55 word fiction

David Thomas

2011-01-31T16:05:00.000-08:00

Ice Queen

In a dream she danced and floated on her old polished brown leather skates. Slowly and carefully she spun and stepped to the hot, pounding rhythm. Her steel blue hair complemented the clip-on silver blue ribbon on the back of her tightly wrapped bun. And she stretched and twirled in a world of her own.

Rockefeller Center/New York City

Pathika Dhara

2011-01-31T16:04:00.000-08:00

It was the longest fifteen minutes of her life.

Needles of shame and humiliation pierced through her, threatening to wreck her dam of self control. As she sat motionless, her spirit bruised and beaten, he threw a bundle of bills at her and walked out of the brothel.

Her body had become price tagged.

2009-12-31T13:20:00.000-08:00

A tag went around the blogsphere, which required the taggee to write, in 55 words or less, a complete short story. Many bloggers rose to the challenge and composed excellent pieces. We decided to compile all those stories in a single blog. This is that blog.

Contributions (in progress)

A S *NEW*
Aaki
Abhishek Sainani *NEW*
Aditya Bidikar
Adrita Sarkar
Aishwarya
Alice
Anand
Anant Singh
Aneesha Myles Shewani *NEW*
Angeline
Anshul
Anshumani
Anti
Anupama Viswanathan
Anurag
Anyesha
Aparna banerjee
Archster
Arijit Sett
Arnab
Arpita Myles *NEW*
Artie Knapp
Ashish
Ashok Gurumurthy
Babelfish
Bald Monkey
Black Jedi
Brood Mode
Casablanca
Chamique
Chitra Raghunath
Crue Gerlach *NEW*
D *NEW*
DC
DD
Deaths Head Roy
Dharmendra
Divya
Desinole
DoZ
Ektz
eM
Eroteme
Erythrocyte
Feverdog
Fine Young Cannibal
Flickering Flame
Gamesmaster G-9
Gati
Gaurav Mishra
Gaurav Sabnis
Geetanjali Shrivastava
Goldeneyed Aquarian
Gvenum
Ideasmith
Indefatigable Guy *NEW*
Ironyofparadox
J. Alfred Prufrock
J K Ho *NEW*
Jasmine
Jax
Jay
Jinx Malloy
Kaashyapeya
Kamlesh Kothari *NEW*
Kanti
KI *NEW*
Kumari
Laura
Lavi
M
M (Tread Softly Upon)
Madhuri Dutta
Manduka
Mandy
Manoj
Maverick
Megha
Melchizedek
Mihir Kamdar
Mihir Kamdar *NEW*
Minal
Mint Chutney
Monster Paperbag *NEW*
Ms. D
Muntazir
Mustang
Muthu Kumar *NEW*
Nandini Gupta
Nee
Ojas
Orange Jammies
Pallav
Panu
Parna
Ping *NEW*
Prashant
Prasun Guha *NEW*
Preeti *NEW*
Prerona
Primalsoup
Priya
Quincy the Quackpot
Rainbeau_Peep
Rajashi
Rajesh J. Advani
Ramana
Rathish Balakrishnan
Ratna
Ravi I
Ravi II
Ravikiran Ravulaparthi
R.E.F.L.E.C.T.I.O.N.S
Reminisce *NEW*
Renu
Reshma Sanyal
Rhyncus
Richtofen
Rileen
Rimi
Rohan Kumar
Ru
Sagnik
Samadrita *NEW*
Sandil
Sangeeta
Senthil Kumaran
Sharon
Sheryl Snook *NEW*
Shibanka
Shraddha Manvi
Shreya
Shreyans Mehta
Shrutarshi Basu
Sibin Mohan
Simple Simon
Sinfully Pinstripe
Someone
Somnambulist *NEW*
Sophocles
Sphinx
Spunky Monkey
Srin
Stochastica
Sunil
Sunu
Sunrayz
Sushir Rahaman
Su_Think Tank *NEW*
Swathi
Tablemannered
Tarun Kovvali
Tech
Teleute
Thalassa Mikra
The One
Unjustified Insanity
Urmea
Vignesh Ganesan
Vikas Shrivastava *NEW*
Vinod Khare
Vipul Grover *NEW*
Vishnupriya
Vishnupriya Sharma
Whimsical Wiseling
Wandering Dervish
Yashita

If you would like your story included, please send an email to gamesmaster(dot)g9(at)gmail(dot)com. If you are referring someone else's story, please be certain that we have that person's permission to publish his/her work.

A S

2009-12-08T14:47:00.000-08:00

That hall was clumsy. Elderly people everywhere, like discarded and rusted tools that were once sharp and shiny. Son again convinced the father about their shifting together to village for which the father sold off his property. Outside, with cool breath and a fat cheque, son passionately kissed the letter which read ‘permanent immigration granted’.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That day kitty party was in her posh penthouse.

They raised a toast for the hapless children, spoke highly on how child labor must be stopped at all costs and that such kids desperately need love, education and care.

When done, hungry Choutu rushed to clean the mess with his tiny hands and hopeful eyes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since poor and illiterate, they wondered why their anemic teenage daughter fainted frequently. Thus, they went to a famous ‘tantrik baba’ who announced she was possessed. Baba took their semi-conscious daughter to a dark room for ‘treatment’. They were relieved that the evil spirit was gone.

But only she knew what else she had lost….

Kamlesh Kothari

2009-11-24T18:44:00.000-08:00

RED

Everythings so fresh still
9 great years!! - he felt like a teenager madly in love
"A surprise bouquet of red roses please - her favourite "
he chuckled,as he tore his flight tickets.
"WHY?" he demanded
She looked down, ashamed at her own nakedness
The only colour on his mind was RED......
... on his hands too.

Mihir Kamdar

2009-11-24T18:40:00.000-08:00

The Ghost Driver by Insane Thrillers
------------------------------------

That night, Akash was enjoying his drive on a deserted highway. When
he glanced at the rear view mirror, so terrified was he that it caused
him a massive heart stroke. He saw a car following him that had no
driver...

Or was he looking on the right side of a left hand drive car?

J K Ho

2009-10-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

Someone Better

She said she thinks there is someone better out there.

I replied I know there IS someone better for you. The world has over 6 billion people, say half are male, one-third are too young, one- third are too old, of the 1 billion remaining surely there is someone better than me. Go find him.

Sphinx and the 98-Word Post in a 55-Word Blog

Not that I don’t like what you wrote, I do. But dude, this is a collection of 55-word stories! Now what are we suppose to do when you post a 98-word tirade? Do we change our name to 55-98 word blog? Use Microsoft Word to count your words and then send in your post please.

Vikas Shrivastava

2009-09-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

The old blade messed his grown beard more than his relationship. He
has plans of sealing the lips and life with a kiss. The broken mirror
didn’t let him see his face. She hated unpleasant surprises. He didn’t
want to surprise her either.

-------------------------------------------------

I was born smiling and thought that I will die also like that. I saw
her and I smiled. I saw her sleeping in my arms and I smiled. Every
time I smiled I almost died. Today she left me. I couldn’t smile. I
don’t want to live but couldn’t smile to death either.

-------------------------------------------------

She loved her mirror. She could look back in past with that. She was
beautiful and wanted to be more. Her face in the mirror was a thing of
past. Her mirror though told her about the comparatively less
beautiful present. She threw it to run away from present, but lost the
past too.

----------------------------------------

Abhishek Sainani

2009-08-23T22:08:00.001-07:00

Ant's Story

"Stop harassing the ant. If it dies you'll fail in tomorrow's exam." Bhagirath warns Amit.
Amit grins broadly at Bhagirath, then looks at the limping ant trying to get away, stands up and squashes it under his shoes.
Next day, Amit fails in the exam.

Vipul Grover

2009-08-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

The Journey of His Lifetime

"That looks like a nasty wound, Khan Sahib", said the fellow passenger, seeing his bandaged forearm.
"Its better now", he answered cautiously, a drop of sweat coming down his forehead.
Within some hours he was off the train at Karachi and onto the ship to independent India, away from his homeland.
He hurriedly removed the itching bandage to reveal his tattooed name - Lachhmi Narayan it read.

Swades

A congested train; a rickety bus; an overloaded boat; a bullock-cart; on foot through jungles. Finally, he was there, his home in the cradle of Himalayas away from the noise and the smoke of the city and the sahibs. She was waiting for him impatiently by the fence. He was ready for a new life.

The Four Seasons

I reluctantly offered her my umbrella as the rain fell on the scorching earth. She bluntly declined. We had met few months back as the flowers bloomed everywhere. However, things started falling apart as we shed all pretences like the leaves of trees outside. Today, I sit huddled all alone and unexpectedly, it feels great.

Samadrita

2009-07-20T16:20:00.001-07:00

Despair and Hope

She stood motionless in the rain,just like a wax-sculpture.The rain-drops had seeped through every inch of her clothing but she could only feel her hot tears.
Just as she were about to fall apart a warm hand curled around hers and she heard a familiar,soothing voice whisper,'It's gonna be okay.'

That Girl

We always played together in the sunny afternoons-me and her.She had the most wonderful smile ever but people only noticed her scarred face.
Years passed by and it was my wedding day.
Bidding her goodbye I said 'Soon you'll be gone too.'
She just smiled and replied,'Nobody marries an ugly girl'

Crue Gerlach

2009-06-18T11:54:00.001-07:00

Learning to Fly

There is a roar about my head like a freight train ambushing my face. The wind blows so fast in my eyes I see nothing but black. My body overflows with feeling as I shift in the air, the wind leaves my eyes and I keep falling. I wasn’t made to fly.

Arpita Myles

2009-06-13T02:29:00.000-07:00

Memories

Memories floated back to him as he listened to the radio. The song. The one they would sing by the river, holding hands, weaving dreams. He returned abruptly to the present. There was work to be done. He walked outside, and, touched a button on his shirt, blowing up everyone in the market, including himself.

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

First Love

I gazed at my lover, breathed in his scent and resolved never to go back to him. I looked at the woman who now held him. She stared back contemptuously. Ayesha touched my arm in concern. I pursed my lips and said, “Coffee shall not pass my lips again. Have to control this caffeine addiction.”

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

Enlightenment

I approached the ascetic’s abode, feeling my tiredness draining away. “What can I do for you?” he asked kindly.
“I am lonely. I want a loyal friend to take me through life. ”

He nodded, reached into his satchel and handed me a wooden tablet. I turned it over. The mirror returned my startled expression.

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

The wedding night

I shuddered slightly as I remembered his touch setting my body aflame. I turned as my groom entered the nuptial chamber. “Are you nervous,” he whispered as he gently lifted my veil. “Yes,” I stammered. “Its my first time,” silently adding, with you.

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

Aneesha Myles Shewani

2009-06-12T21:04:00.000-07:00

NDE

Calmly she floated towards the glimmer at the end of the tunnel. The momentum was interrupted by confused voices in her head. She hung in limbo; feeling nauseated as the voices coaxed her to retreat from the tunnel. Startled, she opened her eyes. The anesthesia had worn-off. She still wonders if she had a Near-Death-Experience.

Lonely Lunches

He always ate lunch alone, gazing out of the glass window. She thought he was lonely and decided to befriend him.

She shared her meals with him and she shared her heart and soul. He also adored her and specially invited her to his wedding.

The new recruit always saw her eating lunch alone…

Horoscope

“Your child will never sleep hungry.” The pundit predicted. The father gratefully extended a token amount of 11 Rs and went home happy.

Mohan is a healthy 10-year old, who never sleeps hungry and frequently samples tasty food. The meals come as a perk with his regular job of cleaning dishes at Chaudhary ka Dhabba.

Coincidence

She looked around, biding time in the traffic jam, and caught his bored glance. The frequency of their coincidental meetings left a sweet pang in her heart.

“Of course, it had to be so!” she murmured when she saw him dining with his wife. She continued to wait for her husband in the hotel lobby.

Control Freak

Her death left him lost, confused and hungry. A day had passed since he had eaten. All these years he ate, slept, spoke and acted as she had commanded him to. He was afraid to fix up a meal lest she suddenly walked in and admonished him for fiddling around in her kitchen!

Flight

The incessant tapping on the window was distressing. I cautiously flung the door open. It remained oblivious to the escape route, ardently struggling against the glass pane.

Suddenly, with a flutter of wings the pigeon hovered around the room, saw the open space and flew away. A broader perspective is indeed required to notice prospects.

Long-Distance Relationship

We kept in touch through chat messengers. I enjoyed innumerable, private chats, always imagining his expressions and demeanor.

Three months later, he returned from his trip. I was shocked to meet this stranger. Over time and space, my mind’s eyes had cradled an impression of him in my own likeness, not as he actually was.

Ping

2009-05-26T22:44:00.000-07:00

He walked up the stairs, gun in hand.

Silence.

'This is going to be too easy.'

He rang the bell and waited for it to open.

"SURPRISE!!!" *gun-shot*

Her last words. Followed by the stunned, horrified looks from thirty other people in the room.

Prasun Guha

2009-05-25T23:24:00.000-07:00

Hinduism…

Noon...

"No... I can't" Lolith says; Govind looks bewildered; Binith come foreword with fired eyes "let’s do it...”

..............................

Midnight...

Govind distress with high fever... Lolith murmurs "I can’t score anymore, who will pass the cross from left wing...? Sheikh??? Binith have a nightmare; shouted "I didn't really want it Sheikh... I thought the safety latch..."

Preeti

2009-05-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

ONE LOVE

Husband: Honey, been missing you very much since morning.Will work from home now on.

Wife: a pseudo plastic smile.

He holds her waist and travels to her sensitive neck line, and starts with lecherous kissing. She responds, hoping desperately to forget her first and last love forever and wishing she had a time-turner.

SATIATING BLISS

"BYE MA", waved Dheeraj, his shiny morning face and overloaded satchel disappearing into the school van. "MA" she thinks, thank you God for wanting my sister and blessing me with this priceless possession and little bundle of joy . My womb need not be fertile at all, Dheeraj is my all. I am his MOTHER ever.

Reminisce

2009-05-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

It is night.
I silently hide, clothes ragged, hair shaggy.
I clutch onto my shotgun, waiting to shoot the cops that are now arriving.
I wait. My eyes lock and my reflexes are alert.
I fail to see the approaching cop behind me.
I sigh as the words: “1 life left” appears on the screen.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wake up, it’s 7 am. My parents are not home; my uncle said I’d meet see them soon. It was a party! My first party! I brush my teeth, dress properly, and Uncle drives me. As I get there, everyone was wearing black. Confused, I ask: where are we? Where are mommy and daddy?

- Simon

D

2009-05-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

Bad Timing

She was meeting him after 3 years. They had gone through all the challenges of love together.They had desperately waited for this moment. It was a matter of just a few days now! Suddenly, she said, "Postpone it by 5 days baby".

"Why?!", he was shocked.

"Periods!"

Muthu Kumar

2009-05-08T19:40:00.000-07:00

The wish:

“You are going to cry……… Aren’t you?”

She tried ignoring him staring at the dark skies. Noticing a shooting star she closed her eyes and wished she would just die. Her hidden tears jumped out and streaked across her face along with the sudden rain.

“Now you wouldn’t know? Would you?” She asked

The rebuke:

“Are you going to cry?”

She hit back “Do you want me to……….” The dark skies took contempt at her rebuke and started to throw rain drops at her.

She shivered and he offered her his coat. She refused and continued to shiver. At least the rain stood by her without asking stupid questions.

The lone flowers:

“Please don’t cry”

He begged her but she couldn’t just stop the tears as they flowed from her eyes streaking across her face blurring the starry sky. The rain started to wail along with her as if it too chose to ignore his consolatory efforts. And they both cried their pained hearts out each alone and each together.

The dawn:

He did not say anything and he didn’t need to. He just held her tight as she cried, cried and cried, until the tears and the rain washed away her pain. Then he said

“Let go”

She nodded. In the distant skies the dawn was slowly brushing out the last ghosts of the dark night.

KI

2009-05-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

THE DATE

Their date had ended. He’d been dreading this moment ever since they’d entered the restaurant.

“What’s wrong?”, she asked.

He had to tell her. Or he’d be left empty, drained. But what could he say?

The waiter placed the bill before them.

“Let’s split the bill?”

He smiled. A good end to a good date.

HOLD MY HAND

"Baby, hold my hand?"

These four words of his would always calm her down, no matter how bad the situation was.

But today, even that wouldn't work. Would it?

Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Baby? Hold my hand?", she pleaded.

The doctor shook his head. "I'm sorry Mrs. Mehrotra. He's gone."

Monster Paperbag

2009-04-21T23:39:00.001-07:00

Vengeance

I finally found the vile creature that took my son.
Her coffin, I lay open under the pale moonlight.
Her serene countenance belies the pitiless temptress within.
Her youthful visage hides centuries of murder.
North winds breathe a cold gale.
But I tremble in rage.
This wooden dagger unleashed.
My grip tightens.
No hesitation.
Death.

Su_ThinkTank

2009-01-13T23:33:00.000-08:00

The doorbell rang. Rai woke up groggily. It was midnight. She looked out of the window. The sky was moonless.
She walked into the living room. A strange fore-boding made her heart beat faster. She unbolted the door with a trembling hand. Two figures started moving towards her and said-

"Surprise! Happy Birthday!"

Somnambulist

2008-09-18T18:51:00.001-07:00

The Call

The call was from him
Hello?”
“She is getting married today.”
“How do you feel?”(Stupid Q)
“Dead.”
“I’ll come over.”
“No - want to be alone.”
Then you wouldn’t have called.”
Silence …
“I’ll be there.
I hang up …throw my arms in the air with a “Yeah” and rush out to be with him.

Sheryl Snook

2008-09-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

Angel/Demon

She looks over at him. Like an angel, sleeping.

Thinking about the good times, especially tonight.

Passionate, caring and loving. It has been awhile.

She has to shower. Before sunrise.

Before the blood started to dry on her naked body.

She hated that he made a horrible, sticky mess.

Next time, she will be cleaner.

Indefatigable Guy

2008-02-07T16:31:00.000-08:00

Two-timer

"Do you love me?" she asked, after they had finished their post-coital cigarette

"Of course", he answered.

"When are you ending it with Madhuri?" she enquired.

"I am not, I love her too".

"What about me then???"

"You'll have to get used to her."

"Noooo!" she screamed, blowing his brains out with her gun.

Sandil

2007-11-08T12:59:00.001-08:00

The Midnight Snack

He dragged the corpse through the fence, into the marsh, as he stopped abruptly at the lake. It was dark. The crisp scent of moist earth filled the air. He had to choose. Now. Should he?

'No!'

No it was. And the hungry assassin smacked his lips.

Madhuri Dutta

2007-11-08T12:58:00.000-08:00

She was running as fast as she could.

He was closing in on her.

She had never run this far away from the lab.

She tripped and fell and suddenly he was standing over her.

In a flash, her tongue shot out, stuck to him and she gulped him in.

Yes, she was the frogwoman.

Shibanka

2007-11-08T12:53:00.000-08:00

The palm trees whispered the sordid news to the evening breeze; it would now travel to every corner of the world. Shomya lay under one of them, his tears narrating the tale of humiliation. He had lost the bet. The Indian cricket team had lost again.
His sobbing stopped gradually as night engulfed the land.

Spunky Monkey

2007-06-09T17:30:00.000-07:00

Clown

He instinctively wrinkled around the corners of his eyes;
sunny orange of the curtains too bright, for his eyes, and him.

Nights, with their camouflaging neon lights, comforted him.
Days, with their consuming clarity, caricatured him.

He reluctantly tore himself apart from the remnants of night,
and looked hesitantly towards the remains of the day.

Anupama Viswanathan

2007-04-09T16:11:00.000-07:00

When every word counts..

Dreams. They rose like high tides, crashing against my heart, dying as silent whispers on my lips. I watched them play; Beauty, Paradox, Passion, Trust.

Finally, I spoke, you didn’t. You smiled.

Today you bend down, to place roses on my grave. I see them. Tears. My man, don't..please don't..it hurts, worse than death, sweetheart..

Shreyans Mehta

2007-04-05T13:54:00.001-07:00

I try.
I desire to become...

I try.
I attempt to become...

I do not try.
I become...

Adrita Sircar

2007-03-29T15:48:00.000-07:00

The tinkering of glasses could no longer be heard.The strong murmur had subsided.The empty,unwashed plates looked apalling.The music was still playing,only,there was nobody to pay heed.Along with all that,was the fuzzy smell of perfume.

The aftermath,of a succesful party.

Ashish

2007-03-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

And he thought they would live "Happily" ever after! But what HE didnt know was,
the Illusion SHE was, she had done that before, but it was his first time! It was time! He was told the bitter truth!
Fainted with feeling zilch, he lived for the sake of living...kept thinking "may be SOMEDAY"....

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

"Finally!!" they thought, as she laid down on the couch, all tired, but they didnt care.
Then it began, both of them sucking it hard! Partly asleep, tired, she could feel them, but didnt bother to resist.
The ritual was interrupted when one of them shouted,"Dude..lets takeoff, her mom has switched on MORTEIN !!!"

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

Eroteme

2007-03-28T16:31:00.000-07:00

"Love? You can't be serious. I am a happy man. Love is not for people who are happy"
Aaah, she thought, just the right sport. Charm, seduce, lead, discard.
Aaah, he thought, baited milady. Now all I need is to keep her intrigued and on her toes.
Love followed them everyday for 50 more years.

------------------------------------------------------

He wasn't religious till now, ever since the priest assured him about reincarnation. It can't be true, he thought, God! it can't be true.
"Please pour the ashes into the water", the priest said.
That means my father can return? No. I will do all that you want me to, dear God

Orange Jammies

2007-03-28T16:25:00.000-07:00

Snacks on the table, cushions on the floor, beer mugs in place, larynxes straining to cheer, hands ready to high-five, already arguing about who would get run out, they were all set.

As they sat in the darkness, they learned there are some things you just can't control.

Like rain delays and power failures.

---------------------------------------------------------------

“It's dead,” pronounced Vishwaam, peering at the moth on his haunches before prodding it gently just to make sure.

“Quick, clip the wings,” urged his sibling and partner-in-crime Hridaya.

“There. That's done. Now we have two each with two to spare. Quite enough, don't you think, to fly all the way to Mommy?”

----------------------------------------------------------------

Long sunlit afternoons of kissing are always such a good idea.

Mmmm.....damn, he was good. The pressure was perfect. The teasing just that teeny bit naughty. And mercifully, not rough or harsh like the last one.

The warmth drawing her in closer, she wanted it to go on forever....

But the director said “Cut!”

----------------------------------------------------------------

He liked her smile as she sat coyly across from his mother, answering questions in low tones.

Tea over, the elders decided it was time for them to chat alone.

“So, what kind of music do you enjoy?” he asked, warming to his favorite theme.

“Agent Malini Sriram. The Quattrochi case. Mr. Sinha, you're under arrest.”

---------------------------------------------------------------

“Pink as usual?” Shireen tittered, while her sister pretended to ignore her.

Only the wobbling of her shoulders gave her away, and Shireen knew Farhana was enjoying this as much as she was.

Guess the Undie Color was a game they'd invented during their annual summer trips to Dahanu, so many years ago.

65, to be precise.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

“Leave” said the text message in its simplistic/soundless/jarring way.

“Now let's see,” thought she.

Inhibitions. Check.

Sanity. Check.

Relationship. Check.

Planet. Nearly there....

“That'll teach him to be more specific the next time around” she giggled, and continued her conversation with the slit wrists that foamed all over the unopened bottle of medication.

Rajashi

2007-02-27T20:54:00.000-08:00

SMS

Uma thought of writing a review later. The man sitting beside, sighed "Goooood Filmmmm".

She must be prepared for the next show. The SMS read, "Sam gave this no. Rs.1350"

She wrote, "Fine. Wait outside"

Wiping her mouth, and retouching the gloss, she came out. In the blinding daylight her father's face sent her reeling.

-------------------------------------------------------------

E-mail

He was a bit surprised about the way she wrote back to him. Cold, abusive and sarcastic!

"Can't I be naughty with my newly wed bitch of a wife!" Karan thought out loud.

Confused and angry, he opened the mail again.

It was signed Preeti "Agarwal". It was the name of his pregnant X-girlfriend!

Whimsical Wiseling

2007-02-08T18:47:00.000-08:00

Worth
She stretched and languorously reached out for the slim leather case.
"How long?" she asked, as she lit the offending cigarette.
He looked at her with contempt,
"It's seven in the morning. Must you?"
She gave him a searching look.
"Yes. The worst part of being lied to is knowing you weren't worth the truth."

Pipe-dreams
She lay on her bed staring at the celing, her empty wine glass the only witness to the slip of the mask, the smudged kohl. She nibbled on a perfectly manicured nail and sighed.

"Everyone has at least five dreams every night. That's thirty-billion dreams. One of them has got to be about me."

The Looking Glass
The cherry red stained her lips in one precise, fluid curve.
Her eyes, highlighed in a swirl of burgundy.
Cheekbones smeared with ripe plums, iridescent over sepia skin.
Auspicious Colors.
Flawless. Immaculate. Composed.
She contemplated her mirror image, facinated at the ease with which she concealed the scars.
"Baraat Aa Gayi Hai..."
Outside. And Inside.

someone

2006-11-25T15:29:00.000-08:00

Warmness on the sofa has yet not faded..........lady in the picture
frame was smiling.......

The glasses which just few mintues back were embracing warm lips were
starring at each other in silence...

A hand was searching for lighter.......

She was tired and new to the city, to the darkness.

R.E.F.L.E.C.T.I.O.N.S

2006-11-07T14:50:00.000-08:00

Finally..

I was always a slow learner. Things took their own pace with me.

I would move my limbs vigorously till the ache became unbearable. But it was more the fear of falling.

It was raining. I was climbing upwards to see the sunrise from my sheltered foliage.

I suddenly slipped…..

Finally I learnt to fly.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The call

Tring Tring..4.45am

Me: Hello?

Sia: Doctor, I am walking on clouds!! I'm not scared. I can see a garden I always saw in dreams. I am………….

The line went dead.

A shrink is always a call away.

Me: Hello, Sia there?

Someone: sobs…Doctor, Sia is no more. She passed away this morning…

Mihir Kamdar

2006-10-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

He rides me as he vanquishes the opposition. He rides me, lifting the princess in one swoosh and they ride off together.

He rides me towards the cliff & pulls my reigns so I stand up on my hind legs & it makes him look a victorious king.

I slant too much. They slip. Oops!

--------------------------------------------

It was the last letter. He wanted to finish reading it before going home.

“I’m sorry dad – I loved her ...” It was punctuated by many sobs from the old man.

“.... I can’t live without her, and so I’ve decided……… ”

He broke down – like he had every day for the last twelve years.

Ironyofdparadox

2006-09-23T15:32:00.000-07:00

The Thin Line

With trembling hands she scratched them off one by one. Jaywalking into a bus. Free falling from her 25th floor penthouse. Drowning in the bathtub. Slashing…no too cliché. ODing on valium – a definite maybe. But there was no painless death, was there? Her last entry in the journal read: "I'll live to see him regret."

Bound by memories...

It wasn't every night that he bared his soul to a stranger. But this wasn't just another night. He talked about the first glance, the fleeting looks and.... the love. Sia was long gone now, but he still ached. Running her fingers through his hair, the stranger cooed, "At least you aren't a virgin anymore!"

Neighbour's envy, owner's pride

She watched as the hip chick got onto the train. From the swish of her straightened hair to the unclasping of her tote bag; to the flicking open of a shiny compact, a hand sanitiser, a high end phone – Meena's eyes drank in everything. With six children envy was the only thing she could afford.

Shraddha Manvi

2006-09-01T00:44:00.000-07:00

Her heart skipped a beat when she held his hand in hers. She never imagined she would say goodbye to him. But he said it first. She watched him walk away till the end of the road until she could see him no more. And then, without her consent, a tear rolled down her cheek.

Sharon

2006-08-23T05:54:00.000-07:00

Wolves At The Door

There was no escape from this, she thought, more with resignation than with despair. It was time to end things. Cold steel would finish the job utterly and finally.
She took a deep breath, picked up the scissors and began to cut up her credit cards, one by one.

Sinfully Pinstripe

2006-08-08T15:50:00.001-07:00

Dadu.

I

The old man shook his head vigorously. "No, Dadubhai. Your story is all wrong. A story MUST have a twist in the tail."

II

He died on a Tuesday the next month, almost unnoticed.

III

It's been twelve years. I still wouldn't write the way you wanted me to.

But today, Dadu, I tried. I failed. Sorry.

Sophocles

2006-08-08T15:50:00.000-07:00

ACQUITED

"Not as long as I live!", he screamed, "I will not allow an innocent man's blood on my soul". The people were getting restive - hate and anger in their eyes – yet - he did not care. "I, Pontius Pilate, declare Jesus of Nazareth, innocent of all crimes! He is free to go."

Pallav

2006-08-08T15:48:00.000-07:00

The pain burned down my heart like a poison arrow goes through its flailing victim, i blinked back the tears and motioned to the boy with the blade in his hand.

I winked at him, he put the blade to my throat and ran it across, i wiped off the blood with my handkerchief,though it kept flowing

and death said to me "let's go,its a lonely road to hell you know"

Nee

2006-08-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

Lucky number 55

He swore softly. His bridge buddies would never let him hear the end of it. "Paaji, you're too old now!", they would say. 5 years, and this was the first time he had missed the 5:54 local. "I am getting old, …"

The blast from the first-class compartment put an end to his pity party.

Gaurav Mishra

2006-08-08T15:40:00.000-07:00

CLOSER

-*-*-*-

DAN & ALICE

A man and a woman, strangers, see each other from opposite sides of the street, as they walk through rush hour London traffic. As she steps onto the street, she is hit by a cab.

Later, in the hospital, he tells her what happened: “You came to. You focused on me. You said, ‘Hello, stranger.’”

-*-*-*-

Later, in a bus, he tells her that he writes euphemism-filled obituaries for a newspaper.

“What would my euphemism be?” she asks him.

“She was disarming”, he replies.

“That’s not a euphemism,” she protests.

“Yes,” he looks into her eyes, “it is.”

Stunned, she turns away from him and looks out of the bus window.

-*-*-*-

DAN & ANNA

As she photographs him for his book-jacket, they realise that they are about to kiss.

“I don’t kiss strange men,” she hesitates.

“Neither do I,” he replies, as they lean forward and kiss.

Later, when she refuses to see him, “You are taken”, he protests: “You kissed me!”

“What are you,” she taunts him, “twelve?”

-*-*-*-

LARRY & ANNA

He enters the aquarium, in his doctor’s white coat, and looks around for the nymph, named Anna, he had met in a cyber-sex chat room last night.

She answers to her name, but tells him that he has been set up by someone pretending to be her, by a man who thinks he loves her.

-*-*-*-

DAN & ANNA

A year later, at an exhibition of her photographs, she smugly tells him how he had set her up with Larry, “Nice work, Cupid.”

When he asks her if she loves him and she says “no”, both of them know that she’s lying.

Later that night, strangely irritated, she finds herself snapping at her boyfriend.

-*-*-*-

DAN & ALICE

He confesses that he has been seeing Anna for a year, “because I fell in love with her”, “because she doesn’t need me”.

“How do you do this to someone?” she asks, then remembers that she had been on the other side.

“I’m the one who leaves, not you,” she repeats incoherently and runs out.

-*-*-*-

LARRY & ANNA

“I slept with a whore”, he confesses, but realizes that she also has something to confess.

“Are you leaving me? Because of this? Because of Cupid?” he asks her. “Why did you marry me? But we’re happy, aren’t we? Is he a good fuck? Better than me? Did you cum? Did you ever love me?”

-*-*-*-

LARRY & ALICE

He sees her in a strip-club; she strips for him, opens her legs wide to let him have a look.

When he repeatedly asks for her real name, pleads, she replies: “Jane”.

When he begs her to sleep with him, she first tells him, “I’m not a whore”, and then, “I’m not your revenge fuck.”

-*-*-*-

DAN & ANNA

She meets him at the opera, a free woman, her divorce papers finally signed by her ex-husband.

He is happy first, then suspicious, “You slept with him, didn’t you?”

“He wouldn’t sign the papers otherwise,” she pleads, “please forgive me.”

“He’s clever, your ex-husband,” he sighs, “All I can see is him all over you.”

-*-*-*-

DAN & LARRY

Alone, without Anna or Alice, Dan breaks down in Larry’s office.

Larry tells him about the club: “Yes, I saw her naked. No, I did not fuck her. She still loves you. Go back to her.”

But, as Dan is about to leave, indebted, Larry stops him: “I lied to you. I did fuck Alice.”

-*-*-*-

DAN & ALICE/ JANE

They whisper sweet-nothings to each other, in post-coital bliss, until… he tells her that he needs to know the truth about the club

“Then it’s over,” she replies, “because I cannot tell you the truth.”

He suddenly realizes that their entire relationship is a lie.

“Who are you?” he asks her, and slaps her hard.

Artie Knapp

2006-08-05T05:13:00.000-07:00

BORED ON MARS

Final transmission from Pathfinder: “As requested, I examined red dust, and rocks, which was very tedious if I am being honest. Being sent to the middle of the galaxy to explore space would have been exciting; instead, you sent me to a place that looks like rural Oklahoma. Thanks. And no, there isn’t water here.”

---------------------------------------------

RETALIATION

“The taste of blood had never been sweeter. I actually wanted it. It fueled my fire to keep fighting. After I got off the canvas I knew things would be different. I dug deep into my soul to unleash hell on my opponent. He knew something was coming; I guess hell was in my eyes.”

---------------------------------------------

Fear of the Abattoir

The single-file-line was a bit peculiar to the oldest lamb of the herd, but when the farmer shouted “Let’s get this load on the train boys,”
the lamb realized what lay ahead for him. The sudden disappearance of family and friends finally made sense as the door closed the last ray of
light and hope.

---------------------------------------------

“Spaghetti Alley”

The hiss of a cat is a most distinct sound. Seeing four cats in such an intense stare down was both exhilarating and frightening to me. Suddenly, one of the felines gently rubbed up against the other cats. Pasta then splattered the pavement from the window above! Compliments owed to Pompilio’s Restaurant! It was suppertime.

---------------------------------------------

THE SNOOZE”

“Look who decided to wake up everybody!”

After Punxsutawney Phil poked his head out of his hole, the Punxsutawney Salvation

Army Band erupted in song.

“What? I see my shadow; there will be six more weeks of winter. What’s the big deal?”

“Phil, today’s the second day of August; you overslept by six months-You goof.”

---------------------------------------------

“An Evening on Palorius 7”

“No matter how vast and far reaching space is, I still want to give you the Universe my darling.”
“That’s very sweet Frank. But why would I need all that space?”
“For starters, think of all the places we’ll get to see and cover.”
“True, but don’t you think we should cover our asses first?”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saddle Up

As I waved goodbye to my little niece, I felt confident that she’d be able to handle the horse. She’ll be right back I thought with a smile. As I watched her disappear around the corner, it was great to see her smiling again so soon. Merry-Go-Rounds sure are a lot of fun for kids.

Erythrocyte

2006-05-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

He heard screeching brakes, ran out and saw his son's broken body surrounded by nightclub gawpers. Unbelieving, he watched a miniskirtedwoman straddle the boy and unbutton his shirt.
"Whore!" He slapped her, hard.
Blood stained her chin. Wordlessly she rose, wiped her mouth, got into a car with a red cross and drove away.

Melted

She squinted into the viewfinder. Everything was set. She'd capturethe solar eclipse and her fieldtrip to Venezuela would be complete.The young man trotted across the square and proffered the ice creamcone. She looked up at his smile and was dazzled. Ice cream meltedonto the cobbles as the sun and moon embraced.

Renu

2006-04-19T05:22:00.000-07:00

"she saw him coming towards her, that dirty old man. before she knew it, he was dragging her away from her quiet corner. She froze. In a flash, her pink silk gown was on the floor. Silence. furtive glances bore into her beautiful naked body.

she felt alive..

almost..

..till he dressed up the mannequin again."

Aaki

2006-04-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

So high

"It was all like a strange, piquant dream..
She rose above the ephemeral clouds she had always loved as a child.
Funny, she thought to herself.
She had touched abyss not quite long ago when she'd jumped off that cliff.
And already her heels were touching the sky."

Chitra Raghunath

2006-03-29T03:42:00.000-08:00

FOUND AND LOST

I spotted him from the bus' footboard. Six years. He looked just the same.

Should I jump? What were the chances we would meet again? I attempted to mentally calculate the probability and gave up.

Now on the same busy pavement, I looked at him and smiled. He looked through me.
I walked away.

Vignesh Ganesan

2006-03-22T04:27:00.000-08:00

Two girls in a dark theatre. One girl whips out her celly and starts messaging. Its dark, the phone is a bright light. The message is read:

'So how is work going ?' she types.

Her friend nudges her and says, 'Don't say going, say goin'.

The 'g' is deleted. The message is now cool.

Rathish Balakrishnan

2006-03-20T03:05:00.000-08:00

Ek choti si love story

He picked his lifeless mobile, swirled it, pleading it to come to life.

Sweety_4_u! 20 minutes in that crowded chat room and he realized she was his destiny! Sweety_4_u!

One minute. One-Point-5.

Ring!

He grabbed the phone, cleared his throat and squeaked a hi. Bated Breath. Silence.

“Sir, do you have a Citibank credit card?"

Jay

2006-03-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

Gasping, he exploded into the light. After months in that tiny prison, smothered by darkness, haunted by whispers, he’d finally escaped.

He heard a familiar voice. His tormentor…here?! He turned to face her, memorising her gaunt features.

Someday, somehow, he’ll kill the bitch.

As they cut his umbilical cord, he clenched his fists and screamed.

Angeline

2006-03-20T02:59:00.000-08:00

They walked into the hall.

“So, where do you want to sit?” he asked.

“Well, anywhere, I’m not fussy” she replied.

“Okay, let’s sit here then.”

“Hmmm, no. Let’s sit there, those seats seem nice”

He was confused, and stayed silent.

Later.

“So, where shall we eat?”

“Well…”

He was silent. Not confused, just silent.

Kumari

2006-03-20T02:53:00.000-08:00

The Hickie Story

It was steamy from the word GO.
Her sensuous moves, his rugged looks, those long legs…it was the hottest moment of Reality TV. The rising crescendo of their passion left the world breathless and then…she bit him.
As the camera gaped speechless, the female Praying Mantis strode proudly over her partner’s head.

Simple Simon

2006-03-19T02:31:00.000-08:00

The unfaithful mistress
--------------------------

"Allright!! Now, he is still." He said to himself in a hushed tone.
He set the crosshair perfectly between the eyes. Momentarily he stopped breathing to steady the barrel.
"Life is one heck of a mistress !!", he thought, as his fingers tightened around the trigger.
Boom!!.
"Thank heavens !! I was in time". said the cop.

The Irony
------------

He sat alone in the corner, tears streaming down his face.
His wife died this morning, leaving behind a month old son.
At a distance, the ring of the bell followed by a deafening applause registered in his ears.
He put on the mask and thought - "Life is not always funny as a circus clown".

The ladykiller
----------------

"You are so damn beautiful" said he, gently caressing her.
She smiled and wrapped her naked body around him coyly.
"How many girls have you told the same thing before ?" - she asked in mock anger.
The serrated knife glistened as it came down in a deadly arc.
"You were the sixth one honey." - He said.

Sibin Mohan

2006-03-19T02:27:00.000-08:00

"Holy Word"...

Supremely confident of his abilities, he decided to take on the
forces that had gathered...some larger, some more powerful, many possessing
vastly greater cunning than he could ever imagine...he stepped into
the field with trepidation, but his body pulsed with childish anger
emanating the war cry that would be heard for aeons..."jihad"

"Red Cherry"...

Sweat pouring down his face as his tired body turned around
for what seemed like the final time, staring down his nemesis whom
he steamed towards. The sun was merciless as expected in an
Indian summer. At the height of his exertion, with a
tired grunt, he released the red cherry...

"OUT! Knocked down his stumps!"

Geetanjali Shrivastava

2006-02-15T11:39:00.000-08:00

The Return of the Muse

"Sipping hot soup, she curled up alone on the bed, under her favourite duvet. Picking up Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own…she soon lost herself in it. A couple of hours later, putting the book aside, she switched off the table-lamp and headed towards the study.It was time.Time to start afresh. "

Prashant

2006-02-15T11:36:00.000-08:00

The traffic suddenly came to a crawl.

“Huh?” he wondered.

The fog stood between him and the answer.

Ages later he saw tail lights speed off and vanish after the flashing lights of newly installed Amber Alert. The alert was still obscure. At last he read it and sped off yelling.

“TESTING 1234567890”. “@#@$@”.

__________________________

Pyaari knew age was catching up on her. She no longer possessed the beauty and liveliness that once won his heart. Every passing day increased her insecurities. How could he forget all the time they spent together? And then, the day arrived. He traded her in for Chamakchallo, the much younger impact-orange Jeep Wrangler.

___________________________

He woke up startled and stared into the darkness surrounding him. The dreadful sensation between his thighs was returning. How long will it last this time? Clueless, he started to cry, quietly first and then aloud. Suddenly the lights went on and a grumpy face popped in. It was time to change his diapers.

Vinod Khare

2006-02-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not, God actually gives personal audience to every soul before damnation. He's God, after all! He can twist space and time to his liking! But each is allowed only one question. He's god after all! He's got an entire Universe to worry about!

So, I asked - why?

God knitted his brows and appeared to think.

"Come to think of it" he said "it really is an interesting question. Howcome I never thought of it?"

Quincy the Qackpot

2006-02-15T11:34:00.000-08:00

Evolution.

After jumping off the boat, the shark bit him. What the shark was doing on the boat in the first place no one knew for sure. But many imagined.

Truth was that the shark had escaped from the aquarium, by jumping on the feeder in the boat and then rowing away.

Yes, they had evolved.

Minal

2006-02-15T11:30:00.000-08:00

Resignation…

She was finally with her parents. Away from the constant bickering at work & home. The uncompromising boss, the jealous colleagues, the insensitive friends, the demanding in-laws. The constant pressure to obey orders and please everyone. The daily struggle and strife. She was unable to face this anymore. She was feeling the pressure of letting her father down. She had tried hard.

Finally, with much deliberation she submitted her resignation. He was reluctant to accept it, but he knew he had no choice. She insisted she wanted to be with her parents. She was now at peace.

Her beloved, was sitting beside her coffin, wondering why God had accepted her resignation.

Anand

2006-02-15T11:29:00.000-08:00

Via Google maps, he visits places which he never visited. He zooms in. Familiarity of a foreign city now gives way to, well, foreignness. He decides to google map his own city, zooms into streets he knows well, zooms in further and further. His home, his room, his lap, laptop. He sees himself mapping himself.

Aditya Bidikar

2006-02-15T11:25:00.000-08:00

One
The wind whipped at her face. She shivered, fingering the gun under her coat as she headed to meet the werewolf, to kill it.
She was the only one who could. It would not attack or hurt her, so she had volunteered.
The werewolf stood its ground. It growled at her.
“Hi Daddy,” she said.

Two
There was once a human head for sale.
A comb sat beside it. They talked.
“What sex were you?” the comb asked.
“I don’t remember. I have nothing to look down at. Have I a moustache?”
“I don’t have eyes.”
“Let’s ask the shopkeeper.”
It tried to turn. Then it realised it couldn’t talk either.

Three

The little girl was looking out the half-open window.

Warm sunshine, filtered through glass, caressed her shoulder.

She pointed a lone cloud out to no one in particular.

A hawk circled overhead, casting a faint shadow on the pallid ground.

The murmur of two voices behind her became shouts.

Outside, the wind went whoosh!

Ojas

2006-02-15T11:22:00.000-08:00

Surprise

he loved his fender
he was flawless
he was so posessive that
he'd bash people up if they ever said anything about his guitar

he played GnR once
he simply rocked
he was surprised that someone pointed out mistakes
he happily handed over his guitar to that man

Slash - The God.... he smiled, and bowed

Deaths Head Roy

2006-02-15T11:21:00.000-08:00

Two Guns

The gun reflected the sunlight. One bullet. My last.

I spin the chamber. White Pony puts the gun against his temple, calmly
pulls. Spins chamber. I pick up the gun, put it against my head, pull
the trigger. Blood splatters on the table, his. My other guns smoking.
Could not take the pressure, you see.

Rhyncus

2006-02-15T11:18:00.000-08:00

After The Coup
The President pinned the last medal onto his chest and considered his weary reflection in the mirror. The lines on his face contrasted with the fresh creases on his uniform. But he couldn’t rest now; so much remained unfinished. Peace, development, freedom, happiness. But first, the Swiss accounts.
His new Finance Minister walked in grinning.

The Smells of Silence
The television was still warm but the smell of Vicks Vaporub told him her nostrils were clogged as usual. He padded into the kitchen and opened the gas valve. Closing all the windows, he pocketed the keys, locking the door on his way out.
A tear rolled down her cheek when she smelt the gas.

Running Aground
Mr. & Mrs.Riley searched desperately for their son at all his usual haunts in vain. Mr.Riley swore he’d kill him if he found out Charles had run off again on some steamship. Then his wife found a letter beneath his bed.
‘Mr.Charles Riley,
Re: Application for Cabin Steward, HMS Titanic
It gives me great pleasure…”

Justice Delayed
The warden waited for the mandatory three minutes past the deadline before giving the final signal. His men threw the levers. The lights flickered as the first round of lethal electricity was administered.
Below at the gate, the guard repeated his words to the Governor’s emissary.
No identity card, no entry; pardon or no pardon.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Xyng sighted the ominous shadow before any of his comrades. Four blynks to go before the Queen’s arrival and here was what he had spent his entire life training for. He was surprised at how automatic his responses were. Divert and Intercept.

“For Queen and Anthill”, muttered Xyng as he scurried to a crushing death.

Fade-out
Sheela rushed to pick up the phone before Raghu could get it. Raghu felt the familiar tightening in his chest listening to the whispers and giggles that ensued.
---------------------------------------------------
The water turned red briefly after Raghu hit the crashing surf, while Sheela and their friends waited in the darkened living room ready to yell ‘Surprise!!!”

Ashok Gurumurthy

2006-02-15T11:17:00.000-08:00

In Time of Need

I fervently prayed it was an Orc's silhouette I saw, shaking off the dread that I had ventured too far. So obviously my blood froze when it turned out to be a bear, something even the Gandalf wand couldn't shoo away. Then I was scooped up by my eagle and flown away—my “friend indeed”.

Yashita

2006-02-15T11:12:00.000-08:00

The windows were shut, the doors too.

Curtains were drawn.

The muted voices from outside were defining a new silence within her.

She was looking at the liquid trickling down her hand.

Even now she was thinking of her smooth hands.

She tried to think of what she should be thinking instead.

The doorbell rang

Sushir Rahaman

2006-02-15T10:51:00.000-08:00

Love Story

The bench in the mall was cold when I sat down.

I saw her then.

Holding on to the railing she was trying to immerse herself in the dawn’s radiance. Her gaze seemed to weave tendrils of love around my heart. They started strangling me when she smiled.

And then she jumped.

I followed suit.

-----------------------------------------

The 55-second call

[ The 8 digits fly off through the wires with the same expectation ]

Hello?

Yes?

It’s me.

‘Me’ who?

Don’t you remember me?

Who are you?

Are you trying to ignore me?

I don’t know who you are. Why do you keep phoning?

So...you recognized me...Why did you lie?

I don’t love you anymore.

------------------------------------------

Rain, rain come again!

It was raining.

The wind seemed to sweep off the droplets which doused every inch of what was in sight.

I was soaked.

It didn’t matter.

Lying down, all I could see was the shy moon running from cloud to cloud.

The rail tracks had started to hum by then.

The wait was over now.

Bald Monkey

2006-02-15T10:49:00.000-08:00

The Sunset

The sunset is bland.

In his dreams, it was red ruby and fiery orange. It was from within the wild whirligig of colour, the silk voiced enchantress with rose lips had sung sweet, mad melodies for him.

He is now in Dry Dusty Grey.

Death comes in many ways, but always brings black, stony numbness.

Panu

2006-02-15T10:48:00.000-08:00

In the dead of the cold night, the clock strikes twelve times. The beautiful bodies crush against each other as they toss, turn, tremble with the mazy motion, and twist and twine against each other. The roof is painted red, and they look at it and scream... "The roof, The roof, The roof is on fire....... Burn, Burn Burn!!!...."

And a pair of eyes watch them... This too shall pass, somehow...

Feverdog

2005-12-28T05:42:00.000-08:00

As he sat in the dark solitary space he thought about the day when he was asked to design a prison cell which would remind its captive of the sin committed. He designed the cell without any passage for natural light. Days on end without daylight would make the sinner repent all his sins, he had thought, but now he was sure.

Srin

2005-12-28T05:39:00.000-08:00

June, 2004

Mili often wondered why Ruby never wrote to her anymore.(It was lonely here, all her old friends were dead)Why had the correspondence ceased?

September, 2001

The two women stood with their arms around each other, the elder sighed and said, "Ma's death will hit Mili hard" the younger replied, "She won't be told".

Black Jedi

2005-11-28T05:10:00.000-08:00

He would never forget the last time they had met, when she told him it was all over. She had told him, bluntly that he was a loser and a dickhead, and then they had made small talk, mostly about her dog. Yes, her pet’s name was Bluebell, he remembered, as he cracked her password.

Divya

2005-11-25T12:56:00.000-08:00

55 words.

She had to write a story in 55 words. She thought and thought of absurd plots, funny themes, serious issues, dreams and realities. Sometime later she penned this and that down. Time n words both constrained. Scribbling in paper. Typing in Word. Tally of 55. Here it is. Hey! But this too adds to 55.

A recipe.

The phone rang. She picked it up and on hearing the request she smiled.

He was ready and took down everything the voice on the phone said. That evening he served his girl dinner.

At his home his mother smiled as she remembered how her son had proclaimed he would never enter the kitchen.

The secret mission

He looked up tired and beaten. His assistants looked nothing better. They had been working on it the whole night. A secret mission. To be completed before the lady of the house came.

She came in.” Surprise”, they screamed. In the middle of the mess stood a cake of weird shape n smell. She smiled.

Nightmare

Dark tunnels. Damp grounds. Chilly winds. She was walking through them for ages. To reach nowhere. Sacred and alone. The sounds were frightening. A lone wail. A mad laughter.

Suddenly a hand touches her. She screams out loud.

It was about 3 in the morning. The neighbourhood heard the chilling voice.

The investigation was inconclusive.

Desinole

2005-11-25T12:51:00.000-08:00

What's my age again ?

We were all set. A job, the small home, the ring I picked up, her graduating, it seemed perfect.
As I answered the phone she said, “ Honey, I got an offer in D.C. and I’m moving, Can I stay at your place for a while?”

I said, “Sorry sweety, can’t cheat, not anymore”

She was in a lot of trouble.

Perplexed, she turned, people were looking.
She closed her eyes, recalled everything:
Five cars stolen,
7 people run over and
one cop killed in the chase.
“It was his fault, he did not want to give up. I did my best” she thought as a flash on screen said. “High Score Please Enter Your Name”

She had changed my parents or had she ?

She moved in after I had moved out for an education.
The three years made her a part of my family.

Her illegitimate triplets: a non-issue for my conservative parents.

As I walked in, She did not bother me as she would bother the strangers, maybe she knew that I had her gift. Dog Chow.

The most amazing sight.

The beach looked perfect.

White sand, clear blue sky and not many people.

I held my breath, astounded, no words in any language I knew could describe the sight.

“Out of your jean and into your trunks. NOW.” shouted my mind and the salesman went,
“this my friend is the best television in the world”

The prettiest thing.

She looked amazing in red. There she was, like a roman goddess, topless. No fear, shame or guilt.
The setting sun toyed with her looks. Her man was right there but I did not stop looking.
The light turned green and she took off and my friend says “A convertible Ferrari, now that’s a car.”

He could not have found anyone better.

The call was to catch up on my best friends life, after a long time. We talk about school, cars and that girl he could not stop raving about, five years ago. “You wanna go meet her?” I ask him and he says “Why don’t you fly here, you could catch up with us.”

Arnab

2005-11-25T12:50:00.000-08:00

Punch drunk with lust, she moves away the sheets and invites him wordlessly to join her on the bed. He is sculpted like a Greek God. She shivers and opens herself up to him. He however quivers and smiles embarrassedly.

“Finished soo soon?” She complains.

“It’s just a 55 word story. What do you expect?”

Richtofen

2005-11-25T12:49:00.000-08:00

I

"Horror stories? Let me tell you one. He got catapulted into a strange, barbaric universe one day. He made his living there by writing tales of his own world. Sci-fi stud, he was called."
"What happened then?"
"Nothing. I m still here"

II

"Now it's just you and me against the world…"

"When do we attack?"

M

2005-11-25T12:48:00.000-08:00

Contact

A breach had been registered. Instinct kicked in soon after.

“They won’t be expecting me. But they’ve had their time.” he rationalized, speeding past peers.

He would be the first, was his last thought before crashing.

As his individuality withered away, he sighed in satisfaction. “Soon, I’ll be reborn, transformed. They’d call me a zygote.”

Tech

2005-11-25T12:47:00.000-08:00

Metamorphosis: If we were to find out about our natures in this dialogue, would that preclude us from doing what we do?
Inconsequence: Ah, perhaps one can only be a bit more like what one was before.
Metamorphosis: That can change, methinks.
Inconsequence: I wonder. Matter cannot change, you know. What's Matter?
Metamorphosis: Never Mind…

Aishwarya

2005-11-25T12:45:00.000-08:00

It wasn’t the truck driver’s fault that the child ran out into the road like that. And it wasn’t the child’s mother’s fault either – poor girl, running screaming into the road after the crash.

When I drove past later, the roads were quiet once again. The funeral was over, and the crowds had gone home.

Sunu

2005-11-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

Alone

She sighed.
Slowly she walked towards the door, unlocked it and entered.
She let out a faint helpless cry, no one was there to hear it. She walked to the bed, and laid her disturbed mind to rest.
Twas morning, she woke up, mechanically got ready, and set out to face yet another day – ALONE.

Ramana

2005-11-01T23:09:00.000-08:00

The elevator climbed. He looked at her tall frame. He’d never kissed a tall girl. Not that these ‘man’ things bothered him a lot. But he preferred someone shorter. His hands accidentally brushed her bag, dropping it. She bent.

*******

He unwound the metal string off her neck, easing her onto the floor. Lovely eyes…

Aparna Banerjee

2005-11-01T22:56:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time... Or maybe not!

The frown deepened, her eyes wandered. Darkness enveloped her, save for the laptop screen. Rain and wind cooked up a storm outside as she attempted flavoring her words. Did they taste painfully bitter or sweet as humour? Suddenly she found the perfect recipe and her fingers made soft sounds on the keyboard, 'The frown deepened...'

Parna

2005-11-01T22:42:00.000-08:00

Is There Anybody Out There (Despair)

She stood on the ledge, hands stretched out. The greens of the park seemed to whisper invitingly.
One more step. The wind rushed by.
She felt the biting cold.
Saw snapshots of laughter, sunshine. Love-making. The curled foetus.

The girl in the park heard a toe-curling scream. And then, the sirens.

__________

One Fine Day (Hope)

FunnyGirl_2001 finally typed 'Yes' in the IM. She felt they knew each other enough to meet in person.

They planned to meet at 4 in front of the tall building.

IronMan_666 walked towards the girl on the bench nervously.

FunnyGirl_2001 looked up. The sun caught her eyes as Aman, her childhood crush, slowly walked towards her.

__________

Ain't No Sunshine Without Her (Love)

The old man saw a couple sitting on the bench in the park. Many a evening he had spent sitting there with her. The memories were clear like yesterday. Then there were too many. Fifty years of togetherness.

He saw the couple locked in a kiss and smiled. Her apparition beside him smiled back.

Jinx Malloy

2005-11-01T22:33:00.000-08:00

A clean cut

"It's over", my voicemail says. A clean cut. Communication can’t do it. Voicemail can. Takes a mere cut to break a heart, but more than a broken heart to bleed. Broke my heart. You bleed.

Ringggggg.
Open door.
Bang.
"You’re dead."
Aaah, the power of personal communication. Now that’s what I call a clean cut.

__________

The love of my previous life

Every night, he comes to me. I can't see him, but I feel him. On my neck. Between my shoulder blades. In places I can't mention here. Before I know it, he's gone. Paltry microseconds of pleasure. Tonight, I have to know who he is.

Feather touch.
Nip.
"Sigh."
Bite.
Dang it, he's an ant!

__________

Secret desires

Today's the day. No more promises of tomorrow. No more waiting. Both victims of loveless marriages. And middle age. He's all I want forevermore. Finally, we're together.

Touch.
Caress.
"Moan."
Hands everywhere.
"Darling, look at this beautiful sari-- what the hell is going on?!"
Meet my wife. She just found out I'm a closet gay.

Rajesh J. Advani

2005-10-30T00:32:00.000-07:00

The Beginning

"Hey," says a voice. "You’ve been tagged. Write a story in 55 words or less."

The blogger awakes.

"55 words," he thinks. "Hmm."

He flexes his fingers. "Let the writing begin..."

__________

Do you?

"Go on!" his friends urge him. "Tell her how you feel. You never know. She may feel the same way about you too."

So he walks over to her. "I love you," he says. "Do you love me too?"

She pauses for a moment before replying. He looks familiar. "No", she decides finally.

__________

Slow And Steady

"Race?" suggested the hare.

"Sure," said the tortoise. The tortoise always wins, he thought.

"Ready, set, go!"

The hare bounced away. The tortoise shuffled forward slowly.

I won’t stop for a nap this time, thought the hare. Half way to the finish line, a hunter shot him dead.

The tortoise always wins.

__________

Murder

The detectives arrive on the scene.

"Looks like murder," they say. "He's been shot in the chest."

The maid is sobbing. The wife seems to be in shock.

"Do you suspect anyone, ma'am?" they ask the wife.

She looks at them sadly. "The gun's in the cupboard. He was having an affair with the maid."

__________

Princess Diaries

There was once a princess who slept on a pea and hurt her back. Seven dwarf lawyers sued an evil witch for it. The princess beat the witch with her glass slipper. This broke a spell and the witch turned into a handsome prince. The frog was jealous, but they lived happily ever after.

__________

Stone

"Why stone?" asked the girl.

"I was alive once," said the gargoyle.

"I too laughed, played, danced, loved...

"And lost.

"It hurt. I cried. The pain was unbearable.

"So I turned into stone. Stone feels no pain."

The girl looked at the gargoyle silently. Then she walked away.

The gargoyle didn't.

__________

Run

Sally won the gold medal for the 100-metre sprint for two years straight. The third year she came second by a hair's width.

That evening they found the winner's dead body in a dumpster. They caught Sally when her motorcycle fell and the bloody knife fell out.

She could run, but she couldn't ride.

__________

Hitman

"Twelve," he thought, as he wiped the blade on the body.

They called him a hitman. He called himself a messenger.

"One murder or a dozen, there is only one Hell," he thought to himself as he dragged the body into a bush.

The Devil stood nearby, watching. He smiled.

__________

Ever After?

They met. They fell in love. They courted.

Soon he got a job, and they got married. They fought a little, but mostly it was a good marriage. They had two children - a boy and a girl.

They lived happily together till he died at the age of seventy-nine. She died a year later.

__________

Invisible

They called him a mad scientist.

He looked at his invisibility potion. He'd show them.

So he drank the potion. And every part of him was transparent. Including his eyes.

Refraction stopped working. He was blind.

He could see no one. And no one could see him.

It drove him mad.

__________

Ratna

2005-10-26T15:34:00.000-07:00

While watching the rain drops slide down the green grass, a cute kitten under the lilacs got my attention. Prasu is immersed in his book. Prasu..Prasu ..Um..come look at the cute kitten..um. Pch! dragged him to the window, to our dismay, the kitten disappeared with the rain.

Swathi

2005-10-26T15:32:00.001-07:00

The Return of the Count

She was totally engulfed in his love,
Dreaming about that first kiss
Counting minutes to meet him
Waiting for him to arrive
And finally it happened
She moaned as his lips brushed her neck
And …Sudden silence
He looked back with gleaming teeth
Blood smeared on his lips
Her limp body at his feet...

Rohan Kumar

2005-10-26T15:32:00.000-07:00

Poem

Buried my emotions
Returned to my life
Some things aren't meant 2b
She was my brother's wife

Soon the spark went out
They were constant fights
And we made a connection
Though I knew it wasnt right

They frown upon us
My brother calls me a rogue
I know I've found the one
Anyways lesbianism is in vogue

Prose

One upraised thumb and a few Harley skid marks later
Where are you headed?
Wherever the road takes me
What a co incidence that’s precisely where I was heading

And thus they were hitched. As they say it always starts innocently enough :)

Flying to the moon and back........lighter

Wife: Do you really love me?
Husband: What a thing to ask after 10 years of our marriage? (well dodged soldier)
Wife: What would you do for me?
Husband: If I could I would take you to the moon (and kick you out of my spaceship)

OUCH!!!! THE END

Fine Young Cannibal

2005-10-26T15:11:00.000-07:00

trouble was brewing in the building. enthralled by post-modernisism, the newer sections mocked the traditional pilasters and reactionary arches. a section of the roof with Doric triglyphs was the butt of all jokes, specially after a donkey had been painted on it. Hearing it begin its daily prayer, the newbies taunted "chant, gadha-dhari beam, chant!"

Anant Singh

2005-10-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

7th of july

she was wearing a dress black as the night.she was the most beautiful girl i had ever layed my eyes upon.she had a bag slung across her shoulder.we got into the same train.i went and sat next to her.i was exhilarated.she suddenly reached into her bag and there was an explosion.it was all over.

lucifer speaks

he expelled me for being too proud.is pride a sin?why should i be subservient to someone who is obviously inferior?i’ll have my revenge.i’ll prove to him that his chosen ones can easily be made to forget him.they’ll worship me even if they profess otherwise.after all, it’s better to rule in hell than serve in heaven.

M (Tread Softly Upon)

2005-10-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

They were the perfect couple until that day in November when he went out to get some sweets and never came home.
She waited for him to come back. He never did.
He lived on in her memories. And in a place far away, as someone else’s husband and a father of two.

Shreya

2005-10-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

The sun sinking, the yellow flowers go on endlessly.
They lie lazy, tangled.

She reaches for her bag, digs around, tears out a paper from a notebook. His eyes half closed, he watches the sun. She writes something, smiles mischievous, and gives him the paper.
Scribbled, “What if people always communicated like this?”

He groans.

Anurag

2005-10-26T14:54:00.000-07:00

"Whiskey bottles, brand new car. Oak tree, you're in my way!"
- Lynyrd Skynyrd.

No money in our pockets and our jeans are torn...
Your hands are cold, but your lips are warm.
- Dire Straits

"I know it was the easy way out, but I would have lost to him in the finals anyway. Have you noticed how he dominates everyone? We also have feelings!"
"I understand, Andy. Remember, America still loves you. I would love to talk more, but our time's up."
"Thanks, doc. I'll see you next Monday."