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.
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
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.
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
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.
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
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!
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Writer-z-block 
29 replies on “A cup of tea – a set of 55-ers – fiction”
wonderful 55ers, Pal. chilling. loved all three.
Thank you very much, Tix.
Nice 🙂
Thk u Prats!
GOD… Pal thats so chilling and sad story .. I wish no one has to go through it ever EVER…
All the best for the Contest
thank you Bikki, but there are more girls (I guess boys too) who go through this, than we would like to guess or assume.
Compelling and strong. Loved the writing!
Thanks very much Divs.
OMG !!!! I was shocked Pal….such powerful story and told in such simple 3 55ers….My God, woman you are too good, I tell u. 🙂
Fantastic…all the very best to you. 🙂 I sincerely wish and pray that this entry wins. 🙂
Awww Uma, you are a gem!! Thank u. Your words are my pep pill 🙂
The plots sent chills down my spine.
Good luck for the contest
Actually, CB, I didn’t intend it that way, but thank u very much for liking it 🙂
Oh damn sad. 😦
But you’re in the running! that’s an awesome post!
Glad you liked it Nive, thank u so much!!!
Great work Pal… It was such a chilling 55er…
All the best for the contest… 🙂
Thanks a lot Tan!
Damn good pal! The way you have intertwined the 3 plots is fantastic!
All the best for contest!
Thanks sooo much Anu!!!
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by GingerChai.com, Braan Watsley. Braan Watsley said: A cup of tea « Writer-z-block: She stared unseeingly at the tea boiling in the pan. Fifteen years of abuse flash… http://bit.ly/eJpOuG […]
I totally loved the 3 55-ers 🙂 Touching and poignant – all 3 of them. You have intertwined them really well 🙂 ATB!
Thank u so much, Debs.
Sad story of abuse, which is prevalent but unimaginably disgusting.
You have done well here and was wondering about the nice oxymoron you used, “Smiled harshly”
I wonder how that expression would look! 🙂
Thank you Rumya. Yes, it is prevalent, and more common than we imagine it to be!!! As for the oxymoron, does it remind you of a villainous grin from a Kollywood flick?!!
LOL! 😀 Now I can picture that (oxy)moron with a villainous ‘he!he!he!’ 🙂
I’m not familiar with Kollywood but I think old Bollywood too had these kinds 😉 😀
Ha ha ha!!!! Yeah I’m sure Bollywood has these too. Let me try to dig out a pic of one some olden days Villi (er, female villain) 😆
In Bollywood, (according to my Mom) Lalita Pawar fits the bill (of course, she is waaay waaay before my time). 😉 😀
Oh yes, she is the evil face of Bollywood!! I need someone different for this role though 😉 Someone who can smile bitterly, think of her own bondage (abusive relationship), and at the same time, see that her daughter is the key to freedom!! Very kaamplicated 🙂
oh jeez! 😦
thats just sad… poor kid
beautifully written Pals… made me sniff!
Thx Pix, I always make you cry, don’t I?? Bad bad me 😦
Wow!! Brilliantly written! 🙂
Short, compact…but powerful words…
Thank u Ash!!! Glad u liked it.
Powerful and riveting. You are a fantastic writer. 🙂
Thank you Ajay, that is very kind of you 🙂
Wow. Deep. Brilliant. I’m running out of superlatives. Excellent choice of words and a well constructed set of 3 55Fs. Loved it Pal. 🙂
Oh , this coming from the King of fiction, really means a lot to me. Thank u Sudhakar!!
People hv said it all! U r amazing Pal!
Hugs and bestest wishes 🙂
Awww Swar, u are a darling! Thank u.
When you write such stuffs, sometimes I can’t make myself believe that you actually wrote it 😐 I mean the kind of Pallu Kutty you are….sweet and all that
Brilliant is all I can say 🙂
😆 Saks, there are several dark layers to my personality 😈
[…] Post link: https://writerzblock.wordpress.com/2011/02/04/a-cup-of-tea/ […]
Chilling ! extremely well written !
Thx a lot Ruchira
Interesting story with a touch of sadness in it.Nice!
Thank you so much Uma
Hmm interestingly thought…
Thanks GB
The blue fonts were by design or default?
Oh if only WP were that intelligent 😉 😉 This was by design, GB!
cheers GB
Chilling, depressing! 😦
Oh no!! Thanks, though, Priya 🙂
Loved the story telling, but didn’t like the end. I wish she had offered that tea to the man who lay in the usual drunken stupor.
I wish, IHM. I wish people would have such courage, to break free without killing themselves.
Interesting 55ers… very diff ending than what i kinda expected…
Thanks Aaroo!
loved the pics 🙂 esp hot tea, now i wanna drink hot coffee..!!
Ha ha, that reminds me I missed my evening coffee 😦
intersting and hard hitting ut like IHM I would have liked different ending too