Category: Flash Fiction

 

How Heaven Saved Us

Words 194

“What’s the report from residents on the Earth prototype?”

“Excellent. They think it’s heavenly. I deeply regret the self-destruct program.”

“How long is our Heaven going to last?”

“Heaven is self-sustaining for a hundred years.”

“Good, but why so many Heavens? Weren’t you supposed to build just one?”

“I wanted to provide shelter to as many citizens as possible.”

“Focus on one. Don’t waste money…”

“Money! The Earth is going to blow up once the comet crashes into it.”

“You don’t understand. This is our chance to begin again, choose our fellow companions. Get rid of the riff-raff.”

“But…”

“Even we are allowed only one other person.”

“Choose one person!”

“Sacrifices have to be made in the interests of the future.”

“Meaning?”

“My wife is old. Young blood is needed to create a new generation.”

“Your son or your daughter?”

“The model Tatiana.”

“Not your beloved daughter?”

“She’s married. She is her husband’s responsibility.”

“And your son?”

“He is Captain of Heaven.”

“But…but am I not the Captain?”

“You have done a great job. You have labored long and hard. You deserve a rest. A nice long rest.”

We’ll see who gets to rest.

***

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

Thank you for reading – look forward to your comments and suggestions. I am traveling this weekend and hence may not be around to visit as much as usual. Hope you all have a super weekend.

 

The Chair

 Words 93

 “That’s my chair.”

“It’s time you passed on the baton.”

“There is nobody capable enough.”

“It’s our job to groom them. Make them able.”

“If I leave, the whole system will collapse.”

“Don’t kid yourself. Nobody is indispensable.”

“Nobody has as much experience as I do.”

“A new person will bring in fresh ideas, perspectives and vision.”

“That should be applicable for your chair as well.”

“How dare you!”

“The Minister’s new son-in-law is a good friend of my son.”

“I will see what can be done about creating another chair for you.”

***

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

Thank you for reading – look forward to your comments and suggestions.

For IPK fans and readers of SS - the final part of A Tangled Web is up

Mired

Words 195

He rocked on his heels as he took in the picturesque scene.

Not a blade, not a ripple out of place – just the way he liked it. Streamers and balloons heralded his arrival but what he liked best was the trumpets blaring his entry. He frowned, he would have to make it clear, he didn’t much care for the pink stuff – he was after all a man.

He squinted into the distance – what an eyesore!

“Hey you! Get out of the way. Can’t you see Me coming?”

“Go on ahead. I am not in your way am I?”

“You bother me just by being! Get the hell out of here.”

“How would you manage without me?”

“Huh! Are you crazy? What do you do – except clutter the place?”

“To me it looks as if you are the one blocking the path…”

“You…you nobody! How dare you speak to me like this? Don’t you know who I am? With just a twitch I can blow you out of existence.”

She snickered. “Sure you can.”

“Are you challenging ME?”

“Chicken.” She thumbed her nose at him.

“How dare you? Charge!”

Smirking, she edged towards the riverbank.

***

Written for Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less. Thanks to Alistair Forbes for hosting and C.E.Ayr for the photo. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here

Thanks for reading – do leave me a note 🙂

 

This is my entry to the flash fiction challenge What Pegman Saw inspired by any view of a given location on Google maps. The challenge is to write a story in 150 words or less.This week’s location is of Buffalo N.Y. suggested by Y. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here

To see the location Google maps, click here

Why on Earth!

Words 142

As I walked down the street, the roads lengthened, elongated, stretched and merged. Rows and rows of houses and not a person in sight.

Would I die of thirst in a foreign country?

Dare I knock on a door?

Where oh where did the one with streaked hair live? Surely she would spare me some…

I stilled.

Mesmerized I rubbed my eyes.

A clear blue lake with the faintest of ripples encased by the greenest of greens.

Parched, I stepped forward only to draw back in fright. Whoosh!

A massive black apparition emerged from the waters.

Shaking off the droplets and turning its curly horned head, the buffalo grinned at me, flapped its wings and took off into the sky.

Hmm, not a particularly graceful ascent, but definitely an interesting piece with a lot of movement, I thought just as I woke.

***

Thanks for reading – look forward to your reactions.

The Last Bastion

Words 102

“Wow!” Suresh stared at the gleaming vintage car, quite out of place in the rustic surroundings.

“Maharaja Pratap Chand’s car.” The decrepit grandson reclined on a charpoy under a tree.

“A goldmine Grandpa! If you sell it, our family fortunes will take a turn for the better.”

“We won’t sell the last symbol of our Royal heritage.”

“Of what use are symbols if we are dead?”

Grandpa pulled at his hookah.

“Would you consider renting it?”

“We, of royal families, don0t dabble in petty businesses.”

“The film industry would give good money.”

“If they need it, they may borrow it. For free.”

***

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

Thanks for reading – would love to hear from you 🙂

Ill-timed

Words 198

“Must you go?”

“What a question?” Professor Ray was incredulous. “After all these years don’t you know that I always honor my commitments?”

“Even at the cost of your wife’s life?”

“Now don’t be so melodramatic Madhu. It’s just a broken arm.”

“How will I manage alone?”

“Ask the maid to stay.”

“They haven’t even sent you the tickets like they usually do.” Madhu pointed out.

“The invitation letter clearly mentions all travel expenses and local hospitality will be borne by them.”

“It’s not like you have to catch the local train! You have to go to a different country. They should have sent you the tickets.”

“Roberts is an old friend. I have been to many conferences organized by him. Tickets or reimbursement have never been an issue.”

“But still you should confirm with him. It’s not a small amount.”

“What should I say? Show me the money first? I am academician not a businessman.”

“Surely there are other ways to ask?”

“Stop fussing!” Ray overruled Madhu’s objections and left for the conference.

 

“Roberts,” Ray called him from the hotel, “I am here for your conference. Have you changed the venue?”

“Conference? But that is next year.”

***

Written for Alistair Forbes Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt, click here

 Thanks for reading – have you ever mixed up dates? 😀

 

Dead End

Words 95

She cries.

It’s a girl.

Toddling and lisping, she brings cheer.

Cracking school and college collecting degrees, trophies and hearts.

Job in hand, hunt begins for the one who would ‘let’ her serve and nurture his family.

But wait – was she tall slim and fair?

With a long plait, a fat bank balance?

That would be her ticket to a baby or two or as many as it took for a boy or two.

Straddling office and home she is saddled with strictures; failures are hers achievers are his.

It’s a girl.

She cries.

***

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

Masked

Words 201

“Isn’t she tall?” Lakhishree nudged her granddaughter at the airport.

Towering over the crowd, she was a kaleidoscope of colors. Blue jeans, red shoes and a multicolored woolen cap complete with a green pompom jammed over her shoulder length dark blonde hair. Any color missing from the ensemble was taken care of in the muffler draped around her neck. At the counter she fiddled with her unruly hair. Armed with the boarding pass, she turned.

Gia giggled. “She’s a he!”

Obviously a foreigner, he sported a day’s stubble and a toothbrush mustache.

Lakhishree sniffed.

They ran into him again at the coffee shop.

“He’s cute.” Gia said.

“Shush! He’ll hear you.” Lakhishree looked at him critically. “Looks like an out and out junkie.” She spoke in Bengali. “Stay away from him.”

“What!” Gia was flabbergasted. “I was just looking.”

“Well don’t. Who knows…?”

“Relax Granny!”

“Come, let’s go.” Lakhishree hustled Gia.

“Excuse me Madam,” it was the cute junkie, “you dropped your boarding card.”

Mumbling ‘thanks,’ Lakhishree snatched it.

Gia smiled at him.

“Hello.” He smiled back. “I have to confess,” He coughed, “I am a coffee addict.”

With a wink, he loped off.

His Bengali was only slightly accented.

 ***

Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction, a story in 200 words or less, hosted by Alistair Forbes. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here

Thanks for reading – any comments?

An Inconvenient Death

 Words 100

 “Where’s my breakfast?”

“Coming!”

A crash.

A wail.

“Forget it.” Bhushan grabbed an apple.

Dangling a toddler, she thrust his lunch box. “Best of luck!”

Dashing out, Bhushan hailed an auto. He wanted to catch the earlier train.

He couldn’t afford to be late, not today.

Pushing and shoving through the broiling jostling crowd, Bhushan boarded the Mumbai local.

He wiped the sweat off his brow and loosened the tie.

Did everyone have appraisal today?

The train lurched to a halt.

Babel broke out.

“What the hell?”

“Guy jumped in front of train.”

“Is this any time to commit suicide?”

***

Note: Based on a true incident narrated by a friend.

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

Thanks for reading – look forward to your comments and critiques

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 113 and Calvin and Hobbes