Journey

                              Sunday Photo Fiction – October 15th 2017

                                 PHOTO COURTESY : A Mixed Bag.

Her eyes scanned the monstrous dimensions with awe and a sense of longing. Even on the 

glossy paper it seemed behemoth to the innocent blue pupils. The hull of the cruise, the 

small windows and the life-boat hanging in the picture beckoned her.

Ananya had already made up her mind firmly to set sail on the serene waters.

She toiled hard giving the Sun an inferior complex and her stamina lay on the pillow only 

after wishing the Moon. Her bank account had enough to board the cruise liner,’Virat’ 

with a smile on her face and a spring in her step.

Her heart swam with the white froth of the azure oceanic waters while she learnt the 

geography and historical importance of every port and country that ‘Virat’ travelled. The 

eclectic mix of people ,varied cultures and their cuisines intrigued her and got imprinted 

in each crevice of her brain.

She believed in giving back more than she has taken from the society. The orphanage 

benefited from the largesse she earned.

She earned the title of “Most Efficient Stewardess” on the cruise. Ahoy Life!!! 

                               Sunday Photo Fiction

                                                  

word count : 182

Arrow

FFfAW Challenge-Week of October 17, 2017

                       



                 This week's photo prompt is provided by Grant-Sud. Thank you Grant-Sud!

The parents of the missing girl were waiting anxiously to hear any piece of news of their 

child. There was no ransom demand and hence kidnapping was ruled out.

Detective Karamchand ambled into the room of Ananya with his assistant Kitty in tow. His 

eyes scanned the entire space in white. A section of pink wall arrested his hawk-like 

eyes. 

A map detailing the entire layout of the sprawling mansion was pasted.

“Ananya seems to be a happy girl. Look at the smiley drawn”, chirped Kitty.

Karamchand glared at the naivety of his assistant and started to stomp his foot at the 

base of the pink wall.

“It is an arrow-mark, Kitty, Look at the direction”, calmly said Karamchand.

A secret chamber revealed an envelope with “Catch me if you can” scribbled, teased his 

grey cells. This is going to be a long treasure-hunt, concluded Karamchand.

                     Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers.Thanks Priceless Joy.  

               

                                             

word count :146

journey

136th Challenge

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

                       This week's photo prompt is provided by BarbCT/Gallimaufry. Thank you BarbCT!

The white cotton candy clouds seem to sail with the wind against the backdrop of the 

azure skies. I bend on the railings running along the boundary of the behemoth water-

body ruminating on the present crisis of my financial health. The prospects on the 

horizon seem bleak and the sun seems to set in my mind. “Why does this happen to me?”, 

I whine.

A cargo container ship passes by, leaving a trail of siren.

“Does the ship protest of the heavy freight-age on its back and in the belly?”

“It carries and trudges to the port and off-loads its contents and not the burdens. 

Another batch of cargo consignment is loaded and the ship moves on post refueling. This 

is its journey and it doesn’t aim for a destination.”

I straighten my back, feeling a bit lighter. I jettison my grumblings and chart a new 

course of path with the aid of my internal compass. The innumerable ports beckon me. 

Ahoy.

                              Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. Thank you Priceless Joy.

                                            

Sad release.

                 Three Line Tales, Week 88

                                               photo by Kira auf der Heide via Unsplash

The waves in the ocean of her mind had gradually formed into a raging tempest lashing fiercely onto the shore of her face which reflected in the crystal clear myriad emotions as the colours splashed on canvas.

The wooden pen-holder moved to expose its lifeless contents as she picked it up to pour her inner turmoil on the blank sheets to release the farrago of discontent, doubts and sorrow.

The golden nib stubbornly refused to co-operate with the stimulus given by the brain to transfer the anguish from her senses to her diary which kept invading her whole being and subsequently her hands took refuge in the noose.

                3Line Tales. Thanks Sonya.

Fluid thoughts

The water meanders through the mountains, valleys and plains.

"Stop if you can", challenges Mother Nature.

The behemoth dam arrests the forward fluidity.

The water gurgles and spreads backwards, smilingly but not losing its fluidity.

"Is your brain membrane permeable for exchange of ideas, opinions and thoughts?” questions God.

“I am your creation, Almighty, and am open to all discussions and signals from you", humbly bows Man.

                                    Six Sentence Stories. Thank you Zoe.

                                              

StarDust

                                                                         PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

The ferry lazily drifts on the silent waters patronizing the people with deep pockets and 

a penchant for the uncommon.

“Shouldn’t Nikhil’s feet be firmly on the ground while he reaches for the moon?” concern 

dripped from Priyanka’s throat.

“Many moons ago, you aimed for the stars, isn’t it? Let him find his way”, reasoned 

Aniket, puffing smoke from his Havana cigar.

She turns her head to avert her husband’s gaze, trying to stop the fusillade of moisture 

from her eyes. 

“The leap to stardom is full of compromises, deceit and of course hard work”. She stifles 

her sobs.


                                Friday Fictioneers. Thanks Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.

                                             

Shielded

135th Challenge

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

                                                 

This week's photo prompt is provided by Elaine Farrington Johnson. Thank yoiu Elaine!

The recent carnage had left many wounded in mind and body. Some breathed their last 

even before they could remember their loved ones. The silent march of protest against 

the violence unleashed, started from a nondescript lane. All silent hands held candles 

that crackled with the wind. Their feet moved slowly with the weight of their grief of 

having lost their kith and kin.  A pall of gloom descended as the celestial beings numbed 

their shine in the darkness. Only a little innocent hand carried a placard which had the 

magic four letters hurriedly scribbled on it with hearts drawn around. The little orange 

hood manged to hide a part of his face and perhaps veiled his loss. The little boy was 

unhurt in the bloodbath as his mother pushed the child on the ground and lay over him 

shielding him, while she became the target of the insane bullets.

                         Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers.Thank you Priceless Joy.

                                               

 Word Count : 150

Mother Courage.

                                                 

Today as Amrita stood tall on the dais, with a thousand palms applauding her for the 

breakthrough in Genetic Engineering, she credited and thanked her mother , Nirbhaya, 

for her guiding spirit.

Nay Amrita was not born in an improvised family but her rich ‘zamindar’ grandfather-

patriarch tried to throttle her as soon as the umbilical cord was cut. The young Nirbhaya

barely out of the labour pains shielded the tiny life. Despite looking wan and feeble, her 

fierce mien and ululation pulverized the ageing head of the family.  Nirbhaya's husband a 

nincompoop put a pococurante demeanor while the sordid ordeal was being played in 

the ‘haveli’. The breeze stopped in its track and the sheep swallowed its bleats into 

deafening silence.

Nirbhaya, as her name suggested, stepped out of her marital threshold gathering her 

courage and the new-born Amrita in her arms. No voice cajoled her to stay behind. The 

blood of 'Durga' ran in her veins and voice of 'Kali' ordained her to take this step. The 

firmament bowed, showering their with blessings.

Nirbhaya’s parents did not welcome her but the security of a roof over her head was not 

denied. She picked up the books again, breastfeeding Amrita and changing the diapers.

Two pair of feminine feet entered the school premises, one as a student and another as a 

teacher. Thus began the arduous journey for Amrita to culminate at the dais. Nirbhaya’s 

palms refused to stop cheering for her Amrita.

The media-persons thrust their microphones towards Nirbhaya for sound bytes.

“Whatever I had earnestly wished for, has become the fulfilled goal of my life”.

Nirbhaya’s words resonated through the television screen of the crumbling ‘haveli’. The 

patriarch‘s photograph hung on the wall adorned with a sandalwood garland. 

                                           Reena's Exploration Challenge # 4. Thank you Reena S.


Notes : Zamindar : family owning huge tracts of land.

             Haveli - huge mansion.

            Durga and Kali are Indian goddesses.

           Nirbhaya means fearless.

bridging the gap

          Sunday Photo Fiction – September 10th 2017

                                                photo courtesy A Mixed Bag.

“A part of the proceeds of the sale of my property will be donated to the local 

orphanage, Girls’ school and library”, instructing her lawyer.

“The Temple renovations will be funded by me, Pandit-Ji”.

“I have finished all my duties and can join my late husband”.

“Have you made peace with yourself, Saraswati?” the retort from the holy man 

unsettled the septuagenarian.

She lowered her gaze and looked the other way, a farrago of anger and guilt.

Several thoughts criss-crossed her already confused mind.

Nandini’s daughter must be in her late teens. She staggered and held the window-bars for 

support. The inanimate bridge with water flowing placidly seemed to reach out to her. 

She had built an impenetrable wall around her. The stones from the obliterated wall have 

to be used to build a bridge, to bring her only daughter, closer.

Hobbling to her almirah, she caressed her jewellery and bridal sari. She pictured her 

grand-daughter in the antique splendour. Nandini will inherit a part of her ancestral 

estate and her love and blessings. Her ‘jamai’ has to be accorded a grand welcome.

“Another ten years and I will join you”, she says to her husband’s photograph.

Peace reigns.

                Written for  : Sunday Photo Fiction.

                                                     

                                            Click HERE to read all the SPF stories.

Notes : Pandit - Hindu priest

             Ji - addressing a person respectfully.

             Almirah - wardrobe

             Jamai - Son-in-law. In Indian households the jamai is treated like a King and is fed with the                            choicest of traditional food.       

Abundant reap

       Weekend Writing Prompt #19 – Abundance

                                        Photo Prompt 

                             

word prompt : Abundance

Challenge

Prose Challenge – Write a story that focuses on a quality that you think the world could do with in abundance.  Word limit: 150 words.

The timely rainfall had the rivers overflowing its embankments. The bountiful crop filled 

the granaries and the bucolic scent bathed the simple peasants.

The Angel smiled brimming with satisfaction.

The Satan winced with displeasure.

The war was declared and winning became inevitable.

Satan spread the shadow of his ugly claws.  Soon the village was dotted with liquor shops 

brewed from the excess grains. The simple hearts drowned themselves in sin, fighting, 

abusing and creating unrest. The Monster smiled stroking his claws.

The words of the clergyman soothed the disturbed minds. Realising their folly, they shed 

their vices and donned the cloak of righteousness. Peace reigned. The abundance was 

donated to the underprivileged, bridging the gap between the haves and have-nots. 

Philanthropy thrived.

The Angel waved his wand on the sleeping village. In the dark of the night, the shadow of 

Satan beat a retreat.

         Weekend Writing Prompt # 19 - Abundance.Thank you Sammi Cox.

word count : 144

Abundance

            Weekend Writing Prompt #19 – Abundance

Poetry Challenge – Write a non-rhyming poem, in 15 lines or less, that includes the words:

• abundance
• prosperity
• plenty

She sowed a seed, 
on the fertile farm of motherhood.
She reaped an abundance of bounty,
the prosperity made her content.
her child's smiles, plenty,
the cup runneth over.

With wrinkled hands she waves, 
from the blue clouds.
A cocoon she have woven,
around him, protecting him,
from all lurking dangers.

Untie him from your apron strings,
wisely cajoles the angel.
Let him take risks, lead his life,
It is his life, after-all.

           Weekend Writing Prompt# 19 - Abundance. Thanks Sammi Cox

Epic Re-interpretation.

THE MASK – FICTION WRITING #FRIDAYFOTOFICTION SEP 8-13

The dice was cast.

Duryodhana commanded, “Go and get that maid”.

She was dragged forcibly by vile hands and watched by men in power with helpless eyes.

As Duryodhana lunged forward indicating her to sit on his lap, Karna got up, standing in 

the way of his best friend and the lady “Stop Duryodhana”

“You are my mate, Karna”, blood-shot eyes thundered.

“My shoulders weigh down by your debts, Duryodhana. A lady’s honour is above 

friendship. I will not allow you to cross the threshold of immorality and indecency as a 

close friend.”

“I second Karna”, echoes Bhishma’s baritone.

“Me too”, choruses the court of Hastinapur.

A pair of feminine palms clap in the audience of the Experimental Theatre, Mumbai.

                          

All feet arise to a standing ovation. The Director’s chest swells with success.

“What would be your reaction, Modern Draupadi, hadn’t you got unexpected support?” a 

critic asks.

Panchali whips out a can of pepper spray and hitches her sari high to demonstrate her 

marital skill.

The curtain falls with pride.

Written for :  Friday Foto Fiction -The Mask-Sep 8-13. Thanks Tina and Mayuri.


                                            

Google pic

Word count :  171.

I tried to stick to the prescribed word count of 150 but was forced to exceed it.

Silver years

                   Three Line Tales, Week 84

                                                   photo by Niv Rozenberg via Unsplash

Silver was the colour of the day, for the two decades and half had just flown by, for the 

passionate couple who seemed to have walked down the aisle, just yesterday.

The bash was the talk of the town and the tabloids splashed the gloss as the celestial 

beings above, looked down at the celebrity, glitterati and literati assembled at the 

venue, decked in their finest attires and huge smiles.

After acknowledging the wishes from all, the couple flew to the Caribbean Island and 

made their way into the two different cottages readied for them, as per the guest's

instructions.

                                     Written for  : 3Line Tales. Thank you Sonya.