Child labor.

                                        

The summer vacations yawned lazily in aestivation. 

Tanya purchased textbooks and readied her uniform.

Laxmi too looked forward.

Both saw each other on the first day.

Laxmi 'manned' the counter, handed a burger to Tanya.

Laxmi's makeshift cafe, outside the school premises, held her family's body and soul 

together.

                                         

school days

The contrived expression and the palms pressing on the abdomen were the ploys.

“Put on your gumboots and carry the umbrella”, I ordered sternly.

The school bus arrived. Examinations stressed him.

The paper boats stood on his desk. I smiled.

                                                 







Google pic.

try try

Amy's name was not announced.

Her ego took a fall. The floor tasted like bitter-gourd. 

The bitterness of defeat left a bad taste in her mouth. 

She would be Master-Chef next year.

                                         

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.

Lantern

He cleaned the soot of the lantern glass and the cotton wick. The flame burnt brighter 

each night as the King and his concubines copulated. Vatsyayana chronicled each 

escapade between the silk sheets. Thus Kamasutra was born, the guide to “art-of-living”.

Dennis presented the book to his Valentine.

     

                                                  


                                                  

                Prompt : Write a story in exactly 48 words that includes a lantern.

                 You can post your comment on my Face-book Page too.

                                                  

survivor

The deafening sound.

Wailing in the hospital.

Regaining consciousness, she felt numb.

The physiotherapist aided her.

She was unsure.

One step at a time, said he.

She obeyed.

She shuddered at her next step.

Her maiden step on prosthesis.

                                     

Caution

                              

Even at three score and three years, she in ash grey off-shoulder gown managed to fire 

his passion. The corporate world gushed over his Armani frame while her clairvoyant eyes 

saw the flannel suit dissipate into ash. The smoke in his lungs suffocated her.

                                       

(Google Image)



The prompt is a story in exactly 44 words that includes the following two elements: a color word and a number.

                                                              

Festival of Lights.

The bursting crackers outshone the twinkling skies but darkness multiplied in his heart. 

He wished that he could celebrate Diwali as other fortunate kids.

The Sunshine caressed the nondescript facade as his tiny feet made a way out 

with a childless couple. He had a last look at the orphanage and desired each kid, a home.

The lady with wings and wand pronounced Tathaastu.

                                                             

shadow of doubt

"Good-night, little Princess". 

“Don’t leave me alone, Dad. The monster under the bed keeps me awake the 

whole night”. I bend. She is sitting with her arms encircled around her knees, 

her face ashen.

“Dad, don’t believe her”. I go numb.

But when my eyes scan the bed, nothing is there.

Laughter resonates the room.

But when I check under the bed, nothing is there.

                                    

oceanic warning

The bile regurgitated from the leviathan bowel was strewed on the Marina beach.

Environmentalists complained of oil stained sea-anemone carcass, stink and tonnes of plastic detritus. 

Karma, what goes around comes around. Beware.

                     

                                           

                                          

unconventional consummation

                      

(google pic)

She a digger with a lily in her coiffure, vermilion in the hair parting and the Prince with a 

different sexual orientation, circumambulated the holy fire to the strains of Elton John.

The spartan marriage of convenience shut the conservative Indian society’s wagging 

tongues or fanned the flames?

                                                      

Ashes and memories

The burning pyre rose quickly. The sandalwood and ghee act as catalysts.

The heat sears my being but my emotions are cold.

He had been a vital part of my life, throbbing with energy.

We had negotiated every hair-pin bend with shared laughter.

The head –on collusion left the metallic body completely mangled.

Only I survived, scared ,lifeless.

What remains are bones, ashes and memories.

The ashes fall lightly on me.

 I touch my womb. His life is throbbing inside me.

Note : ghee - clarified butter

Most of the Hindu communities cremate the dead using sandal wood and ghee. The ashes and bones are offered to any water body i.e. river lake or pond.
Hindus believe in reincarnation.

Hand

          YeahWrite #321 Weekly Writing Challenge

                           

Give us your best microprose using the word “hand”, in exactly 50 words.

“I have no hand in this deceit”, cried Amy.

“Show me your hand”, the Principal uttered sternly.

The ink smeared hand was displayed with reluctance.

“Did you forge this letter?”, the teacher glared.

“This isn’t my hand-writing, swear”, Amy defended herself.

“Why don’t you try your hand at something better?”

                                                   




                           click here to read all the interesting stories.