Consequence

The CEO stared at the quarterly report, the numbers bleeding red like a wound he couldn’t heal.  “Falling flat on my face is not an option,” he muttered, as he instructed his juniors to key in the phantom transactions — manipulated transactions and inflated profits. The auditors were managed, the boardroom approved, choosing to ignore … Continue reading Consequence

Secrets

My mother told me about pots of gold encased in walls, at her ancestral home in the village. There was an old aunt who had entered the house young as a child bride, and witnessed all the hush-hush activity, perched on her mother-in-law’s hip. She was dead now, and the tragedy was a belief that … Continue reading Secrets

Digital Clocks

Why did she not respond there and then to say she did not like the other person’s behaviour and was not going to put up with it? It set up wrong expectations, and the relationship loops got badly entangled. She loses respect for herself whenever she thinks of it. She finds herself replaying those scenarios … Continue reading Digital Clocks

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #393

Welcome back! Many thanks to Melissa Lemay for interviewing me on the journey of Reena's Xploration Challenge. Melissa Lemay and I explored my journey from corporate reports to poetry, fiction, and financial coaching. We talked about speculative fiction, syllabic poetry, women’s stories, and the joy of collaborative writing. If you’re curious about creative pivots, poetic … Continue reading Reena’s Xploration Challenge #393

Sundance Cafe

“How about a cup of coffee in Sundance Café?” He asked after the completion of a gruelling college project. What started as a kind gesture from a classmate rolled over into the darkest chapter of her life. He introduced her to friends who, despite their polished appearance, were involved in nefarious activities. Her swift entry … Continue reading Sundance Cafe

Threat

She kept all of her deceased husband’s letters locked in a box until the day one arrived from him postmarked yesterday, and this one was ominous as he threatened to come out of captivity from an undisclosed destination, to expose her dark deeds. Fandango's Story Starter #212

Who was she?

Susan’s gaze locked with the stranger’s across the crowded restaurant, and she was suddenly overwhelmed by a powerful emotion. The hazel eyes with a red iris, blonde hair, upturned nose and a mouth that appeared to mock were just too familiar. She was glad her son was not here at this moment. The sperm bank … Continue reading Who was she?

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #392

Welcome back! PROMPT #392 We have a one-minute video in this week to serve as a writing prompt. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB7z3ZvaEyw You may choose to write your own story or that of a protagonist, but with a FUTURE PROJECTION. We are not looking at autobiographies depicting the past, but how one sees oneself in the future. The … Continue reading Reena’s Xploration Challenge #392

Disappearance

“I’m not a patch on him”, said our favourite professor about his media baron brother. It saddened us to see someone we worshipped as the epitome of intelligence and confidence reveal a different side. Decades later, the alumni of the college reunite, and we embark on an online quest for our idol.   To our … Continue reading Disappearance

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #391

Writing Prompts

Welcome back! PROMPT #391 We have a quote to serve as a writing prompt for you in this week. Truth rarely knocks—it slips in through the cracks you forgot to seal. There is no restriction on the length or format of the piece. There is no last date unless you wish to be featured in … Continue reading Reena’s Xploration Challenge #391