Prompt : I stood at the airport, watching them walk away, not knowing when or if I’d see them again. Use the above line in your story. *** “Kindly return to your assigned seats at the airport. A solar flare is expected in the next hour. All flights will...
“The swing goes high, the swing goes low, Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, My happy heart sings a song, I wish to sit here for hours long.” I hummed my favorite rhyme as I sat on the swing. Every day I accompanied Amma to the bungalow. While Amma was busy with...
Prompt by ArtoonsInn : Tell the story of a scar your character has, whether it's a physical or emotional one. *** The carmine sky interrupted with caliginous clouds appeared to be a harbinger of grave news. The surging waves in the sea crashed against the stone-walled...
It was a sweltering evening in Chennai. Wiping the trickling beads of sweat I waited patiently with my cart for business to kickstart. The fried miniature puris, fillings and myriad chutneys were enticing and yet none stopped by. This was my first day on this street....
“Screeeech! ” Sundari's father applied the brakes as a herd of mooing cows crossed the road. The cows seemed to be in no hurry despite the repeated honks from the buses and trucks. “The city is such a noisy place. Gosh! My ears hurt a lot. Too many vehicles… too...
Year 3000 The sky is a raging inferno harboring vicious storms. Every tree in the parched landscape is reduced to a skeletal silhouette against the somber landscape. The earth appears barren and more like a hellhole. Having formed a totalitarian government the...
The night sky appeared turbulent with caliginous clouds. The howling wind intensified and soon thunderstorms lashed across the towering walls. Yet again, I was reminded of that stormy night when I first met her… Six Months Earlier My boat had capsized but I'd managed...
After a long day at work in the new city, she is exhausted. Bone tired. She fixes herself a simple dinner, watches TV and retires to bed. As she tosses and turns trying to sleep, she hears a noise. Her heart skips a beat. Who can it be? She is tempted to check if the...
After completing the required formalities I ambled to the cafeteria with my walking stick, and sat on a chair as coffee was served. My tremors had increased in the past few months and I had a difficult time balancing things. With no one around to help me I decided to...
“Tring…!” rang the phone punctuating the silence in the house. Shekar muted his office meeting and rushed to the living room to pick up his phone. “Hello! Is this Mani's father? I'm Mouli, his class teacher. I have something important to discuss.” “Yes, Sir! Is...
“Achoo!” Santa's nose was swollen red and his body was burning with fever. Christmas had been a grand success but unfortunately, Santa was down with the flu. “I'd told you to carry a flask filled with hot water and wear ear muffs. You never listen,” said Mrs. Santa...
“Honey! I wish to drown in the deepest blue of your eyes and wallow forever in bliss. I'm deeply and madly in love with you,” said Mark and gently stroked his fingers around the nape of Sandra's neck. “Yes, my love! I love you too. But you seem to be oblivious to the...
The bleached sky seems to sing dirges as mellow snowflakes descend without making any noise. Brown and brittle leaves lay scattered all across the yard. Cool crisp winter air sweeps past me and I shiver. The fireplace is neither lit nor decked with any poinsettias. I...
The tangerine leaves danced to the tunes of the mellow breeze. It was cool but not too chilly. The leaves gently susurrated and filled the atmosphere with tranquil sounds and melodic notes. A few leaves lay upon the wet earth like a vibrant carpet and others were...
After rummaging through the garbage can for leftovers I slept on the pavement feeling tired, hungry, and cold. Within a few moments, my ears exploded with the screeching sound of tires, following which I felt a sharp pain. I was mangled beyond recognition and my...
Prologue Year 3000 The carmine sky was tinged with somber clouds. Smoke billowed in many places–the lightning strikes every night had become increasingly devastating. Most high-rise buildings were reduced to dust and ashes. The remaining few were in a...
The sky was overladen with dark clouds and the sizzling ground was abated by a few stray raindrops. Ah! The heavenly petrichor–it carried resounding memories. I was reminded of the day when Ramesh had come with his parents to see me – the same old-fashioned way to...
"APPA! It's blazing hot and to make matters worse there's a power shut-down. Coming to the village during the summer vacation was a bad idea. You had promised to take us to a theme park," yelled Sundari at her father. "Calm down, princess! Gopi is sick and Amma is...
" Sundari, what's wrong with you? I seem to have no clue. I see paint splashed all over the floor. You've doodled on the walls and doors." Sundari's father was worried about his daughter’s strange behavior. He was quite upset with her. " Not just that, Appa. Since...
My master has been spending hours with me every day. He’s very passionate. I feel more alive with every passing day. Ah! His nimble hands have the most delicate touch. I enjoy hearing him praise my beauty with his mesmerizing voice. I can even feel his warm breaths...
“Sundari, Sundari?” Sundari’s father searched for her inside every room. “Where is she? It’s so unlikely for her to wake up this early on a Sunday morning,” he thought. As he unfurled the curtains of the balcony, he saw little Sundari feeding grains to the pigeons....
The kaleidoscopic sky tinged with shades of eventide looked mesmerizing. Waves ebbed and flowed with dulcet melodies. The balmy breeze teased my untamed hair as I sat digging my feet in the soft sand, gazing at the picturesque landscape. I had lost count of the number...
“Wake up, Clare! Wake up!” I hear Anna’s guiding voice constantly urging me to wake up. I would have never woken up if not for the voice. Every part of my body aches—the pain is unforgiving. Those vile men shattered me completely. I had failed to fathom the dangerous...
Mon Amour! My world revolves around you. The universe does conspire matters of love in rather strange ways, don't you agree? Well! Our relationship had a rough start. You were a heartthrob—very popular among my college friends. They liked to hang out with you in...
Spring was in the air. Fairyland was buzzing with activity. Emma was busy painting the petals of the flowers. Tiana unfurled the wings of butterflies that had woken up from a deep slumber. Sarah ushered bumblebees to suck nectar. And the best among them all, Maybell,...
The sublime moon is no longer visible. The stars seem to cringe with fear as they are tucked in by the ominous clouds. A sudden gale of wind storms across ferociously and dislodges everything in its path. The waves lash at the distant lighthouse with rage. A flag...
'Mommy, help!' His faint voice calls out to you in between sobs. After a frantic search, you find him shaking nervously under the table. By the time you reach out to him, you hear a deafening shot. Triing..! The alarm sounds and you wake up with drops of sweat...
"Tring…," rang the school bell. All the students of class 3 rushed out of the classroom, and so did Sundari. Her round almond eyes were sparkling with delight. As she hopped to the gate to catch the school bus, the ponytails on either side of her head bounced merrily....
The crepuscular sky was tinged with shades of pink, purple, and orange. The sun was slowly setting yet again, bidding adieu to the world, making a solemn promise to appear the next day. The mighty ocean basked under the hues of eventide, shimmering and dancing...
Every night we waited with bated breath for our darling ladylove to lay her lips upon us. She came unabashedly. Ooh! Those furtive glances that we exchanged with her, wondering whom she would pick first. We all belonged to a tribe and had the same inherent qualities...
The entire town of Louisville appeared like a winter wonderland with several inches of snow on the ground. The Main Street- the most happening place in the town was twinkling with multicolored lights. Wreaths adorned with poinsettias hung from all the...
"In thy pristine eyes I clearly see, A reflection that belongs to me, Hark! I belong to thee and only thee, All thy inhibitions, just break them free." The verses flowed from Scarlet's petalled lips like a gentle river as she spoke to Drek. Her flawless face...
The mountains of Kodai looked mystically serene with a blanket of mist. Muthu’s tea stall was perched atop a rocky mountain. His business seemed to be enveloped in a blanket of misery more than the mist. “I had told you that tourists wouldn’t come this far...
“I will not let you commit this heinous crime. Don’t you know that poaching is illegal? Better back off,” warned Munshilal, the forest guard, to Neil and Ramlal. “Ha Ha! Illegal? But it fetches us a handsome amount in return. You seem to be a major obstacle for us....
The leaves of all the trees tethered to the branches rustled as the autumn wind blew with a gusto. They looked heavenly in their myriad shades of orange. All the farms in the town of Longville were resplendent with pumpkin patches. The season of fall was warmly...
“As promised, here is your favorite summer treat - double scoop butterscotch ice cream cone topped with sprinkles and a chocolate wafer,” said Pankaj to his ten year old son Roshan. But instead of digging into it, Roshan immediately handed it over to a poor boy...
Fourteenth Century, Romania There was a time when my tormented soul sought the warmth and solace of a tender heart. I desperately yearned to be pulled out from the abominable hellhole into which I was sinking, day after day. And then, the universe conspired for a...
“Do you think we can do this?” asked Pete. “Of course! Let’s strike this place off our bucket list,” said Jim. The soaring temperatures burned their skins and drops of sweat trickled down their foreheads. The two bold hikers stopped to catch their breath before...
“I lost to you in the race last time. I am sick of being called ‘The Lazy, Overconfident Hare’. This time I’ve decided to be more attentive. I want our fable to be rewritten,” said Hare to Tortoise. “No Problemo! Let’s do it,” said Tortoise. And the race...
“Martha! I knew you would come. The Sun might stop shining someday but there is nothing that can stop you from coming here, every year, on the same day,” said the caretaker of the Hatteras lighthouse. The long drive from Virginia had not been easy for Martha....
“ Mom, did you say Grandpa was a cryptologist for the Indian army?” asked Deepak. “ Do you even know what that means?” asked his mom Meera. “They decipher coded messages,” said Tarun, Deepak’s twin brother. “ Wow! My twelve year old twins sure are...
Chotu lived with his mother Mina in a small hut along the highway. Chotu’s dad had died in a road accident recently. Mina tried hard to make ends meet by selling small trinkets and other accessories. “Maa , look! I can pretend to be an airplane and fly wherever I...
Chaaya’s kohl smudged eyes sparkled with delight. She admired her reflection and imagined what it would be like to be garlanded by Neel. As the gentle zephyr swayed her hair flirtatiously, she tucked a few untamed tendrils behind her ears. The red sari gifted by Neel,...
“ Mom, why are many people protesting outside the tall building?” asked Judy “ They are environmentalists. Compare the starlit sky with the light from the buildings. Which one looks brighter?”asked her Mom. “ The buildings of course," said Judy. “ Yes! That’s the...