Thank you
Hacked,
slashed
mangled
twisted,
crushed
maimed.
But
what you don’t get
is that you
have only made
me stronger.
For Becca’s Sunday Trees – 297
Still Standing
Author: Dahlia
Email me at mysilverstreaks@gmail.com or tweet me @mysilverstreaks
The Sneaky Ways of Fate
The Sneaky Ways of Fate
Words 102
The train chugged out of the station. He tried to the quell butterflies in his stomach, an alien city, an unfamiliar language. Jobless in Kolkata, fate had offered him a job in Delhi he had grabbed it.
In another part of the country, hectic preparations were on to send her to college.
Tonight, they would take the train to Agra.
Fate blinked. Oops! Her destiny was in Delhi.
“A telegram,” father said, “confirming admission in a Delhi college.”
Fate sighed. Her job was done.
Same city.
Same campus.
Time would lead them to Room 4027.
Biology and chemistry would do the rest.
***
Footnote: The numbers triggered this piece.
Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and to Kent Bonham for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by the prompt click here.
Thank you for visiting – have a super week 🙂
SPF: Accursed
Accursed
Words 202
“That house looks eerie.” I said.
“It is haunted.” The villager touched his ears and backed away.
“Really? What happened?” I was intrigued.
“All because of one woman. Curse them all.” He spat.
“Tell me in detail Chachaji.” I offered him a cigarette. He settled himself comfortably on his haunches. He took a deep drag. “Two brothers lived here, Suresh and Ramesh. When Suresh was about 10 years old, they lost their parents. Suresh cared for Ramesh like a son. He refused to get married for fear that his wife may not accept Ramesh. They were model exemplary brothers.”
“Then?” I asked.
“Like any responsible father, Suresh arranged Ramesh’s marriage. Everything was perfect until she was caught.”
“Caught?”
“Caught seducing Suresh.”
“No!”
“She was of course killed on the spot.”
“And Suresh?”
“Suresh’s blameless! His reputation spotless, character impeccable.”
“Why did they leave?”
“The brothers fell out. Accidents happened.” He lowered his voice. “Her ghost forced them to leave.”
“Ghost!”
“Denied entry to even hell, she haunts that house.”
“Suresh may…?”
“She should’ve handled him better. Men are like little children. She has the power to manipulate and incite them. Mark my words, women are at the root of all evil.”
***
Written for the Sunday Photo Fictioneer – a story in 200 words or less. Thanks to Alistair Forbes for hosting the challenge and Mike Vore for the photo. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.
Thanks for reading – would love to hear your thoughts and reactions 🙂
For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 158
COB: Some Cute Stuff
Hola friends, it’s been a while since I participated in Cee’s Oddball Photo Challenge but worry not, I have been hard at work all this while 😉
Hope you like them as much as I do.
Cock-a-doodle-do! Now that you are wide awake, let’s see what else is in my kitty.
A designer rug – err oops a designer kitty 😀
These two were having an important family discussion about their daughter’s upcoming wedding arrangements when my friend Svkuki Rekha (apologies to both – I plead old age) snapped them.
Moving on to bigger things, a huge bronze statue of Lord Shiva’s Nandi the Bull in eternal repose. I am not quite sure about the other one but it appears to have Greek overtones. What do you think?
Such a cute owl – loved the toes and the bow. Lovely color combination too! What say you?
That’s me signing off for the day 😛
So which one is your favorite?
Do let me know – thanks for visiting and have a super day 🙂
For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 157
In the Stillness of the Night
All day long
I wait for
darkness to fall,
for them to slip into
the folds of my sleeves
and doze off.
Alone
I
begin
the
search
for
myself.
For Becca’s Sunday Trees – 296
CB&W: Touch Wood
Yohoo I am back with my photo features – touch wood! Yep that’s the theme for this week’s BW challenge hosted by Cee. Okay fine – Things made with Wood. So come join me on my hunt for woody stuff 😀
A makeshift ladder for monkeys – can you spot them?
and bears. I would’ve loved to see it climb up 😀 I wonder what that barrel is for? Vat 69 perhaps 😉
Moving on, we come to boats. Not any ordinary boat but ones used by Vikings on their quest to fulfill their adventurous spirits 😀
They used these tools to aid them in their boat building tasks.
Boats carry people over water while this carries people over land. Mostly rich people or brides – the first time she goes to her new home in a palki, veiled and decorated.
Next we have two painted wooden tortoises. The black one is my favorite – which one is yours?
A hanging owl with its unblinking gaze trained right at you 😀
Another owl with fine craftsmanship – yep my favorite. Yours?
Protected: And They Lived Happily Ever After
SPF: Look Within
Look Within
Words 194
“What’s the matter?” Madhu asked. “Had a tiff with your hubby?”
“When don’t I?” Trupti kicked a pebble, “All he thinks about is work and money.”
Madhu hesitated. “Perhaps you should…”
“Not you too!” Trupti groaned. “Have a baby and everything will be fine!”
“Perhaps you should learn to appreciate him.” Madhu advised. “Raghu’s a nice boy, steady, decent, doesn’t smoke or…”
“The perfect matrimonial catch.” Trupti sneered.
“Was there someone else?” A sudden doubt assailed Madhu.
“I don’t get this marriage business. Why can’t we lead our own lives, the way we want to?”
“Because each of us is incomplete.” Madhu said. “See that wall?”
“You should see it in spring, it turns orange…”
“Ever wonder why the creeper grows up?”
“To avoid getting trampled or munched up?”
“Not just security but also the space to showcase herself.”
“Yeah right!” Trupti scoffed.
“It’s there,” Madhu pointed out. “It’s up to her to utilize it.”
“What does he get?”
“She’s the wall’s raison d’etre, and also gives it stability and keeps it grounded.”
“But are they happy?”
“Nobody else can make you happy. You have to teach yourself to be happy, to be content.”
***
Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less. Thanks to Alistair Forbes for the photo and hosting the challenge. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt, click here.
For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 155
Miscarriage
“Next!” The judge banged his gavel.
A grubby girl barely out of her teens was led in.
“What’s the charge?” the judge peered at her over his spectacles.
“She is guilty of killing her own child your honor.”
“Is this true?”
“No, no,” the girl wept, “it’s not my fault.”
“It is entirely her fault your honor.”
“No! It isn’t! I didn’t even know I was pregnant.” She pleaded.
“Do you deny you had a baby?” the judge asked.
“No.”
“But you didn’t know you were pregnant?” The judge said.
“I didn’t! I had severe stomach pains and then there was blood….”
“Lies your honor, all lies.” The lawyer thundered.
“Silence! Where’s the father?” asked the judge.
“I don’t know.” She whispered. “I was raped.”
“Is that why you killed your baby?” The judge said.
“I didn’t kill it.” she insisted. “They said it was premature labor, a miscarriage…”
“Miscarriage! She murdered her own child, an innocent baby and threw it into the garbage. The proof is on your table your honor.” The lawyer said. “This is murder most heinous, your honor and deserves the highest punishment.”
“It’s not my fault.” She shrieked.
The judged banged the gavel. “Silence in the court! There is incontrovertible proof of guilt. You are a murderer worse, of your own child. And for that you are sentenced to 30 years in prison.”
***
Based on a true story published on 7th July 2017. My nerves have been jangling ever since.
Stumped
Stumped
Words: I plead guilty
“Why did you call the office landline?” She kicked off her heels.
“You weren’t picking your mobile…” He straightened the penguin.
“I was in an important meeting…!” Her bag was next.
“It was a question of our son’s future.” He fiddled with the pen stand.
“What if you were in a meeting? Would you also have left it?”
“Of course! I know my priorities.”
“Then why didn’t you check the admission papers before leaving?”
“Why didn’t you?”
“If I have to do everything, what will you do?”
“Put the blame on you.” He grinned.
“Very smart.” She seethed.
“I am glad you agree.” He smirked.
“I wonder you can say that after today’s fiasco.”
“I am not such a fool as you.”
“Are you calling me the fool?” She clenched her fists.
“I chose you. You chose me. So who’s the fool?”
***
A/N I overshot the word limit heavily but with a purpose – a bit of any experiment really. And I would appreciate your help. It’s about the dialogue tag. I used the first one (she kicked off her heels) to denote who’s speaking. And then I felt like adding a few more and ultimately went overboard. But I am not sure if they worked or not. In fact I think it didnt add, perhaps even detracted. But this is something that I have been wrestling with. Also is it okay to use just one dialogue tag? Wouldnt it have looked odd? Questions, questions and I am quite stumped 😉
What do you think? Could I request you to read it again minus the dialogue tags and let me know your thoughts? But I understand that you may be too busy. Thanks a lot for visiting – have a great day 🙂
Stumped
“Why did you call the office landline?” She kicked off her heels.
“You weren’t picking your mobile…”
“I was in an important meeting…!”
“It was a question of our son’s future.”
“What if you were in a meeting? Would you also have left it?”
“Of course! I know my priorities.”
“Then why didn’t you check the admission papers before leaving?”
“Why didn’t you?”
“If I have to do everything, what will you do?”
“Put the blame on you.”
“Very smart.”
“I am glad you agree.”
“I wonder you can say that after today’s fiasco.”
“I am not such a fool as you.”
“Are you calling me the fool
“I chose you. You chose me. So who’s the fool?”
***
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and Claire Sheldon for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.
For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 154
Thanks for visiting, have a great day 🙂
Stories and more 