May 2018 – Stories and more

WPC: Twisted Nature

This week’s photo challenge is about showing something twisted. So let’s see how twisted one can get…

20170804_112521 Twisted metal rods that dot the rural landscape

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Fed up with the twisted eyesores, nature takes things into her hands – when you can’t beat them, join them!

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“Just a single cord is enough to be tangled” ― Munia Khan

“The reality of the other person is not in what he reveals to you, but in what he cannot reveal to you. Therefore, if you would understand him, listen not to what he says but rather to what he does not say.” Khalil Gibran

Once upon a time, I lived my life in this ‘green room’. Only the bed is missing.

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“Man struggles to find life outside himself, unaware that the life he is seeking is within him.” Khalil Gibran

Rose

“The snow and the storm destroy the flower; but its seed they cannot kill.” Khalil Gibran

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“You may chain my hands, you may shackle my feet; you may even throw me into a dark prison; but you shall not enslave my thinking, because it is free!” Khalil Gibran

Colors of Nature

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Remember this blazing amaltas tree from just a couple of weeks ago?

But just two weeks later, as the Sun goes on a rampage, this one has opted for a strategic retreat – spring will come another day.

Yet elsewhere, pink blossoms bloom (Dublin to be precise)

As do purple ones – though my sister (not the one in the pic) insists on calling it blue – what do you think?

Some inverted trumpet flowers (do correct me if I am wrong, which I think I am) blooming defiantly among tall disapproving trees 😀

And some prickly pretty cacti! The last two are poached from my brother’s album as he tours the North-East 🙂

Now if only I had a few pics of the palash or forest fire to complete my collage.

Ah well spring will come again 😉

Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees

Any readers of Silver Streaks here? Well you may like to visit here – A-Shubh Again

Feet of Clay

bowl-and-leaves — Photo (c) Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Feet of Clay

Words 200

“Mom!” Shilpa wailed, “Look at the cake.”

“Don’t worry darling,” Reema consoled, “Layer it with cream and fruits. Your Dad will love it.” She looked at the clock. “Why isn’t Vishal back with the ice cream yet?”

“Won’t Daddy be surprised!?” Shilpa rubbed her hands in glee.

“I was surprised when so many congratulated me!” Reema bustled about. “I felt like a celebrity!”

“He’s the bestest smartest Daddy in the whole world!” Shilpa twirled.

“Vishal!” Reema gasped. “What happened?”

Shirt torn, hair askew, Vishal tottered in.

“Liars!” he spat.

“Who?”

“Everyone! They’re accusing Daddy…”

“…Of…?

“…Sexual misconduct at the workplace.”

***

PS. Not Morgan Freeman! Are there no good men?

Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and the beautiful photo prompt. To read the other stories (and participate in the challenge) click here.

SPF: A Rough Draft

A Rough Draft

Words 200

“Well? Is it done?”

“Sort of. Whether it is well or otherwise is not for me to judge.”

“Very funny. So aren’t you going to show off?”

“Umm. Not sure whether it’s worth bragging about.”

“Come on! Are you digging for compliments?”

“From you?! Who hasn’t even looked at it once?”

“That’s a dig!”

“Haha. Very funny.”

“How does it feel to have finished the story you were working on for over two years?”

“Mostly drained.”

“That’s it?”

“So much more remains to be done!”

“You have a complete story! Go find a publisher and just rake in the moolah.”

“If only it were that easy!”

“Isn’t it?

“Before I can even think of contacting a publisher, I have to edit my novel.”

“Isn’t that the editor’s job?”

“Nope! He just draws red lines through manuscripts before throwing it in the trash.”

“Ouch!”

“Exactly. Ideally one should spend at least thrice the amount of time editing as writing.”

“Wow! You don’t like editing?”

“I do but despite the difficult subject, writing was so much fun.”

“How’s that possible?”

“It was possible thanks to all the people who kept me company through the tortuous paths and cheered me from the sidelines.”

***

A/N Sorry about that I simply couldn’t resist bragging in a (not so) roundabout way 😉 I finished Moonshine the story for which I began blogging (240 chapters!) and the reason I’ve been away – just in case any of you noticed 😛 A genuine and heartfelt thank you to all you alpha readers – silent and otherwise 🙏

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

Just 4 Fun #87

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Now if only i could learn to be silent…but then again half my troubles would have been non-existent if i had spoken up in the first place. Darn it! To speak or not to speak is the question – any answers?

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I beg to differ I am neither old nor restless I just young and senseless. What about you? 😀

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Questions questions and no answers. Hmm well on second thoughts it could be a typo after all s and d are right next to each other on the keyboard 😛

IMG-20180511-WA0015 Finally somebody got it right!

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Mother’s day has just come and gone and this was a lovely piece as were a couple of others

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But my personal favorite was this one

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which just goes on and on and on 😀

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Hahahave a wonderful week and just want to stress none of this stuff is mine and I am just keeping the fun going – Cheers

Blooming Amaltas

The Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge this week is about our place in the world. I decided to interpret it rather literally mostly because this is the right time (although not the right weather) to showcase my world. Temperatures are soaring and yesterday it was a sizzling 43^oCelsius (109 ^o F) and like every summer my campus is on fire. Take a look.

20180512_103046 Miles to ogle before I walk 😉

20180512_103121 “It is with the intention of losing my way that I have descended on this path” Rabindranath Tagore

20180512_103215 A dazzling and enchanting sight one that is quite difficult to tear ones eyes away from despite the blazing Sun.

20180512_102916 I could look at this for hours and hours – from an air conditioned room of course 😉

Bane1 The amaltas are perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea. This man wages a losing battle against the raining petals.

Bane2 Show off 😉

20180509_174225 While in school I used to draw the Sun rising from between the mountain peaks – this reminds me of that 😀

By the way, this is the view from my porch – now I’m showing off 😉 Just a couple of years more before we shift so may as well make the most of it!

Also linking to Becca’s Sunday Trees

Hope you enjoyed your stroll through my world – have a wonderful week 🙂

Just 4 Fun #86

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Well that’s an optimist speaking – if you speak to a pessimist, guess what he or she would say?

“Cheer up! The worst is yet to come” 😉

Moving on here are some wonderful definitions:-

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Which one is your favorite? Mine is the Nurse one 😀

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My question is why did he purchase one in the first place? Similarly I’m pretty sure he went after her in the first place… 😀

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Moral of the story: Be careful of what you ask for you may get it 😀

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I wonder where these cards are available….

I recently received a forwarded message on Workplace rules for a happy life credited to WHO. Although I couldn’t find it on their page I thought the suggestions were pretty neat and worth sharing

1. Trust no one but respect everyone.

2. What happens in office, remains office. Never take office gossip home and vice versa.

3. Enter office on time, leave on time. Your desktop is not helping to improve your health.

4. Never make Relationships in the work place. It will always backfire.

5. Expect nothing. If somebody helps, feel thankful. If not, you will learn to know things on your own.

6. Never rush for a position. If you get promoted, congrats. If not, it doesn’t matter. You will always be remembered for your knowledge and politeness, not for your designation.

7. Never run behind office stuff. You have better things to do in life.

8. Avoid taking everything on your ego. Your salary matters. You are being paid. Use your assets to get happiness.

9. It doesn’t matter how people treat you. Be humble. You are not everyone’s cup of tea.

10. In the end nothing matters except family, friends, home, and Inner peace.

Actually, if you ask me, nothing matters except inner peace – so at the next Miss World/Universe contest let the winner be the one who wishes for inner peace instead of world peace 😀

To receive good luck and happiness always, just share your joy and inner peace

Happy Living and wish you all a wonderful week. Please note that none of this stuff is mine, I am just keeping the fun going 🙂

Grounded

A massive beauty for Becca’s Sunday Trees.The lady gives a perspective of size.

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“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky, we fell them down and turn them into paper, that we may record our emptiness.” Khalil Gibran

When the Calling Calls

When the Calling Calls

Words 100

Skipping along the road of life she halted. Her eyes sparkled.

Don’t go down that road, they warned, it is a dead end.

Others said it was tricky treacherous path.

A one-way road to hell.

Quicksand that engulfs and suffocates you.

What rubbish! She tossed her mane and scoffed at the naysayers. You are such scaredy-cats and so darn negative.

We are realists, they claimed, and you but a babe in the woods. You know nothing of life, of sweat, blood, the struggle, the agony…

Perhaps, she laced her shoes, heaved her rucksack, but you can’t see what I can.

***

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

Well did you see what I saw or was it too obscure? Do let me know!

Just 4 Fun #85

I am a bit late with my weekly fun post – been having too much on my own 😀

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A lovely message don’t you think? Let’s see what else I have for you this week but I have to confess my personal resources are dwindling. You think people are less into whatsapping than before? Or their quota is drying up? No way – actually most forwards these days are videos and I don’t even have time to see them all!

A reality I’m afraid and there was one very entertaining video about a guy whose phone battery dies and he initiates a conversation with a lady about her teen and turns out she is his wife and the boy his son 😉

WAblind But I can’t help wondering can they see the screen in such bright sunshine?

Heights of internet addiction…..

At a funeral in church:

A visitor: What’s the WiFi password here?

Priest: Respect the dead.

Visitor: All small letters?

***

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Err by swiping from left to right or right to left as the case may be 😀

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All batteries in the pocket 😀 Thankfully they didnt ask about the power cable 😉

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How many of you know what that brown thing is? Go on, dont be shy, raise your hands and type it out – bindaas 😀

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A couple of more works of anti-gravity art works

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Super cool eh?

Ending today’s belated offering with a couple of quick jokes.

I went to a restaurant. It was full; no place to sit…

I took out my mobile, placed it to my ear and said loudly – “Bhabhi come fast, he’s here with someone else…”

Sixteen couples ran away…

***

BBC organized (maybe BBC did or did not – just dont hang the messenger!) a contest where contestants were challenged to write something such that

Feelings of *suspense, curiosity, apprehension, peace, tranquility, anger, violence, anxiety, pleasantness and happiness* are expressed in one short sentence.

The winning entry:

*My wife is not talking*

Umm works just as well with the spouse reversed dont you think?

That’s all folks! Do let me know your favorite and thank you for visiting. And as usual none of this stuff is mine, I’m just keeping the fun going 🙂

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Feet of Clay

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A Rough Draft

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When the Calling Calls

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