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

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

Magical Drops

Moist breeze glides  through the dimness of a mid-July monsoon day. Couples walk, holding hands, talking about the beauty of the weather, and of their togetherness. But Tarun and Auraya don't seem to have noticed any of it.

"Do you have any idea about how I felt while I waited for you, sitting alone like an idiot for hours, ordering beverage after beverage? "

" I thought  I would make it Auraya...I tried hard but a new assignment came in and I had to cancel..."

" Cancel? After I had already waited for two hours? "

" I tried not to cancel it...till the moment it became inevitable. I tried real hard...trust me "

" Well...you think I should?...'cause where there is a will, there is a way...Haven't you heard?"

"Oh God Auraya...It's impossible to make you understand. I can't take it anymore. Now, stop overreacting!",Tarun screams.

The argument gets too ugly for Auraya to handle and she turns away. Tarun holds her by her shoulders and turns her around so that she faces him. A tear rolls down Auraya's cheek and falls upon the Earth.  A drop from the sky falls and rests over Tarun's cheek. Another tear from her eyes touches the soil, and another drop from the sky wets his lashes.

" Please baby, don't cry....I am sorry. I really am....I can't believe I screamed at you...."

The rain has drowned her tears, melted his heart and drenched the two in love.

" I love you Auraya. I won't do it ever again, I promise."

 Auraya hugs him tight.

" I love you Tarun."

And as they hug and kiss each other, Nausheen watches. The rain wets every leaf on every tree and fills every grain of soil with water. But Nausheen burns and twists in pain. "Why is it", she thinks, " that for some, even a lifetime is too short to get the love they desire?  Why is it that it hurts so much to watch the one you love kiss someone else....Why is it that you have no courage to keep looking, but you have no power to turn away... Why is it that I have never been loved?"

She feels the pain of stings by a thousand scorpions. She feels severely wounded.

But suddenly, she feels the fire of jealousy and pain being put out. She notices herself getting wet by drops that ease the pain wherever they touch. She is being healed by magical drops that make her feel loved. All wounds evaporate. All jealousy fades away. She is liberated.

Armaan is on his knees, crying his heart out... his tears blending into the rain drops, falling onto the soil, seeping into the Earth and wetting Nausheen's grave with his untold love.

Word Count: 456

Girl with a Silver Pen

Monsoon Madness @ Lounge

"WE GIVE YOU CHARACTERS, YOU GIVE US A STORY"

Its Contest time Folks. We bring to you Monsoon Madness @ Lounge. And it starts as soon as the clock strikes midnight. A one month long roller coaster of emotions and imaginations will clash when you people bring the characters alive with the power of words.

MonMad starts from 15th July to 15th Aug

Also, this contest is open for all our beloved followers and others following us via Networked Blogs and anyone who wishes to join (for details, keep reading)

Rules ---->
1] As we said, we give you the characters, you give us a story. So we are giving you 10 characters (5 males, 5 females), along with their names. You can only CHOOSE A MAXIMUM OF 7 among them. i.e., out of the 10 characters available to you, you can choose 7 or less in your post, depending on your mood. NOTE - must not exceed 7 characters

2] Poetry is NOT allowed. Anything other than poetry (and its types) are allowed.

3] Word Limit is of 800. You can obviously finish before that, but make sure it does not cross 800 or your post will not be considered.

4] You can post as many stories as you want. BUT remember that only ONE can be submitted. i.e You write 1-99 posts, but you have to mail us the name and link of only one post that is to be reviewed. If anyone submits just one post, it will automatically be considered for review. You DO NOT have to mail us then.
My advice - write as many as you can. Before the contest ends, send us an email with your best work.

5] Any theme permitted. Horror, fantasy, romance, crime, thriller. People, its your mind, its your imagination. Use it.

6] Label every entry with your name, "MonsoonMadness-Lounge" and "WL-Contest". No other labels are to be added

7] Any post not related to the contest is barred from being posted till the contest ends. That means, TWL will be closed to every other post once the clock strikes midnight.

8] Badges will be given for the first three positions. There will be a separate ranking for "the followers and NetworkedBlog friends". A reader's choice rank is also to be won.

9] One of you will win a surprise prize from the Admin. And it involves Home Delivery. So make me proud!!

10] A picture is a must. Remember only ONE pic.

11] Read the rules again if you still do not get it!! Duh!!!

CHARACTER LIST
Male - Richard, Tarun, Armaan, Muthu Kumar, Samuel
Female - Anubhuti, Auraya, Emily, Nausheen, Neha

NOTE TO FOLLOWERS, NETWORKEDBLOG FRIENDS and ANYONE who wishes to participate.

The rules 1-11 apply to you as well. Rule number 9 also applies to you. But there is no separate winner. Only one, either from the authors of TWL or the non-authors of TWL will win it.
Also follow the following rules (NOT FOR TWL AUTHORS)
> All your entries are to be mailed to writers.in.lounge@gmail.com and you have to specifically mention which entry you want to be reviewed if you are sending more than one post.
> If you are in Facebook, search for 'The Writers Lounge', like it. Also write your post in your notes in Facebook and tag it with 'The Writers lounge'

FINAL ENTRIES should be mailed to writers.in.lounge@gmail.com on or before 10th Aug.

That's it folks. Let the imaginations soar. And lets make it huge.

P.S| Use the comments section for views and your thoughts and querries
P.P.S| If you have a querry, read the post again. If you still have it, ask the question.

- The Adorable Admins

Announcement For All Writers Lounge Members!!!

Well, it has been a while since we have had a major contest here at The Writers Lounge. So we figure that it is time to have one again. So, after last year's Rain Drenched Lounge contest, we will be having another story writing contest. Yes, it will be only stories and completely English based. The contest will begin on Monday, 30th November 2009 and go on till Sunday, 20th December 2009.

So writers, get your pens ready and those imaginations revved up!! The lounge, as usual, will be closed for the duration of the contest to other posts(admin announcements excluded) so no contest entries are muddled with the rest. The theme and rules of the contest will be announced on Sunday, 29th November 2009 at 9pm and the lounge closed to the other posts immediately after the announcement of theme. 

Wishing you a good week ahead.

Regards,

Admin Team

The Writers Lounge

We read, We write, We lounge!

Silver Moon Light...

Sara closed her eyes tight, dived deep into the blanket, but still couldn’t sleep properly. Not more than five minutes, she popped her head out; took a deep breath. Got up and sat on the bed with her blanket draped tightly on her. She moved her hands aimlessly on the bed. There was no one other than her; empty.

A breeze brushed her. She looked out. The sky looked adorable with stars and the stunning moon. She felt the breeze carried some message. Somebody was trying to call her, tell her something. Spreading her hands on the bed she closed her eyes. For the last few years she had shared this room with someone special, never had slept alone over here except for the last two days. It was all fun to be on this bed at any point of time.

She heaved a deep sigh

Again the breeze came. She got up from the bed and headed towards the window. With her moist eyes she saw the full moon. She felt as if it wanted to say something to her. Did she see a smile coming from the moon? They always used to imagine moon with smiles. With a shade of sadness she remembered how they used to get imaginative talking about moon. They used to humanize the moon and were their next best friend. They enjoyed the peaceful pearl colored moon rays that were showered upon them.

She went upstairs, opened the door and reached the terrace. The trees surrounding her house were not in their best of moods. The intermittent breeze was trying its best to wake them up and make the leaves dance with it. It seems they are also not in a mood. A heavy sadness prevailed over the area. She came to the corner of the terrace and stared at the moon. Moments flew and the moon winked at her. Rather she felt so. She pinched herself to check reality. Another stare at the moon she felt the moon was calling her: trying to say something.

She ran downstairs, past her bedroom, living hall and the main door in a jiffy and rushed on to the rocky garden outside her compound. Reaching onto the top of that rocky garden she looked up to the sky. The moon was shining more brightly showering silver rays. Panting, she could feel the presence of someone. She held her hands high pointing the moon. A cool breeze came from nowhere. She embraced herself tight. This is the spot where they used to chat about life, love and children, the place where they used to sing songs together, fight with each other under the moonlight, the place where they sat together in union with the nature.

Emma, I miss you…You were more than a twin sister to me. Hope, your untimely death will not part us away. Come hug me…

She could feel; the hug. The breeze, moonlight and the night hugged her.

From somewhere, Emma hugged her.

Word Count : 499

WhErE AnGeLs TrEaD..........

She gazed at the sky... Hoping to find some familiar face amongst the hide and seek of the moon and the clouds... Hoping to get a glimpse of the life which existed beyond the clouds - the life whose stories where known on earth as Fairytales....!!

She remembered the day she had been sent down to Earth... She had to give up all her powers and wishes, and to live a life as human being till the next brightest full moon, when the moonlight would make even the night shine as a day. She had hoped that this night she could return back to the heavens and once again be "An Angel of Love"

Yes... She was an Angel...Angel of Love… She made the lovers and Soulmates meet on this Earth... She helped the humans to find their Partner... Yes, she was the one who created miracles, coincidences and brought two souls together on various occasions and united them. But then, one day...

One day, she had done what she was forbidden to do... She came on earth to make a Prince meet his Soulmate... But she herself fell in Love with the tall and handsome Prince whose eyes seemed to be speaking a thousand words... who had a strong Aura around him… She fell in Love with him and she just could not let the Prince fall in love with someone else…

She went back to Heaven and demanded that she should be made the Prince's Soulmate... She argued and argued. Until she had got punished... And her punishment was... To live on Earth as a human and make two lovers meet without using any of her powers and understand the true meaning of Love and finding Soulmates- a Meaning which she would never understand as An Angel.

Today, was the day when one of her friends (the friend made by her when she came on earth), had met her Soulmate and finally they got married. The gleam in their eyes when they vowed to be with each other forever and ever made her feel that this was the knowledge her heart was yearning for.... This day, she realized that “No power can stop the souls from identifying their Soulmates….” No power can stop from Uniting them or no power can separate them…Angels could only help them to tread on the right path. She thought her time on Earth was now complete. Maybe, she could now go back to Her World.....

She gazed up at the sky…….

The moonbeam shone on her face as if trying to brighten her up and welcoming her........ :)

Word Count: 437

PS:- Hi all at WL. I am Urvashi and this is my First post here.. Hope you all like it...!!

Moonlit confession

In this moonlit night
I have one long confession
lingering my heart from a long time
It's time to free it and let it to your heart
before this poised moon hide behind hazy clouds
I have something deep within to tell you aloud
beneath this beautiful face you see everyday
is a devil rising high everyday
strangling me from telling you truth
from day I say you on that busy train
I had spent many sleepless nights
I still wonder how one fine day
destiny fall on my ground
and took me to your world
your charming smile steal my heart
we sail so long on the ship called friendship
holding tears when nights were dark
shedding each other under sunny days
you penetrated deep inside my soul
knocked down my hidden window
stole my darkest fear
molded me into what I am today
how hours turn to days and days to years
I never realized until that day
when I saw you with someone, so close
my heart ripped out of my chest
tears spilled out of my eyes
I felt sudden pain that choked me so long
right from that day I realized
how will I feel if I loose you someday
my world was upside down
I turned back to look at past
not a second passed without your thought
I kept moving thinking you were all mine
but I broke down when reality hit me hard
these scars still bleed many time
then took some transformation
and my feelings changed for you that night
I cheat you on your scared ship
I crossed my barriers of being your friend
new dream built around in my eyes
where you were there for me every time
dreaming about you when I woke up
I found love standing at my door
hiding it I moved so far with you
but now it seemed I am failing
to hide it any more
so under this vast dark sky
I am standing here to confess
that till this waves rise and fall
till this moon shine in that sky
I will love you...I will love you..
I know you may not love me back
but I can't stop loving you now
and its getting deeper day by day
It's not your fault that I landed up here
but It also true I can't hold it anymore
I can never be same friend of yours
I can never love you the way you want
now its upto to your whether you want me
or throw me out of your life:(

word count:440

Memories of a romance

One Single Impression Prompt 80 - Romance

All those years ago
On a night like this
You had touched my heart
You told me that I was your love
I could feel it in your words
I could feel it in your eyes
Hope of a bright future
Shimmering though the moonlight




So much time has passed
Life has evolved
No matter how many differences
No matter how much of a plight
When I think of that day at Dona Paula
That day with the shimmering moonlight
I know in my heart
We will find our way
No labyrinth can keep us away.


Shraddha

Word count : 96

I co-blog @ The Self Love Project with April
Follow me on twitter @ selfloveblog

Glory In Making...

Kirti stood there gazing at the moon and her eyes brimming with tears. She worked as a domestic help at the Kapoor’s. A domestic help… that meant no freedom, no education… in short, no life!

She had always thought that her master was a good man. That night was different. He returned home, completely drunk! When all the others in the family had slept, Mr. Kapoor entered Kirti’s room and had sexually assaulted her!

‘What did I do to deserve such a fate? My mother deserted me when I was four and ever since then I have been struggling… for a living, for a respectable life. They say my mom was a prostitute and call her names. I never wanted to be someone like her and hence, I ran away from all of them. And today again I am at one such juncture in my life… I am being forced in to something that I know will ruin my life forever! Help me lord… and tell me, do you think I deserve this?’ she cried giving rise to a million other questions inside her.

She was sure of at least one thing… she was not weak. She was a fighter!

The wind started to blow and the dark clouds made way for the moon to appear. She raised her head to see the moon beaming and smiling at her. She remained perplexed for the next few minutes, unsure of what these signals meant.

Suddenly she felt a comforting touch on her shoulder. The old lady sat next to Kirti and asked her the reason behind her tears. Kirti told her everything that she witnessed and felt. The old lady patiently listened to everything and she hugged the little girl.

‘What is your name my child?’ the old lady enquired.

‘My problem is much bigger right now that these silly things like my name… can you please help me? Anyway, my name is Kirti’ she said feeling irritated and traumatized.

‘Kirti means glory… and there will be a day when the whole world will know you. You are hurt, I understand. But I know you are not weak. Life means struggle… each one of us face it at one point or the other. And trust me, every problem has a solution and your problem has its own.’

The old lady took Kirti with her to the little home that she ran for homeless children. Kirti found a new home where she was made to study, to learn other vocational activities which would help her in future.

At times when she felt low and lonely, she would walk to the same place and would gaze at the moon and see moon would be back smiling at her. Kirti had found a new life for herself; she knew it that she would make it big one day! She promised to herself that she would prove everyone wrong who said that a prostitute’s daughter would have to be a prostitute herself. Glory in making!

Word Count : 500

______________________________________________

P.S.: Hey guys, I have been absent from the lounge for almost a month now. Sorry! :P
But I am back... How have you all been? 

Love,

Artz!

When you are GONE

When you are gone, i know not life

Doomed to remain your unwed wife

The magic that you once invoked

The nightmares change the dreams you showed---

       Like a raw nerve sliced by a knife.

The zeal for life just got erased

Moment you stepped into the blaze

Sealed with your thoughts, am all alone--

       When you are gone...

The full moon lits the path unknown

To the place where we both belong

Together beyond life and death

I am coming....just keep the faith

The deathly waves carry me on---

         When you are gone....

Word Count| 95

P.S| a Rondeau form of poetry.
{A Rondeau is a French form, 15 lines long, consisting of three stanzas: a quintet, a quatrain, and a sestet with a rhyme scheme as follows: aabba aabA aabbaA.
Lines 9 and 15 are short - a refrain (A) consisting of a phrase taken from line one.The other lines are longer (but all of the same metrical length).
1st para (Quintet)- aabba rhyme scheme, syllable count-8
2nd para (Quatrain)- aabA rhyme scheme, syllable count-8
3rd para (Sestet)- aabbaA rhyme scheme, syllable count-8
(syllable count excused for Lines 9 and 15 for a Rondeau poetry)}