Category: Flash Fiction

The New Age Fairy Tale

Words 200

“Tulika! Don’t be a fool! Come away from the ledge.” Naina urged.

“Aakash dumped me. I flunked my exams.” Tulika wept.

“So what? You can try again!”

“It’s all over for me. But you won’t understand. You are brilliant.”

“Really?”

“You cleared the Army Officer’s exam.”

“You don’t know anything about me or my journey. Would you like to know?”

Tulika nodded. Naina pulled her to safety.

“My husband died when I was expecting. My in-laws kicked me out.”

“No!”

“Homeless and unemployed, I contemplated ending my life. But I couldn’t afford to wallow in self-pity or wait for my knight in shining armor. I had to rebuild my life – for my son, for myself.

“Then?”

“I shifted to my parents. I took up a teaching job. But I wanted more. I zeroed in on the army.”

“But getting in is tough!”

“Nothing worthwhile is easy.”

“What about your son?”

“Mother took care of him. I would get up at 4 am for physical training before school. Evenings were for my son. And nights for studying.”

“You are brilliant.”

“I failed the entrance exams four times.”

Tulika was silent.

“Well?”

“I think we need to rewrite our fairy tales.”

***

Inspired by a true story

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

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 89 and Calvin

Daffodils

Words 200

“Good morning children. Take out your English Readers and turn to Page 5. Daffodils by…”

“Teacher, what are daffodils?”

“Flowers.”

“What kind of flowers? The red ones that bloom during Holi or…

“I wandered lonely as a cloud…”

“Teacher, why lonely? The other clouds would give it company?”

“We’ll discuss this later Molly.”

“Teacher! What are vales? And isn’t the spelling o’er wrong?

“No Molly. Poets are allowed to write like that.”

“That’s not fair!”

“Enough Molly. A host, of golden daffodils.”

“Host? Are they having a party? How can flowers host a party?”

“It’s not that kind of a host Molly. He means a lot of daffodils.”

Molly subsided. She loved stories. Where was the story here? Why say something but mean something else? How would one understand? What kind of flowers – red or yellow? Ten thousand flowers! She would have loved to see them tossing their heads in sprightly – aha a new word – dance.

“…pay attention Molly…the daffodils beat the sea in their dance of joy.

“But Teacher, that’s not the sea. It is a lake.”

“Hold out your hand! Now get out of class.”

“It’s still a lake.” Molly sniffed as she walked out.

***

PS: Oft this flashes upon my inward eye but I now know what daffodils look like – thanks to Sunday Photo Fiction 😀 Click here for other stories on this prompt

PPS: A partly fictionalized account of my first brush with poetry (not counting nursery rhymes). Opinionated and unimaginative, as an 8 year-old, I couldn’t really grasp the essence of the poem (can’t say much has changed since then). Yet strangely enough, that day is crystal clear – where I sat in class, the teacher, my thoughts (I didn’t say most of these things). I also remember being very skeptical about “Continuous as the stars that shine
  And twinkle on the milky way.” Flowers didn’t twinkle did they? The last stanza of the poem was (and remains) my favorite – been there, done (doing) that 😉

Corporal punishment was the norm in those days, at least in my first school. Apologies (bouquets, kudos and thanks) are due to my English teacher. She did mistake the lake as the sea. I did raise an objection. But she not only gracefully accepted her oversight but also publicly boosted my morale (and bighead) which could be the reason why that day is so clearly etched in my memory. 😀

Thank you for reading – do share your thoughts and memories of this poem or childhood.

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 88 and Calvin

 

Changeless

Words 100

 

Her wedding was around the corner. By all counts she should be thrilled. But worry gnawed at her.

“Mamma, why do girls have to leave their home?”

“That’s tradition.”

“Traditions can change.”

“What’s the matter darling? Wedding jitters?”

“No.”

“You do love…?”

“It’s not about me Mamma! How will you live alone?”

“Don’t worry darling. I will manage.”

“But how? It’s always been about me. My health, my education, my career -nothing is about you. Once I leave what will you do?”

“I’ll think of something.”

“Like?”

“Your father needs me.”

“You mean…?

“Yes darling. I will return to Earth.”

***

Written for Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Roger Bultot for the photo prompt this week. For other stories on this prompt click here

Thank you for reading – look forward to your comments.

View from the Top

Words 168

 Microphones were being thrust into his face, “How does it feel to have reached the top? To be where very few have ever been?”

Raj stared at himself onscreen. Were the thudding heart, the screaming nerves and the shakiness discernible?

He didn’t think so as he saw himself flash his famous crooked smile, raise his expensive shades with panache and wave to the hysterical milling crowd.

“Great. Just great.”

What would they have said if he had told them the truth? That he felt no joy in it. That he often wished he were still at the bottom of the ladder, his dreams and innocence intact?

“What message would you like to give to your fans?”

Cherish the little moments, call your mother, play with your children, choose your friends with care, eschew dark corners, treacherous turns and rotting boards. Most of all – beware of your own traitorous hand that rises to strike the fatal blow.

He pumped his fist in the air. “Just go for it!”

***

Written for Priceless Joy’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers – a story, in 100 – 175 words, based on the photo prompt. Thanks Joy Pixley for the photo 🙂 For more stories on this prompt click here.

Do let me know what you thought of the view from the top!

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 87 and Calvin - this scene may be familiar for many ;)

 

Time for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle – a story in 100 words or less. Please click here for more stories on the photo prompt provided this week by Shaktiki Sharma – thanks!

Incarcerated

 Words 101

 

Clang! The door grated.

Startled, Ramu descended from the clouds. He donned an industrious look and pored intently over his grueling task.

“Eat and go back to work. Don’t dawdle.”

“Yes Ma.”

“You need to study harder, do better.”

“I am trying.”

“Our debts are mounting. If you crack the entrance exams, all will be well.”

“But Ma…”

The door closed.

Silent, suffocating darkness engulfed him.

A lone lamp threw up gigantic shadows of the thick tomes strewn about. The weight of expectations bore down upon him, crushing him, choking him.

If only he could escape.

Somehow.

Anyhow.

Jump… Slit… Hang…

***

If you would like to know more, click here

For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 86 and hahahaha Calvin

 

Precious Games

 Word 175

“Rohit bought a diamond pendant for his fiancé.” Ruchi fiddled with her locket.

“Jealous?” Shlok mocked.

“Me! Jealous of…”

“You married the wrong guy. You knew I could never afford…”

“Where there is a will there is a way. If Rohit can afford…”

“Rohit’s father is a rich man. Mine isn’t.”

“Don’t you dare belittle Rohit’s thoughtful gesture.”

“So protective! I thought you were put out with Rohit?”

“Nonsense! I was just commenting…”

“To what purpose?”

“Does everything have to have a purpose? I was just trying to have a conversation…”

“Yeah right. I know a hint when I hear one.”

“Then why turn a deaf ear to it?”

“I dislike having my hand forced. Why not ask Rohit to buy….”

“I prefer that his father should buy me. Out of his own free will.”

“It could be a long wait.”

“If need be, I will wait until eternity.”

“Nagging, until eternity.” Shlok stroked his chin. “I am game. Are you?”

“But of course. The fun is in the game, not a piece of glass.”

***

Written for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers hosted by Priceless Joy with the photo prompt provided by Jade. Thank you Jade and thank you Joy. For other stories click here.

I am running terribly late, do let me know if this made any sense or it needs more work – thank you!

David vs Goliath

 Words 196

Raju hugged himself as he tagged along with his mother to work. May be today he would get to hold it, play with it.

“Sit. Don’t touch anything,” Kamla warned.

Raju searched the showcase. It wasn’t there! Without a care for his mother’s strictures, he scrambled forward and shuffled around.

“Raju!” Kamla came rushing. “Sorry Madam.” She thrust him away and rearranged the pieces.

Raju was devastated. He loved the toy soldier, happy to even look at it. Now it was lost.

Shifting, he caught sight of it under the sofa. Thrilled, he picked it up. His wish had been granted! Everything was perfect, his rifle….

“Mom! Raju is a thief!”

A shove sent Raju flying. He cracked his head against the wall. Angered, Raju flew at his attacker. “I am not a thief!”

Madam cuffed Raju. “Liar!”

Kamla shook Raju. “Were you stealing?”

“No.”

“Fine. Please clear my dues Madam.”

“Don’t be silly Kamla. Go and finish cooking…”

“I cannot work where we are not trusted.” Kamla walked out, dragging Raju.

“Raju, you should not have hit Rohit.” Kamla expostulated. “When will you learn to control yourself?”

“So you want me to be a hypocrite?”

***

Written for Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less based on the photo prompt given above. For other stories, click here

Thanks for reading (and commenting 😉  Do scroll down to the next post for some photos 🙂

“Your man died and you are washing clothes?”

Vimla’s tinkling glass bangles stilled. She straightened. “I sent the girls to pay their last respects.”

“But what about you? He was after all your man…”

“He stopped being my man the day he threw me and my four daughters out.” Vimla’s eyes shot sparks. “You expect me to mourn for him, don a widow’s attire, break these bangles? Why should I when my real man is still by my side?”

Babel broke out.

“My trusted companion,” Vimla pointed, “the one who clothed us, fed us and educated my daughters.”

 

Written for Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less (this one is 99 words). For other stories on this prompt click here. Thank you Sandra for the lovely photo 🙂

Thanks for reading!