Category: Tiny stories

Posted in Fiction, Tiny stories

Deep Within

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

He threw the trophy on the floor—useless piece of metal!

Can’t even sell the stupid thing to buy his family a meal. Should have taken a waiter’s job instead of playing football all these years—it would have paid the bills. Heck! He would look for a job today.

Meaning to throw it out of the window, he picked up the trophy…but, eyes glistening, hugged it tight instead.

Author’s note: This is a 5-minute photo-prompt story. I started with a trophy lying on the bed and what I saw, what seemed to be missing and what it made me feel. And Bingo!

Thanks to Robin Edqvist for an amazing photo (found on Unsplash).

Posted in Fiction, Tiny stories

Accomplice

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

We dragged the body along together–my twin and I. One by one we pulled, taking turns to haul the dead-weight over the hill.

And we were close…

So close!

But he panted and pulled us off, and sat down on the grass instead.

Stupid human!

Posted in Fiction, Poetry, Tiny stories

The Hospice

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Author’s note: I wrote this story within 5 minutes for a Talent Show at my office. I hope it lives up to your expectations.

A quiet house at the end of the driveway;

Too quiet…

Windows shuttered;

No one mutters inside;

No life stirs within.

Long forgotten—clean but stale;

A house no one loves.

Posted in Fiction, Tiny stories

Yesterday

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

She stands in middle of the raucous party.

–

Do I dare?

No, I don’t.

Of course, I choose to live in the past.

It is the safest place to be.

There are no risks, no uncertainties–

just plain solid facts.

There are are a few regrets

but I can always shrug them off as past.

–

Do I dare?

No, I can’t.

Future is steeped in risk.

Can’t get there

without weathering some storms

or facing my demons!

Can’t strive, plan, fail…face fresh hurt–

Too full of blows from the past.

At least they didn’t manage to kill me…yet.

Can’t move on.

–

Do I dare?

No, I won’t.

I sneak a peek at her across the hall

while trying to ignore her.

She smiles in my direction.

I frown at the pain in my chest

in the hole filled with resignation.

Ah! I forgot to breath!

–

Do I dare?

Don’t I stand on the mountain of hurt

collected in years past?

Will I be able to get past?

She is looking here expectantly–

a smile playing on her mischievous lips.

–

Do I dare?

May be…

I smile back and step forward…

The past still hurts.

Well, one baby step at a time.

Posted in Poetry, Tiny stories

Unrequited | Urdu Poetry

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Qubool kar be hua nhi. Irshad kho gya zina me kahi.

Teri ashanai me hume fir bhi musalsal mukarrar ka hi irada h.

You said “I do” but you didn’t,

Inception of love eternal lost in the forbidden,

Love unrequited wishes still

For chances endless until you return.

Author’s note: An Urdu Sher (couplet) translated into an English Quatrain (verse with four lines)

Posted in Tiny stories

At Fault

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

You told me it was in my best interest–

the yelling, the barely restrained anger.

Then,

You told me it was all my fault–

the yelling, the unrestrained anger.

Now,

You tell me I deserve it–

before all hell breaks loose

everyday…