Reena’s Xploration Challenge #406

Posted on by Reena Saxena

Welcome back!

In a country where Halloween is not a popular festival, and is largely celebrated by the young, the richest family of the nation set a trend by hosting an extravagant affair (their parties can’t be anything but extravagant), and celebrities had to fly out of Bombay to attend it.

A majority of the guest list was dressed as departed yesteryear stars from Hollywood or Bollywood, or characters from their flicks. While flicking through media reports and silently condemning the prodigal behaviour, the line of substance that stood out in my mind was

ghosts linger in memories

Don’t miss the brilliance. Click here for Eugenia’s masterpiece.

SHOUTOUTS

People with multiple talents are a gift from the Universe. On this platform, I can’t think of anyone better than Robbie Cheadle, the queen of culinary arts, artist, writer and maybe more.

The fluidity of a Rondel format comes alive for me in the form of Lady Lee Manila. She flaunts her heritage and temperament with her chosen name. I admire the masterful treatment of formats by poets, so much so that they are identified by it.

PROMPT #406

The writing theme for this week is

THE MASKS WE FORGOT TO REMOVE

Let your protagonist (fictional or real) explore the following aspects.

  • Has it become too comfortable?
  • Concealing an unpalatable truth
  • Being haunted by their own disguise
  • The silence after the revelry when real selves do not return

For an added challenge, you can include a prodigal in your characterisation. It is optional.

You can explore identity, deception, vulnerability or even supernatural elements. The field is all yours.

There is no restriction on the length or format of the piece. There is no last date unless you wish to be featured in the Weekly Wrap.

We will not include any posts that are found to be offensive, vulgar or hurt ordinary sensibilities. This needs to be a safe space.

Create a post on your blog and copy-paste the link in the Comments. If you use a pingback, check to see if it has worked. I have come across cases where the pingback did not work, and I missed including the piece in the Weekly Wrap.

WEEKLY WRAP

WEEKLY WRAP

Jules Paige

Jim Adams

Rohini

Susi Bocks

Michelle Navajas

Lady Lee

Sadje

Ramya Tantry

Rockstar Girl

Eugenia

Ange

Suzette B.

David

Reena Saxena

Indira

37 thoughts on “Reena’s Xploration Challenge #406”

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  14. It has been a long time. 🤔
    The Masks we forgot to remove
    Are the ones that keep us comfortable
    Safe
    Protected
    Shielded from the truth
    The past exists
    The pain existed
    The power and potency of the mask remains.
    It keeps the present pallitable
    Because the person behind the mask
    Is living 👁🏖

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  28. What an absolutely captivating and thought-provoking piece! ✨

    The introduction beautifully sets the tone — a sharp social observation wrapped in elegance and wit. The imagery of lavish Halloween celebrations in a culture where the festival barely takes root serves as a brilliant metaphor for the masks people wear — those of influence, imitation, and illusion. The line “ghosts linger in memories” is hauntingly poetic — it lingers in the reader’s mind long after, embodying both nostalgia and the shadows of truth we often ignore. 👻

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