Tides of joy, or ….

The door of the trash chute shut with a shriek, but she could hear the thud of the previous year’s calendar made of thick, glossy paper falling on the ground. It was a year she preferred to erase from memory, but was sure that echoes from the past would disturb the fresh musical notes she … Continue reading Tides of joy, or ….

Forgotten Stories

The whistle pierced the silence as the train slid into the deserted platform. No lamps glowed, no voices stirred—only shadows stretched across cracked tiles. From the carriages stepped passengers cloaked in mist, their eyes shimmering like distant stars. They were not of flesh but of memory, spirits of forgotten stories, inviting curiosity about their unseen … Continue reading Forgotten Stories

Disembarked

The map in my hand glows with certainty, its arrow unwavering; yet every path I choose threatens to disembark me. I walk anyway, trusting momentum over intuition. The wind translates my intentions into a poem, but scatters my signals like static. Still, something in the distance keeps calling—soft, patient, as if it knew I would … Continue reading Disembarked

The Fishermen Know

Silhouetted against the deep grey sky, we turn into wispy shadows. Evenings on the beach are scary, as they make us aware of our smallness. The high tides will cover everything on the golden sands, leaving behind a residue of jellyfish and water snakes. We will walk cautiously again, waiting for the sunrise, and get … Continue reading The Fishermen Know

Gold

Granny loved experimenting with emojis, and her incorrect usage was often a subject of humour in the family. She learnt FaceTime long before Zoom arrived, to stay in touch with her grandchildren who lived abroad. Then, one day, the emoji pack she had downloaded disappeared from her phone. Maybe one of her grandkids decided to … Continue reading Gold

Troubled Waters

Business empires are built by close-knit lobbies, those who act in unison and do not leak information. But loyalty dissolved like sugar in troubled waters. No wonder, for a key member was the competitor’s implant in the system. Weekend Writing Prompt #446

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #411

Welcome to the last RXC prompt of 2025! I will be on a break till the first week of January, 2026! Enjoy the holidays! PROMPT #411 Here is a sentence for you to ponder. You are winding up a number (2025) in the flow of life. "It was not my idea, but it happened." You … Continue reading Reena’s Xploration Challenge #411

A Toast to Herself

She did not recognise herself in the mirror, and she knew why she received cold or lukewarm responses in meetings and at social events. Epiphany struck—she was shedding skin and not feeling guilty about it, discarding the weight of expectations. Each layer that fell away revealed a pulse of freedom, raw and unashamed. She took … Continue reading A Toast to Herself

Pulled Back

Anna felt like a free person, walking barefoot on the sand. The waves washed her feet and the footprints she left behind in time. Then, suddenly, a high tide of memories would encapsulate her in the existence she left behind. She had lived in terror. She feared that at any moment someone would yell at … Continue reading Pulled Back

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #410

Welcome to the last month of 2025! PROMPT #410 I've navigated a hectic few weeks with multiple problems and urgent tasks cropping up from seemingly unconnected ends. I need to prepare for travel and the wedding season. Online shopping also seems like a chore. My thoughts turn to some time of total relaxation, before I … Continue reading Reena’s Xploration Challenge #410