She grew erinaceous—spiny, sharp-tongued, unyielding. Alone in her flat, she snarled at kindness, mocked warmth, armoured herself in sarcasm. Monsters wore smiles, knocked politely. She answered with venom. Better rude than ruined. Better feared than fooled. Her solitude wasn’t peace—it was survival. And her thorns? Her defence. Weekend Writing Prompt #437
I was told water finds its level, but no one warned me that the subconscious does not. It fills up uneven places—behind the eyes, beneath the lungs, blocking oxygen, struggling to find its space in speech, in the silence between words. It disregards all the logic I was raised on — logic that connects me … Continue reading Spaces
“Arches in architecture always fascinate me – under a bridge, on doorways or elsewhere. At another level, the arc tempts me to complete the circle and let people jump in”. “Passing through an arch brings good luck”, chimes in my mother as the temple bells ring. “Then why do you pray for good luck after … Continue reading Arches
He realized that she had seen him and he couldn’t let her get away. This is a hackneyed story plot for a thriller, and the author decides to ditch the familiar today. The protagonist follows her to see what she is up to after seeing him. He is ever grateful to that momentary thought. He … Continue reading The story goes on
Who would think that awful b---h could have been a victim of abuse? The black diary reveals that she was a plaything for the top boss, who executed his wicked plans through her. How do ya’ know all this? Read the news item - A search of the woman’s desk revealed previously unknown details about … Continue reading Dignity
“The Six Sentence Bistro Café is closed for the week” – Nope, it isn’t, but I wish it were. The regulars are all there, waving at me, and the bartender is moving on roller skates with a tray delicately balanced in expert hands. I stare at the white expanse on my screen and feel nothing. … Continue reading Closed for the week?
His granddaughter was born with a speech defect. He is pained, notwithstanding that his wife was not allowed to have a voice. Weekend Writing Prompt #435
Spoilt for choice, she decided to walk away from all of it—the glittering offers, the curated futures, the voices that told her what she should want. She wandered into the quiet, beyond the reach of algorithms, where Google Maps could not identify her precise location. She imagined someone posting her picture with a caption “Lost … Continue reading Spoilt for Choice
They found her in a car park – her hair dishevelled, her appearance woebegone. But she carried self-respect instead of a begging bowl, and refused to accept alms. They promised to give her work and took her home. They fed her, clothed her and lent some makeup to boost her confidence. Soon, she disappeared with … Continue reading Woe-Begone
The pilot episode of “The First Date & Chicken Manchurian” ” was supposed to be the big break for Akash Sharma, a wide-eyed actor whose only prior credit was a toothpaste commercial in Assam. On set, nerves tangled with ambition as Akash delivered his lines with gusto—until a prop malfunction sent the spotlights flying on … Continue reading Spotlight
Creative Experiments and More 