January 2018 – Page 2 – Stories and more

Live your Life

20171104_094603 “Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” ― Ernest Hemingway

Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees

PS: Just a quick note to brag that I finally did what my blog had been crying out for months, okay years. I reorganized and updated my index making it easier to browse and check out earlier posts with snippets (but I’m still working on the blurbs). If you are free and so inclined how about browsing through the index of Short Stories or Photo posts? Feedback and suggestions most welcome!

Will You Walk into My Parlor?

sarahs-spider-web-potter — Photo (c) Victor and Sarah Potter

Will You Walk into My Parlor?

Words 100

“No.” She refused.

The ring clattered to the floor. “I thought you wanted us to marry!”

“I did. Before…”

“Before?”

“Before my parents got to know about us living together.”

“But they still want you to…”

“Are you proposing to me out of concern for my parents or yours?”

“We can’t always live like this!”

“Why not? Isn’t that what you said to me?”

“I…I was wrong. Society. Children…”

“No. You were right. We should adopt an orphan needing a home.”

“But…”

“Besides,” She paused, “I see no reason give up my independence just to keep track of your socks.”

***

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

Thanks for reading 🙂

WPC: Weathered But Not Withered

The Daily Post invites us to post pictures of weathered – or our interpretation of it. And I haven’t done quotes in a while, let’s see if I can mix and match them up. Hope you like!

Wtractor I have weathered many different storms and I know who I am and my friends know who I really am. Delta Goodrem

Caught on the way to office, this one gave a feeling of kinship 😀

3rdRED “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” – Buddha

A 3rd Century red sandstone sculpture of Buddha. Doesnt the peace shine through the chipped cheek and the broken limbs?

Hampi “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” ― Maya Angelou

I cannot believe that once upon a time the Virupakhsa temple at the backdrop was once just a stone. From the UNESCO Heritage Site the 14th century temple town at Hampi.

Konark2

“Even
After
All this time
The Sun never says to the Earth,

“You owe me.”

Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the whole sky.”
― Hafiz

The 13th century CE Konark Sun temple dedicated to the Sun god Surya Dev by night

Wstone Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along. Rumi

Isn’t it fascinating to see that not only animals but also trees crave company, someone to call their own – even if it is a hard unyielding stone?

Wstone2 “I don’t want to be married just to be married. I can’t think of anything lonelier than spending the rest of my life with someone I can’t talk to, or worse, someone I can’t be silent with.” ― Mary Ann Shaffer,

Treehouse

“The Little Boy and the Old Man

Said the little boy, “Sometimes I drop my spoon.”
Said the old man, “I do that too.”
The little boy whispered, “I wet my pants.”
I do that too,” laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, “I often cry.”
The old man nodded, “So do I.”
But worst of all,” said the boy, “it seems
Grown-ups don’t pay attention to me.”
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
I know what you mean,” said the little old man.”
― Shel Silverstein

Doesn’t it look as if the fresh green trees have come to console and give company to a house that was once overrun with chatter, the pitter-patter, gurgles and chatter swirling with mouth-watering flavors and billowing saris drying in the sun?

Wtree

“You’ll learn, as you get older, that rules are made to be broken. Be bold enough to live life on your terms, and never, ever apologize for it. Go against the grain, refuse to conform, take the road less traveled instead of the well-beaten path. Laugh in the face of adversity, and leap before you look. Dance as though EVERYBODY is watching. March to the beat of your own drummer. And stubbornly refuse to fit in.” ― Mandy Hale,

See anything you like? Do share your thoughts, don’t keep it bottled up! Thanks for visiting – have a great weekend.

CFFC: Just Becoz I O U

Yep! That’s Cee’s fun foto challenge this week – must have the letters O and U. A toughie but let me see what I can come up with…

A bright sunny day to perfectly show off those wispy clouds. That? Oh that’s the Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg Vienna 😀

PIP Not even a picture of mountains is safe from the evil eye of the concrete jungle.

Moutains Let’s feast our eyes on some real mountains 🙂

Ghouls

The ghostly remnants of a building where ghouls freely roam about – day and night. Well at least I like to think so 😉

Snout And look what I found – a tree snout! Looks hungry (and cute) doesn’t it?

Couch Would you like to rest for a bit on the couch by the big black and white dog? Don’t worry it won’t bite 😉

Boating copy Row row row your boat gently down the stream, merrily merrily merrily merrily for life is but a dream 😀

Thanks for visiting – have a super day!

SPF: Calling her Bluff

This week for the same setting and the same characters I ended up with two different stories and couldn’t choose between them. If you have the time and the inclination, I would appreciate if you would click here for the second version (which is actually the original version!) and do let me know your thoughts 🙂 From the comments, I thought it best to put the (edited) note right on top.

Calling her Bluff

Words 200

“Let’s go for a walk?” She looked with foreboding at his grim distant expression. She wished she were back home instead of at their honeymoon.

He shrugged. “Sure.”

Walking silently down the deserted streets, despair stole over her. He had seemed such a fun guy. Or was he too shy and nervous?

Suddenly, she doubled over.

“Saina!” Tarun supported her. “Are you okay?”

“I…I…know this place,” she gasped. She raised a shaking finger. “I was lynched by a mob…” she shivered and shook unable to speak more.

He froze. Had be been conned into marrying a mad woman?

He steadied. “Relax. Let’s go back. I think you’re overtired.”

“I can see it all so clearly.” She went on unheeding. “So many people and I alone. Suki…”

“Suki?”

“My love. We wanted to marry but I was older than him.”

“Was Suki also killed?”

“He ran away.” She pointed. “He used to live in that house.”

“Perhaps he still lives there? Let’s go and check?”

“No!”

“Why not? Perhaps Suki’s still waiting for you?” He stepped forward to ring the bell.

Horrified, she clutched his arm and dragged him back. “Are you crazy?” She yelled.

“No. Are you?” His lips twitched.

***

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

SPF: Not So Ill-fated

This week for the same setting and the same characters I ended up with two different stories and couldn’t choose between them. If you have the time and the inclination, I would appreciate if you would click here for the second version and do let me know your thoughts. From the comments, I thought it best to put the (edited) note right on top.

Not So Ill-fated

Words 196

“Let’s go for a walk?” She wasn’t too comfortable with being alone with her husband of a few hours. They had just checked into a hotel on their way to Darjeeling for their honeymoon.

He shrugged. “Sure.”

Walking down the deserted streets, a wave of nausea shook her. Sweating, she doubled over in agony.

“Saina!” Tarun supported her. “Are you okay?”

“I…I…know this place,” she gasped. She raised a shaking finger. “I was lynched by a mob…” she shivered and shook unable to speak more.

He froze. Had be been conned into marrying a mad woman?

He steadied. “Relax. Let’s go back. I think you’re overtired.”

“I can see it all so clearly.” She went on unheeding. “So many people and I alone. Suki…”

“Suki?”

“My love. We wanted to marry but I was older than him.”

“Was Suki also killed?”

“He ran away.” She pointed. “He used to live in that house.” She frowned. “But it wasn’t so rundown or,” she gasped.

A portly balding man wearing a singlet poked his head out of the door and spat on the road.

She linked her arm with Tarun’s and smiled up at him. “Let’s go back.”

***

The Bickering Couple

And you didn’t even notice my new HAIRDO!

Well, did you notice it? 😉 😀

Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees

One Step Lower

roger-bultot-art-exhibit — Photo (c) Roger Bultot

One Step Lower

Words 100

“Bhaisahab* could you get me a job?” she burst out.

“But why?” He stared.

“Now I’ve time on my hands and…everything’s so expensive.”

“Why worry about expenses when your sons are earning well?” He laughed.

“Yes.” She hesitated. “But, they have their own expenses. If I had a job…”

“What about your health?”

“Exactly. Medicines are so expensive.”

“It’d be better to ask your sons.”

“Why should I have to ask?” She stood up. “Ask your Father, ask your husband and now beg from my sons?”

“It’s not begging. It’s your right.”

“If I have to ask, it’s begging.”

***

*Bhaishaab: Elder brother and commonly used to address an older male relative, family friend, neighbor or even an acquaintance or stranger on the road.

Perhaps the link to the photo may not be clear but the color white in India is associated with a widow – I hope that came through (that she’s a widow!)?

Thanks for reading – look forward to your reaction and comments. 🙂

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

Protected: SPF: Home Sweet Home

CFFC: Colors of S

How many colors do you know that begin with S? Scarlet comes to mind, perhaps Silver but then the mind draws a blank. But why worry when Google is at hand right? So armed with help from the internet I attempt to rise to Cee’s challenge of photos with colors beginning with S.

And here we go:

Cacti By the roadside, a triple bonanza – sandy brown earth, school bus yellow cacti and safety orange flowers 😀