200 word stories

The smile was perfected with the help of a dentist, just like her body had been chiselled by plastic surgeons, for the upcoming beauty contest. The model coordinators had chanced upon her, when she accompanied her sister to a college event. They saw potential in her flawless skin, good figure and wide, innocent eyes. The … Continue reading The Contestant

“Does it make sense anymore?” “Never give up.” “Grandma said all those who tried to dig out the treasure have died.” “That is a story fabricated to keep people away. My forefathers subjugated people to slavery, to earn this wealth.” “What do you intend to do with it?” “Return it to the people. The money … Continue reading The Treasure

A frozen moment in time, given a solid form, by a sculptor beckons. This is not the work of a high-resolution, high-precision camera. It is a snapshot in time, as the sculptor imagined and interpreted that moment. And this is the case with every work of art. “What, then, is immortal? The subject of art, … Continue reading Immortality

This was an unusual tree, which did not follow seasons. It could wilt in spring, or bloom in winter. It had become a tourist attraction over the years, but the tree did not always oblige. At times, It would look like a pretty normal tree, and the onlookers would return disappointed. The window was a … Continue reading Microcosm

She faced an angry Jim in the parking lot. “If you don’t care, I don’t care either. Bye, and good luck!” He drove away before she could explain. Now, would it be alright to follow him to his pad, or will that appear obsessive? It was the third day of no contacts with the outside … Continue reading The Device

He had achieved his target for the month, and hoped to be rewarded. Somehow, the mental images of grieving people and dark, dreary funerals pulled him down, to dilute the sense of victory. He decided to take a contemplative break. Driving through the clouds had not been easy, and some of those desperate souls kept … Continue reading The Unborn Child

Oh, my God! Cyrus has been supremely busy mailing resumes  - so much so, that he eats on the desk, attracting flies on the keyboard. Is he a Gen, X-er, out of synch with the methodologies of Gen Z? Has he missed out on the Blogging, Personal Branding and Marketing strategies on social media? The … Continue reading Expertise

It had been a hard day at work. He dragged himself with heavy feet towards the meager shelter called home. The money he had earned was not enough to buy meals for a family of four. Again, his wife would feed the children, give him some gruel to nourish himself, and go to bed hungry. … Continue reading The Loop

I am the recipient of all the gifts, in your birthday party. You entered our life 14 years ago, and your physical presence was taken away from us, in a very short time. Spiritually, you remain with us forever. I find novel ways of celebrating your birthday. The simplest is feeding lovely babies like you, … Continue reading The Birthday Party