Saturday, May 8, 2010

Five words

A humble request, am just trying something different, it is meant for fun. Hope I succeed :)

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Meet our hero of the story. As always, heroes are different, in this case, very different. Hold on till I try to create some suspense. Curious and intrigued to explore, he now was standing a few meters from a wall. A wall he wished to reach but always held back by the command of his chief, the villain in our story. Today was the ideal opportunity for our hero to satisfy his thirst. It could spell disaster for him. But heroes are meant to risk danger. He looked yearningly at the five-foot compound wall on north side of the house. He scurried like a squirrel through the lawn which was oddly sloped upwards. His heart was pounding as he looked around to see if any one was watching him. (No no, he isn't trying to escape) Assured of no activity, he shaped up to jump instead of climbing (stunt for hero, hehe). He managed to cling on to the top of the wall. And lo! The sight before him was too good to believe that he forgot his footing and fell flat back on the lawn. (To make the story move forward, our hero had to fall.. poor him)

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"He has been showing his churlish side lately" chief said to the only other soul in the room.
"He is behaving like a nerd" his wife opined.
The chief thundered "How many times I have stressed the importance of not letting anyone near the curtilage" (oh, I used 'thundered'.. for effect)
"We should not procrastinate the verdict. He should be given a stern punishment immediately without a chance for disputation" (ooh, harsh words indeed from a female.. will our hero escape?)
Before the chief could announce the verdict, the doctor arrived to announce that the prisoner had regained consciousness. (aa ha, here comes a twist)

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The squirrels had all assembled near the fallen brave. (Yeah, you have read it right - squirrels.. I did mention that our hero 'scurried like a squirrel')
Our hero was delirious. (He had seen a guava tree. And it was not visible from within the curtilage due to the upward slope)

The villain, oops, the chief arrived fumingly. Our hero cannot fight, so he ran to the wall and this time jumped beyond the wall!
"Oh no, he will be drowned" exclaimed the chief and revealed to the assembled for the first time that beyond the curtilage was water all around.
His wife's heart melted for our hero and asked the chief to do something.
"It's over, we cannot help him" said the chief almost in remorse but nevertheless 'climbed' the wall.
He couldn't believe what he saw. Ok no more drama.
Our hero was swimming merrily towards the guava tree surrounded by water.
A small flashback now.
The chief had fallen in this pool when he was young and just managed to climb back without knowing that he could swim too.
That was very short perhaps.
To end our story happily, the chief and other squirrels joined our hero and had a good time eating the guavas.

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PS: Wondering why the odd title? Notice the five words I have italicized in the second part of the story. New words that I learnt this week and thought of sharing it in the form of a story.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Red Herring

Rahul was anxiously drumming on the dinner table of some hotel. His irritated friends asked him to stop the umpteenth time. Rahul looked at the black screen of his cell phone. No SMS or call yet from her. Whatever is taking so long. He did not try to call her as it may show his impatience. They had known each other only the past week. It was as if they were born for each other and both had fallen in love at first sight. Just like the movies. He had never imagined it would happen to him.
And then she arrived. She had an innocent, apologetic look. Before Rahul could say anything, she embraced him in a tight hug. The wait was worth it after all. She gave him a chocolate and said she couldn't come sooner.
Rahul was about to introduce his friends when he felt like falling. Soon the back ached and his eyes opened. He was on the floor. It was a dream and Rahul felt like kicking himself for having fallen down. The hug was still vivid and he couldn't stop himself from calling Sheetal at the wee hour of 2am. He was thinking of twisting the hug part.

He was surprised to hear her clear voice 'Hi sweetie'. What was she doing at this hour?
"Hi She, you know I had a dream just now"
"About me? Tell me all about it" she too had something to say but as always wanted to know his first.
And so, Rahul explained it but changed the hug part to kiss.
"I kissed you? Hmmm... aren't you lying? was it not a hug?"
Rahul couldn't believe his ears. How did she know? Is this a dream again? He pinched himself and he blurted out Ouch
"What happened?" Sheetal asked anxiously.
"Oh nothing She, I wondered if I was dreaming again. How did you know it was a hug?"
Oh it was hug only. "I also know that you are sitting on the floor right now" she said not believing herself.
"Sheeeeeeeeee, you are amazing!" He looked around to see if somehow she was there.
"Huh? did you fall too?"
"What do you mean you too? Don't play with me She, the hug is still floating around my eyes and don't spoil my mood"
"You won't believe it sweetie. I had the same dream and am on the floor. I was about to call when you did" and she applied moov happily cherishing the kiss Rahul gave in her version of the dream.