Lina’s Blossom

Lina looked at the aging blossom in her balcony, eagerly sucking up every drop of rain nature had to offer. The edges of its petals were dark and she could see small holes in the rose. But, it persistently held on. Lina did not know how long she could persist. She thought back to when she was healthy, young, and idle. Now she wanted to make everyday count, no matter how numbered her days were. Determined, she limped painfully from her coffee table to her laptop. Even the morose Robin of the Willow sang with unusual energy and vigor.

This was written for Charli’s Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge. The word prompt for this week is Blossom.

Spring Haiku

End of spring
two bees cling
to a decayed flower

Tremble

The clouds tremble in the folds of the sky, scattering droplets in all directions. An oak tree’s branches nod in sympathetic understanding. A few miles from the oak tree stands the rose bush, feeling no such empathy towards the rain. A young leaf suspends itself from the safety of the rose bush and jumps towards freedom, oblivious to the travails of the tough world. The entire rose bush shakes, having lost its newborn. The ever-hungry sea, a little farther away, trembles with desire, as it watches fresh raindrops. The new drops join the salty sea to make energetic ripples, awakening sleepy sea dwellers.

turbulence in sky

big clouds invade

a small cloud

Loyalty – Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge

“Wait here. I will be back,” he told me as he walked inside the house, coughing. He stumbled and I heard a loud crash. I wanted to check on him, but he had asked me to wait. I heard a voice sobbing softly. People came and left, wooden-faced. That evening, I smelled lilies and heard the wail of terrifying silence. Everyone from his house came out, except him. I knew where he was kept. Should I follow him? But, he had said he would be back. I waited in the garden, amongst the daisies. He always kept his word.

This was written in response to the prompt at the Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction. Write a story to the theme “a dog in the daisies.”

 

Raindrops

droplets of rain

earth’s wishful mouth

open for torrents

My New Story Published in Kitaab

Dear Friends,

My new story, Sal and Vikas, has been published in Kitaab. Do share this short story with your friends if you like it. Thank you:)

Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge – The Little Girl

Tough-looking muscled men chopped the trees, cutting nature’s artwork to make way for furniture. Loud women worked with them, chatting and laughing. The little one hid behind the trees, glad that she had no legs. She was scared that they would find her out. She nibbled on the cakes and fruits they had left in the corner. It was the same every year; she longed for new cream cakes and pastries. She paused, startled. A man came quite close to her. If the little one had a heart, it would have thudded. But, she had died 5 years ago.

This was written for Charli’s Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge.

Dark Night

Dark night

moon and stars hidden

in her drawing note

Dark Lane

I walk in a lonely

dark lane,

I fear the night

Cicadas tease me

with their low hiss.

My home is still far away,

I hit a stone

and my heart freezes

at the sharp sound.

I look around

and fear turns into wonder

as a bud blossoms

into a purple flower.

Bees swarm

around the new-born flower

and I find a place

in a rusty bench.

I don’t want to move

I don’t want to go home

I swap my fear

for joy and wonder,

glued to the mesmerizing

beauty of the night

Desert Travel

Deluded traveler stops

by each mirage

thirsty camel sighs