Category: Friday Fictioneers

Ghost

‘Your usual, ma’am?’ She nods like she does daily – head tilted half an inch to the front and her … More

Fade Away

I had always been interested in photographs. No, not the images captured on the photo paper, but the way chemicals … More

New Home

  The home we left had no doors or windows. That’s where we ate, slept, and procreated.  Anyone on the … More

The Promised Land

They alighted the rickety jeeps at midnight. The man to whom they had bequeathed their money pointed the way forward … More

Box Office

He left his home to become the first filmmaker of South India. He faced obstacles at every corner. He lied … More

The Burden

Usually, I’d have left long back. A honeymooning couple holding hands, whispering and giggling without a care in the world. … More

Sailfish

Bart was supposed to be a star! Scratch that – a superstar! Coach used to claim that Bart’s mother had … More

The Tipping Point

The barbed wire fence was cut after the war that had raged for half a century came crashing to a … More

Snow!

‘Grandpa! Look, It’s snowing!’ Five-year-old Emily jumped in glee, her little hands coming together in a joyous clap. I smile … More

Jump

‘It’s all about your core and balance,’ Ralph murmurs. ‘Parkour is tapping into the courage you didn’t know you had.’ … More

Hate Prevails

‘Do you know that Hamburg was nearly wiped out of the map during WWII?’ My parents were impressed. They had … More

Bluebeard

They said that he never remained married for long and his wives vanished mysteriously. When his eyes fell on me, … More

Comeuppance

Nero stared at the bleeding man bound to the worktable. The man grunted and moaned pitifully, his sobs choked by … More

Gambit

I’m but a child watching a chess game. I can see the players concentrating hard, thinking five, six, even ten … More

Reincarnated(?)

‘ I was born here, in this very castle. They named me under this domed roof. I used to play … More

Family Tree

‘Gary, what are you doing?’ ‘I’m digging a hole.’ ‘Why?’ ‘You’ll see!’ ‘Gary, you’ve been sullen ever since Marshall came … More

The 33 Club

‘Welcome to the 2798th meeting of the 33 club. What’s today’s agenda?’ Irma grimaced, ‘Same old?’ Thirty-two heads nodded solemnly. … More

Going Back

  I splash across the muddy trail, without a care about my $20000 Armani suit or my $5000 Berluti shoes. … More

The League

‘Tea, Clark?’ Diana smiled at her octogenarian friend. Beside her, Bruce was poring over the newspaper. Clark nodded and sat … More

The Lunatic

The sun scorched relentlessly on the rocky hills. The waiting crowd did not mind the soul-sapping heat one little bit. … More

The IQ of Losers

The two men watched in amiable silence from one of the ornate windows of Trinity Hall. Down in the grounds, … More

The Wages of Sin

‘What have you done?’ The young woman growled. The soldiers shuffled their feet, and none had the temerity to meet … More

Change

Hugo smiled as he entered the gym. He sidestepped the faulty floorboard and strode forty-eight exact feet to the practice … More

Precious

Why am I holding this dry, withered carcass of a rose? Go ahead, ask. This is my most treasured possession. … More

Magic

He was holed out in the dusty attic of his uncle’s house. He spent most of his days there, with … More

The Name

‘Grandpa, looks like we have to shut the hotel down,’ Noel closed the ledger. ‘We can’t bear losses anymore.’ Ninety-three-year-old … More

Romantic – Friday Fictioneers

‘What’s that?’ ‘That’s the sigil of House Flormont. Actually, their history is very interesting.’ ‘Really?’ ‘Yeah! The Lady Marguerite of … More

Duck! – Friday Fictioneers

General Donald ‘Duck’ Trumpet looked at the Genie hovering before him. ‘You have two wishes. Use them wisely.’ ‘Make me … More

Right Angles – Friday Fictioneers

‘Ain’t that great?’ ‘Indeed, Mr. Kapadia.’ ‘A veritable masterpiece.’ Nitin, the photographer, beamed with pride. His photograph of the wasteland … More