a-changing

The girl who paints murals of fierce goddesses on crumbling walls silently declares herself unaffected by judgmental remarks. I cannot help but notice the dark clouds she paints overhead in some places. Natasha is labelled as being overambitious when she stakes her claim to a leadership role in the company and offends others vying for … Continue reading a-changing

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #367

Writing Prompts

Welcome back! FEATURED POEM FROM LAST WEEK Enjoy a Sijo from David the wind carries every leaf yet leaves dance while they're yet afloat; branches bend; we fall with time but we ought pirouette with grace; though our journeys end in dust spirit shall root us deeper PROMPT #367 The image above shows the largest … Continue reading Reena’s Xploration Challenge #367

Masterpiece

Brush in hand, I start to see,The shades of who I long to be,Vibrant hues of dreams untold,A new story begins to unfold. My core transforms with every line,A surface scrubbed, it starts to shine,From dull and grey to bright and bold,An artwork rare, a core of gold Do you have the eyes to seeThe … Continue reading Masterpiece

Dream Merchants

Someone feels trapped amidst the bric-a-brac. They collected it in the hope of building a home. But the magic potion evaporated, and now, they bleed as they touch the shards of dreams. The story is not over because buyers are willing to pay a price for the promised magic. Soon, they will be on the … Continue reading Dream Merchants

Mediums

“The increase in divorce rates is scary”, sighed my mother. “I work in HR, Mom, and the attrition rates are scarier than that.” “Why can’t young people commit themselves?” “Their values are different. The medium that connects is fluid, and expectations keep changing.” “We were taught there are no options to go back. It made … Continue reading Mediums

Power Dynamics

“Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown” – an idiom that encapsulates the weight of leadership, often burdened with legacy or the chains of slavery to those who gifted the crown. As the workday draws to a close, certain corridors come alive with gossip, manipulation, and collusion. It's not just a matter of an … Continue reading Power Dynamics

Underworlds

In the shadow of stories, truth mutilatedIn the shadow of free thought, power incarcerated In the shadow of mountains, waves play gamesIn the shadow of Sun, nocturnal beauty reigns In the shadow of handshakes, fingers divideIn the shadow of virtue, patriarchy rides In the shadow of lethargy, AI thrives. W3 Prompt #144

Humid minds

I grew up in the highly humid city of Bombay, or Mumbai, as it is known now. The stickiness on the skin was not welcome, and I can’t recall how we survived without air conditioners in childhood. But being on the seashore was always a pleasure. Later, I returned to the city for two spells … Continue reading Humid minds

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #366

Writing Prompts

Welcome back! PROMPT #366 Here are two short excerpts from the Booker Prize-winning book "ORBITAL" by Samantha Harvey. Excerpt 1 How are we writing the future of humanity? We're not writing anything; it's writing us. We're windblown leaves. We think we are the wind. We are just the leaf. Excerpt 2 How's the moon looking … Continue reading Reena’s Xploration Challenge #366

Speculative fiction

She wakes up drenched in sweat to switch on all the lights. She touches Arnold to ensure he is there, and he is real. “Are you alright?” He mumbles something in a somnambulist state. “All these toys came alive to save us. A boat capsized and we were drowning.” Arnold has opened his eyes now. … Continue reading Speculative fiction