Thelma and I

                                

                                

                                                        image by Greyerbaby at Pixabay

Thelma had an eye for perfection. She did the most imperfect thing perfectly. Like 

dangling out her clean shaven athletic legs out of the window at the certain angle as they 

would not hurt her and her torso perched on a pillow for maximum comfort. The canvas 

shoes were gleaming in the freshly incubated sun-rays.


I asked her to relieve me while I relax and munch on a cucumber sandwich.

I got down from the driver's seat and clicked a photo of her carefree legs dangling 

outside the window, on my Nikon.


She reluctantly plonked herself in the driver's seat while I shifted in the passenger seat 

besides her.

Next summer we both would graduate. Excitement as well as trepidation weighed equally 

on a see-saw plank. Trepidation , as we would have to work for different firms in 

different cities. One never knew where our paths would take us. So she voted on a road 

trip to Goa. 

We left behind the bustling Mumbai City.  The narrow belt of the Konkan strip with 

verdant farms as far as the eye could reach, slowed down our journey. We feasted our 

eyes on the picturesque splendors of Nature. The bucolic beauty wowed us to take a road 

trip again after we were settled in life.

"Could I get a Paracetamol? " I inquired at the tiny Medical-Cum-General store.

"It is closing time for tea and I will do no business", a stern looking man with Gandhi 

specs manned the counter.

" I won't be able to drive with this headache. Pleaseee", I pleaded with an urgency in my 

voice. The sound of temple bells reverberated at a distance. 

He agreed to dispense the medicine.

Thelma picked up the crate of aerated drinks, dropped the currency notes on the counter 

and ran towards our vehicle.

"Thissss is cheating", the old man hollered. I had no option but to press my legs into 

action.

I started the ignition and the old bones defying his age started to run behind the clouds 

of dust , swearing at us. We picked up speed and never saw his face again. 

                                   
                                             * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


The temple bells struck a sonorous note. The small shop was replaced  by a swanky 

Day-and-Night Chemist shop. My body was slightly sore with wear and tear. My temples 

were throbbing. A young lad manned the counter. I asked for a Paracetamol. 

My bespectacled eyes hunted for a crate of aerated drinks. 

I started the ignition. My eyes turned moist. I looked at the skies. "I have kept my 

promise, Thelma. You ......" .  My eyes turned moist. 

I still have the picture of her legs dangling, in my brief-case.

              The solo road trip after two decades is incomplete.

                                               



The two mandatory prompts are the use of the image by Greyerbaby at Pixabay and the 

use of the emotion  schadenfreude. 

Definition of schadenfreude 

: enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others

Space travel

Nikhil loved travel. Traversing the terra firm was reserved for the hoi polloi , he inferred. 

Invading the unknown  and far-off planets was his idea of adventure. And it ran in his 

veins.

The space-ship which resembled an orange hot air balloon glided smoothly  towards 

the Milky Way.  Nikhil wished the vehicular traffic had smooth sailing on Mumbai 

highways. He had read a report by doctors that screamed of backaches and slip-discs of 

patients commuting on pot-holed roads. His flight odyssey would make Mumbaikars green 

with envy. 

The planet of Hoth has fierce creatures like the predatory wampa and tauntauns but they 

couldn't harm him. He would be safe, he  assured himself.

The hot air balloon picked up speed and the centre of the Milky galaxy look surreal. His 

eyes twinkled.

He had watched  'The Empire strikes back' umpteen times. Stars Wars was his fav serial.

School academics failed to ignite his curiosity. The lessons seemed banal to him 

and the teacher's voice monotonous. Science-fiction unleashed his interest and creativity. 

As his space ship cruised closer to Hoth, he imagined the cold white snow and ice for 

miles around. His heart beats resonated in his ears and he couldn't contain his 

excitement. He would regale his classmates with his experiences of the small terrestrial 

planted. But ughh !! the cretins  would not be interested. 

Hunger pangs pricked his insides and the aroma of his mother's rajma-chawal broke his 

reverie. The door opened. "Nikhil, rajma-chawal is ready. Enough of your simulation video 

games."

            Nikhil stepped down to hard reality and headed towards the kitchen.

                                          

Mumbaikar - resident of the city of Mumbai.

Rajma-chawal -  Indian one pot meal of rice and kidney beans gravy.

Election-time

Leader : Namaste!!! , Do I need to introduce myself? 

                                        

Hands folded and flashing a wide grin.

Person 1 : Never seen you?

Rolling his eyes, the person turns the other way.

Person 2 :  I care not who you are. 

Picking the newspaper , he covers his face to avoid the leader's glance.

Leader : well, er, I am contesting for the Lok Sabha elections (Lower House of the Parliament) . I am splashed all over the newspapers and.....

Person 3 : I read only Corporate news and Sports.

Leader : How sporting of you.!!! 

The grin widens and so does his malice.

Person 4 : What is your party symbol?

Leader : Good question, concerned Nagrik (Citizen). A cast iron skillet is our symbol. Easy to remember.

Person 4 : Is it??? 

A sarcastic smirk makes its appearance  on the expensive business suit.

Air hostess: Leader, please take your seat and fasten your seat belt.

Leader: No hitting below the belt, Hawaii sundari (air-hostess).

And he breaks into peals of laughter.

The eyeballs of the air hostess pop out. She moves ahead, 

closing the windows of the overhead cabins.

 
Air hostess 2 : He is more stupid in person than on Television.  

Chuckling.

Air hostess 1 : Shush. He might overhear you. 

All the passengers are seated and the cabin crew take their positions. The giant bird is airborne. Seat belts are unfastened.

Leader gets up from his seat and again with his hands folded. 

I will propel the country to a smooth take-off towards Vikas( prosperity) if I am elected. 

Person 3 : India Inc. is already cruising on the path of prosperity. 

Person 4 :  what is the significance of your party symbol?

Leader: Rubbing his hands in glee and flashing his dimples.

Again a very intelligent question, concerned Nagrik (citizen). Our cast iron skillet will whip up mouth-watering and healthy gastronomical delights reminding you of your grandma's cooking. Healthy food will usher into a new era. 

Person 1 : Nani yaad aayegi.( difficult task to be accomplished)

Leader smiles , winks and walks to embrace person 1.  

Person 1 is flabbergasted.  The aircraft resonates with boisterous laughter and applause.

                                                      


           The object prompt is: a cast iron skillet.  The setting prompt is: an airplane.

(Google pic)

A mother's milestone

                                            

With a spring in his maiden step, he jerked awkwardly 

ahead, wavering. With two uneven steps, the fall to the 

ground surprised him. With tempest in my chest, I cried 

with happiness.

I had googled extensively on Cerebral palsy.

Today is his fifth birthday.

                                                                

Social media

Cinderella breaks the glass ceiling to be crowned CEO.

Prince lubricates the domestic front machinery serving love, happiness and home cooked food for her.

Twitter brands it as cruelty and unfair(y).

Facebook berates Prince.

Divorce.

Cinderella eats alone from takeaways.

 
                                     



Prompt : Tell us in exactly 40 words what happens after the fairy tale ends.

Alive

She folded each dress in a neat pile and stacked them in the wooden wardrobe. The socks 

were segregated from the handkerchiefs and put away in the drawers. Everything moved 

in clockwise precision for Lucy's morning school. 

"Did you....

"I remembered to pay the school fees on time", and a broad smile flashed on his face. 

Last time he had to pay a small penalty.

They ate their breakfast together in the kitchen slurping on maple syrup pancakes and 

laughter.

Their little cottage attracted both admiration and envy from the neighbours. Mrs. Annie 

said that their home was built on the foundation of love and each brick was cemented 

with understanding.


She winced in pain as her back stiffened . The hot water bag arrived to ease her pain. 

Her tired eyes smiled, sending a small 'Thank you' note to him silently.



"Hope Lucy's examination goes not clash with our wedding anniversary next month", as 

she stirred the spinach broth over slow fire. The knife on the chopping board came to a 

standstill as he raised his hand to wipe a solitary tear that had escaped his eye and a 

suppressed sob made his face pale. "These onions are pungent", he complained as she 

turned to look at him. His bundle of grief been been tightly held by the rope of patience 

when all pills, potions and psychiatrist treatment failed.


Four decades ago Lucy waited at the crossroad for the school-bus with the tiny silver 

prattle in her hand. Fate had other plans. The prattle lay beneath the vagrant truck tyre.


He kissed the tarnished silver rattle  in the darkness of the night.


She had not buried Lucy.

Vagaries of Nature.

The dormant dinosaur had stirred and woken up from its slumber to become active after 

nearly two decades. The ash strewn had settled everywhere. The molten  liquid had shed 

its anger and managed to go into aestivation.

The survivors were transported to safer  places. The basic amenities were provided but 

fell short of expectations. Queues stretched like serpents to fetch potable ale. Harish 

thirsty's feet refused to move out of the shelter. His diabetic body had not consumed the 

mandatory medicines. Anita was busy with other chores.

The Rehabilitation form was lying besides him. He was procrastinating and the details for 

compensation remained unfilled.

"Look at the Saptarishi", said Anita trying to infuse enthusiasm in his favourite subject. 

She pointed her index finger upwards at the blanket of blackness. "Isn't it fascinating?" It 

was more of a statement than a question. But Harish's mind was blank and his gaze was 

transfixed into distant nothingness.  She caressed his back with concern, "Look Harish 

everyone is in the same boat".

Images of his home reduced to debris came flashing before his eyes. Anita had pushed 

him out of their house as emergency sirens wailed. They were a part of fleeing group to 

safety.

The vagaries of Nature had tossed their lives into disarray.

A wrinkled face looked around the pandemonium and softly uttered. " The dawn will 

herald a new better beginning." A child squealed with a crude ball of rags. A nubile girl's 

anxious eyes searched for her near and dear ones. A dozen pair of legs hurried to get 

provisions.The fire in the belly had to be doused.

Mother Earth had spewed detritus from her bowels. Harish's heart lay below the rubble of 

his home.

                                              

Blind-date

As I pushed the ornate gates of her little cottage, my heart gathered speed as if I was 

cruising on the Highway. The manicured lawns reflected the neatness freak in her. The 

green thumb was evident by the array of colourful flowers blooming. Anne would have 

loved such a picturesque garden.



Billy has been my best friend from childhood. He was worried about my loneliness and 

aloofness and had taken matters into his hands. It was his persistent rant that I move

ahead in life. I was a bit skeptical when he passed on her cellphone number.



My anxious hand hit the doorbell. What was I expecting? I know not. Could any lady 

match the graciousness of Anne? I brushed aside these stray thoughts. This was just a 

date, I reminded myself.The door opened and my eyes fell on a feathered mask."Good 

evening , David", a husky voice peered through the mask. I returned the greeting. The 

voice had a tinge of familiarity.

I sat on the chair and she got up from the opposite chair to be behind me. I tilted my 

head behind and before I could look up at her , my eyes were blinded with a piece of 

cloth. The vehicle of my thoughts hit a speed breaker. "Whhhhhat is.......", completely 

taken aback. "Shhhh...This is a blind date, isn't it?". I hadn't heard a more feminine 

seducing voice. My nerves relaxed a bit. Something touched my lips and my hands felt 

the shape of a goblet. "Drink ", she urged me. It was my favorite wine. 

                  Billy must have told her about my preferences. 

I could feel her closeness as she hovered around me. Her perfume slightly assailed my 

nostrils. Anne's favorite perfume. I had gifted it to her on our wedding anniversary. Her 

touch was soothing. I had missed this gentle touch after Anne left my world. The goblet 

was taken away from my hands and she stroked my lips with her slim fingers and I felt 

stoked. This was a beginning of a wonderful relationship, I deduced. The pleasure 

continued. I lost track of time. Her arousal made me tumescent. I was dying to 

see her face.The telepathy worked and the blindfold was yanked off in one 

smooth action. There was no mask on her. I could feel the color drain off my face. The 

face was very familiar even in dim lights. She could not be Anne. NO. 

I could feel my chest constrict and breath tighten. My hands and legs were in air, 

gasping. Two claw-like hands encircled my neck.

                 Karma had come back to haunt me.

                                   

The splintered window.

The rent is a big high, concluded the mature mind. Balancing the monthly budget with no 

room for trimming the expenses would be tough. Junior loved the house but.......

The little feet kept pace with the longer strides of the bigger boots on the cobbled 

pathway.


They could not save Kate. The proceeds of the sale of their home could not inject life back into her. 

Losing their home was equally devastating for them. Each corner of the house was a granary of 

memories. Of shared laughter, merriment and obstacles. The celebrations added  another dimension 

to their home. The walls resonated with excitement and joy of each milestone of their only child. The 

mango tree in the backyard grew up with their baby. The strings of attachment were difficult to snap.


Junior turned behind and eyed the 'To Let' sign . Let me do something , he 

ruminated. As they entered an adjoining lane, the tender hands picked up a 

stone and gave a mischievous look. He tossed it two times in the air to catch it 

and with a mighty heave the glass pane splintered , leaving a trail of a design 

of a peacock feather worth admiring.

Papa jerked at the sharp vicissitude of action. Junior shushed him with a finger 

on his lips.

"The Kid is my favorite Charlie Chaplain  film"and the impish eye looked up at 

his papa and winked.Dragging his father's little finger with his tiny hands he 

said,"Papa, the landlady will reduce the rent now. Let's go and negotiate"

                                                           

 


                                                       

The dark alleys

My soles made a hard impact on the cobbled pathway affecting the anxious nerves of my 

brain. Trying to keep the slipping purse on my shoulder, I was turning behind to access 

the impending danger. The stranger's pace was quickening. Sensing the  closing distance, 

I made an attempt to increase my strides. Fear pervaded every pore of my being and the 

air around me seemed to be thinning. I gasped for help.

Beads of perspiration broke on my creased brow. My mouth stretched like the Thar desert 

and I ran my tongue onto to the roof of my mouth. I turned around to check my pursuer 

and fell short of stumbling. I gathered myself as I felt the bladder bursting. These 

inconveniences were a speck compared to the mammoth danger chasing me. The street-

lights didn't offer much solace to me. With no soul in sight , my confidence was at nadir. I 

once again turned my head back for the umpteen time. I don't remember how many 

times my neck had rotated backwards. The stranger's outer features shouldn't be 

distinguished . The visor was pulled down intentionally to mask his facial terrain.


                                                   


A pair of boots walked besides me. The rising palpitations drummed into my ears. The 

body moved from my left side with one swift motion taking a huge step ahead of me and 

came face to face reading the terror in my eyes. My handbag was yanked off as my 

shoulder went numb. His feet made a dash in the cover of the moonless darkness as the 

path forked into two. I could't know which way he disappeared. I was left helpless and 

penniless.

A silhouette came out of the darkness. "Missy , there has been a spate of robberies 

in the district. Deposit your gold chain into this". And he fished out a handkerchief. It 

made sense to my confused scared mind. Hailing a cab which appeared out of Aladdin's 

lamp, he pressed a currency note into my nervous palm and melted away as the wheels 

gathered momentum. I didn't have the time to thank the Samaritan.

I clutched the handkerchief as I rang the bell of my apartment. The piece of cloth felt 

empty. The last vestige of faith evaporated and tore my soul.

                                                      

(Google Image)

Pruned

            She wore black and her face was dull and withered.

Mourners wondered how she would live her life without him. They were blissfully 

together for 30 summers. Or was it the way the world perceived ? Only she knew the 

truth. Dementia had taken a toll on his mind and had ravaged her soul. As a primary care-

giver she suffered the most.

Her fledglings had taken a leap in the open skies. She was instrumental in strengthening 

their delicate feathers. A proud mother, she saw them fly away to foreign lands. She 

waved to them with a heavy heart.

Her young  shoulders efficiently shouldered the domestic machinery running smoothly.

She tended to his sick mind and body as a dutiful wife. She had done enough to fulfill all 

her roles.

As the tender rays peeped through the curtains, she looked out at the  Fiat and 

Ambassador parked in the open space of her house. The vehicles were gnawed with 

dust and neglect. The place resembled a junkyard. The ground beneath was 

with moldy and dirty.

                              She had already made up her mind.

Two fortnights away, she stood with the blinds pushed away, sipping her ginger tea. 

She wore a baby pink tunic and  her face was adorned with a smile. 

The tiny sprouts craned their necks above the wet soil to greet her. The sunshine that 

spread over the newborns greens seemed to bless them . Soon Jasmine, roses , lilies will 

vie for space with ferns and succulents. The mint, cabbage and aubergines will nourish 

her soul. 

          The garden of her home and mind is blooming and blossoming once again.

                                 

                                

Detached

It was dark by the time she boarded the 7.15 bus. The seats at the rear would not be 

occupied as commuters gave last preference to them. A smile behind the silk scarf 

appeared at the sight of vacant seats. With none for company , she was happy to be in 

her own company. She scanned the area between the driver and herself. A few stray 

female commuters with bawling kids were to be seen. The kids kept their moms occupied 

so there was no fear of her being noticed by them.

She kept her head low while passing through the condominium gate. She rummaged into 

her tote if any neighbor made an attempt to greet her. She ditched the elevator to take 

the flight of stairs. Her legs needed the exercise, she justified it to herself. Moreover it 

was good for her heart. She had read in a Health Magazine.

Inside the safe confines of her apartment she breathed freely. The wall of loneliness and 

enigma was a bulwark, which she painstakingly built brick by brick, around her. The 

barrier or defense wall collapsed and she felt emancipated. 

Daisy clambered on her. Her feline friend purred with excitement and she  reciprocated 

the feeling. They both ate fish in silence.

Night seemed to embrace her like a warm blanket and she gazed at the twinkling spread 

up. She loved to talk to the residents of the skies. They asked her no questions. They 

were faceless and nameless. She was comfortable with the soliloquy . The distance 

between her and the constellations melted way. Sleep kissed her eyelashes and it was 

time for the rays to wake up.

                         This was a quotidian ritual without fail.

                                  

                                     

As her heels hit the hard ground, a pair of a dozen curious eyes behind the mango tree 

stared at her silhouette.

" I wonder where does she work?"

"She is a witch devoid of a broom"

" Does she practice black magic?"

" Shush".

"She cannot hear".

And she heard it all.