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

 

 

 

Just 4 Fun # 52

Hey what’s up people? Oh that reminds me – one two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word.

Any guesses?

No?

Without any further ado the word is UP. It is listed in the dictionary as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v].

It’s easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?

At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP, and why are the officers UP for election (if there is a tie, it is a toss UP) and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?

We call UP our friends, brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and fix UP the old car.

At other times, this little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.

To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.

And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is blocked UP.

We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!

To become more knowledgeable, about the proper uses of UP look UP the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions.

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don’t give UP, you may wind UP with (UP to) a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out, we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it soaks UP the earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP. One could go on and on, but I’ll wrap it UP, for now…… my time is UP!

So, did this whole thing, crack you UP? 😀

Wasn’t it completely insane? Actually that’s another word that gets me all worked up. Why insane? Why not outsane? Sigh

 

Anyway moving on, in a welcome and long overdue move, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that Right to Privacy is a fundamental right. Three cheers for this major step forward and the ripples are already being felt in all parts of the country.

Right

😀 😀

ShapeThat reminds me I better get moving before that turns out to be my shadow. It’s not that I dislike exercising – it’s just that I am so good at making excuses.

Excuse

That’s it from me today…unless you would like to read about Pedro?

Pedro was driving down the Panjim street in a swift because he had an important meeting and couldn’t find a parking place.

Looking up to heaven he said, “Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of my life and give up my Whiskey. I will give up Gambling and Womanizing too !”

Miraculously, a parking place appeared.

Pedro  looked up again and said, “Never mind, I found one ! Sorry I bothered you !!”

Cheers! 😀

Hope you found something that you enjoyed – none of which are mine by the way. I received all of them as forwards/shares and am just keeping the fun going.

Have a super week and don’t forget to have some fun as well 🙂

And do let me know your favorite – or better still post your own and leave me a link I will be along in just a bit.

Share this on to everyone you look UP in your address book… or not… it’s UP to you.

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

Just 4 Fun # 51

A new week begins and it’s time for some fun. Have you ever had trouble getting your spouse to read your messages? You could take a tip or two from this lady 😉

Wife sent text to hubby-  “Hi I will get late, please cook dinner, then wash all dirty dishes and make sure you prepare our bed and put kids to sleep before I return…..

She sent another text, “And I forgot to mention,,, I have also bought a bottle of BLUE LABEL PREMIUM SCOTCH WHISKY for you……

He texted “OMG really   ?”

She replied – “No I just wanted to make sure you got my first message

😀 😀 Smart woman!

hAPPY

It’s funny how true it is – try it!

WANeat idea huh 😉

AccidentsSome day, some nitpicking fussy editor is going to have an accident reading this! What was he/she thinking?

Retire

Ahh I forgot he/she wasn’t allowed to think…

GoogleIs this for real? And would google still know everything even if one doesnt have a gmail ID?

Bums

I saved my favorite for the last

IMG-20170821-WA0005

Which one is yours?

Hope you found something that you enjoyed – none of which are mine by the way. I received all of them as forwards/shares and am just keeping the fun going.

Have a super week and don’t forget to have some fun as well 🙂

And do let me know your favorite – or better still post your own and leave me a link I will be along in just a bit.

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 😉