Month: January 2018

SPF: Turning the Tables

20-eric-wicklund-january-28th-2018
Photo (c) E.A Wicklund

Turning the Tables

Words 201

 “What should I do Tara Chachi*?” Bulbul asked Tara who sat outside her hut dicing vegetables. “Should I get married or continue my studies?”

“Do what you want.” Tara didn’t look up. “Why ask me?”

“Because Chachi you are the only woman who dared to make her own choice, marry the man she loved.”

“Did I?” Tara asked.

Bulbul was taken aback. “Everyone says…”

“But nobody asked me!”

“I am asking you Chachi. Tell me. Please.” Bulbul coaxed.

“Many years ago, the village chief’s son took a fancy to me. He made several advances but I spurned them all.”

“Then?”

“Thwarted, he grabbed me right in the middle of the village fair. Confronted, he declared that he was ready to marry and I wasn’t.”

“No!” Bulbul gasped. But she rallied. “But how romantic! I mean he was so desperately in love…”

“Love!” Tara snorted. “He only wanted to subjugate me.”

“But he’s famous for not even looking at other women. He’s clearly besotted with you.”

“By creating a public scene, he effectively gave me two options, marry him or die.” Tara put away the knife. “After marriage, I gave him two options – stay true to me or I would kill him.”

***

*Chachi: Aunt but specifically one’s father’s brother’s wife but is also used to address any elderly lady.

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

Together Forever

Can you see the intermingling branches of two different trees?

 

Another view of the tree tops. Notice anything different? Or just a random common place repeat picture? Let’s move further down.

20180127_122902.jpgThere you have it! The palm tree is growing within the larger peepal (?) tree!!! How amazing is that?

I was caught by the straight knotted (like a thick rope) trunk in the middle that was remarkably different from the rest of the tree. Only upon closer inspection did the mystery clear up. Or did it become even more mysterious?

How on earth?

Why on earth?

But then

the question is

why not?

And

Why can’t

we too

 take a leaf or two

from them?

 

 

Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees

CFFC: The World of Windows

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week is must start with W and have at least two vowels. This would have been another toughie but for the fact that I am on a trip to Udaipur, the City of Lakes in Rajasthan India. And I have loads and loads of windows just from the City Palace.

Ready?

Off we go…

Open windowsOpen, closed and designer windows. City Palace from the outside

Open WA view of the City Palace from inside from one window of the other windows. But to be honest, I took it because of the tree which was even more interesting on a closer look. But you’ll have to wait before she makes a appearance of her own 😀

The City Palace complex is the private property of Shreeji Arvind Singh Mewar, the 76th custodian of the Mewar Dynasty. He resides in one part of the huge palace complex while two parts are converted into luxury hotels. One part is open for the public. But let’s not get distracted and continue our search for windows.

Elong WAn elongated window to look out but not be seen – a common motif in most windows, although shapes and designs may differ.

Sq WA square window.

Design WAnother view of the world. Beautiful workmanship no doubt but may give a sense of being imprisoned don’t you think?

One window to anotherAhh a breath of fresh air and uninterrupted view of the world of windows from a window 😀

CityThere were open windows overlooking the city of Udaipur, or

Lake WEnjoy the serene calm waters of Lake Pichola.

Fine netA view of the fine meshed windows and the colorful shrubbery was an added bonus.

Sun windowAnd talking of bonuses, a final Sun window over the stairway at the hotel.

Thanks for visiting – do leave me a note so that I may check out your selections too 🙂

 

 

 

SPF: Shoe Bite

20-ceayr-january-21st-2018

Shoe Bite

Word 197

 “What’s so funny?”

Diya started from her intense contemplation of the wall décor. “Raj!” she exclaimed, “What are you doing here?”

“Same as you I guess,” he shrugged, “to attend the conference. Why were you smiling?” He insisted.

Diya laughed, “Doesn’t it look as if an irate father is kicking away a potential suitor?”

“Like your father kicked me away?”

“That was my decision,” Diya’s eyes flashed, “because you…”

“I heard that you are now divorced?” Raj changed the topic.

“Yes.”

“Any regrets?”

“Except that I waited so long.”

“What about remarriage?” He asked.

“No.” She was curt.

“How do you manage Sia alone?”

Diya shrugged. “It’s difficult but not impossible.” She hesitated. “I…I am sorry. I heard…”

His lips twisted into a bitter sneer. “So the whole world knows about my cheating wife.”

“Not the whole world. Your sister told me.”

“If only you had…!”

“Why don’t you divorce her?”

“Because that would mean giving up my daughter as well.” His face was grim. “So that’s not even an option.”

Diya gave a mirthless smile. “Life’s a circle isn’t?”

“What do you mean?”

“Wasn’t that what you wanted me to do?” She said gently. “Leave my daughter and marry you.”

 ***

My 50th Sunday Photo Fiction story in 200 words or less! My thanks to Alistair Forbes for hosting the challenge and C.E.Ayr for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here. And to read my other Sunday Photo Fiction stories click here.

Thanks for visiting!

 

CFFC: A Variety of Vees

This week, Cee’s engaging photo challenge is about words starting with V’s and must have at least 6 letters. And as usual I was stumped and resigned to giving it a miss. Until I received a photo from my sis from Dublin and that set the ball rolling.

Only fair to start with that right?

VibgyorQuite the perfect rainbow encompassing the entire sky and neatly framing the trees, isnt it? But where’s the V you ask? VIBGYOR my friend VIBGYOR. What! That’s not even a word? Fine well then I am sure some very vivacious people stay in these houses, besides isn’t this picture a veritable feast for the eyes? 😉

Vintage

A safe bet this time! A vintage car, and not just any vintage car but the one used by the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Don’t miss the shadow of the greenery over the glass casing.

VibrantA vibrant cloudless blue sky at Lucerne.

VacantA deserted cafe with vacant chairs at the corner of a busy marketplace in Delhi – a rarity I assure you. Perhaps we were too early.

VerdantA vibrant, vivacious Sahasradhara (thousand streams) amidst verdant surroundings.

VermillionA deserted stairway at a hotel. Hopefully, the vermilion colored fire extinguisher will never be required to be actually used.

VivaciousCan you not vividly see the bright chattering vivacious little girl who must have thrown off her new shoes to run up the temple stairs?

Violet
(c) Aprajita

I end this series with a pretty painting (with a smattering of violet flowers) made by a very young friend of mine.

Thanks for visiting, do let me know which one entertained you the most!

The Rock Climber

Rock climber“When life brings you mountains, you don’t waste your time asking why; you spend your time climbing over them.” ― A.J. Darkholme, Rise of the Morningstar

 

Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees

Apologies for the cropped photo. There was a very ugly signboard below and I didnt know well enough to capture over and above it. Hopefully I have learned something….

WPC: When Silence Speaks

What does silence look like asks Cheri at the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge this week. And interesting and tricky question for depending upon the situation and mood, silence can be oppressive, suffocating and a scream of despair. Yet it can also be full of warmth, unspoken yet clearly felt emotions, a comforting blanket, a time to ponder, reflect and just be.

Sunrise“We went down into the silent garden. Dawn is the time when nothing breathes, the hour of silence. Everything is transfixed, only the light moves.” ― Leonora Carrington

Jungle“I have never heard a more eloquent silence.” ― Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak

The silent wail of the ghosts of slaughtered trees and their mourning relatives waiting for the axe to fall…

Fort“Does not everything depend on our interpretation of the silence around us?” ― Lawrence Durrell, Justine

This section of the fort was once the Ladies Apartments (zenani deorhi) where all the kings concubines lived with secret passageways from the King room. A stage set for palace intrigues, high voltage drama, tinkle of bangles, rustle of silks swirling with perfume, silence forever. What do you hear – the a happy contented peacefulness or rife with strife, gloom and melancholy?

Beach“As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.” ― John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men

What can one say over and above that?

Backwaters“I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams…” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

Thus it has been for me with still waters, mountains and trees…

Watertank“It’s so stupid because all I wanted was space and now that I have it, there’s this part of me that’s achingly lonely I could die.” ― Hannah Harrington, Saving June

Far from the madding crowd, looking down in greedy disdain…

Field“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” ― Ansel Adams

IMG_0158“He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand your words.” ― Elbert Hubbard

I grew up looking at these mountains and this river the holy Ganga. The mountains were always like this – strong towering, silent only the colors changed with the season and time of day. But the Ganga was never like this. She was bright, clear clean green, sparkling and gurgling as She tripped over stones and boulders, gushing and frothing as she danced on her way down from the mountains, singing us to sleep. Each and every day. Without fail.

And then one day, she fell silent. Enchained and enslaved, forever silenced to serve the needs of others, bloated with detritus, armed with fortitude and restraint, she renounced her carefree days of song and dance.

Yet, can you not hear her scream through the deafening silence?

Well, what does silence mean to you? Speak up, be not silenced, ever…

COB: A Sound Nap

Cee’s oddball photo challenge is back and so am I 🙂 A couple of months ago I was at the New Delhi Railway station to catch an early morning train. It was a sleepy morning with few passengers on the platform (although all the seats were taken!

And then I saw him.

Train1Fast asleep on his burden! (Doesnt the station look clean?)

Train2I tried a close up wary of going too close for fear of waking him up

Train3The train rushed in with an ear-splitting whistle and a massive mighty gush of clatter. But did he wake up? Nah. He clearly doesn’t let anything weigh him down 🙂

And a bonus photo – not mine though.

Dahlia

Look what my sister sent me from Ireland 😀 Why just 50%? You can have 100 % off on Dahlia’s stories and photos. If only you could be bothered to click here or here.

Thanks for visiting and have a great day.

SPF: Not Like Us

223-01-january-14th-2018
Photo (c) Alistair Forbes

Not Like Us

Words 200

“Go back inside!”

“Please Mamma, just for a little bit…”

“No! They are dangerous creatures…”

“But Mamma, they are so far away! And there’s a net…”

“That net is so thin and flimsy. And you never know with them, what if they climb over it?”

“Mamma you are overcautious! Nobody has ever crossed…”

“And you would know! How old are you exactly?”

“I find them fascinating Mamma! I want to talk to them, play with them…”

“Enough! Go play with your siblings while I arrange lunch.”

“I don’t like playing with them! They tease me so.”

“Don’t take it personally dear, it’s their kind of fun. If you interact with them you’ll learn a lot.”

“What will I learn? They just like to paw me and chase me all over the place.”

“That’s wonderful! By the time you grow up, you’ll be the fastest. Just like your father.”

“I like their games.”

“How’d you know?”

“I’ve seen them from the tree.”

“I am warning you, don’t you dare sneak off to play with them.”

“Why not?”

“They may hurt you.”

“I’ll go only after they’ve eaten.

“But they’re creatures who kill, hurt and maim even if their bellies are full.”

 ***

Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – A story in 200 words or less. Thanks to Alistair Forbes for hosting the challenge and the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this photo prompt, click here. And just in case you would like to read any of my previous Sunday Photo Fictions click here

Thanks for visiting!