Doesn’t she look like an old lady who is hiding behind her ghunghat (veil)? Probably inspired by the ghunghat culture prevalent in Rajasthan where this picture was taken. 😉
Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees
Author: Dahlia
Email me at mysilverstreaks@gmail.com or tweet me @mysilverstreaks
Redrawing Battle Lines
Redrawing Battle Lines
Words 100
“Hello Guddu,” Khushi helped her son down from the bus, “how was school?”
“What’s for lunch?” He asked his favorite question.
“Chicken curry and rice.” She pulled him into a quick cuddle.
“Ma’am said we shouldn’t eat meat.”
Khushi sighed. Another battle.
“But darling you need your proteins. How else will you grow as tall and strong as your father?”
“Animals have feelings too. They hurt when…”
“Okay fine,” Khushi capitulated, “so you’re fine with no Maggi, no chocolates…?”
“No Maggi?”
Khushi shrugged. “Plants have feelings too.”
“I don’t want rice and chicken.” Guddu insisted. “I want a chicken burger.”
***
Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt, click here.
Thanks for reading! If you like you can read my other Friday Fictioneer stories here – indexed, with snippets/teasers and color-coded recommendations 😀
WPC: A Loving Family
The Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge is dearly beloved. I was rather stumped until I remembered capturing a precious family which would nicely fit this challenge.
No! The focus is not on the tree (not this time at least 😀 but on the residents. Well did you see them?
Mamma nurses her precious baby while she chomps on some ill-gotten gains from some generous (or hapless) visitor.
Fed, the little one emerges from her mother’s arms while they continue to gossip. The other lady looks a bit displeased at her friend’s poor hospitality skills – but then she’s nursing – she consoles herself. Don’t miss the tail. Even the baby’s tail is longer than it!
At another place, two friends sit in silent contemplation of man’s vagaries and idiosyncrasies.
The entire family obligingly posed for a group photo against a spectacular background. But they had their conditions – only the right profile please 😉
These photos were taken at the Chittorgarh fort near the Vijay Stambh. As a bonus I am re-sharing the langurs captured at the Amer Fort, in Jaipur a couple of years ago.
Waylaying unsuspecting visitors
inspecting the confiscated goods before starting of on yet another raid 😀
That’s it from me for this challenge – do share your thoughts 🙂
CFFC: Exciting Stuff
Cee’s Fun Foto challenges are always very exciting and this week it is doubly so because it is of any word with X in it or the X shape in the picture.
So are you game?
I was terribly excited to see this bird especially when it allowed me to come close enough to click a pic with my phone. Hmm you don’t buy it do you?
I loved the texture of the nude walls.
The purple pansy in the middle that is looks like an X doesnt it? Well that’s my story and I’m sticking to it 😉
Lots of X’s there, although the handwriting may not be up to the mark! 😀
A musician with his ektara (I think!) a one-stringed instrument making a perfect X
An ox taking a morning walk through the busy streets of Mt Abu. Don’t miss the tongue sticking out – probably drooling at the thought of breakfast 😀
Here’s a test – how many X’s can you count? 😀
Isn’t that a massive X?
As they say, be careful of what you ask for you may get it 😀
The orange trumpet creeper or Brazilian flame vine Pyrostegia venusta (gosh look at all those precious alphabets – U Y and Z!) that has been firmly fixed to the rod to make a pretty little umbrella. Darn it I should have kept this for the next challenge or two… 😉
So which one is your favorite? Now don’t tell me not a single one? If you don’t say anything that’s what I shall assume and be very sad. Now you dont want me to be sad do you?
CB&W: Of Walls From Another Era
Cee’s Black and White photo challenge is about Walls – Indoors and Outdoors and this time I am quite spoilt for choice. Nothing but walls in my kitty but fear not I won’t drive you up the wall with too extensive a selection 😀
This is not actually from another era but recently built in honor of Maharana Pratap (9 May 1540 – January 1597) a popular Rajput King of Mewar or modern day Rajasthan in Udaipur.
The inner wall of the Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan
Entry to the Chittorgarh Fort for horses
The outer walls of a temple with intricate carvings built in the 16th Century.
Another angle of the temple with intricate carvings.
Most, if not all of the human figurines have been painstakingly damaged and trashed by the invaders of those times. They took what they could and destroyed what they couldn’t. But still their beauty shines through.
Another temple, another wall, another tragedy and another triumph.
There were so many wall carvings and sculptures that I am quite bedazzled and befuddled which to display and which to keep for anther day.
I end this series with a picture of the Bagore ki Haveli at Udaipur flicked from my son’s collection (psst plijj dont tell him!). Last year he had visited Udaipur which inspired us to visit it this year. But unfortunately despite active efforts due to various reasons we couldnt visit this particular fort. Much to our absent son’s delight 😀
Hope you liked! Thanks for visiting and look forward to your comments 🙂
PS. I had a tough time editing and posting pictures for this series. No matter where the photo is stored, it always opens in my browser and I find it difficult to edit there. Any suggestions on what settings to change for the open is set to Firefox (default) but earlier I could view and edit on my screen without any browser. It doesnt help if I turn off the internet either 😦 Any help, suggestions?
SPF: Turning the Tables
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.
There 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, closed and designer windows. City Palace from the outside
A 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.
An elongated window to look out but not be seen – a common motif in most windows, although shapes and designs may differ.
A square window.
Another view of the world. Beautiful workmanship no doubt but may give a sense of being imprisoned don’t you think?
Ahh a breath of fresh air and uninterrupted view of the world of windows from a window 😀
There were open windows overlooking the city of Udaipur, or
Enjoy the serene calm waters of Lake Pichola.
A view of the fine meshed windows and the colorful shrubbery was an added bonus.
And 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
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?
Quite 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? 😉
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.
A vibrant cloudless blue sky at Lucerne.
A deserted cafe with vacant chairs at the corner of a busy marketplace in Delhi – a rarity I assure you. Perhaps we were too early.
A vibrant, vivacious Sahasradhara (thousand streams) amidst verdant surroundings.
A deserted stairway at a hotel. Hopefully, the vermilion colored fire extinguisher will never be required to be actually used.
Can you not vividly see the bright chattering vivacious little girl who must have thrown off her new shoes to run up the temple stairs?
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!
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