Move On

From balcony, my squint eyes followed her until she turned into a tiny dot and finally disappeared. She was gone.

"Don't lick my mind", I didn't say anything more than that. Perhaps that's how an argument starts. Perhaps that's how a relation ends.

That night, I witnessed Manchester United's win over Arsenal. What a match!

For Three Word Wednesday

P.S. - Jokes apart, breakups are sometimes very hurtful.

P.P.S. - Attempted 55 fiction after a long time. Coincidentally, this time too it has ended in exactly 55 words like my other 55 fictions. For other posts of the series, click here.

Second Chance

I came home like any other usual day. She was in the kitchen, preparing supper, like any other usual day. But there was something which wasn't usual. There was a deep edgy silence on her face. She didn't greet me. I understood the reason but pretended as if I didn't know anything.

But suddenly she broke the silence and asked, "How was your day, honey?" "Good, pretty good", I replied sarcastically.

"She left you for me now?" she hit finally.

I was just staring at her and wondering how did she come to know about her, my so called iconic love, who ditched me. Then she came closer, hugged me and broke down. "Never do it again", she whispered.

Surrendering her lithe body in my arms, she cried aloud. And so did I. That very moment I realized, it's absolutely fine for a man to cry for someone who takes you more important than their life.

Another thing I realized was that not everyone deserves a second chance. I thanked my wife for giving a thought that I deserved it one more time.

The supper was delicious more than ever.

For Three Word Wednesday

P.S. - Extra marital affairs maybe a fun, but ultimately they ruin.

Sandcastles

Have you noticed a child making the sandcastles? Ever? There is nothing between him and the play. The sand and his hands are all that he is careful about. He makes the castles as if he is going to live in there for eternity. Yet at the end of the day, when his father calls him, he leaves everything halfway or better destroy everything with the same hands that build them, and goes back to his father. With no regrets, no attachments to his treasured castles.

I want to live like that. I want to spend my life in such a way that though I may tend to do the things or make the relationships which seem to last longer than life yet when the death comes to hug me and to take me to my father Lord, I leave everything behind with no regrets, with no attachments whatsoever. I want no one to remember me after I leave this earth plane. Neither for good nor for bad.

Leaving your mark behind is what everyone is so conscious about. But what for? The one who leaves, has no connection with the mortal world. So why be so desperate for leaving your mark behind? I maybe making a mistake but that's what human life is all about. To make mistakes. To learn from them. To live for only yourself.

And perhaps in the process, somehow, I hurt the people around me - by not getting attached to them so much.

For Three Word Wednesday

Obsession

I drank with a hitch,

sip of love mustering strength;

rather my obsession.

For Three Word Wednesday and Haiku Heights # 94

Thorns

In that tranquil moment, sitting on the edge of that river, he altered his thoughts yet again. He couldn't decide his path until he saw a small fish, a very little one, swimming like a no novice.

In the next moment he stood up and walked away, not bothering about the thorns on the way. He had found his fond path.

Sometimes, if not always, all it takes is a little courage to make a small but consistent start. Rest, the journey itself takes care of it.

For Three Word Wednesday

P.S. - King Bruce and a spider story may not have taught him what a little fish taught him. And yes, he became the King of his own story.

Clue

After a long spell of love making, we lay down beside each other wrapping my arm around her, still naked but covered with a sheet. She was playing with my chest and I was constantly gazing at the ceiling.

Suddenly the silence broke. "So, would you still love me", she paused for a while and completed, "once we're out of this bed?"

I grinned. "Is that a question? Of course I love you", I replied controlling myself.

"Love is something beyond just naked bodies meeting each other", she seemed serious. Perhaps she got the clue. I didn't respond.

After a few minutes, I was left alone in jumble full of bed. I lit a cigarette and thought, "Better die of nicotine than love".

For Three Word Wednesday

P.S. - I don't smoke, nor do I hate love.

Blessed

Like a usual evening, I was sitting on a bench in the park in front of my home reading a book. The slow breeze seemed like tickling me and singing some mellow song which I was feeling inside. Suddenly a little boy, just about 7-8 years old, came close to me.

"I wish I could read", he said and walked away.

Before I could realize what he had just said, he was out of sight. He left me thinking that blessed are those who get a chance to be educated.

I lost the page of the book I was on. Breeze, for me, stopped right there. And so did the mellow song. And so did its tickling touch.

P.S. - Child labor and illiteracy are just as bad as any horrible disease. Disease kill the humans, they kill the society at large.

Also for Three Word Wednesday

Sorry I Brought You Dishonor

Yesterday I wrote about mercy killing and I was in no mood to talk about death for at least some days till morning. But when I read today's newspaper, there was a headline on the first page that a girl was killed by her own family. The reason was not big enough - she just fell in love with a guy - and that was not acceptable to her family.

Now what rubbish is that. Killing your own daughter whom you have loved for her entire life, just because she dared to choose her life partner. I mean what is wrong with the people. Also you know what they call it - Honor Killing - meaning killing someone who has brought dishonor to the family. Ridiculous, disgusting and any alike word you can think about it. The ratio of honor killing is much higher in the rural areas than the urban ones. Also it is more in the underdeveloped/developing counties than the developed ones. Maybe because in that countries, falling in love is nothing more than a crime - not in the eyes of law but in the eyes of own family. Love is a dainty dream, don't earn a sin by killing it.

You kill a girl just because she loves someone and wants to marry him which is not acceptable to you but how can you guarantee that your own choice for the girl would be a better match. You simply can't guarantee that. And sometimes the families just tantalize the couple and don't let them be together. That is also not a good thing. It maybe just a saying but I personally believe that marriages are made in heaven. Then why people put their own decisions on their kids. Of course in some cases kids maybe wrong. But not always. They are younger that doesn't mean they can't think good for themselves. So respect their choice and lend them your ears. It may solve many problems even before they arise.

Also there is a very serious point I want to make. Killing someone because that person has brought dishonor to the family. But why don't people understand that killing your own family member won't bring you any honor either. The only result will be - someone will lose a life and the so called honor will die with that person. Just think about it. Nothing more will left than the haunting memories.

Love is beautiful thing. Let your child experience it. In that way your child will be happy and in turn you will too. It is not just the girls who are restricted to fall in love. I know some of the guys also who can't do it just because their parents don't allow them. But in this case also, ratio of girls is more than the guys. Thank God my family is little advanced (if I can say it) that they always keep on asking me about my choice.

It feels very sad to read everyday that someone had to pay the price of falling in love by sacrificing none less than life. And the dishonor brought by someone is regained by the family from killing her. I don't understand what they will do with that kind of honor. Sigh.

Also for Three Word Wednesday

Pictorial Words # 1

P.S. - This time, like words, the picture used in this post is all mine. Clicked it some time back on a late summer night.

Also prompted at: Three Word Wednesday

Nightmare

Everyone has nightmares. Some are forgotten, some are lifelong. I also have them quite often. Most of them I forget the very next day. But there is one I couldn't forget till now though it happened a long time ago when I was a kid. The very thought of those small yet horrible incidents haunt me even today.

"Hey, come on, lets play inside", he invited me to his home like any other day. I couldn't read his intentions at that time.

"Will you get me chocolates?", I innocently asked and declared,"Only then I'll come to play with you". I thought it was a genuine demand of a 7 years kid.

"Yes I do have. Come on, get in", he played his trick.

We used to play for hours together. At some times he was very caring while at times he behaved rude. I couldn't understand his volatile moods.

"Come here, sit on my lap", he would ask me and I'd do as directed.

I thought he loved me. At that time I couldn't distinguish between loving and love making. I thought I was playing with him. But it was him who was playing with me, my body. Though sometimes it felt something was going wrong but I couldn't offend. I could only wait till he was finished. I couldn't understand anything and used to keep a demure smile. I was more interested in the chocolates.

***

"Well, that's a case of pedophilia", my Psychiatrist told me when I finished describing my nightmare to her.

"Pedophilia?", I asked to clarify the term which was alien to me.

"Its the activity of having sexually involved with the children", she clarified.

I was shocked to know the fact that someone sexually harassed me in my childhood. "But how to overcome this nightmare now?", I asked angrily.

"Cool down, there is nothing to worry about now. It was just a phase of time that has passed a long time ago. All you need to do is that never think about those incidents. The more you'll think about it the more it will haunt you", she showed a genuine care and attention.

I walked back to the home and wished I never loved chocolates. I somehow get to know to overcome my nightmare.

P.S. - It is just a piece of fiction but a bitter reality in our society in which innocent children are sexually harassed by their neighbors, relatives or even their own family members. The child doesn't understand at first but never forgets when he does after some time. The nightmare follows to haunt him for the rest of his life.

For Three Word Wednesday

The Innocence

"Can it change my luck?", she asked curiously pointing to one of the toys I was selling in the robust feast.

"Who told you this princess?", I asked.

"My Mom says, to change your luck you need to have a lucky charm", she replied with all her innocence,"so I'm finding one".

I smiled and gave it to her. She walked away smilingly. I knew it won't change anything, but then there are certain things which are priceless, like her little eyes carrying dreams of having living a life she deserves.

Sometimes the innocence wins everything.

For: Three Word Wednesday and

Image Credit

Perhaps

***

"You're joking, ain't you?", she asked in serious tone.

"No, I'm certainly not", I was firm.

"I never knew my love had no leverage", she walked away with wet eyes.

Looking at my diagnostic reports, I thought it was the only remedy not to accept her love proposal. Perhaps, some lives just end without love.

***

P.S. - Another 55 Fiction finished coincidently in exactly 55 words. I'm falling in love with 55 Fictions now.

P.P.S. - Though I informed in one of my earlier posts that I'll be absent from blogging for some days but somewhere inside I can't resist myself from writing. I may not be regular but I'll certainly not mark the absent from my space. And next some days are going to be very crucial for me. I need your love and support. Please wish me luck.

For: Three Word Wednesday and

The Waves

"Why I'm here? Am I a failure? Does anyone really need me?"

I was mentally surrounded by these questions and physically surrounded by sea, sun and sand. Sitting alone at this place away from home was not an occasion to admire the beauty of nature. I was completely lost in my thoughts or rather in my negative thoughts. Nothing in this world was seeming interesting.

"OK, I'm a failure, but it happens with most of the people. I can make a come back." My heart was consoling my mind this way. But it wasn't my heart's day. Mind was overpowering it. Past was already ruined, present was screwed up and future was looking unpredictable as usual.

There was an earthworm trying hard to make it to the soil but each time it's efforts were nullified by the strong waves.

"You are good for nothing." Again a voice from mind broke me down. "You don't deserve this life." I was constantly forced to take the extreme steps.

"Don't worry, you'll win over this situation. It is only a phase and will be over soon." I was again consoled by my heart.

The earthworm again came to the wet soil but the waves were still stronger than it's grip. It was pulled back again.

No hope was coming my way, not even a feeble one. I was trying hard not to cry but I had to drink the salty water that day.

Then suddenly I don't know how it happened but I was feeling more confident, more positive, more enthusiastic. May be because my mind was losing it's confidence against heart or may be because my heart wasn't that weak as it thought it was. Or perhaps the earthworm has won the battle against the waves and was crawling on the wet soil with it's head held high. Suddenly a story of a king and a spider was recalled in my mind. How the king got inspired from a little spider which was trying to climb to the web but failed six times. Then on the seventh attempt, it got there where it was supposed to be.

The waves seemed positive, inner and outer. Then I got up and walked through the wet sand. I had got my inspiration. It was quite obvious that I was leaving my footprints behind. But I didn't look back and kept walking. May be because from now on, I was prepared only to see the future and forget the past. May be, just may be.

Prompted at: Three Word Wednesday and

P.S. - My schedule is keeping me busy now a days. No wonder if I remain absent from blogging for a month or so. I'll try my best to post at least once a week and also read my fellow bloggers. And if I don't, please do understand and keep showing your love. Thank you bloggies.

The Bet

"I love you". My heart jumped out when it heard that proposal.

"Me too", I affirmed it to my dream girl.

And then later in the evening, that very heart felt like a victim when it heard,"I won the bet, my bait trapped him", she was counting her winning amount got from her friend.

P.S. - Tried to write 55 fiction after a long time and it is finished exactly in 55 words. Phew.

Also prompted at Three Word Wednesday

The Bane Of Child Labour

"Ting-Tong", I was awaken from the nap in a hot afternoon by ringing of the door bell.

I didn't get up at first. I was home alone so I knew I had to. So, tepid though, I got up and went to the door.

"Who's there?", I shouted to confirm, but none replied. I tried to see from the key hole but couldn't. Then I opened the door.

What I saw made me fully awake. There lying was a half naked little boy on the floor. I saw around but no one else was there. The acrid smell from his ragged clothes and torn body made me more conscious about him. I realized he was drastically beaten up. I picked him up and took him in. He was fainted. I threw some water on his face, shook his body to make him come to his senses. Soon he was. But he was still filled with fear, pushing me away from him and constantly shouting to leave him. I offered my loving hand to him and tried to make him comfortable with me and the place where he was.

"Who are you brave boy?", I asked him curiously while I gave him first aid.

"I'm Harry. I work at a nearby tea shop", he replied in his innocence tone.

"You work? And who beat you up?"

"Yes I work. I have to", he answered my first question angrily and the second one again innocently,"My owner beat me up".

"Why?", I asked this but obvious question.

"I was hungry so I took a piece of bread and ... and he saw me and started beating me", his voice was breaking and then he himself broke up. His tears fell on the ground before I could catch them. I consoled him and offered him milk and corn-flakes.

"By the way, who rang the door bell? Did you?", I asked.

"Yes, I did. But couldn't stand for long and fainted there. I was finding a place to hide myself."

While he was peacefully eating, it left me thinking how to remove this bane from the world. No clear path was visible.

The little boy quietly slept on my lap but the thoughts in my mind were not at all in a mood to stop.

Also prompted at Three Word Wednesday

Meadow Memories

"Papa get up, we are getting late," I pulled his finger with my little hands to go to the meadow near the river, the place where most of my Sundays were spent.

"OK", he didn't let me down like always.

When we reached there, I ran away and hid myself in the grass.

"Jack, come out, don't hide", he shouted.

I didn't come out and keep laughing and shouting,"Trace me Dad, if you can".

And then he did, like always. Pulled me up and hugged me and kissed me. "Naughty boy", he called me.

I miss the days when the grass was longer than me. Wherever I hid, he'd always find me. I thought as if he was a magician or something. Whenever I broke my toy, I'd find it perfectly fine as if it was never broken. Whenever I got scared to go out in dark, he'd always accompany me. All these things make him special for me. Memories were flashing before my eyes.

I woke up when my three years old kid pulled my finger with his little hands and said,"Get up papa, we'd go to the meadows near the river".

I realized memories never erase, no matter how hard you try. They will always trace you wherever you go. When memories are so beautiful, who would prefer them to be erased from heart? At least, me not.

"Lets go Jim", I got up and held his hand tightly so that he don't run away and hide himself in the grass.

For Three Word Wednesday

My World

whole day long, I

keep wandering

here and there,

knowing no place

to be exactly where.

tired and breathless

I try to find a place

where I can

sit and rest

and have solace.

nothing seems

genuine in this

whole bloody world,

no noble face I see

all look cruel.

and when I get

too much tired

I get up to find

my hidden world

and someone kind

there I find

some sure hope

after having roam

for whole day long

I reach to her at home

her loving touch

makes me feel

better instantly,

the kiss on forehead

and a hug with love

do all that is needed

every evening,

tired and breathless

I reach my home,

there I get my world,

waiting eagerly for me,

my lovely Mom

For Three Word Wednesday

Life Lessons

Everyday he used to teach me a new theory about life. I always listened but never tried to apply them. I thought they weren't meant for me. Today I realize that I was being too budge to move even an inch according to his teachings. But it is too late I guess, for now I nimble in the race of life and there is no one to teach me how to keep balance. And each time I fall down, I thank God that I at least listened to him and can do my best to apply his theories. Father is father after all.

For Three Word Wednesday

Anything For You

It was last day of my college. During all the three years that I spent there, I wanted to tell her something. Something that would make her feel special and how and what I think about her. It didn't start suddenly, like most good things, it happened gradually. I started liking her smile and how she used to talk and how she used to take care of everyone. I was very attracted to her personality.

Every year on her birthday, which was on 5th September, I used to get ready early in the morning and visit the same temple she did. Following each and every move of hers yet couldn't gather the courage to open my heart out. Each time an idea came to mind, I tried to abandon it, for I didn't want my image to be ruined before her.

But today was the day I had to do it. It wasn't sure we would ever meet in this life again since I was going to leave this place forever. I knew that I couldn't speak out before her. So, to make the job simpler I tried my writing skills and wrote a letter to her. Our farewell was going on when she left the assembly to make a call. I followed her. I was keeping my fingers crossed so that everything goes according to my precise plan. When she got free from the call, I sat on my knees and presented her the flowers and the letter. She took it smilingly.

Then she read it in my presence,"Ma'am, I've been watching you since three years in this institution. You didn't change a bit. I like the way you teach us and your caring attitude towards students. Ma'am, I don't know why it took so long for me to say you all this. Every year on your birthday, which coincidently comes on Teachers' Day, all students used to come to you and wish you good wishes and appreciate the way you are. But it was me alone who couldn't ever come to you. I don't know what stopped me every then. All I want to say Ma'am, is that, I'll miss you during the rest of my life. Miss you and ...."

"Miss you and ....", she asked,"and what?"

".... and anything for you Ma'am", I said and ran to the assembly and took my seat.

I was constantly thinking how I gathered all my abandoned courage to precisely speak my heart out. Then my heart answered that nothing happens suddenly, like all good things, it was collected gradually. But I still wonder, was it really I wanted to tell her or was it something else? Something which hasn't come out of my heart till now.

For Three Word Wednesday

Bad Habits Die Hard, But They Do.

Whenever he'd come home I used to dread. It was a daily routine for me. I was very fun loving and full of life during his absence. But the enjoyment never lasted for long. Whatever one tried to say him, he'd never grasp it and would do exactly opposite to it.

After my high school, I joined my college in a different city. Not because it was best for the stream I chose but because I wanted to go far away from his sight and reach at any cost. Those days at my college were the best of my life. I lived my childhood along with my youth at the same time because I never got to understand before what does childhood mean.

But, then, again I had to come back at this very place. Now I was no more afraid of him. In fact, not of anybody. Now I was a man and I knew how to defend self and others too.

I was expecting same behavior from him like before. But what I saw was beyond my understanding. He hugged me tightly in his arms. Blessed me and apologized for all the mistakes of the past. I couldn't understand what was going on till he uttered,"Son, I've realized that I was wrong. I didn't give you a single chance to live your childhood. I remember how I used to fight everyday with your Mom and you. Just a bad habit can make you a bad person, I know now. My habit of daily drinking was one I couldn't help. But now everything is on track. I know I never hugged you like this before. It may seem stupid to you but, yes, I'm changed and changed for good. Please forgive me my son."

Before I could react, my eyes reacted. Tears started flowing my eyes. I couldn't pacify myself and replied,"Dad, how easily you said that you have changed for good. But can you bring my childhood back? Can you bring back the smile on Mom's face? Can you call us a family? Can you?"

No answer I could read in his eyes. Only repent poured down from his eyes. I hugged him back and we cried together. I couldn't forgive him but what could I do. He was my father after all.

For Three Word Wednesday

P.S. - It is only a fiction for me but its a bitter reality for a huge part of the society we live in.