Author: Dahlia

Written for Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less based on the photo prompt provided this week by Vijaya – Thanks Rochelle, thanks Vijaya 🙂 For remarkable stories on this prompt click here.

2084

Words 99

Diwali celebrations were on. Only Om’s house was dark.

Vidya paced the terrace. She didn’t have time to mourn his passing. She had other things on her mind – would the years of experimentation pay off? Had they achieved that elusive fusion of ultramodern technology and ancient mind control?

Vidya pressed the amplification button implanted in her wrist and concentrated.

Nothing.

Foreboding assailed her. What if they had again miscalculated? Would Om go Dev’s way?

Focus dammit focus!

Her wrist throbbed.

The button vibrated emitting waves in Om’s distinctive handwriting – Netherworld cooler than Delhi. No pollution either. Dev says Hi.

***

 Do drop in for a glimpse of Nature and for a bit of fun

Thanks for visiting.

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Coat of Arms

Words: 200

 “Chanda! Chandaaa! Where’s that dratted girl?” grumbled Chandni as she stirred the pot. “Always reading some book or the other.”

“If you could read, you would understand the pleasures of reading,” said Ramesh.

“Yes Mother?” Chanda hid the book behind her back with a guilty look at her mother.

Chandni shot her an exasperated look. “Do you think I am blind? That I can’t see the book you are hiding?”

“You should be proud of her.” Ramesh said. “How many girls in the village can read English?”

“Don’t you encourage her,” snorted Chandni. “She is bad enough with her obsession not to mention questions.”

“Questions?” Ramesh looked from one to the other.

“Yes! Questions!” Chandni flared up, “You are either busy at the tailoring shop or with your friends. I am the one she nags with her questions.” She looked at Chanda. “Go on. Ask your father.”

Chanda promptly sat down on the floor and asked, “What is the ‘Royal coat of arms’ Father?”

Ramesh coughed. “What’s the sentence?”

Chanda rifled through the pages. “The cloak fell away and he caught a glimpse of the Royal coat of arms.”

“It’s a special coat worn by Kings. It has long sleeves.”

***

Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less. For more stories on the photo prompt click here.

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 81. And do check out the Eye on the Tree photo challenge post as well - thank you!

Written for Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less based on the photo prompt provided this week by Georgia Koch. Thank you Rochelle and Georgia.

For other stories on this prompt click here

The Stowaway

Words 102

“Accept it darling,” he said, “my time’s up.”

“What about me?” she held his hand in a death grip.

He smiled. “Your boat is yet to dock. I’ll just go on ahead and arrange things…”

“No!” she flared up. “I don’t like your ‘arrangements’. Remember how you messed up the kitchen?”

“But you loved redoing it.”

A tear rolled down her cheek.

“I thought you believed in destiny? That we are married for seven lives?”*

“I need to buy medicines.” She dashed across the busy street.

Impatient (and skeptical), she thought it prudent to give fate a helping hand.

—

*According to Hinduism, marriage between a couple is not limited to this life only, it extends to seven or more lives.

A Fatherly Lesson

Words 195

“You don’t want to go to school?” Hariya shook Ramu, his 8-year-old son. “You want to play in the jungle all day?”

Ramu nodded.

Enraged, Hariya dragged him into the jungle. “Then stay with the animals and ghosts of the jungle.” Hariya walked away.

Ramu explored the jungle to his heart’s content but it wasn’t much fun without his friends. Plus he was hungry. He decided to return home, but to his despair, he couldn’t find his way out. “Amma! Babuji!” Ramu screamed loud and long but no one came.

Darkness fell abruptly and closed in on him. Fear gripped him. He ran to the lone lamp and looked around in dread at the shadows hovering over him. He clung to the lamppost and held on for dear life. Then the unthinkable happened. The bulb flickered and died. Darkness engulfed him, threatening, choking, strangling, “Amma! Babuji! Where are you? Please take me home. I promise I will always go to school.” The wind howled and the trees swayed. Leaves blew into his face. Terrified, Ramu bolted but something held him back.

He opened his mouth in a soundless scream and collapsed in a dead faint.

***

 Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less.

Note: Unfortunately, the above narrative is not completely imaginary. Recently there were reports of a 7-year-old boy being abandoned near a bear infested jungle by his father as a punishment for misbehavior. Fortunately, the police rescued him after a week of intense search. But another 12-year-old boy wasn’t as lucky as his father stabbed him to death for not studying for a school exam.

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 79 along with Hobbes having  fun at Calvin's expense :D