A Haiku - 16 And A Photo Tweet

As she nervously rambled on about the detergent sales dip in their branch; 

he pondered guiltily over their break-up's effect on her.

Added To Grandma’s Goulash

She stood on the ground /

Pride and grace personified /

Nature's porcelain dream //

Added To Haiku Heights

Entranced

She watched the dusty plains....the journey drawing to a close. The destination soared ahead...even from the distance, amidst the hillocks; the silent sentinels stood, as they had for centuries past.  The group broke up, wandering around the place. Pieces of history were scattered everywhere, some in ruins while others as sturdy as the day the work was finally completed.

She marvelled at the painstaking effort involved, the sheer mastery commanded, the talent and creativity showcased.

As they clicked pictures which would never do justice; touched the columns in awe, "The legacy of heroes..."  transported them to a bygone era of kings and their townships.

(based on Hampi- one of the many architectural marvels of India)

Image Courtesy Tourism India Today

He Rode Away

Lost in trance

 glistening eyes saw her lost son.

the bike rider he drove on,
unaware of  the shouts to stop.

she still stood, awaiting.

Untitled - Fallout?

Image Courtesy Fantasy Art Design

The sentence falls, the distance calls
musings of another time and place

centres around the tree of grace

People look back askance

where were they perchance??

 the devil smiles in disguise

the pantomime player’s rise

another planet another show

that’s how time will ebb and flow

beautifully disgraced, molten thoughts

spewing poison on them all.

*Thought I’ll try this...turning unplanned thoughts into poetic words.....

 just deleted the last three random lines to stick to the 55 words limit.

Just Another Ordinary Day

The heat seeped in...Sweaty faces everywhere.... patient, stressed, desolate odds...

The lunch break took forever....

The child in the cramped corner bawled incessantly hearing the loud, aggressive voices.

Hush little baby, don't you cry...she whispered to the scared, sleepy child.... the distraught mother who was from a poorer background soothed with kind words of hope...

The bells clanged in the red bricked building, a living testimony of the British Raj....the crowds dissipating into the rooms in the corridor.

They waited silently.....the pronouncement was as expected. Minutes later, handing her the cheque; asking her to use wisely not just the money but the chance at a meaningful life...

Dedicated to Ms. Rajalaksmi, my firebrand divorce lawyer who won an election in my home state last week and has become a Member of the State Legislature...she had hinted at our last meeting of a role in politics but this was unexpected....I hope she uses her new powers for the betterment of women, especially victims of domestic violence.

Yesterdays - At The O.T

Oblivious to all, pain and blood…she lay, her wounds being sutured, her right leg amputated below her knees…a journey, fending off robbers of her gold chain, a fall from a speeding train…and the volleyball player's dream lay shattered on the tracks. Right now, blissfully unaware of the blame game and aspersions cast on her story.

He was dying; he knew it as did the surgeons…..the woman on the plastic chair looked distraught and scared. A freak accident, her fault. Nobody told her, opening the car rear doors in a busy street could cause a biker a bleeding, painful end. She mulled their fate as those moments passed before her eyes.

They held hands, hope in their speaking eyes, prayer on their silent lips….they shared a loss neither regretted; their husbands shared more than a common affliction. They would be sharing theirs spouses kidney swapped. An uncommon exchange, perfect matches among then strangers.  A difficult sacrifice, would theirs better halves have done the same for them?

Valiant Spirit

"Akshay" meaning
 'Eternal, immortal, indestructable

 a short post on my nephew  akshay who celebrated his  first birthday last week…he is just one of the thousands of babies born everyday, you might say…but he is special not just because he is my Brother’s kid but because of the fact that he is a fighter to the core…

He was born too early, almost two months before time…a premature baby whose first home after his mother’s comforting womb was the incubator….he was not alone, more than enough company but that doesn’t take away the pain, the fear, the worry, the heartache watching a tiny baby with more tubes than his tender body could hold, more medicines than an adult can withstand….

The thrill of hearing him cry, the joy of seeing the relief on his parents' face when he was certified as healthy enough to be taken home, the satisfaction at seeing him grow slowly, millimetre by millimetre, Grams by grams is something one can only experience…

The picture at the side belies the trauma this sweet angel of ours underwent at a nascent stage of his hopefully long, healthy, happy life. His smile, mischievous ways, tantrums belies the struggles, making them a distant memory best carpeted…

Mistake, Honestly

Weary,  delayed flight

grabbed the bag off the shelf

rushed down

against the chilly breeze...

“That’s mine,  a Louis Vuitton!!, here’s yours “

bristled the loud voice on the bus.

All eyes on her,

red faced, muffled a swift apology.

“Don’t fret”,  said his kind voice from her side,

“Must be fake like her accent!!”

  

Insipid Interview ??

April showers bring May flowers...

The words kept echoing in her mind....nervous to the point of sweaty palms, this wasn’t doing her any  good.

The sheer number of ties and jackets in her peripheral vision sounded the death knell in her guts....what was she thinking, turning up?...the entire city had landed up here, well all graduates from the top colleges at least.

The interview surpassed her expectations, the panel of seven did intimidate her but fumbled across to the finishing line....

Until  asked how soon she could join...blurted out without a second thought, “April”. Blushing at the puzzled faces , realised it was almost September.

Enterprising - Breaking Male Street Bastions

The dawn filtered through the flimsy curtain.Time to hit the road again...a quick breakfast....morning ablutions completed, the door to her tiny tenement locked.The drizzle made her glad at fixing the shades last week.Taking her usual spot at the stand, she awaited the call...kick starting with ease, drove at a comfortable speed...obvious.with kids in the back seat. Dropping them off to school 4 kms away, she parked near the gates....early morning meant that she never lacked company. Soon it was noon, busy more often than not...home, a leisurely lunch later; she left for the weekly meeting at the tiny shed. Two hours of advice and tips later, an urgent call to the railway station had her rushing off.The meeting always brought back old memories of her violent marriage, her escape to Delhi, her house and job hunts and to the curious path life had taken her..

Being the first female autorickshaw driver in North India hadn't been easy. The lack of funds, uncooperative, disgruntled male drivers had made the first few years miserable...her commuters,specially women had made her stick on...now 9 years after her first ride, she was a proud owner of her own vehicle.

Succinctly Yours - MFM # 1

Quietly throwing cat hairs around the cushions for effect. 

Her allergy driving Dad's mean date away forever, the twins grinned at the plan.

 A fiction of exactly 140 characters 

The Divination

The curtain parted...

She gulped....not him again. She gestured for him to take a seat.

He never looked around to notice the tiny alterations that were now possible .

Ever since he become her biggest client.

He gazed with such intensity that she was sure her tiny room would combust.

No longer asked the question...he had only one thing on his mind...

Closed her eyes, muttered the ancient words and looked....

Time for the usual lie....somehow they were easier, the truth choking her vocal chords .

He smiled at her answer,  paid and left her staring at his daughter’s death in her crystal. 

The Mastermind

He had never been accused of being intelligent...therein lay his secret to success...

At first glance he was anything but impressive...a  mousy looking junior accountant in a slowly popular fashion house, a stickler for rules and honest to a fault....

The reports were prompt, accurate; the books in perfect order...

When the audit firm asked for hereto overlooked records, he was all smiles and helpful, assigning an assistant  their way....

As the scam was unearthed, the store keeper and stock manager suspended...he was effusive in his praise of the young interns who unlocked the so called fraud.... his mind focusing on the latest victims to be hired...

A fairy's Dilemma

 The harp turned into a wet mop, jostling her awake.
"Clean the mess first" barked the angry voice.
Sloshing in the rain was no longer fun. 


 140 exact.

Adios Silken Dream

 Thought I'll dole out a less serious tale for a change... *cough*  another true story *cough* except for the prompt....

The pile steadily increased....given it was trousseau shopping, not to mention silk sarees gifted to close relatives...


The colours swirled in front of them, thirty six shades of violet...

Undecided, looked around....her reception one not chosen....

The perfect shade of mauve, called out literally..the embroidery and price tag left her bedazzled...

She touched lovingly, to have it pried away gently...”The lady in green has selected it.....cash payment and its yours.”

She dodged peak traffic to reach the bank....silent prayers, awaiting her turn. To her dismay...the ATM machine began dispensing twenties!!!

Stepping out to find the lady and her dream walking towards the car.

The Puzzle Mag - 54

Come night

the pieces 

on the bedside floor.

 attacking them with 

single minded devotion

joining, disjoining
the chaos 
the mind swirls in.


simple enough
at first glance

some fit like 

they are born to it

others belong 

so obvious elsewhere

trying desperately

fails to find

the lost one
the missing piece

of her lonely heart...

Bested

*cough*  a true story *cough* except for the prompt....

It was getting tedious.... him and his cronies from the colony as she alighted from the bus.

The third day,  well prepared ... note in hand....

Grinning sadly with the knowledge that he followed.... knowing exactly when she – book worm would be stopped.

Grudgingly admired his perseverance.  The same routine.... different words, common refrain “I like you, be friends?” *

Day one at sympathetic best...

When she knew, just polite...

Today red in her vision hearing “I’d catch a grenade for ya...”

“Catch this first” waving the 100 rupee note across his face.

Walking away, raucous laughter from hidden corners “lost the bet, pass the 100 man”

Microfiction Monday #70

The winding road knows not her scent...

Many a doubt assail him...

cream and strawberries her fill, 

his wicked grin casting their spell still?






140 characters

The View - Mag 52

They waited

 in silence

exhaling breath frozen,

numbed bodies

in the biting cold...

To the younger

 warm and inviting
A house of horror 

for the partner

the latest human sacrifice 

entrapped within

the glossy green edifice.

Wanna Be Your Huggy Puggyman...

This week's Saturday Centus the challenge is to use UP TO 50 words to write a Hallmark card around this image for VALENTINES DAY!  Do walk through the other hallmarks at Jenny Matlock's meme...her blog off on my tangent .

The Words...
Jump, catch, fetch
snuggle, wag, juggle
never my style.


No, not always
this goofy...


Happens only
sniff, sniff
when you have
passed by....