Legacy

Trifextra: Week 101

On to this week’s Trifextra challenge.  This week Trifecta is asking for 33 of our own words inspired by the following picture.

 

 http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.13nzebT0.dpuf

                       Thomas Leuthard / Foter.com / CC BY(Photo credit)

                         \(http://photos.foter.com/68/or_l.jpg)

Here are my 33 words.

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Legacy

Oh why did Grandpa do this?

Her dream was to write, not inherit a cafe!

The customers did give her ideas for characters and plots, she conceded.

Sighing, she went back to work.

 

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Gone with the mist

Write on Edge

Image courtesy of Unsplash.

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Gone with the mist

 

Meghan woke up sweating. Her heart was racing. This was the fourth time this week that she had the same nightmare.

 Beside her, Jimmy, her husband stirred, opened his eyes and smiled.”Already up? What’s the time?”

Meghan propped herself on her elbow and peered at the table clock. “It is just 5 a.m.You go back to sleep.”

“Where are you going?”

“To get some exercise. Can’t let myself become fat!” She smiled at him mischievously.

Not one to let such an opportunity pass him by, Jimmy retorted,”Come back to bed and let me be the judge of that.”

She laughed, swatting him playfully and before he could react, she slipped past his grasping hand, and entered the bathroom.

 Fifteen minutes later she was running at an easy pace, enjoying the fresh morning air and nature’s beauty. She loved the forest and she was glad that Jimmy did too. They had been very lucky to find such a lovely property in the countryside. She was a freelancer and had turned her hobby of photography into her profession. Proximity to the forest gave her ample scope to engage in her hobby and earn both money and fame professionally. Her dream was to work for National Geographic someday. Jimmy was a marine biologist. His work took him away for months but then again, on the flip side, he could be home at a stretch of 30-35 days, like now. Meghan sighed. Life was good.

Halfway across her route, she suddenly became aware of the quietness and was surprised. At this time, the forest just teemed with life! She slowed down and looked around. Her eyes widened. A mist was rolling in. She was filled with a sense of foreboding. She decided to turn back and go home.

As she ran, the mist thickened and she found it hard to see the path. She had hardly gone a few metres, when she felt something grab her ankle, and she fell.

“Ouch!”She cried out involuntarily. She sat up gingerly. The ground seemed squelchy and smelled like rotting dead creatures. Meghan tried to get up but her ankle gave way. She sat there and cursed herself for not bringing her cell phone. How many times had Jimmy cautioned her!

Suddenly, she heard a horrible keening and her blood ran cold. This was the same sound she had been hearing in her nightmare. She could hear something shuffling and dragging itself through the trees-something that she did not want to see. Her heart in her mouth, Meghan started searching for some weapon, knowing very well that whatever was coming, could not be stopped.

Her mind went back to the rumours she had heard in the market- the locals mentioning something about some strange mist which  took over the area every alternate Summer, and changed everything and  that every time, a young woman went missing!

The unbearable stench was making her gag. The keening hurt her ears. Meghan was terrified but she had nowhere to run.

It had arrived.

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The above story (500 words)was written for Write on Edge .For more details,rules etc about this site,please click on this url-http://writeonedge.com/2014/01/writing-prompt-2014-week-4/

Writing Prompt: 2014, Week 4

Bang on

FRIDAY FICTIONEERS

Its time to  pick up the pen to spin a 100 word story based on the photo prompt below, provided by Claire fuller,over at Rochelle Fields-Wisoff’s FF site. For more information  and to read what amazing writers from all over the world are writing over there, click on the following link – http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/friday-fictioneers-2/

 

Copyright -Claire Fuller

                                                  Copyright -Claire Fuller

Here are my 100 words:-)

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Bang on!

He watched them tear his old work shed down, brick by brick.

Then the bulldozers razed the rest to the ground.

No one paid him any attention.

The big construction company made short work of the project and the Mall came up within two months.

Tomorrow the big names in the town along with the financiers would be present at the gala inauguration.

Poor sods! Little did they know what awaited them.

He would see to it that the event made headlines on every news channel.

He double checked the wires and tried it on. A perfect fit!

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Carpe Diem #380

Carpe Diem #380, Chita

At CD,Kristjaan,our host has used the following beautiful paragraph from Paulo Coelho’s “Aleph” to inspire us.

 “I love you. I love you because all the loves in the world are like different rivers flowing into the same lake, where they meet and transformed into a single love that becomes rain and blesses the earth. I love you like a river that creates the right conditions for trees and bushes and flowers to flourish along its banks. I love you like a river that gives water to the thirsty and takes people where they want to go. I love you like a river which understands that it must learn to flow differently over waterfalls and to rest in the shallows. I love you because we are all born in the same place, at the same source, which keeps us provided with a constant supply of water. And so, when we feel weak, all we have to do is wait a little. The spring returns, the winter snows melt and fill us with new energy.
I receive your love and I give you mine. Not the love of a man for a woman, not the love of a father  for a child, not the love of God for His creatures, but a love with no name and no explanation, like a river that cannot explain why it follows a particular course, but simply flows onwards. A love that asks for nothing and gives nothing in return, it is simply there. […] (Source: “Aleph” by Paulo Coelho)

Kristjaan’s own hiaku is so inspired that many of us are spellbound.Am sharing Kristjaan’s haikus here with you all dear readers,so that you see how difficult it was for any of us to  write for this challenge:-)

lotus flowers
rising from the depths of the pond
everlasting love

everlasting love
like a river flows onwards
uncertain of its goal

uncertain of its goal
rising from the depths of the pond
lotus flowers

(Kristjaan)

Now,wasn’t that beautifully ethereal?

Here comes my feeble effort 😛

Hearts aflame,
a beacon of love
burning bright

burning bright
drawing us closer
pearly dew

pearly dew
sizzling tenderly
hearts aflame

(Atreyee)

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The Witch’s promise

Trifecta: Week 110

Time for Trifecta challenge and this is what they have to say for this week’s challenge:)

Now onto this week’s Trifecta prompt. We’re back to one word and its third definition. And, of course, as many syllables as you please in your 333-word limit! Happy writing! QUAINT (adjective)  3a : unusual or different in character or appearance :  ODD   b : pleasingly or strikingly old-fashioned or unfamiliar <a quaint phrase> Remember: • Your response must be between 33 and 333 words. • You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post. • The word itself needs to be included in your response. • You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above. • Only one entry per writer.

 See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.XRrxyItB.dpuf

Here is my 330 word story-hope you enjoy reading this as much I enjoyed writing it:-)

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The Witch’s promise

They peered over the hedge, looking into a garden. Mrs. Crabtree was collecting luscious strawberries from her plants and humming to herself.

“ Isn’t she old?” Amy mused.

“Umm, very! And oh so quaint!”said Jack, stifling a laugh.

“She kind of reminds me of Miss Marple”, added Kate, the bookworm.

“And pray who is Miss Marple?”

“You are such an oaf Paul! Miss Marple was a character by Agatha Christie-the charming old lady who solved murder mystery!”Boasted Kate.

“Pooh!”Said Paul and made a face at Kate.

The youngest of the group, Laura whispered, “I don’t like this. Let us go. I think she is a witch.”

They all burst out laughing and had to duck immediately. They would wait for a more opportune moment to steal some of those lovely strawberries.

Next week, the five did just that –Laura refused. As the Sun was setting, they walked up to her cottage and made sure, no one was home. Then, they sneaked in through the hedge and stole a basket of strawberries.

On the verge of leaving, their noses were assailed by the delicious smell of freshly baked apple tarts and chicken pies and they told each other, “No harm in just looking.”

And off they went up the garden path, into the warm kitchen.

There their eyes widened when they saw the sumptuous spread laid on the table-delicacies they all loved. Torn between the desire to dig in and leave, they stood transfixed.

At that very moment, the front door opened and Mrs. Crabtree entered the room. She did not seem surprised to see 5 uninvited teenagers in her house. Instead she smiled and told them,”Come on children.Don’t be shy. Eat your fill.I promise you won’t regret this.”

So they did, failing to notice the glint in Mrs. Crabtree’s eyes as she served them more food, humming under her breath,”The witch’s promise was coming,you’re looking elsewhere for your own selfish gain…”

If only they had listened to little Laura…

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Changing times

Friday Fictioneers

It is that time of the week again when as many as  100 odd writers around the globe perk up when they see Rochelle Wisoff-Fields post the picture prompt ,over at her blog.Then they pick up their pens and foray into the world of fiction to spin out a 100 word or so of fiction.

This week Rochelle has chosen a picture by Bjorn Rudberg,who is not only a versatile writer but also a wonderful friend:-)Now writing a 100 word fiction on this picture  seemed too tough for the likes of me,so I am submitting a kind of a snippet.Hope it won’t be too disappointing.

Copyright - Björn Rudberg

                                                        Copyright – Björn Rudberg

Here are my 100 words:-)

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Changing times

 

The valley used to be a hot favourite with tourists.

Locals prospered.

But then terrorists took over and chaos reigned.

 People began to flee.

Only a few families stayed back.

Mallik’s family was one of them.

Now 25 years later, things were limping back to some kind of normalcy.

Mallik sighed and told his wife. “Bring the samovar out my dear. I see some tourists. Hot “kahwa” and dry fruits may interest them.”

“I really hope they hire you as a guide. We need the money,” she replied.

 They looked hopefully at the tourists trekking up towards them.

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(Note:Kahwah (Urdu: قہوہ‎, also transliterated qehwakehwa or kahwa) is a traditional green tea preparation consumed in Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, some regions of Central Asia as well as the Kashmir Valley.The tea is made by boiling green tea leaves with saffron strands, cinnamon bark, cardamom pods and occasionally Kashmiri roses to add a great aroma. Generally, it is served with sugar orhoney and crushed nuts, usually almonds or walnuts.Traditionally, kahwah is prepared in a brass kettle known as a samovar. A samovar consists of a “fire-container” running as a central cavity, in which live coals are placed keeping the tea perpetually hot. Around the fire-container there is a space for water to boil and the tea leaves and other ingredients are mixed with the water.)

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Carpe Diem Special #73 (2)

Carpe Diem Special #73, Alexey Andreyev’s fourth, “day after Valentine’s”

Another attempt at this challenge ‘cos last time in my excitement,instead of writing a haiku in the same spirit and essence as that of the one below I wrote a Tan Renga-sigh!Thanks to our gracious host Kristjaan at CD,I get another chance at attempting this challenge.This is the haiku  written by Alexey Andreyev,which is to be used for inspiration:-)

 

day after Valentine’s –
red petals on the floor, and
a broom in the corner

(c) Alexey Andreyev

 My attempts at  new haiku in the same spirit as Alexey:-)

move over romance
Valentine’s day is over
routine life beckons

starry eyes no more
Valentine’s day has gone by
passion forgotten

(Atreyee)

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Carpe Diem Special #73

Carpe Diem Special #73, Alexey Andreyev’s fourth, “day after Valentine’s”

At CD,our host Kristjaan has chosen a haiku written by Alexey Andreyev,a Russian haiku-poet.Alexey is the  featured haiku-poet for this month.This fourth haiku is about Valentine’s day or more the day after.The challenge is  to write an all new haiku in the same sense, tone and Spirit as the one given.

day after Valentine’s –
red petals on the floor, and
a broom in the corner

(c) Alexey Andreyev

 

Here come my completions:-)

 

a familiar scent fading
old love letters on the floor

 

fashionable sunglasses
hiding damp eyes,broken heart

(Atreyee)

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Carpe Diem-Tan Renga challenge #27

Carpe Diem’s Tan Renga Challenge #27, “I catch the sunrise”

 

At CD,our wonderful host Kristjaan has chosen  to start this week’s Tan Renga Challenge i with a haiku written by Ese of Ese’s Voice.

great expectations
entangled in fishing line
i catch the sunrise

(c) Ese

My completion-

the sea of desire whimpers
reality lashes back

undaunted,I change the bait
smiling,reel in the surprise

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CARPE DIEM #376, YENISEI RIVER

Carpe Diem #376, Yenisei River

At CD,our amazing host Kristjaan has come up with this interesting write up about our journey in life and beyond-yes,reincarnation.He has used Paulo Coelho’s “Aleph” as an example Well,I really do not know  if I believe in an afterlife-rebirth–I don’t think I do.I think whatever we do,we have to pay for it in this very life -Karma is the key.But,if I were to be born again,I hope it will be a good life again:-)So this was a difficult challenge for me.This is my Haiku on this theme-

 

No past lives,I travel light
my Karma holds me aloft

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