Facing Yourself

The words come in bursts, sharp and caffeinated, from her deepest core, but her focus keeps wobbling. Outside, rain streaks the glass, blurring the city into familiar watercolour smudges. Where will her words land, and what will be the impact on wet earth? Will they sink in the slush, or ignite firestorms in the form … Continue reading Facing Yourself

Alien-ated

He sat in the padded room, tracing invisible maps on the walls with trembling fingers. The nurses whispered about his eccentricity, though their eyes showed more pity than awe. Every word he spoke came from another world, as if he never belonged here and was struggling to find his way back. Was he searching for … Continue reading Alien-ated

Powerhouse

I bathe in light that has travelled the world every day. At times, I remain dressed modestly and retain my darkness within. How can the light favour me, if I refuse to absorb the stories it carries, till they become a part of me? When I bare my soul and listen to the light, it … Continue reading Powerhouse

I bought a library

Library

I bought a repository of thoughts-to internalisemake me wise-I fingered pages with loveburnt eyesight at midnightand yet… The wise refused to speakwith my unsteady voice-dedication discarded-devotion ignoredborrowed words jumped backinto trembling amber flames I burnt the libraryto light up my soul-nurture usurped thoughtsto blend with my own-patch up broken piecesemerge as a whole I cast … Continue reading I bought a library

Illusions

Roger Bultot - Friday Fictioneers

She almost falls asleep to that soothing voice in meditation videos. Focus on what’s happening in your body. Imagine a golden light surrounding you as you rise above. Centre your consciousness on that white dot in your head. If this doesn’t help, what is the secret of peace? Choose your blinds carefully. The picture outside … Continue reading Illusions

The Story – Beginning and End

You are just a character, so you have to follow my instructions. The character does a few somersaults on the page, changes colour like a chameleon, and shows a face that looks AI-generated. This won’t help me carry the story forward. He waves his hand like a magical wand and changes the shape of a … Continue reading The Story – Beginning and End

Unparalleled

My train of thought moves at jet speednot on parallel tracksbut all over the space words break out of neural pathwaysto seek relevance in the world.They lull me into a somnambulist statebefore I incarcerate them on a page. I wake up to find they havedisappeared into the sky-my page is blankDid a star employ themto … Continue reading Unparalleled

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