I buy a handmade candle whose soft glow defrays the darkness in my house, struck by power failure. It helps the young widow pay electricity bills to keep her baby comfortable. Weekend Writing Prompt #375
Defraying Darkness
Blank Pages
In the quiet of dawn, we stand between incomplete chapters, ink still wet. The afterlife whispers, veiled, a mystery we’ve yet to grasp. Hearsay and imagination intertwine, Threads of curiosity spin, but the future in this life—Ah, that remains a blank page. Yet, undeterred, we write. Words etched upon the present, A story unfolding, inked … Continue reading Blank Pages
Belligerence
“If I’m not a human, I’ll be the needle, virus or weapon that kills you, but kill, I will. My rage against the patriarchy will not subside with the end of one lifetime. I’ll carry this belligerence to avenge the humiliation and defeat in this life.” They are stunned to watch an orangish light emanating … Continue reading Belligerence
Self-flagellation
The wounds we bear often stem from self-inflicted pain. I watched others sprint through the corridors of success while I remained a passive bystander. Excuses about not finding the right platform are clichéd. I never sought a godfather’s help, unwilling to accept anyone as divine. But in those perilous corridors, protection requires an army—one I … Continue reading Self-flagellation
Demons
She seeks solace in the darkness inside. The illuminated streets remind her of a life well-lived but now out of reach. Not that she misses it much. There is a satisfaction of having been there and done that. But the demons inside the house do not let her rest. She picks up the phone to … Continue reading Demons
Ignition
“Have you seen the lion resting in the cave while the lioness manages everything else? “Yes. Diplomacy lies in calling the females managers or CEOs, while decision-making rights lie elsewhere”. She hoped to find support from women, but they turned out to be more patriarchal than men. “He must be tired,” they sympathised with the … Continue reading Ignition
Crossing lines
The traffic light turned green, and a new radio jockey took over as she pressed the accelerator. The clock at home must have struck 10, and she visualised her Mom stepping out of the bedroom in her sharp work attire, looking for the car keys. She will not find the key in the blue and … Continue reading Crossing lines
Fraud Investigation
The investigation team diligently follows the digital breadcrumbs of a clandestine network that is funnelling funds, determined to uncover the truth. The bank’s surveillance algorithms, designed to detect even the slightest irregularities, blinked alarmingly as cash flowed erratically between seemingly unrelated accounts, providing a sense of security to the public. Mrs Patel, a retired schoolteacher, … Continue reading Fraud Investigation
Rock in the Grass
She believes that each rock holds a secret. He worships the growth and adventure that grass represents. He makes an offer, “You keep the rocks. Leave the grasslands for me.” It becomes an unspoken pact between them. One fine morning, he stumbles against a rock with the word FREEDOM etched on it. He shows it … Continue reading Rock in the Grass
Thought
I am constantly evolving, not the same person I was in the past, and I will continue to transform in the future. Maybe I was the same soul in a different body, or the same soul in the same body, with different thoughts. Thoughts are energy. They evaporate as quickly as they form but leave … Continue reading Thought
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