Lost connections

Friday Fictioneers

It is a recurring dream. I am in a mansion with large framed photographs of men with turbans and moustaches on the walls. There is an arch in the stone walls covered with bricks. Looks like it conceals an entrance behind it. The giant keys are frozen in time and refuse to reveal secrets. The … Continue reading Lost connections

What say you?

A glass for you, a cup for me… I capture a moment for posterity, create evidence that you always lived amidst us, in our hearts, in my now fragile memory. But will you really care to know? Or is it only the counsellor? Shall we exchange the drinks? I know you prefer a hot snack … Continue reading What say you?

Sticking Out

She walks past the crowded street, self-conscious like the only spot of colour in a drab landscape. Nobody ever told her whether she was beautiful or ugly, as her only companions on the island were flora and fauna. This place is different as there are so many with the same physical form, but none of … Continue reading Sticking Out

Perceptions

She dreamt of giant spiders hiding in the garden who spun the web. How did the makers of Jurassic Park miss out on this species? A tiny rodent brought her to her senses as he cracked the deceptive net. It was a poorly crafted macrame wall-hanging, discarded by the novice artist. It takes close observation … Continue reading Perceptions

Not to escape the dark, but shine through it

It was a self-discovery coaching session, whensomeone said he was a pathand I was adamantthat I am a lighthouse. A decade laterdarkness holds me captiveand I wonder what I was thinking then… a sliver of color emerges from within-an arrow born of tearsand claims it can help peoplenot to flee the nightbut to walk through … Continue reading Not to escape the dark, but shine through it

With Consternation

It might take longer reaching there. The path is jagged and I need to yield to traffic from the other side. There are butterflies in my stomach as I navigate the roads skilfully, with one eye on the look out for a traffic cop. I am committed to attending the gang’s meeting at the other … Continue reading With Consternation

Dwarfed

I feel dwarfed by the opulence of art. I watch the ceiling float away as the artist’s conceptualisation and expression rise into the sky, and place them next to the Creator. They are fractals of God. The power packed in minuscule forms makes me strike off the “small” words from my lexicon. Nothing in the … Continue reading Dwarfed

To my son

We’re living in the Wi‑Fi century, but somehow the signal still drops when you need it most, like when I wanted to share an important update. From the mountain top, the sky wasn’t just clouds— it was war trending live, no filter, and he was not aware... Try telling an unborn kid his dad was … Continue reading To my son

Sign-Off

I condensed a piece I'd written in 2017 for this prompt. This is Reena Saxena signing off. If your world thrives on manipulation, multiplespeak, and mindless evil, I refuse to be part of it. I do not accept your authority, nor will I bow to Satanic rites disguised as insight. You wear masks, gather protection, … Continue reading Sign-Off

Coincidence

He licked his fingers, unfazed by his wife’s consternation. “This tastes exactly as my mother used to make it.” “Enjoy the food you like, but don’t let go of manners.” His wife’s coiffured head shook in disgust. The family recipe was thought to have been lost ages ago. Suddenly, he froze on seeing a familiar … Continue reading Coincidence