Welcome back! SPECIAL MENTION The special mention in this week is for Lady Lee Manila's post. Since it is a long post, I reproduce the best stanza here to whet your appetite. “Normality is a paved roadIt’s comfortable to walkBut no flowers grow on it”There’s truth in Van Gogh’s quoteWhat is “normal” in the first … Continue reading Reena’s Xploration Challenge #341
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
“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
Welcome back! Today, I decided to go with the flow when choosing a theme. The first thing I encountered in the morning was a post showing portraits made from leaves and flowers by Japanese Artist Raku Inoue. I reproduce two as samples below. Then, I read this beautiful quote by Patti Smith Life is at … Continue reading Reena’s Xploration Challenge #340
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
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
“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
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
Welcome back! PROMPT #339 The prompt for this week is Hydra-headed If you wish, you can use the following image to inspire you. The format of the piece is not restricted, and there is no last date either unless you wish to be featured in the Weekly Wrap. We will not include any post that … Continue reading Reena’s Xploration Challenge #339
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
Creative Experiments and More 