Tag: #AmWriting

FF: Autumn Years

Hello! Welcome to another edition of Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers a story in 100 words inspired by the photo provided this week by Ted Strutz. Click here to read the other stories inspired by the photo.

Photo Prompt © Ted Strutz

Autumn Years

Words 100

All those road trips, the singing, the food and best of all, the laughter. Where had it all gone?

Even the leaves had fallen and life looked bleak and barren. Nothing to do but wait for death. Wasn’t it?

Perhaps for you, a branch swayed in the breeze, I am waiting for spring. What has gone will come back. There will be new leaves, sprouts, flowers, fragrance, birds and bees…

But what about me, the old abandoned car wailed.

Well for starters, you can stop crying. And wait for spring too. You can offer solace and be home to many.

***

Thank you for reading. Have a great week. And if you have time (and the inclination) why don’t you drop in here for the now completed short story:- Some Sugar & Spice. Or if you prefer poems, have a peek here

#tanka 12

Happy Ganesha Chaturthi. 🙏🏼May you and your family be blessed with a happy, healthy and prosperous life 🙂 Isn’t the mosaic beautiful! This was made and kindly shared by my friend, Hansa. Thanks a lot, Ferdi.

Today, i have one tanka for you. Do let me know if it resonates with you.

a red hibiscus 
droops over
an unopened bud….
do you also agonize
over your little one

Mohua Maulik,
haikuKATHA issue 41 March 2025

Thank you for visiting. If you would like to read more in this genre, please click here. Have a great week ahead.

For those who are reading Some Sugar & Spice, the next chapter is up.

FF: Crossroads

Hello! Happy to be able to participate, even if a late for Rochelle’s weekly party – Friday Fictioneers, a story in 100 words based on a photo prompt kindly provided by Lisa Fox this fox. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt and join the fun, click here.

Photo Prompt © Lisa Fox

Crossroads

Words 100

“Rohan?” Sohini stopped short. He was working as a driver?

“Hi.” His embarrassment was evident.

“Bye.” Turning, she hesitated. “I still hate you. Especially the way you dumped me. I was barely 18, you could have been kinder.” She gave him a faint smile. “That said, I know it was the best thing that could have happened to me. It woke me up and made me stronger. I am in a happy place now.”

“Good for you.”

“You need to come out of your self-absorbed misery and introspect how this could be the best thing that happened to you. Goodbye.”

***

Thanks for visiting, looking forward to reading your stories. Have a great weekend.

For those who are reading, Some Sugar & Spice — Chapter 35 is up.

#haiku 3 & #tanka 11

Hello and welcome to my mid-week haikai and tanka posts. Very pleased to have published these in the Cold Moon Journal. I was even more pleased (actually quite stunned) find that the haiku made it to the journal’s long list for Touchstone nominations 2024.

spring cleaning
we discover mom’s
insecurities

Mohua Maulik
Cold Moon Journal 10th November 2024

planting
peace lilies in beds
overrun
with the same old  
unresolved grudges

Mohua Maulik
Cold Moon Journal 1st February 2025

Thank you for visiting. If you would like to read more in this genre, please click here. Have a great week ahead.

For those who are reading Some Sugar & Spice, the next chapter is up.

FF: Of Endings

Hello! Hope you are having a lovely weekend. I believe it’s unexpectedly hot these days at several places. In Delhi, though it’s not raining as much but pretty overcast and terribly humid. But i guess that’s to be expected for the next two months or so. Sigh.

Moving on, it’s time for Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less based on a photo prompt kindly provided this week by J Hardy Carroll. If you wish to join the challenge or read the other stories inspired by this prompt, click here. Off we go!

Photo Prompt © J Hardy Carroll

Of Endings

Words 100

After the cremation, the men returned home. The son, with his head shorn wore white unstitched garments. Several rituals still remained. A stream of visitors dropped in to pay their respects.

“I suppose your mother will shift to Delhi now?” A family friend asked.

“We don’t know yet. She is quite independent and attached to this house.”

“But surely she cannot stay alone?”

The son shrugged. “I don’t know. There hasn’t been a chance to discuss any of the practicalities.”

“Yes of course. Of course. But, in case you, decide to sell this house, I would like to purchase it.”

***

Thank you for visiting, have a great week ahead.

For those who are reading Some Sugar & Spice, the next chapter is up.

#tanka 9 & 10

Hello, hope you are having a grand week. This week in my usual mid-week posting, i present to you, two of my published tanka.

white flowers
of the Rangoon creeper
turn red
how was i so blind
to the warning signs

Mohua Maulik
haikuKATHA issue 38 December 2024

this winter
only dusty leaves remain
on the amaltas
where have all the flowers
and laughter gone

Mohua Maulik
haikuKATHA issue 38 December 2024

Thank you for visiting. Do let me know which one resonated with you, if at all. Have a wonderful day ahead. And if you would like to browse the other poems in this genre, click here.

For those who are reading Some Sugar & Spice, the next chapter is up.

FF: Hunger Games

Hello hope you all are having a lovely weekend. Happy Rakshabandhan to everybody. In Delhi, it’s been raining almost non-stop for the past 12 hours so. Finally the deluge has let up a bit. Hope it stays that way to allow the brothers and sisters to meet without any stress.

It’s past Friday and time for Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less based on a photo prompt kindly provided this week by Jen Pendergast. If you wish to join the challenge or read the other stories inspired by this prompt, click here. Off we go!

Photo Prompt © Jen Pendergast

Hunger Games

Words 100

“Not well?” Tilak asked.

“A bad headache.” Nita said.

“Take a paracetamol and lie down.”

“But dinner?”

“Relax. I can manage.”

 “Thanks. There’s leftover rice and dal in the fridge. If you could make okra and perhaps eggs…?”

“Sure.”

An hour later, Nita woke up to find her four year old daughter breathing into her face. “What’s the matter, darling? Had your dinner?”

She nodded. “Mamma, are you going to die?”

“No! Why do you ask.”

“I don’t like onions in my omelette.” She started bawling.

“And,” her six-year-old had joined them, “he put potatoes in okra. Who does that?!”

***

Were or are your children fussy about food? Do share your experiences in the comment section. Thank you for visiting, i too shall be blog hopping in a bit. See you soon.

For those who are reading Some Sugar & Spice, the next chapter is up.

#haibun 5

Hello and welcome to my blog. It’s middle of the week and the time to blow my horn. Today i present a haibun for your reading pleasure.

Wrong Place Wrong Time

I went higher and higher up on the swing until I was horizontal with the bar. I must have been about 7 or 8 years old but I still remember that curl of excitement at the pit of my stomach, the rush of air, my exultant laugh and then — a sickening thud. 

dense fog…
playing on a loop
the what ifs

Mohua Maulik
haikuKATHA issue 39 January 2025

Thank you for visiting and do share your thoughts. Have a wonderful day and week ahead.

If you would like to visit the other posts in this genre, click here.

For those who are reading Some Sugar & Spice, the next chapter is up.

FF: Up in Flames

Hello! Hope you are having a restful weekend. Welcome to another edition of Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words based on the photo prompt kindly provided by Marie Gail Stratford this week. If you wish to read the other stories inspired by this prompt or join the party, click here.

Photo Prompt © Marie Gail Stratford

Up in Flames

Words 100

Bunty stumbled and flopped down on the couch. “What’s for dinner? Never mind. Let’s go out.” He switched on the television.

Rani gave a resigned look. “Been drinking again?”

“Let’s go!” He grinned, fanning himself with a wad of cash.

“Where did you get that from?”

“Call the boys.”

“They aren’t home yet.”

“Why not?”

“The school has taken them for an educational trip.”

“Where?”

“To the science fair.”

“What!?” He sat up.

“Why? What happened?”

The TV blared in the background.

Breaking News: A bomb blast occurred a few minutes ago at the city’s ongoing science fair. Details awaited.

***

Thank you for reading and leaving me a note. I will be along in a bit. Have a super weekend.

For those who are reading Some Sugar & Spice the next chapter is up.

#tanka 8

A mid-week tanka for your reading pleasure (hopefully!).

a red rose
behind the shrubs
unseen
she belittles her own
existence

haikuKATHA Issue 30 April 2024

Thank you for visiting and sharing your thoughts. In case you are interested in this genre of poetry, click here

For those who are reading Some Sugar & Spice the next chapter is up.