Peephole - One Frame Story

Earth:

Akshay’s heart soared at the sight of the bird flying towards the moon. Nights made him happy. The moon was his friend.

Fiona hated the same sight. She liked the moon to be spotless. Pristine. Impeccable. She waited for the bird to fly away. To not ruin her night.

And then there were the lovers. Enticed by the moon; they lay naked, spent and breathless.

BUT..

Moon – an hour back:

The dark soul of the moon wanted freedom. The claustrophobia was murderous. It opened its wings and sliced through it. The moon had a hole. A beauty spot.

Perplexed - 55 Word Story

The little boy was confused. He looked at the idol. ‘A God?’ he wondered. Fat. Huge. Head of an elephant. Body of a human. Mommy had told him God was beautiful. He wasn’t sure now.

He turned to walk away. A laddoo rolled out of a plate. Smiling, he gulped it whole.

God was beautiful.

Nomadic - 55 Word Story

The old actress lay on her deathbed. Reminiscing the past, she smiled. Everything had been easy. The fame, the money, the lovers. She looked at the people standing around her, shedding tears of sorrow. They did love her after all. Everything remained like before.

The only thing that never stayed was ‘time’. It killed her.

Virtual Love - 55 Word Story

It was love at first sight for him. Her perfect lips. Her alluring curves. Her shapely breasts. All enticing him.

He made up his mind to find out everything about her.

The only thing he would never find out would be the innumerable times a knife had made her perfect. A virtual image of herself.

Looking Back in Anger - 55 Word Story

He was angry. All those unwanted killings. All those deaths. Years of deciphering wrong out of right. Was there even a point? They had lied. Fooled the world. Blood was not red. It was black. It had to be black. Only black could kill in the name of religion and relish the taste of it.

The City by the Sea - 55 Word Story

The girl was breathless. Her beautiful city was not too far away. If only she could swim through this claustrophobia! If only she could lose herself once again! There was no other way to escape.

She picked up the shining blade and slit her wrist. She did not like being among this sea of whores.

Apps for Apes - 55 Word Story

The tablet was lying on the ground. He looked at it with fascination. It had some letters all over. What was it, he wondered? Should he touch it? What would happen if he did? Would the letters jump back at him? Tentatively he brushed the top. He stared in awe at King Ashoka’s tablet inscriptions.

Missed Connection - 55 Word Story

The little girl looked at him with consternation. Will he? Won’t he? She desperately wanted that box for herself. No other box would work. He looked confused and moved his hand towards the other box. She smiled. He grinned slyly and marked a cross in her box. Her tic-tac-toe never connected. She lost the game.

Citizens of No Place - 55 Word Story

The orphan sat under the streetlamp. The hut he lived in was too dark. All his life he had lived in the same hut. The same little place. He looked at the books he had stolen. Books on Korea, Libya, Pakistan. Places he would visit sitting under that streetlamp. Wondering where exactly did he belong.

Cheat - 55 Word Story

He eyed Ankita from afar. His companion oblivious to the happening. Ankita moved towards the bedroom, signaling him to follow. He knew he shouldn’t. His companion would be furious. But desire knows no stops. They made wild love. After all they were getting married. His companion, his mother, would never know that they had cheated.

War - 55 Word Story

A war had been waging between them since they’d married. An arranged marriage. A big mistake. He was selfish. She was aloof. She knew he’d had a few affairs. She wasn't innocent either. But life has its way of haunting you. She shot him. And then herself. Death was what got them together. For eternity.

Caress - 55 Word Story

He looked at her with desire and longing. She lay asleep on her bed, breathing peacefully. He moved closer, slithering over her body. She stirred because the feeling was unusual. He caressed her body softly and tenderly. But before she could wonder what was coming, he raised his hood and stung her. She died instantly.

Delirium - 55 Word Story

She looked at the phone in her hand. She checked her mail. Nothing. Where was he? In the arms of another woman? Work? Shopping with his wife? Or was it simply a detachment?

That was when her delirium took over. She did not want to know now. She wiped the tears. She killed her existence.