Category: Author note

Hello everyone! Welcome to another edition of Rochelle’s party of Friday Fictioneers. Sorry to have missed last week’s challenge as I was traveling. The travel bug seems to have really caught me – i can’t even think of stories that aren’t travel bound 😀

This week’s story is a true incident revived by the photo kindly provided by David Stewart. Thank you Rochelle, thank you David. If you want to join the fun click here

Travel Tales

Words 100

Yes!

Triumphant, I sank into my seat, easy-peasy. My first solo train travel from Delhi to Mumbai.

As our train chugged out, I broke into a sweat.

What if I had boarded the train going to Kolkata instead of Mumbai?

I couldn’t very well stick out my head to check the train number.

Should I ask my fellow passenger?

How embarrassing!

The pantry guy arrived to ask my dinner preference. With studied nonchalance I asked, “What is the next station?”

“Kota.”

Was that on the Mumbai or Kolkata side?

“Ratlam.”

If only I had studied geography.

“Vadodra, Surat, Mumbai Central.”

***

Thank you for visiting, hope you have a great weekend.

For anyone interested, Chapter 12 of Some Sugar & Spice is up.

Another week coming to an end and it’s time for Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words. This week the photo is provided by Roger Bultot. If you want to read the other stories inspired by this prompt, click here

Traveler’s Couch

Words 100

“Hey Bud, look at this picture. Isn’t this where we had dinner while on a trip to…what was the name of the place?” Jo scratched her head.

Bud rolled his eyes. “Not again.”

“Seriously. Check it out.” She thrust the photo under his nose.

Grumbling, he adjusted his glasses and frowned. “I can’t remember…”

“How can you not remember their biryani?” Jo gave a dreamy sigh, “we were having dinner at this restaurant overlooking the lake, there were fireworks and this lovely couple was showing us around the place…”

“That was a travel vlogger on a trip to Sri Lanka.”

***

Thank you for visiting and leaving me a note. I will be along soon.

For anyone interested, Chapter 11 of Some Sugar & Spice is up.

Haibun is my personal favorite form of writing which i aspire to but struggle to even draft. Here is one which was kindly accepted for publication in November 2024.

Thank you for visiting, do share your thoughts and comments. Have a great day.

For anyone interested, Chapter 10 of Some Sugar & Spice is up.

It’s Friday Fictioneer time and playing to Rochelle’s tunes here’s my offering for this week inspired by a photo kindly shared by Dale Rogerson. To read or join the fun, click here. Thank you Rochelle and Dale.

Winter Twilight

Words 100

She loved her rocking chair. Kept on the porch, it was her peace patch, her escape whenever she wanted a break from life. Or enjoy. Angled with her face in the shade, her feet in the sun, she would rock back and forth chatting with friends, sister or mother.

Or simply look at the sun, the clouds, sighing with the breeze, dozing off to the chirps of black and white birds that hopped here and there.

Today, her companion and solace was to be incinerated.

A tear slipped down her cheek as she struggled to sit up on the bed.

***

Thank you for visiting. I will be along shortly to visit your blog as well. Have a great weekend.

For anyone interested, Chapter 9 of Some Sugar & Spice is up.

Hello and welcome to this week’s Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words hosted by Rochelle based on a photo prompt kindly provided by Lisa Fox. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt or join in click here. Many thanks to Rochelle and Lisa.

The Merry-go-round of Life

Words 100

Starry-eyed, she clung to his arm, looking this way and that.

“That one!” She pointed. “And that. And…”

Seeing her excitement, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Whatever. I am game. But be sure about your choices. Don’t do something you might regret later.”

But she shrugged off his words of caution. Everything was so new and tempting. She didn’t want to miss any of it.

Half-way through, dizziness set in and she wanted out. “Stop it.” She pleaded. “I want to get off.”

“But darling,” his voice was a soft whisper, “I thought you knew. This is a one-way ride.”

***

In my defense, at first glance, it looked like an amusement park. Anyway i am still not quite sure what it is. Thank you for visiting. Looking forward to visiting yours. Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend.

For anyone interested, Chapter 8 of Some Sugar & Spice is up.

Hello, hope you are doing fine. It’s been a while i think since i posted any of my published poems. So here i am with a tanka, which is my preferred form as the two extra lines allow a greater scope for storytelling. I would love to know what you think of it.

Well, don’t be shy, say something. Hope you have a grand day ahead.

For anyone interested, Chapter 7 of Some Sugar & Spice is up.

Hello! I am a bit late to the party as I was traveling. Will be soon along to read your entries to this week’s Friday Fictioneers 100 word story challenge hosted by Rochelle based on the photo kindly provided by Ken Arnopole (friend of Ted Strutz). Thanks!

Gobsmacked

Words 100

“Good food.” The eldest of their guests conceded. “Although being a diabetic, I don’t usually take potatoes. The fish was tasty but,” he gave a laugh, “our son prefers mutton.”

“Rajma, though needing some salt, is his favorite,” his wife rushed in, “I rarely make it as it doesn’t suit us.”

If only you had informed us of your arrival.

If only you had informed your meal preferences.

 If only you hadn’t come and robbed me of my Sunday.

Reena bit her tongue and smiled. “Thanks. Being hypertensives, I thought you might be on a salt and meat restricted diet.”

***

Thanks for visiting and look forward to reading your share of guest woes.

For anyone interested, Chapter 6 of Some Sugar & Spice is up.

Hello, hello and many more hellos for all the days, weeks, months, and year plus that i have been AWOL. And my apologies too.

The primary reason was that i had nothing to write about. It was a complete block. And it’s not that the dam has suddenly burst (Oh those were the days) and i will be flooding you with daily stories – long and short. Nothing of that sort. In fact i have been struggling for the past few weeks to make a re-appearance with a bang. But hitting a dead end, i dropped in to say hello and give an update.

Especially to readers of Silver Streaks, who are probably the only ones who have been waiting and sending mails. Again my apologies. For the most recent mails, i have already sent the password. For those who havent received the mail and are still interested, please send an email to mysilverstreaks@gmail.com. Also, sorry to disappoint all those who are/were waiting for an extension of Season 2, i am afraid i am not inspired enough to follow that path. But who knows if readers can ignite that spark with their comments, views, perspectives then i am more than game!

Moving on, in other news, i have now ventured into poetry! And published as well. Truth is stranger than fiction. So until the fiction lights are turned on, i plan to share my published poems and perhaps even unpublished poems – who else will read them, right?

On that note, i take my leave for today with my first publication:

Yup, that’s me. And that’s it from me today. Looking forward to your hellos and updates.

A rather belated Happy 2025 to everyone.