An Orange Day

It was an orange day. I don’t know why but it was one of those rare days I classified as orange. Days can be easily classified using colours; my mind automatically arranges them for me – yellow when I am bright, white when I am calm, black when I am mournful and so on. Every hue carries a message and my intuition said today was orange. Something special was destined today.

In Mumbai, it does not rain, it pours. During the last hour of college, it was pouring madly. We requested our lecturer to leave early; he denied permission. Everything seemed just as usual. Afterall, heavy rains aren’t unusual phenomena in Mumbai.

When the college bell rang, we moved down the staircase that took us to the front gate, but we were stopped short by the sight before us. The rain gods had gone berserk and the pouring looked plain catastrophic. Cell phones beeped wildly and the verdict was out – No moving out of here! All rail routes, road routes were closed.

The next few hours were spent discussing gossiping about our "favourite" lecturers. I did not know that Emily was going out with Muthu Kumar! What a combination - two of the most hated lecturers! We cracked jokes on what would they name their kid. “Artificially intelligent”, came Armaan’s prompt reply while someone said it should be “Network failure”. Emily taught us Computer Networks, Muthu Artificial Intelligence.

Few hours passed and the rain subdued a little. The more adventurous lot started moving out of college. Heading home was impossible but people were trying to go to places of people known to them living nearby. Seeing the college getting emptier, I decided to go to a cousin’s place living some blocks away.

While I was still waiting for the orange spark, it dazzled brilliantly through the grey alley I was moving in. She asked me if I could help her under my umbrella. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was beautiful, elegant, graceful. It was her eyes I couldn’t take mine off from. Dark jet black – incomparable beauty! I felt a deep connection. I felt something about her that I had never felt before. I felt as if my heart had close for any other woman on earth. It was unusual but a moment to be revered for life.

“Excuse me?” I got back to my senses. “Sorry”, I mumbled. “You can get under the umbrella. But I don’t know how well this would be able to protect us both.” She got under the umbrella. She smelt of sandalwood – pure and holy. “Thanks”. I was wondering if she felt the same clinking of metals within her, the same current running under her skin as was running through me.

I tried controlling myself but blurted out, "You are so beautiful." How can you ever say this to a girl when you have only just met her? What will she think about me - would she find me desperate? But she smiled. "I know and I am glad you can see it too". Glad that I saw it too? Does this mean other people did not see her as beautiful? I was confounded.

It suddenly started pouring madly. The water in the lane we were now walking in was already above waist-level. Luckily, I noticed that an electricity pole dangling dangerously around the corner of the lane. If the pole fell down, it would electrify us both to our deaths. I caught her hand and asked her to run. The pole could collapse any moment and we had to hurry. But, she did not move - out of fear or shock I do not know. "What? Do you want to die?", I asked. She said, "Nobody wants to die. But we all have to." Wow! This wasn’t time for philosophy! But she continued, "People find death ugly for it takes them by shock. But, there are few who understand the beauty in it. Death is transformation. Can you imagine how would it be to just live on and on with this body ageing but there being no death. How ugly would that kind of immortality be?" I thought she was crazy. 

I left her hand to run away but she held my hand tightly and I just couldn’t move. I was mesmerized. She continued, "People see in death what they are. You saw beauty in me. Since you are beautiful! You will pass into a newer life without any pain, or trouble. You deserve a beautiful transition". Till I could grasp what these words meant, the pole collapsed. A strong current ran through my body and I smiled. Life had passed in the time my lips had curled. It was surely an orange day - the last of this lifetime.

Tarun

MonMad 2011 RESULTS!!!

The time to announce the winners of MonMad 2011 has finally arrived. Though the quantity was extremely few, the quality was more than awesome. Me, the owners and the rest of the admins, thank you for your part. Also, a huge thank you to the non TWL people who took part in the contest.

Since only 2 entries has been received from outside of TWL, we couldn't make a separate category for them and hence, they were judged together with the blog entries. Our own THE WRITER'S LOUNGE legend, Pretty Prats, who now had given up an illustrious part of her life as a blogger was more than happy to be the judge.

So here we go,
*drumroll*

The Winner of MonMad 2011 is "MAITHILI" for her post "A Little Bit of Lying"

Pretty Prats says : "speechless! Such is the hatred and selfish interest of people. Killer ending. A full ten pointer"


We have a TIE for the 1st Runner's Up

They are "SMITA" for "Consequences" and "PULKIT" for "A Rainy Confession"

 

Both scored 9.5 each for excellent creativy. Pulkit's narration was brilliant but hampered by the word limit. Smita's post had supreme emotional tugs but lacked a touch of hope, a glimmer of ray that everyone needs in life. Nevertheless, excellent contributions.

The LAST but NOT THE LEAST, the ADMIN'S CHOICE AWARD.... and this is personal to me

The ADMIN'S CHOICE award goes to someone who is not a part of TWL.
I congratulate "SHRUTI MUKHERJEE" for her post "Odd Impressions".

 

Now you all know that you have to grab your badges and add them to your blogs. Also, i remember The Admin's Choice winning a certain prize from me. So SHRUTI gets an e-voucher of INR 400/- to shop anytime at FLIPKART. Now that ought to bring a smile on her lips. The Admin's Choice winner needs to send me an email to mridu.shadow@gmail.com

Also, this is a good year for TWL. We are now a WEBSITE. We had a fun contest. On this note, The Winner and the Runner's Up......wait for it......gets something toooooooooo....

Each of you will win a novel. A NOVEL and i hope to God, you people read. There will be a list of 9 Novels. And out of those 9, each one of you 3 winners can choose only 1. ONLY ONE. Seems fair since i will be the one shelling out bucks. This is NOT for the ADMIN'S CHOICE WINNER.

I will be the one selecting the novels. Remember, if one of you chooses a novel, the other one cannot get the same novel. So choose fast. The list of novels isn't up as of now. But it will be up by SUNDAY midnight at A LOT OF PAGES. So keep checking, the fastest one gets the best of the lot. Rules will be given there when the list comes up.

It was fun bringing you this contest and i hope you all had fun taking a part too.... Those who didn't win (including me and one of the owners) lol, DO NOT BE HEARTBROKEN (you can be for a while, i know i will be). WE WILL BE BACK. WITH BIGGER CONTESTS AND BIGGER PRIZES.

Love,

THE ADMINS  

P.S| People, i ask you to be a sport and congratulate the winners. Also The Lover for the wonderful job he had done for the blog. Not to mention, Pretty Prats, who is still the number 1 Queen of Poetry in TWL and whose number of posts we cannot seem to cross. I Thank, STEPHEN for the brilliant concept he and me shared one late night until early morning. And don't forget to thank me, Freelancer for all the giveaways *blush*

A little bit of lying..

“Appa, I m sorry.. I will do as you say..”

Muthu patted his daughter’s head.  Auraya was his only daughter and his pride.

It had pained his heart to keep her confined to her room all week but if that was the way his daughter  would forget that Muslim boy and get married to a boy from their own caste, he was ready to inflict this suffering on her. 

He would have to call Tarun’s family and set a date soon.

If a little bit of lying could change situations he saw no harm in doing it for his daughter’s well being.

As soon as she was handed her cellphone she called Tarun. Even though she had agreed to abide by her father’s wishes, her father had not let her use the phone in his absence. 

She called Tarun in front of her father and asked if they could meet to discuss the shopping. Muthu was pleased that Auraya was making an effort to participate in the preparations of her marriage.

She met Tarun at the city Plaza.  Tarun was radiating with happiness befitting a groom. Auraya felt guilty of bursting the bubble of his joy but she had to do it.. for her love.

“Tarun I cannot marry you.” She said without looking into his eyes.

“Auraya! Are you kidding? Why did you agree then?” he asked her disbelievingly.

“Tarun appa will never let me get out of the house if I don’t agree. Tarun I love Armaan. Appa doesn’t approve of him because he is a Muslim, but once I get married to him Appa will know that he is a very loving guy. Appa will accept us sooner or later. Help me Tarun. Please don’t spoil our lives.”

“Spoil your life! What do you want me to do Auraya?” he was flaring.

“Act like we are happy with his match. Let me get in contact with Armaan.  Within a month I and Armaan will marry and then you can tell the truth.”

He sat there watching her in amazement  and felt his dreams collapsing.

She was cheating her father.. She was cheating Tarun.. But if a little bit of lying could unite her with her love  she would do it..

“yes uncle, Amma has consulted the family astrologer. 5^th of next month is an auspicious day. I know its early but we will have a simple wedding. If it is okay with you.. else..”

“No.. no its alright.” Muthu was a little stunned by the speed of events. He wanted to have a grand celebration for his daughter’s marriage but he agreed. Buying more time could mean possibility of a change of heart. Auraya was young and being a father of a young girl in love , Muthu was skeptical.

Tarun knew he was doing wrong. He had lied to Amma that Auraya’s father was ill and that was why the wedding has to be next month.

He had no intention of keeping Auraya’s confidence.  She was a romantic but she was not practical. She was looking at the world with rosy glasses. She would never be happy with Armaan. She was a Tamilian Brahmin. What would she do with a beef eater. Heck! Who was he fooling with all this talks of caste and wellbeing. The truth was that Tarun loved Auraya. From the day he had set eyes on her. His love was not the love that sacrifices for some stupid romantic ideas of his lady. IF a little bit of lying could make her his wife, he would do it.

“You are lying Nausheen.. Auraya can never do  this to me.” Armaan shouted at his childhood friend and neighbor Nausheen.

“I might be lying.. but what about this snaps Armaan? Auraya has willingly cut off contact with you because she is going to marry Tarun.”

Nausheen was Auraya’s classmate and Armaan had tried to send his messages to Auraya through her. Little did he know that his messages remained undelivered, destroyed by the acid venom of Nausheen’s  jealousy.

Armaan once again looked at the blurred picture clicked in Nausheen’s  phone. Auraya was holding Tarun’s hand in what looked like a romantic gesture. What did he know that Auraya had held his hand in sympathy and pleading?

Nausheen  knew Auraya loved Armaan but so did she. If a little bit of lying could make Armaan hers forever, she would do it.

.

“How could you do this to me , you bitch!” Armaan was in a wild rage.

“Armaan I did it for you.” She tried convincing him

He nodded in disbelief, his eyes reddened with pain,deceit and mad fury.

She had the look of a lamb about to be sacrificed when he shot her at point blank range.

wordcount: 794

A rainy confession

'19^th January 2008

One night of the year where you are allowed to do whatever you want is your birthday night. You have the right to party late, scream out loud with your friends, celebrate with music. Specially when you are a little young and a little not so young, I mean you are somewhere in between. You got me right, I was talking about late teenage years. Teenage parties, one of those liberation spots where at the end of the night, spontaneously you emerge as who you are. It is at those nights when you make the choices which decide the person you would grow up to be someday. It is here when people take a first shot of smoke or drink and eventually evolve as an addict someday, and it is here when at times people make judicious checks on desires and eventually realize later that being uncool was not so uncool.

Pind Baluchi, Louge and Restaurant, South Delhi.

I am Tarun, currently working in ericsson as a telecom engineer. This is my story. I take you back two and a half years in time, that strange january night, when it rained and I actually drenched in it.

“Have you come all the way from your boring engineering college life in Kanpur to Delhi for this? I mean come on yaar, It is your birthday?” Anubhati said, making a fussy annoyed face, as her two hairlets fell on her specs. Anubhati, 20 was an intern journalist in a leading tabloid. She was a year elder to me,my closest childhood friend from the hometown. We grew up together as best pals. For past three years, she had been studying journalism in Delhi University.

“and that too the very last one in a sense” Richard laughed, Anu’s boyfriend and a senior executive at her office.

“as in what sense?” I asked a little shaky, with the whisky peg still gripped in my hand.

“You know what they say at our place in Australia, it is till 19 that u can try in life, the rest of the life is spent in expertising the things that u tried till 19” his smile was assuring and so was his pat on the back. So go ahead and try it again, This time with friends might never come back”

Roars exclaimed around my birthday cake, as I gulped down the fourth neat peg of the night. It was like hammers thrown in my head, but I could hear music a little louder so it was kinda cool. Emily and Armaan, two other common friends decided that it was enough for the day. They stood up, hugged me and left. We waited for Neha,Anu’s younger sister, she was in the washroom coughing and vomitting the hangover. She was 18. Both Anu and Neha are like, the most desirable looking girls absolutely stunning. I discovered that night, four pegs down you can’t differentiate between the two, they look so similar.

It was raining when we came out. Anubhati and Richard went ahead and started singing happy birthday in the rain, they danced a little and then smooched each other. Anu hugged me a good bye, and told me to come again soon and give regards to all at home. Richard shook hand with me and asked me “am I drunk?” I smiled back and said “Nobody gets drunk on his birthday even if one drink a whole bottle, I have only tried four pegs” He smiled back and said “That’s the spirit”.

“by the time we would meet again, I shall be a man of greater capacity then u all”

“Yo!” they both shouted and took an auto rickshaw to their place, I could see them undressing each other at the back seat from a distance. The music was still playing in my head, I continued to stand there and let water droplets fall on my head. It pained a little and I felt sleepy.

Neha told me that it is late and I should drop her home too and proceed to my hotel. She also told me that I am drunk, on which I moved my head in disagreement. We both sat in the auto and I remember sleeping in middle of the journey. She told me midway that her boy friend is so bad to her and what not. May be the vomit had made her sober again. She sounded sad and depressed. The auto stopped and we walked in her lane. There was no sound, except that of falling water when she came closer to my ear and whispered “Make love to me”, I was like “What?”.

She started kissing my neck and I pushed her back. I slapped her and told her that she is like a sister to me. She started crying and apologized that she is a little drunk and something else about her messy life that I can’t recall. She again held my hand and we continued walking in the rain. This was strange. We walked to a place where a few steps away I could see a police jeep standing. She came closer to me again and said “Make love to me or else I shall shout that you are trying to rape me” I was numb, rubbed my eyes again trying to figure out if she is crying or is it the rain. I could see her face clearer now, her eyes were mean and she was not crying. She was not even Neha infact, She was Anubhati.

Word Count - 654

Hope..

“This is all I could bring for you.” Muthu said. Anubhuti stared at his guilt ridden face and then glanced at the small pot of rice in his hand.

A whirlpool of emotions threatened to wash away her bold stance. She took the pot of rice near the fire place and began to boil the rice for lunch.

Muthu stood watching her pull the end of her sari and quickly wipe away tears. Her hands moved skillfully around the utensils as though calming her nerves.

It had been months since he last spoke to his daughter. “She must be 16” he thought.  Her skin was flawless but was sticking to her bones. Her stomach looked stuck to her back. Her bright eyes were now dry with agony.

Anubhuti blew the fire with the remnants of firewood. The stock of firewood kept for monsoon was depreciating. She worried what would happen if the rains don’t stop this month.

She once again looked at her father who sat on their coir cot in a pensive mood. After months she had seen him sober. She wished her mother was alive to witness this day. The thought of her mother burnt a deep hole in her heart. She had cared enough for her mother but could not save her from tuberculosis.  Her drunkard father spent all their savings on his poison and slept in the dinghy all evening.

She reminisced the time when her father was once a rich fisherman. Anubhuti thought about  her younger self when she used to play hide and seek in her father’s boat. She was carefree about her future. Her father was her hero who sailed great miles and returned with gifts for her from harbors of other cities.

Some evil might have fallen on their happiness. A storm hit the sea. The violent sea destroyed her father’s boat and its crew members. Her father was not on the ship due to some other business. Her father suffured huge loses and he was paying loans through his nose. They lived a hand to mouth existence and soon her mother was detected with TB. They used all their savings and jewellery to revive her health but she succumbed to the disease. Muthu was a beaten man long before his wife died. He had given in to alcohol.

As he watched Anubhuti going around the same way like his wife a thought struck him.. “She is all I have.. I cannot lose her.. I must give her another chance at a good life..”

He put on his chappal and swung a lungi around his waist. He took out his fishing net and hurried to the shore.

“Where are you going?” she shouted out.

“Prepare for curry.. I will return with some fish and crabs..” he shouted back.

Anubhuti looked at the disappearing figure of her father. She smiled.. There was hope after all..

Emily watched in silence as her husband Richard sat with wooden pieces , hammer, nails etc.

He looked up at her. His eyes brimmed with tears.

“You..you came back.. Did you forget anything?”

She thought about Samuel, her first love. She had left Richard never to turn back. Richard was no match for her. She was  a beauty in her community with her large brown eyes, long flowing hair, pink lips which won hearts when they broke into a smile, her slender figure that grooved in grace as she walked sent shivers through the spine of young men who desired her.

Samuel was in every way charming. He had a engineering degree. He had a broad and strong built with a boyish smile that made her fall head over heels in love with him.

Emily wanted to marry him but her father was against the match. He forcefully fixed her marriage with Richard when Samuel was out of town. Emily was heartbroken at the absurd nature of her father. Her father threatened to commit suicide if she disobeyed him. Left with no choice she was married to Richard, a carpenter by profession. He was an average looking guy with a practical approach to life, but he dearly loved Emily.

Emily never let him close to her and Richard waited for her to accept him.

Emily looked at Richard and then turned away in guilt. Richard followed her into the yard.

She burst into tears.

“Emily what happened?” he asked with concern.

“I met Samuel.. told him everything.. He says he doesn’t want anything to do with a second hand thing..” She stood in the rain drenched  and he couldn’t take his eyes off her .

“You are not second hand..you will always be mine Emily..” he gave her a kind smile.

He drew closer to her and slightly touched her lips with his. There was hope afterall..

wordcount: 799

The Blood Rain

The rain drops splatter on my face hard as I run like a blind girl. 

"Emily…Emilyyyy. Stop! It’s not what you think." I hear Richard scream after me. 

‘No, you do not stop if you want to live.’ My mind screams at me. I am drenched completely. 

I run with the last ounce of my strength – flailing around looking for a place to hide. There! I see a barn towards my left, but if I enter, it would be a dead end and I would be caught. And then, he will kill me. But I have to take this one last chance for my survival.

I run till I reach the barn and push the huge wooden doors and enter quickly, closing the heavy doors behind me. I am still strong. Good. I do not stop and crouch behind a large mound of hay stack. I can hear Richard shout my name over and over again. I am scared. I have never been so afraid in my life. I have been a strong girl always – my father’s hunting skills in the forests everyday had ensured that I was a tough woman. And at that – no one, man or animal could beat me. But here I was, hiding in a musty smelling barn. Why was I scared?

Because Richard, my husband, can seriously hurt me. He is a strong man too. Stronger than anyone I have ever known. Can I fight him back? Yes. Do I have the courage? No. What should I do? I can feel the dusk starting to wrap around the barn. It’s getting dark in here. Very dark. My heart is beating fast. Rain is pouring down in steady torrents. Richard hasn’t come here yet. Is it safe to go out? I get up from my crouching position and wobble – feeling very weak and disoriented. There’s nothing around, so I decide to get out of the barn. Possibly Richard has already gotten tired of waiting for me and left. 

I get out quietly. My off-white corset dress is clinging to my body like second skin. Danger! My mind screams. I turn around, sensing eyes on me. Is Richard still out there? My breath comes out in uneven gasps. I feel defenseless. Was that a fire flickering at the edge of the forest? What was that orange light? He is coming here to burn me. My heart suddenly realizes.

I try to move away from the place. Night has already fallen and I can hear the skittering of insects. I wipe my face and push away my brown straight hair obstructing my vision. I am a fighter. There is no point in being afraid. I go around the barn towards the edge of the forests to see if Richard is there. I will confront him. 

“Richard! Come out you stinking jerk!” I shout in the general direction of the flickering fire at the distance. My voice makes an owl fly away, scared. Yes, they know me, the animals. I had been a good hunter. 

“Richard! Richard!” I scream for good again, as the rain carries away my voice. Crunch! There he is. Arising from behind a sodden oak tree. 

“Emily…” He whispers holding a flame burning dangerously. The rain is now a drizzle surprisingly, as if it wants me to die too. 

“You are here to kill me.” I say, surprisingly calm. 

“No, Em... I love you. Why will I kill you? Even if you are a monster.” He says the last word through gritted teeth – mocking me. I realize I love him too but I do not want him to live either. 

I look up at the clouded moon and feel a joyous burning in my veins. I am dangerous. I need to hunt. And I cannot let anyone harm me. I may not die ever, but Richard is an open threat to me. I give him a warning growl. I cannot believe I can still growl. I learnt it from my father, to warn the more dangerous animals like jaguars and panthers. Richard takes a step back. Triumph! My mind cheers me. 

“Go away Richard before I kill you.” 

Idiot. He sways the fire towards me. I crouch and give a howl…he throws away the flame and turns around to run. I feel my incisors lengthen as I leap and dig them into his throat. His life blood pours into my mouth, energizing me and healing my wounds. The warmth thaws the ice in my heart as I drink from him, heartily. 

I smile giving out a happy bark, realizing that being a werewolf wasn’t so bad after all. 

Pearl in the Ocean

 

‘Daddy, Can I ask you something ?,’ Little Tarun asked his father Muthu.

‘Sure dear, whats that you want to ask?’ , Muthu said

He got a mirror and compared their faces . ‘Why do we look different Daddy?’ A shade of innocence twinkled through Taruns eyes as he asked this to his Father.

‘I am so fair and you are  dark ,’ He said.

Neha was  listening to all this what Tarun spoke. 

‘Come dear, you need to get dressed for school,’ Neha interrupted and  took her son with him. She looked at  her husband Muthu who smiled  back at her.

‘Nature has its way of telling certain things. Everyone looks  like their parents dear,’ Muthu said to Tarun as he carried him over his shoulder for  school  .

‘But Appa, then I should look like you ,no ?’ Innocent Tarun said to his father.

‘Common Son, I don’t know how to say.I will tell you some day’  He refused to answer his son’s question

At school ,kids would tease Tarun by calling him ‘Dark Knight’s  Fair Son ’ He was an adorable 6 year old  kid .He was wheatish in complexion unlike Muthu.  Days passed by , but Muthu could not answer Tarun when he was confronted with the same question again and again. 

Tarun was  growing and his hatred towards his father  increased.

‘Daddy , I think mom  should attend the  PTA meeting at school  and I don’t want to get embarrassed ,’  15 yr old Tarun said to his Father Muthu .

Muthu found himself deviating from his son. Neha ,at times would explain Tarun about his father’s sorrow and how much it hurts  Muthu when he asked him such question. Tarun often  gave a deaf ear to her.

‘If you wish so Son.Neha will attend the PTA,’  Muthu said.

‘Daddy ,you never answer my question .Why are you dark  and how come I am fair? ’ Tarun asked as he got dressed up.

‘Time will tell...,’ Muthu smiled.

Tarun was growing up into a strong handsome man.All girls in his college would wish to be his girlfriend.Such was his beauty and the spell he cast  upon all the girls. He was 23 year old by then . Since childhood he hated his  father just because he was dark. He never realized how much  it hurt his dad.   He was never attached to his father.

Two years later Tarun won the ‘Young Enterpreneur Award’  and his family was invited to attend the  Award Ceremony . Muthu was excited  to  see his son getting the award from  the President of India. But little did he knew that Tarun had forbidden  him from  attending  the ceremony.He took his mother with him . It hurt Muthu a lot. Neha tried hard to explain Tarun but he didn’t budge.

The Award ceremony started at 7 pm. One could see  guests in form of business magnets and filmstars seated on the first row . Tarun was  given the ‘Young Enterpreneur Award’ by the President of  India. The President called  his mother to talk few words about her son. Neha was too hurt as her husband Muthu didn't accompany her.
 

‘Good evening  friends..’ Neha started

‘As you all might know my son Tarun has won the prestigious award from the President.It makes me proud and I am very happy at this moment,’ She continued and Tarun’s face beamed with pride.

‘Let me tell you about  him. No one here would hate your father just because he looked  different than you. After all a dad is a dad. This  young man standing here hates his father just because his father Mr Muthu Swami was dark . I am going to answer his question which he asked his father when he was 6. We are Tarun’s foster parent.We found him in a trash bin near our locality. We  found him cute and Muthu decided to take him home,’ Her eyes turned moist as she said.

‘But today he refused to accept that person as his daddy. He is a pearl in the ocean which every kid would ask for. He is the best father in this world ,’ She continued.

A tear drop rolled down  Taruns cheeks as he heard his mother saying all this.

Later that evening when they reached home, he found a letter on his computer table.

Dear Son,

Today I am going to answer your question.You asked me why we both look different? Why I  am dark  and you are fair? I want you to know that me and Neha are not your real parents. I don’t want to listen all this. You don’t know how much you hurt me all these years. I’m going..

Love ,

Muthu

‘Appa.....I’m sorry.. I love you ..you are the best ’ Tarun wept

Word count - 797

The Antique

The phone rings...
It was the fifth time today. When answered, all Tarun could hear was a girl screaming loud, after which a ghostly female voice says "Give it back. Give back what you took from me".

Accompanied with Tarun was Richard. They both shared their flat for the time being as Tarun was searching for a job.
All they could remember is where they had seen the number making this crank call.
It was written in an old abandoned house, an advertisement for a job opening in web design.
They found this house when Richard, Neha, Auraya and Tarun had gone to an hill station for vacation.
Since Tarun was unemployed and a techy, he noted down the number.
Even though everyone was against it, conveying the fact that a web designing job offer in an abandoned house inside a forest in a remote hill station was awkward, Tarun was assertive that he did make a note of it.
He tried calling it, but all he could get was 'not reachable' message.
After that, the girls wanted to take a tour of the house, since they had the entire day with them.
Whilst touring, Auraya found an antique vase. She is an antique collector and wanted it so badly. Richard and Neha, being superstitious, were against it.
But Auraya, adamant in nature, took it with her.
Then having toured and explored the entire house, they left.

After a great vacation, they all returned home.
A few weeks later, Tarun started getting missed calls from the same advertisement number.

Today, Tarun lost his patience. When called back it only said 'not reachable'.
So instead, Tarun messaged the number asking who she was and what was taken from her.
After some 10 messages came a reply.
Sender being "Unknown Number" it said,
"Give back what you took. Give it back or thy shall pay".

Tarun could not believe what he just saw, so he called the rest and showed them the message.
Richard and Neha were convinced that it was a spirit and it needed the vase, that Auraya took from that house. But Auraya said she did not have the vase with her as she gave it to the caretaker who worked in the cottage they had stayed, as he was in deep financial trouble, living alone and having no relatives or friends to help him, he said the money he could get selling that vase, could settle his loans.

So Auraya was sure that, it may not be the case.

This freaked out Richard and Neha more.
But Tarun, sitting at the corner of the room thinking deep, being practical and a non believer, was against the perception of Richard and Neha.
He wanted to investigate further about the sender.
Being quite familiar with technology and programming, he was able to crack his phone and reveal the number that sent the message.
He found out that it was the same number.
Having a few friends in the mobile company, he was able to trace to the owner of the number.
He then came to know that the number was registered to a guy called Muthu Kumar. Tarun then realized that it was the caretaker of the cottage they had stayed during their vacation.
Tarun then called the cottage landline and reached the caretaker. He found out that he had borrowed Muthu Kumar's scarf during the vacation and had forgot to give it back. He said he tried calling Tarun, but every time he heard a girl saying something. Believing it to be a cross talk he messaged Tarun saying he wanted his scarf back as he could not afford a new one. So he requested Tarun to courier it.
Tarun still had it with him in his room, so he said he will send it.

Time passed. An year later, everyone planned another vacation and they decided to go to the same place as they still had a few places to visit.
When they reached there, Tarun enquired about the caretaker and was shocked.
It seemed the caretaker was found hanging in his room with his cell phone in his hand. The manager also said, Muthu Kumar kept telling about a girl who called to his number everyday, screams and says something that he could not understand.
On further enquiry, Tarun found that the caretaker had used the same scarf that Tarun had sent, and hung himself 2 days after Tarun had sent it.
And he also came to know that, the police had found a message in his cell phone which read -
"Return what you took from me, or thy shall pay" from the same number that Tarun had got a call from.

Word Count - 786 or 787 (lazy to count from first again :P)

A Broken Heart

Richard was found to be seated near the window, gazing outside infinitely.
In his hand was his cell phone which read a message from Auraya.
It read - "When any relation is new, people find excuses to meet you. But as it ages, they find excuses, not to meet you".

Richard is a bit emotional when it comes to relationship as he lives alone. Parents died in a car crash when he was 12, and his relatives abandoned him.
His education was sponsored by a family friend. He now works in an mnc and earns a decent income.

This message got back the memories of his old friend who happened to be a girl; Atleast thats how he defines it - "There is a difference between a girl who is a
friend and a friend who is a girl".
This girl, Emily, was a bit special to him. As she was the one who encouraged him, patted him in the back when he succeeded, and offered her shoulder to cry on when he was hurt, psychologically.
After she came into his life, everything turned out to be as milk and water for him.
But now things have changed.

The only message in his inbox was "Good night. Sweet Dreams" from her.
It was one of a kind to him, as Emily always say "Good night. Richard Dreams"  for which she explained that she replaced the word 'sweet' with Richard.

All these thoughts were going through Richard, at the moment. It was very painful for him. Emily had left him forever.
All he has now are his friends Auraya and Armaan who were with him from his childhood. And they knew everything what happened between the two cutie pies.

It was around 7 at dusk, last year. Emily had called Richard and said she wanted to talk to him. And he left, only to return after 3 hrs.
Armaan was a bit suspicious when he returned as he and Richard shared their flat.
Even though Richard was showing a happy face, deep inside his eye Armaan saw, there was deep trouble.

The night went as usual.
The next 2 days too, went as usual.
But on the third day, trouble started. Richard was acting weird and Armaan knew that something deep was going on, but Richard was not prepared to open up.
After a few insists, came the storm.
He said - "Emily was in deep trouble, and she wanted to talk to me. On that day, I consoled her but then I couldn't control my emotions and did something. That
something took my entire reputation with Emily but at the same time, relieved her of her problems."

Armaan then came to know that his doings damaged his respect so bad that both, didn't dare meet again. And she took off to another country without telling
anybody 'to carry on with her life', thanks to facebook. No matter how much did Armaan do to console Richard, all he got was "I'm fine mate" in a husky
non convincing tone.

Armaan lost every step he took to console him. Auraya, meanwhile, who came to know about this, wanted to do her part. Since she couldn't do it in person, for
she stayed in the other corner of the city, she used the phone as her means. But she failed to understand that she was making things worse.
No matter how much they tried, Richard could not come out of his misery. He just couldn't accept the fact that she was different than everyone else. He said - "A
special someone teaches you to live without anybody else, but she thought you how to live without her too". Again, all in vain.
Regardless of how well Richard excelled in his work, there was still a second life, behind his glistening eyes, where lurked the memories of their happy moments
and the D-Day, which were powerful enough to make him dependent on it.

Word Count- 659

Two Windows Apart.

Dear Armaan,

That was the only time I saw it rain in the Wadi Araba. And this day, I saw it again. I am sixty seven years old, and mother to one still born. I never gave birth again. It had been a turbulent journey trying to accommodate everything in this little place you left me. But I have no complaints. I still wait for the day you shall be back from the States. It’s home here. Come soon.

Waiting,

Emily.

She stood up and looked outside the window. The expanse of the Jordan Valley lay right in front of her eyes. She never posted the letter.

Dear Emily,

I think I’ve found home, at last. This is where I shall stay for the rest of the few years of my life. I am seventy three and a father to three sons. Thank you for showing me your side of home, honey. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been here. Ever! My wife is an American and we’re happy. I can’t thank you enough for taking me from Jordan and showing me the real world. I don’t miss Wadi Araba anymore. Though I remember that rain we saw together. The day you kept quiet and how your American eyes hid so much. You American girls are so unpredictable. Only you must not be a girl anymore. I hope you’re good in L.A. I haven’t received any replies from you. Are you alright?

Grateful,

Armaan.

He went outside to play with his grandchild and asked his son to mail the letter to Emily in L.A.

***

Word Count: 266

***

~ Shruti. 

The Beginning of a Beginning

July 25th, 2026

Dear Diary,

How time flies.....

As she walked down the stairs, her hair muddled and as she supressed a yawn, the innocent twitching of her nose and till the moment she ran into my arms, i felt a sense of deja vu. 15 years back into the past, the same scenario was replayed at a differnt place, in a different era.

'Nau...sheeen'I softly breathed in the sylabbles that was her name. My wife looked at me with raised eyes, subduing a smile.

My name is Richard. And this is my beginning of an end.

She was 26 then. I was an old fool in need of love. I was in love with her. My awkward, bumbling ways worked an odd charm on her and suddenly the world's most beautiful girl was in the arms of the world's most geekiest boy. Slowly yet surely she was replacing my Death Star with her own planet. I welcomed the new change. I dropped my light saber for her hand. She gave words to my feelings and emotions to my needs. Gazing the stars alone at nights had a new meaning when she joined me and created harmony with the universe. In between muffled moans under the starry night and shooting stars, our hearts beat in unison. She became my guiding light as she transformed me from a geek to an almost stud.Little did i know what the Gods had planned for me all along. But at that moment, it was only me and that angel that mattered. The emotions that i thought i never had in myself shocked me when they opened up. 

As, i look back at those days, i realise Muthu was right. She would be the end of me. She definitely was the end of our friendship. Before i was smitten, we were the Starsky and Hutch, the this and that. Now, as days passed to months, i can only hope that he has forgiven me for at that time my perfect planet skewered out of orbit and revolved around hers. My costant companions, my glasses were traded for the new lens she made me wear. She changed me, physically and socially, i was more acceptable. My friends got shuffled and i found new ones. My interests didn't match hers, so she found new ones for me. All for love, i accepted blindly. She was the prize, the rest didn't matter. I paid no heed to the wind and what started as a whirlwind romance that threatened to challenge the world ended up in series of nightmares that threatened to engulf me in towers of smoke. Crash and burn, i went through it all in the blink of an eye.

Then, in the summer of 2011, she married my neighbor's son.

In the spring of 2012, she and her husband died in a car accident.

In late 2011, Muthu admitted me to the nearest hospital after i was found lying drunk in some alley behind a bar. Binge drinking does that to people. Weed and Whiskey were my only allies when life decided to stop using me as its pawn. Long story short, Muthu and Dr. Emily nursed me back to health. The relationships that i thought vanished with her absence started to start anew. My friendship with Muthu suffered but he was gracious enough to let the past remain in the past. And Dr. Emily started creeping into my life as the walls i built around myself cracked over time. Nausheen's death was a wake-up call and i knew i had to be strong. And Dr. Emily was that rock on which i leaned. She made the climb back to sanity easier.

My name is Richard. And that was the end of my beginning.

15 years later, in a different time, i watched the girl in my arms, kiss me good morning. Tarun was still asleep. Emily made her way towards me and hugged the both of us. "She has her chin, you know" she told me softly. I smiled at her. "But she has your eyes and your charm", Emily continued.

I took out the gift i carefully wrapped last night and handed it to my daughter. "Happy Birthday, Nausheen"

Total Word Count - 615

CONSEQUENCES

       They entered the hotel room, Her heart pounded. Tarun was taking care of everything, like always, from getting the room under alias name to protecting her from vulture eyes of the staff. This wasn't the way either of them had imagined it to be, but the motion of being one, subdued all the fears.
       Holding her from behind, he whispered ,"I don't know what am doing",and he turned her ,"But I can't bear this sulky distance anymore" 

       His fingers scrolled down, from forehead to lips, from shoulders to arms, making peculiar notes about her beauty.Tiny rain droplets were still visible on her face as the dew droplets on a flowers petals on a foggy morning. Water dropping, drop by drop, from her long black hair. With Wet clothes clinged to her perfect body, eyes down with excited fear, lips sealed with terror and a numb body, she gave herself up to him, thinking it as the only way to make him love her, more than he loved Nausheen.

       She had to succumb and present herself to gain his love. A relationship with such an inception,she knew, will surely have consequences. 

                                                        ***************************

 "God ! Stop crying,am working", Muthu shouted.
"You never have time for me. I am just a maid, to take care of your home &  kids.",she said.
"Yes damn, now that you know this, leave me alone",he shouted , not even once looking at the lady crying her eyes out.
"You love ruining people's life with your empty egoistic attitude towards everybody, especially me and my daughter.", she grumbled.
"You love fighting and creating scenes in-front of everyone." Auraya continued crying."You are a devil in a humans' skin"
This made him furious. He rushed to hit her! Slapped her,tried choking her to death but eventually, her time to leave the world, hadn't yet come.

Pulling them apart, Neha shouted,"Stopped, will you"
Auraya cried,"You got to leave this house Neha,if you want a life for yourself. This man will only kill you"
Neha didn't know what to do.She turned towards him and said, "Maybe you are out of your mind and senses but surely you will have to face the consequences"

                                                           ****************************

 "Why are you doing this to me?",She kept asking but he felt no obligation to reply.
"Are you even listening?", she started crying.
"I love you. Talk to me, Tell me what wrong I have done. Tell me how can I fix this? Please talk to me.Don't put an end to everything like this"
She tried her best to make him talk, but he was just lost in his own world.She continued grumbling her love for him when finally he spoke.
"I met my ex-girlfriend yesterday",he said,with a blank expression on his face.
Stunned and Shocked to death, she sat there, watching his lips move.
"I still have feelings for her , my heart craves to be with her and restricts me from loving you",he said.
"I don't want to be with you like this", he got up from the bench, to leave. She started crying.
"This can't be true. You have nothing in you for her. It's a lie. You can't leave me like this".
He turned and said,"It is, but the truth and if you can accept me like this, then... you must know, me being torn between two of you, might have consequences"         

                                                             ***************************

    

"Hello"
"Mr Muthu Kumar we need you to come with your wife quickly at your daughter's place",said inspector Samuel, coming out of the building.A large crowd had gathered outside the building.
"That girl is dead",said a voice.
"Oh, that loner", joined in another voice.
"Yeah, she hanged herself last night".
"Poor soul. She never had much visitors. Nor did she had a social circle to mix up with.",said a concerned voice.
"Kindly Clear up the premises",an announcement was made.
"You are barring the police investigation".
"Did you see somebody leave flat A-12 last night?",the inspector inquired the gatekeeper. Hearing the flat number, a guy rushed towards the building.
"I am her boyfriend.I need to see her",he said barging into the room where her body was lying.
"I am sorry. But she is dead now.She left a note but".
The note read : "I had enough failures at the hands of life accompanied with the agony to see my parents splitting and my love failing me, this new life in me, won't bear their consequences!"
Putting his spinning head on the table, he cried,"My girl was pregnant"

                                                               ******************************

Words spilled :767
Smita

Crashed Dreams!

(Disclaimer-All the characters in this story are imaginary.)

“The first time I met Anubhuti was when she attended the UNIX training session by Prof.Bala,” I started.

I was surrounded by my project team mates. I always had a special knack for storytelling. I have shared most of my memorable moments with my team comprising of Armaan, Muthu  and Nausheen. It is more stimulating when those young guys and girls listen to you with full attention. For a change it was not an audit or a team review meeting. We were charged up for the induction ceremony where a new joinee was supposed to join our team.

“She occupied the 4th seat on the last row,” I continued.

“I was sitting beside her, but sometimes I fail to understand my reluctance in opening a conversation with people especially girls” I added.

“Tarun Sir, I bet Anubhuti must be beautiful,” Nausheen said.

“Indeed pretty,” I smiled back at her. I always admired  her agility and her insatiable thirst for solving problems.

“Anubhuti  Singh,” I sighed.

“O TL pleaseeeee describe Anubhuti,” the boys sang in unison.

“A meeting is going on and Mr. Richard may pop out any time,” I warned them to remain silent.
“Well, I am not quite sure. All I know was that she was pretty queer. Such was her magic. She induced some interest in you. Her large eyes had infinite depth. The way she talked, the way she walked everything was different. Probably this difference attracted me to her.
Her long hair reflected bright shades of ebony. Her beautiful eyes never failed to mesmerize me. Her eyes, framed by long lashes, were bright, as dark as ink and seemed to brighten the world. Had she smiled, the world would have smiled with her. Had she laughed, the world would laugh with her. And had she wept, the whole world would want to comfort and soothe her.” I paused.

There was a deafening silence as I spoke. For a moment it seemed as if all eyes were glued on me.
"She knew I had a crush on her,” I smiled.

“Then..” the team said in unison.

“Then…slowly and steadily we got to know each other. We interacted and we became good friends,” I continued.

“We worked for the same project. Days passed and she seemed to turn more beautiful. I soon developed a thing for her. The world seemed to have been a better place to live in. I  liked her and wanted to  live with  her forever, “I continued.

“Didn’t you propose her,Sir?” Nausheen asked this time with a shade of innocence.

“Trust me, its the most difficult thing in life to confess your love for someone. It was very much true in my case. It was Friday, 14th of July and the same day she came out crying from the SPM’s office, “I smiled.

“She said that she was offered an onsite opportunity and she had to leave for Paris the other day and started weeping, “ I said to my team who by then were fully attentive.

“I asked the reason why she didn’t want to go? I was dumbfounded by her reply. She said that she loved me very much and wanted to live with me. It made me smile. She sealed our love by kissing me inside the pantry shop, “I said.

“Wow!” Nausheen exclaimed to which Muthu giggled.

“She didn’t want to leave me. It took me 3 hours to convince her and finally she agreed to leave for Paris as per her 6 months contract, “I said.
“The butterflies in my stomach would never stop fluttering till she was with me. I would miss her badly. We used to chat every day on the Office Communicator and she would call me once every day, “I continued.

“No wonder she had a debonair personality,” Armaan from my team said.
“Finally the eternal wait came to an end and it was time for her return. She was excited and so was I. My happiness grew more as I was going to see my girl after 6 months, “I sighed.

“I wish I didn’t insist her to go. Why did I ask her to go?,” A tear drop trickled  down my cheeks and my voice started trembling for once.

“Tarun Sir what happened?,” my team mates asked me.
“The aircraft in which she was travelling plunged into the Atlantic Ocean and my dreams collapsed,” My eyes turned moist
There was complete silence for a minute.

“We are sorry sir..,” my team mates tried to comfort me.

“Tarun meet our new joinee Miss Anubhuti Sehgal,” Mr.Richard Fernandes, my Project Manager said to me.

“Anubhuti” reminded me of the girl who mesmerized me with her smile.
I wished she was my Anu, the girl who cast her spell upon me.

Total Words - 795

The Solitary Writer