Tag: #relationships
Protected: SPF: Where Ever You Go
Life and Death
As I come out of my shell and explore my surroundings I can’t help but notice a unique seasonal feature around these parts. Spring and fall seem to coexist. Leaves carpet the roads and mounds of leaves dot the sides of the roads until they are carted off to their final resting place. And yet gardens are abloom with a riot of colors – pink purple yellow and magenta. The peepal tree outside my office is a case in point. It is almost bare with a few green leaves determinedly hanging on until they turn yellow and reluctantly make their way down to whence they grew to such dizzying heights. And yet whilst this tussle is on, a new unruly batch has already sprung up gung-ho and eager to make their mark in this world. I have been feeling too inhibited to click this particule tree but I did mix and match some photos in an earlier post – Peepal in Spring.
For this post I have captured a few contrasting images from the world around me. Come scroll with me…
Clutching at straws
Brilliant and defiant in death.
Life towers over and mocks at death – it is not for me!
Yet some die before their time
While others bloom despite all odds
Even when there appears to be no hope or escape
Only when we accept that ups and downs, life and death will happen can we move on and live life as she deserves to be led – wholly completely, entirely and unabashedly.
Wish you all a wonderful day.
Friends Forever
Friends Forever
Words 101
“Here comes Her Highness.” Trishna muttered as Sapna floated down to join them.
Sapna stuck out her tongue.
“Enjoy your last day as Queen,” Prakriti said maliciously.
“Excuse me?” Sapna frowned.
“Maya’s coming.” Trishna burst out. “With fresh gossip.”
Sapna flickered and then rallied. “She must be ancient!”
“Remember how vain she was of her looks?” Layla’s husky murmur was still a killer.
“A bad hair day saved her from the car crash.” Leena rued.
“I wonder if she has any hair left?” Trishna patted her flowing tresses.
“I can’t wait to see her as a doddering ghost.” Sapna said gleefully.
***
Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and Fatima Fakier Deria for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.
PS. Any readers of Silver Streaks here? Or fans of IPK? This may be of interest to you (or at least I am hoping it will be!) 😉
SPF: A Letterbomb
A Letterbomb
Words 200
Dear Mom,
I am going away. Far away. You won’t have to wake up early, send me to school, or pack my lunch. You’ll be free. Don’t bother looking for me. I am going to another planet – Zeutron, my home planet.
Didn’t Dad always say I was good-for-nothing trash? Turns out that I fell out from the spaceship hovering over Earth into the garbage dump. They’ve been searching for me ever since. After all, I am the Prince and heir to Zeutron. My parents, real parents were so desperate to find me that they stationed one of their best undercover agents (better than 007!) on Earth with orders to find me or die here.
You remember the guard at the mall? He’s not human. He’s a Zeutronian and his name is Gerkle. He recognized me right away, but he had to play his cards well so as to gain my trust. He told me everything once we became friends. We are leaving on the spaceship that arrives tonight. I’m not taking anything along except for a photo of you and me. Maybe you can come and visit me sometime. To see how I am doing.
Lots of love
Dan
***
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 prompt click here.
WPS: Into the Maelstrom
Photo from Google Maps
Into the Maelstrom
Words 151
“Exams over?”
She gave an ecstatic twirl. “I am free!”
“Free?” I queried. “But what about admissions, career…”
“None of that nonsense for me,” she dismissed with her nose in the air. “I have my future all planned.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“First college for some graduation course…”
“Which course?”
“Whatever I qualify for.”
“Okay. Next?”
“Prince Charming will find me and sweep me off my feet. I will lead him to a merry dance, before agreeing to marry him.”
“Wow.”
She smiled dreamily. “A stupendous destination wedding with both Shah Rukh and Salman Khan dancing and then go abroad for our honeymoon.”
“Where abroad?”
“Anywhere! The States to do lots of shopping.” She giggled. “Visit all the famous tourist spots, go trekking, camping, just him and me.” She clasped her hands. “It will be the most romantic time ever.”
“Nice.” I said. “And then what?
“I haven’t thought further than that.”
***
Written for What Pegman Saw – a story in 150 words or less based on locations chosen from Google Maps. This week we are off to Yellowstone National Park in the US and on my bucket list. Thanks to K Rawson for hosting the challenge. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt, click here.
Enough of Double Standards
Enough of Double Standards
Words 100
“Belated happy birthday!” Shipra greeted Deeksha.
“Thanks.”
“How did you celebrate?”
“We didn’t. We are still in mourning.”
“Oh I am sorry.” Shipra offered her condolences. “Last year too you couldn’t celebrate as your father-in-law was unwell.”
“Yes.”
“It must be over six months since he passed away?”
“Yes.”
“Yet your husband attended his cousin’s wedding last week?”
“It wouldn’t have looked nice if he hadn’t gone.”
“So only you’re expected to mourn?”
“That depends.” Deeksha said. “As I am integral part of their family, they made sure I participated actively in the wedding festivities soon after my father’s death.”
***
Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and Bjorn for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.
A Love Story in Pics
The Daily Post this week invites us to share a visual story. I am busy shifting houses (now that would tell an amazing story but that’s another story for another day 😉 but since I can’t seem to keep away from the blog world, I am re-posting one (from August 2016) which some of you may have seen. But I think it is worth a revisit. Feel free to disagree and move on! 😀
The other day I spotted a pair of geese:
Excited, I moved in for a closer shot:
But no matter how much I tried, the goose just wouldn’t let me click his mate. It honked and glared and pretended to be interested in the distal most piece juicy stem.
Can you beat that?
The typical Indian male I supposed and walked away (or at least pretended to but the goose wasn’t that much of a goose – it wasn’t buying or budging).
Until I really walked away. That’s when I noticed:
She was injured or ill and he was merely trying to keep away an opportunistic predator.
Blessed to witness such a rare and precious sight.
Protected: Of Moms and Sons
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.
Stories and more 