Category: Flash Fiction
WPS: Hello Anyone There?
Photo from Google Maps
Hello Anyone There?
Words 150
“Dad please!” They gheraoed him.
“No.”
“Why ever not?”
“Because it’s my house and I say so.”
“But Dad,” said the eldest with a quelling glance at his sibling, “think of the advantages.”
“Over my dead body.”
“Daddy,” his daughter too chipped in, “selling the house would sort all our financial troubles.” She sniffled. “Ma would have also liked you to…”
“If she were alive, I would’ve shifted.”
“But Daddy, the house is falling to bits and it’s old fashioned, inconvenient for you…”
“I don’t care. I’m not selling.” He was adamant.
“Don’t be such a stick in the mud Shankar!” Exhorted his friend. “Sell off this prime property and buy a sprawling bungalow with a marvelous view of the lake, sunset…”
“I don’t want a big house.”
“Why not? Isn’t it cramped and inconvenient here?”
“Perhaps.” Shankar said in low voice, “But at least I get to see them.”
***
Written for What Pegman Saw – a story in 150 words or less based on street view from Google Maps. Thanks to K Rawson for hosting the challenge. To read the other stories inspired by this week’s destination – Terni Italy the birthplace of St Valentine, click here.
The Perfect Place for Murder
The Perfect Place for Murder
Words 101
“Love this place,” she snuggled close. “Not a soul in sight.”
“There goes your solitude,” he pointed to the couple bobbing in a boat.
“Honeymooners?”
He shrugged. “Who else would come here?”
“Murderers?” She suggested. “The perfect place. No one would ever know.” She clutched his arm. “Look! He’s strangling her.“
He squinted. “Nonsense.”
“Oh do something!” she cried.
“Me?!”
“Save her.” She divested him of his jacket. “Go before he kills! I’ll never be able to enjoy my anniversary!”
Agonizing minutes later he squelched back to dry land.
“Is she dead?”
“No. You are.” He bit out. “They were smooching.”
***
Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and JS Brand for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by the prompt, click here.
Protected: SPF: An Entangled Mess
Redrawing Battle Lines
Redrawing Battle Lines
Words 100
“Hello Guddu,” Khushi helped her son down from the bus, “how was school?”
“What’s for lunch?” He asked his favorite question.
“Chicken curry and rice.” She pulled him into a quick cuddle.
“Ma’am said we shouldn’t eat meat.”
Khushi sighed. Another battle.
“But darling you need your proteins. How else will you grow as tall and strong as your father?”
“Animals have feelings too. They hurt when…”
“Okay fine,” Khushi capitulated, “so you’re fine with no Maggi, no chocolates…?”
“No Maggi?”
Khushi shrugged. “Plants have feelings too.”
“I don’t want rice and chicken.” Guddu insisted. “I want a chicken burger.”
***
Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt, click here.
Thanks for reading! If you like you can read my other Friday Fictioneer stories here – indexed, with snippets/teasers and color-coded recommendations 😀
SPF: Turning the Tables
Turning the Tables
Words 201
“What should I do Tara Chachi*?” Bulbul asked Tara who sat outside her hut dicing vegetables. “Should I get married or continue my studies?”
“Do what you want.” Tara didn’t look up. “Why ask me?”
“Because Chachi you are the only woman who dared to make her own choice, marry the man she loved.”
“Did I?” Tara asked.
Bulbul was taken aback. “Everyone says…”
“But nobody asked me!”
“I am asking you Chachi. Tell me. Please.” Bulbul coaxed.
“Many years ago, the village chief’s son took a fancy to me. He made several advances but I spurned them all.”
“Then?”
“Thwarted, he grabbed me right in the middle of the village fair. Confronted, he declared that he was ready to marry and I wasn’t.”
“No!” Bulbul gasped. But she rallied. “But how romantic! I mean he was so desperately in love…”
“Love!” Tara snorted. “He only wanted to subjugate me.”
“But he’s famous for not even looking at other women. He’s clearly besotted with you.”
“By creating a public scene, he effectively gave me two options, marry him or die.” Tara put away the knife. “After marriage, I gave him two options – stay true to me or I would kill him.”
***
*Chachi: Aunt but specifically one’s father’s brother’s wife but is also used to address any elderly lady.
Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less. Thanks to Alistair Forbes for hosting the challenge and E.A.Wicklund for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.
SPF: Shoe Bite
Shoe Bite
Word 197
“What’s so funny?”
Diya started from her intense contemplation of the wall décor. “Raj!” she exclaimed, “What are you doing here?”
“Same as you I guess,” he shrugged, “to attend the conference. Why were you smiling?” He insisted.
Diya laughed, “Doesn’t it look as if an irate father is kicking away a potential suitor?”
“Like your father kicked me away?”
“That was my decision,” Diya’s eyes flashed, “because you…”
“I heard that you are now divorced?” Raj changed the topic.
“Yes.”
“Any regrets?”
“Except that I waited so long.”
“What about remarriage?” He asked.
“No.” She was curt.
“How do you manage Sia alone?”
Diya shrugged. “It’s difficult but not impossible.” She hesitated. “I…I am sorry. I heard…”
His lips twisted into a bitter sneer. “So the whole world knows about my cheating wife.”
“Not the whole world. Your sister told me.”
“If only you had…!”
“Why don’t you divorce her?”
“Because that would mean giving up my daughter as well.” His face was grim. “So that’s not even an option.”
Diya gave a mirthless smile. “Life’s a circle isn’t?”
“What do you mean?”
“Wasn’t that what you wanted me to do?” She said gently. “Leave my daughter and marry you.”
***
My 50th Sunday Photo Fiction story in 200 words or less! My thanks to Alistair Forbes for hosting the challenge and C.E.Ayr for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here. And to read my other Sunday Photo Fiction stories click here.
Thanks for visiting!
Protected: WPS: One Last Fling
SPF: Not Like Us
Not Like Us
Words 200
“Go back inside!”
“Please Mamma, just for a little bit…”
“No! They are dangerous creatures…”
“But Mamma, they are so far away! And there’s a net…”
“That net is so thin and flimsy. And you never know with them, what if they climb over it?”
“Mamma you are overcautious! Nobody has ever crossed…”
“And you would know! How old are you exactly?”
“I find them fascinating Mamma! I want to talk to them, play with them…”
“Enough! Go play with your siblings while I arrange lunch.”
“I don’t like playing with them! They tease me so.”
“Don’t take it personally dear, it’s their kind of fun. If you interact with them you’ll learn a lot.”
“What will I learn? They just like to paw me and chase me all over the place.”
“That’s wonderful! By the time you grow up, you’ll be the fastest. Just like your father.”
“I like their games.”
“How’d you know?”
“I’ve seen them from the tree.”
“I am warning you, don’t you dare sneak off to play with them.”
“Why not?”
“They may hurt you.”
“I’ll go only after they’ve eaten.
“But they’re creatures who kill, hurt and maim even if their bellies are full.”
***
Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – A story in 200 words or less. Thanks to Alistair Forbes for hosting the challenge and the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this photo prompt, click here. And just in case you would like to read any of my previous Sunday Photo Fictions click here
Thanks for visiting!
Will You Walk into My Parlor?
Will You Walk into My Parlor?
Words 100
“No.” She refused.
The ring clattered to the floor. “I thought you wanted us to marry!”
“I did. Before…”
“Before?”
“Before my parents got to know about us living together.”
“But they still want you to…”
“Are you proposing to me out of concern for my parents or yours?”
“We can’t always live like this!”
“Why not? Isn’t that what you said to me?”
“I…I was wrong. Society. Children…”
“No. You were right. We should adopt an orphan needing a home.”
“But…”
“Besides,” She paused, “I see no reason give up my independence just to keep track of your socks.”
***
Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and Victor and Sarah Potter for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt, click here.
PS: Just a quick note to brag that I finally did what my blog had been crying out for months, okay years. I reorganized and updated my index making it easier to browse and check out earlier posts with snippets (but I’m still working on the blurbs). If you are free and so inclined how about browsing through the index of Short Stories or Photo posts? Feedback and suggestions most welcome!
Thanks for reading 🙂
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