Sparkling eyes – 55 word fiction

Pick-up time. The children chattered excitedly, as rains lashed.

A little girl quietly waited for Nanny.

‘Sofia!’

She looked up, surprised. Her eyes sparkled.

She ran and hugged the woman.

The woman pushed her away.

‘I only came because its raining. Can’t come everyday Ok?’ she snapped.

‘Yes Mummy’ Sofia nodded.

The sparkle had disappeared.

PS: I actually witnessed this incident when I went to collect my son from school this evening (names have been changed.. rather, assumed). One moment, the little girl was so excited. The next moment, it was all gone. Like a balloon had been deflated.

I wonder how many times we behave like that Mother. Not realising that the absence of a smile, or a hug, can dampen the spirit of our beautiful precious children? Don’t mean to be preachy, but I do hope, we will more consciously try, to reciprocate the wonderful and endless love that our children shower on us….

A cup of tea – a set of 55-ers – fiction

This post is published as an entry for the KING AND QUEEN OF 55F CONTEST – The first ever unique, challenge for the coveted title in micro fiction category. To catch the crowning moments and also be part of future editions and other contests, visit and register at Cafe GingerChai

Rules of the contest:

• You have to write a set of three 55F.
• The first two sets should be a story on its own.
• The  two stories should  climax / conclude / inter-twine in the third set of 55F.
• The story could be of any genre i.e, love, crime, mystery or thriller etc.

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He lay sprawled in usual drunken stupor. She stared unseeingly at the tea boiling in the pan. Fifteen years of abuse flashed before her. Last night however, he had stooped too low.

‘Bloody pimp’, she swore, but smiled harshly.

She did not need him anymore! A cup of tea (and some poison, perhaps) would suffice.

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pic courtesy: evanatasha00 dot blogspot dot com

Sunlight momentarily blinded her. She picked up her torn dupatta, wound it tightly around her bruised shoulders, and entered Amma’s kitchen.

Their eyes met. Cold, vacant, almost chilling.

The young girl lowered her gaze. Ashamed.

‘Go now. Wash yourself. Come fresh and clean, for tea’

‘Clean? I’ll never be clean again…’ hot tears rolled, unrestrained.

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Laila scrubbed herself until her skin burned.

‘Beauty!’, father’s ‘friend’ had grunted as he ravaged her last night.

Amma had been livid. Until, she had seen the money.

‘Drink!!!’

Trembling, Laila brought the scalding tea to her lips.

A bitter smile. A quick flick of the wrist.

‘Splash!’

The cup of tea had indeed sufficed!

Pic courtesy: Dailymail dot co dot uk

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Truth and Peace (55-er)

His eyes followed her longingly. She flitted away. His heart ached. Ached so much, that it jolted him out of his recurring dream.

Awake, he turned towards the woman sleeping beside him. The soft snores of his children in the next room. This, was his truth.

He sighed, wondering when he would find his peace.

 

 

 

To read my other 55-word-fiction, please click here. If you are bolder than that, and want to read my flash fiction, please click here.

The lookalike (55-er)

This 55 word fiction was written for N-Zine.

‘Mother’. ‘Hatred’. Two words that evoked similar emotions.

She hated looking like Mummy. She hated being told that!

At sixteen, ‘I wish I wasn’t YOUR daughter!’, she screamed.

‘You aren’t’, Mummy replied quietly.

Daddy showed her the adoption papers. ‘We hoped YOU wouldn’t feel out of place’

She stared at her albino Mummy and cried.

The boy who never smiled – 55-er / fiction

Clothes, chocolates, gifts – nothing satisfied Akaash. Ungrateful, resentful child.

Yesterday, I offered left-over pastry. He glared!

‘What the hell do you want????!!!’ I screamed, frustrated.

He replied quietly – ‘My mother. Please send her home? Tomorrow’s my exam’.

Behind me, Kanthabai waited nervously.

Both, pleading in silence.

‘Go!’ I whispered.

For the first time, Akaash smiled.

Breaking news again – 55er

  This post has been published by me as a team member of Tiger Trails Team for the SUPER 4 round of Bloggers Premier League (BPL) – The first ever unique, elite team blogging event in the history of blogging world. To catch the BPL action and also be part of future editions and other contests, visit and register at Cafe GingerChai

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The first call was at 4:00 am. Within an hour, every reporter worth his salt had arrived.

The chief doctor emerged, nervous.

‘Sir, this is BREAKING NEWS?’
‘Matter of national importance…..’
‘….Our right to information’

‘Do you realise We are THE MEDIA!’ 

The mob threatened dangerously.

‘Okay!’ the doctor relented.

‘Its a boy. bABy Bacchhan’

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P.S. The above topic was: Comic/Power of media (I have tried to combine the two, and write a comic 55-er on power of media )

DO READ OUR BREATHTAKINGLY IMPRESSIVE E-MAGAZINE HERE (so much for modesty )

Debosmita’s in-depth article on the Bhopal Gas Tragedy
http://debosmita.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/cover-story/

Sudhakar’s racy account of ‘The Domestic Olympics’
http://idlivadasambar.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/the-domestic-olympics/

Sudhakar’s intriguing thriller (crime fiction)
http://idlivadasambar.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/the-garage-door/

Neha’s unique limerick on Indian politics,
http://www.nehasilam.com/2010/06/future-not-so-bright.html

Pallavi’s quick comic/55-er on power of media
http://writerzblock.wordpress.com/2010/06/27/breaking-news-again/

Saurabh’s hilarious interview.. one of its own kind
http://stuffilearnttoday.blogspot.com/2010/06/mere-pass-maa-ka-interview-hai.html

Rashmi’s interesting travel journal – City City Bang Bang
http://hungrypiranha.blogspot.com/

Kanagu’s analysis of Print Versus Electronic media
http://kanaguonline.wordpress.com/

P.S: This AWESOME magazine cover has been designed by our Tiger Sudhakar

My second love (55-er)

He stormed into my life exactly four years ago, when I was already happily married.

I still love my husband. But then, I just love him more!!

Though.. I know that one day, he will dump me. For someone half my age!!!!

I will have to love her too!

For after all, she will be my daughter-in-law

Satisfaction (55-er)

She surveyed the house. The party was at 7. Nikhil would be home any time now. To check.

She was nervous. ‘Would he approve, satisfied? Perhaps, flash that dimpled smile?!’

The car honked.

‘Pushpa..’ It was him! She straighted herself. Eyes on the floor.

‘All set?’

She nodded.

‘Y E S ?’

‘…Ji Saheb…’

‘OK’, he grunted.

She retreated, dis-satisfied!

=========

Okay, its official. I’m obsessed. With Dentists and Cleaning Maids!!!

Brrrrrrrr…………

Romance at the table (55-er)

Her gaze, to the floor. His, on her.

‘Pop’! Champagne.

‘What are we celebrating?’

‘Our seven-year-itch, honey’.

She shifts uneasily.

They plough through the four-course meal.

‘Burrrp’. She glares.

‘Sorry!’ he smiles, picking his nose.

The bill arrives. ‘ Crap!!!! 7000 bucks?’

She watches, aghast. And suddenly, laughs.

‘Happy Anniversary’. Hands him the yellowed divorce papers.

The second-born [flash fiction]

Green-masked faces crowded around…’Push harder!!!’

The ugly yellow lizard watched, unblinking.

‘You’ll understand..’ she murmured.

‘..my little girl.. fair.. pretty.. just like Sister..’

‘Focus!’

‘And this second?!’

‘PUSH!’

‘…What if… she’s .. you .. or me???

…Another lifetime.. of inferiority begins…’

[Blink]                                              ‘PUSSSSHHHH!!!!’

She gave in.

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It was a boy.

She laughed.

She cried!