AnuKathaa

The South Africa based writers group of which I'm a part, conducts a short story competition towards the end of every year. Writers from across the world participate. This year, I decided to try my hand, too. Aaannddd...guess what? Somehow, I ended up as one of the runners-up!!! And, please, no, the prize is not for my 'Guddi' story, that so many readers found unpalatable.  This is a different one, and the prompt was "The Cottage". So, here's the story I wrote. As usual, I'm waiting to hear how you found it! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I smoothed out the notes and arranged the coins and counted them yet again. Fifty rupees only. Definitely not enough to get back home as early as my mother demanded. I walked out of the hostel room, and found myself knocking Ranga’s door. “What’s the matter with you?” asked Ranga at once. “My grandfather is seriously ill. Amma wants me to come immediately. But you know, my financial situation…” “Hey, don’t worry,...

This is the story I wrote for November. Prompt: Leftovers l Word Count: 500 words exactly “Good evening, sir. Here’s your pizza. Happy Diwali!” he said, pasting a broad smile on his face, injecting a note of enthusiasm into his tired voice, as he held out the cardboard box. “Oooh, the pizza is here,” squealed a sweet voice, and he saw a girl, not much older than his Guddi, doing a little jig. He felt icy hands clasp his heart once more. Diwali evening should have been spent with his Guddi, lighting lamps and bursting crackers, instead of delivering food to customers who couldn’t be bothered to cook dinner. Glancing at his watch, he realized he had a few minutes before he was called up to ferry the next food package. Rushing through traffic, he made his way to the playground where crackers were being sold. Everything was so damn expensive these days. But no compromise when it came to Guddi’s joy. He picked a few boxes of her favourite varieties of crackers – the mild sparklers...