The Helpline Number
Words 102
It was dark when she let herself into her new apartment. Switching on the lights she gazed around delightedly.
The room was exactly as she had left it. The upturned heels, the dupatta* trailing on the floor, a half-opened book, the banana peel.
She was truly free of that obnoxious odious nitpicking man!
Humming, she threw open the windows.
Neither a ‘garbage dump’ nor a ‘pigsty’ she thought as she put out the trash.
A gush of wind slammed the door shut.
Locked out without her phone!
Sweat broke out on her brow.
She couldn’t recollect any phone number.
Except for his.
***
*dupatta: a long scarf usually of cotton or silk.
PS: Would you like to know what happened next? Click here 😉
Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and J Hardy Carroll for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.
Thanks for reading 🙂
Stories and more 
The last line was a unexpected twist!
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For her too 😀 Thanks Radhika!
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Oh dear that’s quite a sticky mess she’s in ! How does she get back in ?
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Even I am wondering 😉
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I’m hoping she finds another way without having to call him back!
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I am wondering if I should investigate her fate further 😀 Thanks Iain
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DearDahlia,
Poor girl. She’s probably in for a lecture about carelessness. I feel for her. Very good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Worse he would be right! 😀 Thanks so much Rochelle 🙂
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Nice story, Dahlia, and a refreshingly different take on the prompt. I feel sure that once she stops panicking she’ll find a way of getting back in!
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Thanks so much Penny. I am quite tempted to ‘find’ out what happens next! 😀
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Oh good grief. Nope, she simply can’t call him. Find a neighbor, find a police office, just don’t find that critical man.
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😀 Fingers crossed!
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Karma if you believe it. Great story.
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Thank you 🙂
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Ain’t that the truth. Before cellphones I had a lot of numbers memorized. Dependence on technology is certainly dumbing us down. I bet she’ll find a way in. Let’s he doesn’t have an extra key.
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I hope you win the bet – I would hate for him to say I told you so 😀
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Very well imagined.
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Thanks YS 🙂
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Perhaps she can use the escape ladder and climb back through the window she left open. Anyway, it is an emergency and if she has to use the only helpline she knows then why not?
Good Moening Dahlia. The garden this morning is full of activities. The squirrel was jumping around full of energy. Robin came and pecked at the bread and grains left for birds. The blackbird was walking on the lawn and pulling out earthworms and was having a feast. Compared to gardens on both sides, my garden looks very untidy with fallen leaves. But I love the contrast colourfull leaves make with green grass of the lawn.
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Exactly who knows the helpline number may just connect to ASR 😉 I prefer untidy gardens to perfect ones – besides I do love your garden and its visitors (and host!) 🙂
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Thank you for liking my garden , my visitors and me
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🙂
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Lovely story, but with a deep meaning, a superficial way of hitting on something so deep, we all cant snap out of relationships completely, we cant loosen our ties so easily, our weakness and our strengths are sometimes the same, thats why we are so strong to forgive, forget, love, be hurt yet be at the same time……very touching indeed!
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Thanks so much for your insightful comment 🙂
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We have become so dependent on our phones and their contact list… That said, I’d find a locksmith or the superintendent before calling him!!
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Anything but call him! Thanks Dale for commenting 🙂
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Such a unique take on the prompt . And wonderfully written,as always.
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Thanks so much for a lovely comment Moon 🙂
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Uh, oh. That’s really unfortunate. I hope there’s a satisfactory ending. Good twist and writing, Dahlia. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks Suzanne 🙂
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Oh dear, what to do? I think she’d be better off breaking the door in than calling him.
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That’s what she is thinking too – thanks for visiting.
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I hope she found her way back to the apartment without calling him. Nicely done!
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Thanks so much!
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