Setting 47 - #Memories

From @AshishSingh:


"While walking through the corridors of India Habit Centre, I peeped into a hall which was full of memories. Memories that were given form of paintings and could be seen from Rainer Maria Rilke's eyes. Those memories could also be read in the notes of Haruki Murakami. There was loss, there were people, there were landscapes which I must have seen while driving towards Utrecht from Amsterdam.
It has been a day, and I am still fond of those memories."






From @ek_cuttingchai:


He sipped and put down his glass of whisky, a scotch with two cubes of ice and a smoky coffee aroma that filled the air. Leaving today after 29 yrs into building this empire, which most corporates can only dream about, brought him to mixed feelings of distraught, content.


This room is where he enjoyed his favourite drink; parties, meetings, deals, awards and may be still might, every time he has his whisky. 




From @Shraddha_G:

“Meet me once,” she said to her five-year-old crush and hung up the phone.

The previous night she had ‘drunk-WhatsApped’ him and confessed her feelings for him. She never really knew how he felt for her. He did like her but she feared he might never reciprocate. She thought the meeting would either be the last paragraph of an old chapter which would be a memory or beginning of a new chapter in her life.

Setting 46 - 'Madness'

From @ Kshitij:

Scientists' arguments not in favor of the existence of extra-terrestrial life are hogwash for a random man. He claims that their arguments that other planets not possessing water which is the building block for life is a biased opinion springing from the fact that since they are humans filled with a humanistic ego, they assume that other creatures have to be like humans to survive, when in fact creatures could actually be surviving or feeding on sulphuric acid. Well, the authorities are trying to label him a lunatic now owing to his madness, but I agree with him, since truth is stranger than fiction, and considering it absolute; as absolute madness.

From @pratik1357:

In madness one was, in madness one is,

Madness it seems, is now one's bliss

One's mad perhaps, perhaps he is not...

Has no clue, to answers he sought

Calm one remains, like "normal" as expected

his mind fights within, that he always suspected

Realization dawns, that being mad, isnt bad...

Against his world, he just follows a different fad.

From @Shraddha_G:

 

“Madness for your country is what really defines you as a person; you need to be passionate about your country...”

Around ten cadets were listening to the Captain.

“The time has come to show the world, that you can fight till your last breath!!

Don’t spare our enemies... come on now... Jump and glide like an eagle…”

Suddenly,

“Hey..!!! Get back to ur psychiatric ward u retarded military ass. This is a terrace. Not some fighter plane!”

 

From @ek_cuttingchai:

His pale eyes staring small on the sketch of a 30 square canvas. A short starry sky painted by night, actually under jet lamps. The sky is aquamarine, the water is royal blue, the ground is mauve. Town; blue and purple. Streets yellow; the reflections are russet gold descending down to brutal contrast green-bronze. 'Starry Night Over the Rhone' stands testimony in Paris to a madness; to a man; to an artist; Vincent Van Gogh.

Setting 45 - 'Laughs'

From @ItsNerdvana:

Faded jeans, flip flops and unkempt hair; the band of boys sat in the corner calling the prof names who chucked them from class. “I bet even his wife denies him at night.” The trio laughed, and soon chai, Pink Floyd and laughter took over the table.

Today, 22 years hence as he sits by the corner table of the G.E.C Canteen, his heart longs for those hysterical laughs which once surrounded his cutting chai.

 

From @dbijal:

Moments like these make me feel nostalgic. I was stepping into my school after 10 years. Best friends, worst enemies, silly break-ups and immediate make-up.

 

Jokes on professors, talks about peers, life without worrying and sleeping without studying.

The same atmosphere is created today at our 10 years reunion. Tears in eyes and stomach hurts after laughing so hard, thinking of behavior during school days.

Child's laugh and childhood memories always brings a smile.

 

From @Shraddha_G

 

“Kid, never make fun of anyone’s imperfectness; it may land you in serious trouble.”

‘But why dad, she laughed when teacher beat me for not doing homework...!

How dare she, she is fat, she is ugly, I feel like breaking her teeth!!! ’

“Hey hold on… son! Don’t hate her so much.

You never know you may someday end up being her husband..!”

He says looking depressingly at his wife. Two-teeth broken, fat and ugly.

 

 

From @ek_cuttingchai:

 

Satya was shocked at being surrounded by 3 goons in this dark alley. The only thing that worried him more than the 4 million rupees bag he carried was the fact that the love of his life vidya was with him in this quandary.

 

He uttered, "Let her go and I will give the money without a fight." 

 

With a hysterical laughter on the moonless night, Vidya kissed Malik and whispered, "kill him, honey."

Setting 44 - 'Coffee'

From @dbijal:

All you need to know about coffee.

Drink it with love, drink it with one you love. Hot or cold, with ice cream best sold. Have it in morning or night. Friends get together or a lone sight.

Students exam partner, workaholics life partner. You can hate it but can't ignore it. Star of most popular hangouts be it for work or pleasure. The most common drink to start friendship with. synonymous with breaks.

From @vidoooo:

Dear Filter coffee,
What would I ever do without you. You're sexy, refreshing, addictive and flavourful all at the same time.
You make me believe that the day lying ahead is gonna be amazing.
You share my joys and make me smile more.
You make me feel alive on a dull day. You make me happy and light when I'm low.
I love you so so so much ! I'm so very grateful to have found you. Thank you for loving me so much.
Yours always,
Me

From @Shraddha_G:

 

“Go fast… no one is attending that tea-coffee counter, the event is about to start and theres a guest already…”

She ran as fast as she could.

She stood behind the counter, nervous, first day at work, intimidated by the foreigner guest.

“A cup of Coffee please!”

She wasn’t really sure which metal urn to use.

“Tastes like spiced milk tea??!” he said befuddled,

“No sir, its Indian coffee sir..!” (Tensed smile)

From @ek_cuttingchai:

Endless nights he had toiled away in his teenage for the best academics, had now been replaced these endless nights on the new product launch. This was the stuff he had dreamt about, yet today he din't feel happy or content. what is he doing, why? where is he going? Is this the meaning of life? The last gulp of coffee ended with pondering, so did his last thoughts. Saurav died of heart attack at 35.

Setting 43 - 'Mirror'

From @ek_cuttingchai:

Dodging the swooning bullets around the darker rocks of the Konkan ports, the now famous gangster had laughed at his favourite game for over last two decades. Adventure spirit; one hand holding power, made him the don of the gold smuggling business.

Tonight, he smashed his glass of single malt whiskey and ice rocks shattering the honest pieces of silicates. His only son was shot dead.

He did not like the man in the mirror anymore.

From @ Keira Trager:

Im driving home' i know ill be alone again tonight.This thought made my heart tingled but just as i enter the door all i do is switch on the lights and my room becomes glamorously alive. There's nothing quite like the hearth of a fireplace to make me feel at home and feel the profusion of the color persimmon. I feel better.I walk through the glass wall and see my reflection. I see myself differently.It feels nice.I feel good. Im happy. I smile and my attitude towards every situation are the MIRRORS of my mind.

Setting 42 - 'No Gravity'

From @ SarbaniSengupta:

It was a lovely party on the terrace of a 6-star hotel, with vintage wine and sumptuous food. Shekhar was dressed as Superman and his wife was dressed as Lord Ganesh. He was drinking heavily and his wife seemed to be objecting. Suddenly, Shekhar jumped off the balcony with a shout, “God, see me fly!” His wife started wailing and said, “It’s my fault. I told him that you have no gravity when you drink.”

From @lonelycan:

"Danny, I don't know how would you take this. But I find your
personality traits fascinating!".

"What do my test results say doc?", Danny muttered nervously.

"Imagine a room of chocolates and a baby in it, without gravity! It
likes to chew on one for sometime, leaves it in the middle and move on
to the next one. That's you!"

Later when his parents asked about the results, Danny smiled saying he
can multitask well!

From @ KeiraTrager:

One cold night' Daniela woke up from a strange sounds which made her heart trembled.
"Daniela" someone called her repeatedly. She went outside and walked through the long dark road..
"Come..... "A soft cold voice guiding her way to the cliff, "who are you" she screamed... " i am you, look at me, don't you recognize me? I am what you made me."
"Come fly with me, Daniela" she felt trembled and float like no gravity.

Fear can raise ur feet high above the ground like no gravity.

From @SamikshaAdukia:

Dear Thoughts:

I want you

To wander fearless and seamless
To feel palpable excitement and have the sphinx-like smile
To be on a long wild-goose chase before being sated

And at the end of the road, I wish you show me wonder there, wonder at me.

Don’t be pulled down. Which ‘force’has worked on you!

Dear All:

Penny for your thoughts?

From @ek_cuttingchai: (previously known as @crazyandhow)

Singing. Dancing. He leapt from leaf to leaf, playing around and making fun of his red neighbours. The warm spring with blue skies and lush green grass made him joyous to life.  This is all it was about, this is all that mattered.

When the first snow flake landed on the turf, the grasshopper had no gravity of the winter. The red ants; they were working hard and saving food during summers.

Setting 41 - "Light"

From @ravivgolani:

He was petrified. And was glad people weren't missing him. Lost in their merriment, they had forgotten his. Typical. Festivals were always a pain - quite literally. Even his dark corner could not calm his nerves. Only tonight. He loved them too much to interrupt. Beter stay forgotten. The ray of light the next day would bring back his human masters.

From @ek_cuttingchai: (previously crazyandhow)

the young and restless had found their way. that was always the case. the teenage passion and thrill made them do ridiculous things which they wouldn't consider otherwise. he could not allow that to happen, discipline should be followed and it was his duty to get them to the right path. Raghuvir flashed his torch in the dark corridor and found the couple of 9th graders smooching. Ahha.

Setting 40 - "Idea"

From @ Keira Trager:

A funny thought comes on his mind.
'What if ill try to annoy this girl,i feel bored'
And He just did.
And after all the words he said, he was little satisfied. Feeling unbored and overexcited like every second counts.
He was little selfish' thinking onesidedly' never thought how he might affect the other side.
He never regreted' he had fun and thats what matters to him.
It was his IDEA' -having fun-over boredom.

From @crazyandhow:

"They love stories. They will believe it, they want to. No media, it will be whispered in their ears by friends, brokers, advisors. How about the rumour of an offshore Oil rig?" A smirk crossed his brilliantly lit face on 5th Avenue building sipping the fine scotch whiskey Chevas.

The retail investors went on a wild goose chase for next 4 months for rising stock prices with no real substance and Mehta pulled of the biggest scam of '92.

Setting 39 - Determination

From @crazyandhow:

More often than not, everything seems wrong. Success which was within grasp is actually long way ahead. A tired soul keeps motivating itself to move forward on its revered path. No one said it will be easy, just be Steady. Giving up is upto you or you can enjoy your Slow journey and try reaching the finishing line. Maybe, just maybe, I am the tortoise in this race.

From @ Keira Trager:

I always failed in what I do. Not because I don’t know how but I am afraid to do so. They laughed at me, bullied & belittled me and all I felt was shame.

My name is Kei’

I don’t know my parents. I live anywhere and all I know is nobody cares for me.

Tomorrow I am turning 21. And after all the time I have spent in this life, after all those roads I’ve travelled, after all the hardships I have done, all the cruelties, the pain, the sacrifices; I am now ready to take new route-to the ROAD LESS TRAVELED! And my only gas to be there is DETERMINATION.

Now, I am ready! Mind is all set. I will definitely show you my real worth.

LIVE & LAUGH!

From @ Megha Sureka Dhanuka:

Once, twice, thrice...innumerable times during the course of a day! Hands fumbled...but the spirit remained...! Her mind thought : one day I will get there..achieve it…the focus was unparalleled … after probably a thousand attempts spanning over a week – she finally got it right! Mastered the art of eating her rice with her own “Minnie Mouse” spoon …how adorable! The unfaltering “determination” of this fifteen month old is indeed a lesson for us grown ups!

Setting 38 - 'End of the road'

From @dbijal:

I found the way to reach my destination. As I took first step towards it, a detour sign greeted me.

With such difficulty I found this way and now I am lost again. Tricky routes make journey interesting and such was this way.

Now I am left with the tried and tested path. End of road is immediate just with no excitement.

With this, I pop sleeping pills to end my life.

From @crazyandhow:

The ambitious brow frowned for a moment before a thread of truth dawned. The madness, triumph and glory all whirled vulnerable in a storm and echoed with the Monk's words "Joy lies in the journey".

The Great General Theodeaus forgot this was the destination he had longed for and walked with peace in his heart on the new road that lay ahead.

From @ Samiksha Adukia:

Isn’t too much ‘safety’ risky?
It camouflages our laziness to think hard, think original.It is too loud to let us hear our Calling.So we opt for the crowded road, because it makes us feel 'safe'; we don’t even check where it goes.And without the map, we don’t see the end coming. SNAP! Don’t get stuck.
Sometimes, the road less travelled is better than a U-Turn at the end of the crowded road.

Setting 37 - 'Home'

From @ Kshitij Bader:

It contained my childhood memories, my toys, my life. I lost it. As a kid, when my dad's company caught fire, we had to let go of all my possessions, including our home. I've worked hard for the last 23 years for this moment. Today as I drive back into it, I can hear all my tears, see my laughter and relive my memories. I've brought it back, bought my home back.

From @crazyandhow:

It never hits until the last moment. Playing cool all this while, the reality had only started sinking in the last one week. The adieus and farewells from friends brought upon the crushing weight of gravity. Entering the Mumbai international airport with a mix of confusion and excitement, turned the last minute to see Mom and I realised that home is not a myth. I am gonna miss them.

From @vidooo:

Love. Happiness. Sense of Belonging. Warmth. Always Safe. Smiles. Comfort. Rest. Peace.

From @ Keira Trager:

Devastated. The feeling grows in me.

Crowd yet feeling so alone.

Having emotional turmoil feels like hell. I should not be dealing with this.

All i did was loved. I loved. Yet i found my heart astray. Longing for a home.

I decided to leave, to be far, ro run away from all the pain.

Heavy rain, thunder & storm. I was sitting under the bridge collecting all the memories, happy moments.

I smiled. And noticed he was coming near me.. Lets go. He said. I was waiting him to come. For 10 years ive been waiting him and at the right moment he was there.

"I love you.. Please come home."

 

From @ Samiksha Adukia:

 

Step out of your comfort zone and you know why they say ‘Home is where the heart is’.

Distance is a challenge.. new place brings uncertainty.

But then, life is less uncertain, more fun.

Just a matter of bumping into the right person.

If you stay with a flat-mate turned friend as awesome as mine, you don’t ask for more.

No wonder they also say ‘Home is where you make it.’

From @ Megha Sureka Dhanuka:

Home – is it the painting adorned walls covered with the ceiling, from which hangs your favourite chandelier? Nah! To me, its an assortment of memories you picked up on your journey called life….days when you sulked in a corner refusing to talk to anyone…to days when you simply couldn’t contain your excitement within the same four corners! True, every corner has its story, but is it really “home” without the loved ones to share it?

From @dbijal
Plain walls and empty house greeted us. It was a canvas and I was the painter.

On entering, images of my new home flashed in my mind. Any home has its owners personality.

Hall - pure and peaceful.
My kitchen - welcoming.
My parents room - simple and comfortable.
My room - mixture of tradition and modern living.

Just then it dawn upon me, my thoughts made this house my home.

Short break on short fiction

Guys, I am moving to a new destination in the coming week and a bit caught to send the settings to mailing lists, FB group and tweeting about it. With this even quirky rebel - Nasir is travelling since a while! So we are taking a short break of two weeks. I have a few stories pending to be put up which I will do in a while.
Till then, enjoy the archives and keep us posted with your likes and dislikes.

Cheers,

Mohit
@crazyandhow

The Giant Chapati

From @lenaland

I look at your photo and wonder how I shall ever find you among the twenty million people that is Mumbai.
Bustling crowds buffet me along half-remembered streets. Ah, this corner here, just past the spice seller, this is where our favourite street café used to be. You said it would be yours one day.
No! It can’t be!
‘Ravi! I shout.
And there you are, throwing a giant Chapati into the hot Indian night.

© Helena Mallett 2012

This is a guest post from Helena who follows the blog and is also published author of the book 75 x 75 word stories which is out there is Kindle and paperback versions!

 www.helenamallett.com

Setting 36 - 'Black'

From @dbijal:

A cloudless night with no moonlight and power cut ensured that darkness prevailed. To add to this, the noise of fighter planes overhead echoed the panic feeling.
The blackout had ensured the enemy could not attack the main city. If the city was attacked, millions of innocent lives would have been lost.
Though Black symbolises death, by blocking the city view that night, it turned into a symbol of life !!


From @Shraddha_G:

She brought in love, desire and hope with her.

Life was perfect with her pair of eyes making me see everything that my Coloboma eyes couldn’t.

I wished I could see her. Was her face as beautiful as her voice? I bet.

I got a call from the Police, “We have found a dead body of Summer Morgan, do you know her?”

Damaged. Lifeless. Pale. She was.

Black had become the story of my life now.

Short fiction continues

I am glad I continued my endeavour of writing Short fiction in the form of www.75wordstory.blogspot.in

It is equally incredible that a few people joined me along the way and send their stories. We have managed to get most of the writers via the facebook group of Short Fiction over the past few months. What is spectacular is that the how strong some of the short stories can be. Anything which can make your thought linger for more than a second on the fiction written, has succeeded in its attempt to grip the readers.

The original idea was to continue writing myself and keep improving which has taken a hit. I am lazier than I thought. I need to put in more effort myself to come to telling stories. So keep watching that space, you will see more stories from me.

And who knows, someday I might end up doing what every story teller deep down really wants to be doing.
Do it on a bigger platform.

Blogs are good but that love for books is just different.

*smiles*

 

Mohit

@crazyandhow

 

www.crazymms.blogspot.in

Setting 35 - 'Long road ahead'

From @dbijal:

It is said that a woman is born twice. Once at birth and other when she becomes a mother.
It was time for my second birth. Doctor just confirmed the positive result. After 4 years and 2 miscarriage, this good news greeted me.
Just 5 days earlier I wanted to die to be with my love, my husband. A dream in eyes, reality in womb and the long life ahead.

From @ Kshitij Bader:

Rohan was in Goa all alone. Sad about the fact that he never had a girlfriend, his eyes were focussed on skimpily clad foreigners. He drank, drank, drank some more. Later as he was driving his bike, he crashed his bike in a bush in the middle of the night. As he came out of the bush, and waved his hands for a lift, the first car that came by was driven by Sabina, his childhood crush. She stopped and promptly took him in. It was a long road ahead and none of them knew what would happen next.

From @crazyandhow:

Bitter, sad and depressed, he was the jilted lover in pitiable state. The bottle was his new love, he drowned in it often now. Rashesh saw his life spiral down, step by step and din't realise where he is going. Another day, a fateful accident after passing out wound him in hospital waking up to a crying mother. He smiled. The bed gave him time to think for a frest start. He is ready and picking up the pieces for a new journey.

Setting 34 - 'An accident'

From @Shraddhi_G:

She came. She saw & conquered.

How can an 18 year-old college goer give me a run for my money?

I hate her. She hogs the limelight. Oh boy I find her so lame.

My Manager called me, “take June to our new office tomorrow. She is will be sharing the cabin with you.” The last thing I wanted.

My car stalled near the crossing. I stepped out. I got a sharp push.!!

She reported accidental death.

From @crazyandhow:

She was an average school girl. Nothing exceptional for anyone to have noticed the dusky Indian girl from middle class background. She was already getting known for dancing but who takes a kid seriously at that age. Then life turned around with an accident where the dancer lost her leg. Her tryst with destiny, went on become the most exceptional dance with artificial limb. We still read about her in our text books.

Setting 33 - 'Inside a murderer's head'

From @Verma_man:

What will he do? Will someone be there for him? I shouldn’t have done it.

But, no she had it coming. She knew much more than she should’ve known. It had to be done. I tried silencing her.

Was I too harsh? No, she slipped and moved. I just wanted to instill fear.

I’ve scarred him for life. No, he is barely 3 years old he’ll forget.

Two have gone, one lying cold on the floor and the other crying on the doorstep.

From @Shraddha_G:

Some like money. Some power. Some sex. Some even like God (can you imagine!)

I like sadism. I loved to watch people scream in fear when my homicidal psychopath father used to take me along for his adventures.

I used to be amazed sitting in a corner at how my dad slit their throats with such an ease.

Father finally got caught & hanged. I fled.

Yeah, I am the 'most wanted' serial killer today.

From @dbijal

Trigger pulled. Shot fired. Joey held the gun still in shock. The thrill of game just turned into fear of life. Dexter felt relief. His plan worked.
He had convinced his gang to play their favorite game. They would use fake bullets and aim at each other. He ensured to use actual bullet for Sam.
He could now date Alexis who was Sam's girl and got away with Sam's murder.


And @Kartik.Iyer with 150 words story:

He saw the sunlight diming and he could smell the cannibals around. Yes, he saw Myron, his dog, lying under a lamp post with his leg choked under the iron bar.  Will had a shot gun to save his and Myron’s life. No one had thought the cancer vaccine would have taken such a turn; turning humans into blood seekers. In a second, they came in and managed to bite the canine. Will was late by a second; too late. Myron was unconscious. He stretched Myron’s eyes and saw its pupils dilating, his heart rate increasing. Myron had to die, he felt or else he’ll become one of them. Pity, guilt, anger on one side; revenge, blasphemy on the other. He grabbed his big hand around the throat of his favourite pet. His nerves portrayed the tension, his muscles showed strength. As Myron made the soft death sound, his killer cried.

Setting 32 - 'An affair to remember'

From @dbijal:

It may not be perfect but it was the most popular and most talked after affair.
How can she even think this would work? A spy has a very adventurous life possibly, but definitely not the most fulfilling life.
She was successful in taming the tiger but only to an extent. What she did not plan for was her change of heart. Though it didn't end as expected, it still was worth remembering.

Setting 31 - 'the stormy night'

From @dbijal

At night, storm in my mind began. It was a matter of life and death.
As doctor, they were strangers to me yet both equally close. Choice was difficult but had to be made. One is living but not alive. Other is alive just needs to live.
At dawn break, with sunrise the storm within me had subsided. Life is valued by all and thus with help of angel, both lived.

From @ Samiksha Adukia:

The city seemed to be suddenly attacked
The boulevard was filled with fallen leaves
The hawker had taken refuge under the roof of the corner shop
The high-way was blinking with the red-lights of car; windows were pulled up
The sky was dark and starless, only ablazed by the lightning streaks
Last touches to the broken fence on the side-ways. Done.Teacher, “We will send your entry for the ‘Art Attack 2012’ contest. Good work.”

From @crazyandhow:

Moonless dark night, it poured heavily. The trees swayed, some bent down enough to crack open from spine. Bellowing wind and howls. The dim light at the corner of the street flickered in unsure hope to come back to life every few seconds. The wooden structures, those old houses along the pavement rattled to tell the story of what was to come. The only paper boat sailed lovingly once sank in the deluging waters.