees – 301

A Clean Slate

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Photo (c) Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

A Clean Slate

 Words 100

“Aren’t you scared of ghosts Nani?”

“Nah. They’re my best friends.”

“Seriously Nani, isn’t it tough staying alone?”

“It is getting difficult dear. Maybe I’ll shift to an old age home.”

“Come and stay with us!”

“Not a good idea dear. You have your own schedules. I am too old and inflexible to fit into them. We’ll get on each others nerves in no time.”

“Will you be able to adjust with strangers?”

“Ever notice how we are nicer, kinder people when with strangers?”

“Yes, but…”

“When there’s no history, no expectations, it’s easier and simpler to get along.”

***

Returning after a hiatus, feeling rusty. Did it work? Do let me know – have a great weekend.

Written for Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thank you Rochelle for hosting the challenge and the photo prompt! To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.

WPC: Monsoon

Monsoons or the rainy season is a much awaited season in India. Not only do we wait for the rains to rescue us from the blistering heat but also provide life giving water.

For this week’s Photo Challenge: Elemental, I have attempted to capture the many hues of the rainy season.

But first the promised view of the lush green fields from the train 😉

20170804_112506One tiny single room house in the midst of nowhere – quite a reversal from the cities!

RainOn the way back by car we were caught in a torrential blinding downpour. I thought it was the perfect way to capture the rain 😀

RaindropsAnother way of capturing rain is by focusing on puddles – can you make out how heavily it was raining?

ShelterAs the rain gathered intensity, some sought shelter…

Two birds

While the more adventurous ones, reveled in the rains…

Three bathBut unlike the birds, these three didn’t have any choice and hence they bore it stoically and came out squeaky clean 😀

20170720_080609After the rains – clean fresh and sparkling! Yet the monsoons which bring relief from the sweltering heat and also wrecks havoc in many parts of the country.

Water PotThe flower pots are a good indicator aren’t they? And this was just after two hours of rain. Thankfully the rain eased and the water receded. I wonder what would have happened if the rains hadn’t stopped…

Thank you for stopping by 😉

 

 

 

Middling

Sunday tree

The tiny tree encircled by a sarong of green leaves, under the protective shadow of the tall tree reaching out to the skies, drew me in. Braving a ferocious Sun and risking a migraine, I walked close to admire the cute little one. It was only later that I realized that I hadn’t even spared a glance for the unobtrusive, reserved middle one.

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From Pinterest

Middlers – raise your hands 😀

Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees – 300

 

CB&W: On The Way

Cee’s latest black and white challenge is about any new photos that we may have clicked. Recently I traveled by train, through acres of lush green fields outlined by tall trees under overcast grey skies. And in the midst of such life, such greenery here and there stood bare trees holding out her naked branches in defiance of season, time and public glare. I am unfailingly captivated and enchanted by their unspoken yet deafening declaration of supreme confidence that reaches out to me from so far away. I missed capturing those beauties but here are a few glimpses of the journey through a rain splattered window.

 

FieldjpgVast green fields that stretch on and on with a handful of people working them. And we complain of rising prices…

LevelcrossWhen I was little, I remember feeling a sense of pride and achievement at level crossings. So many people were waiting for me! 😀 Now I can feel their restlessness, their impatience.

PowerAs a child, I used to think of these as effigies of the demon king Ravan and his cronies waiting to be burned down. Now I know that our worlds will come crashing down if these were to go up in smoke 😀

EntNature has found her own way of dealing with these ‘demons’ that mar her beauty. Don’t beat them, use them 😉

ShedA thoughtful make-shift shed at an obscure railway station. One even had a tree growing through it. Or (more likely) the shed built around it 😀

White flowersJust some random white flowers from another journey on my two feet.

Have a super weekend 🙂

News Flash: I came back to add a photo of another journey of another kind

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Thank you for your company on this amazing journey 🙂