The Footballer....

The big toe on his right foot had swollen to twice the normal size.

I looked at him with questioning eyes.

“We were playing Brazil last night. I got the ball for myself,”  my grandfather said , grinning childishly.

I couldn’t help smiling.

He had dreamt of , and played for his favourite football teams in his sleep.  Again !

I sighed and started massaging his toes slowly with his favourite balm.

“But this was worth it,” he said, as I finished.

“What ? This swelling ?”,  I asked.

“ Yes, I scored the winning goal”, he winked and chuckled, as I broke into a laughter.

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# True Story :)

Linking this to Write Tribe's 100 Words on a Saturday.

Bonded by....

Every time I see you, I imagine that happening.

I yearn to feel it on me !

The small trickle of happiness inside me soon erupts into a beautiful fountain, with a musical rhythm.

Oh !  The warmth it fills me with !!

I look at you furtively , expecting you to see the longing in my eyes........

How beautiful would the feeling be !

I’m sure, you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.

We’ll be filled with love, joy and fulfillment ; such is the power of the best of nature’s gifts !

Difficult , did  you say ?

No.

It’s not hard to smile,  is it ?

:)

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Back to the blog after a silence of almost three weeks :)

Day 1 at the UBC.

Opening the door........

He had left for work.

The clock told her that she still had an hour, before her little one woke up.

All those moments of physical and emotional abuse swam before her eyes.

She wanted to cry out the frustration of her embittered heart.

Yearning for solitude, she looked at the door, that promised her some freedom.

She checked the time.  Very little time to act.

Meticulously, she gathered what she needed, and  opened the door.

Here was the place where she could wash away her sorrows.

Sighing , she turned on the shower for the pampering stream of hot water.

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The Realization......

There was no trace of shame on his face.

She’d expected him to be weighed down with remorse.

“He will die of guilt when he knows this,” she’d thought.

But his indifference surprised her.

Even though the crowd disturbed him, he maintained his composure perfectly.

She knew it now ; he hadn’t been affected the way she’d expected him to be.

She regretted the thoughtlessness  behind her actions.

She saw him cover the body with a white cloth.

She wished she knew then , what she knew now.

That , her committing suicide would never change her dad , who’d so brutally raped her.

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Linking this to Write Tribe's 100 Words on a Saturday.

Truth, as it is !

She realized that she could no longer hide the truth.

The sooner it was out, the better.

She looked guiltily at him.

He was seated on the sofa, his eyes scanning the newspaper.

The tired lines on his forehead sent waves of ache through her heart.

Nervous, she chewed her lips.

No ,she couldn’t delay it. She had to speak , now.

"Dad", she called.

He looked up at her.

"I'm sorry, dad," she said ,her voice filled with regret.

"What happened ?",  he asked.

"You'll have to take black tea; there's no milk",  she said , a faint smile covering her embarrassment.

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Linking this to Write Tribe's 100 Words on a Saturday.

A to Z Random Post # 26 Z - Zeal , for him !

I couldn’t locate him in the large crowd.

I knew he was there ; probably I wasn’t looking properly.

I patiently scanned every face, trying to identify each of them.

Yet , he eluded me.

The crowd didn’t seem to mind me ; I might be one in the many , to them.

"Zumba classes with our handsome instructor, and  Zatar Manakish for dinner would be better than this," I thought , frustrated , though I kept looking.

Ah ! There he was !!

My zeal was limitless now !

Quickly ,I zoomed my telescope at the tiny white light that was Jupiter . Zenography wasn’t easy ; but interesting , definitely !!
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Images : Google

Zumba : A form of Dance -cum- Aerobics, that's fun as an exercise.
Zatar Manakish : A kind of Lebanese Pizza, made of dough baked with a topping of oregano, thyme, sesame , salt etc.
Zenography : The study of Jupiter

Linking this to A toZ 2014 and the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.

A to Z Random Post # 25 Y - Yahoo, they did it !

She wanted to do it.

But there were distractions.

Someone or the other always turned to look at her.

Their  teacher was mixing colour pigments with egg yolk for the tempera painting they were supposed to learn.

She looked at her teacher’s eyes, visible through the small opening in  her yashmak.

  

She knew she wouldn’t be caught.

She looked at her friend, with longing in her eyes.

He looked ready too.

Her whole body ached, from trying to control the urge.

No, they knew they couldn’t hold it any longer !

They did it.

 

How long could they stifle their yawns ?? !!

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Images : Google

Linking this to A toZ 2014 and the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.

A to Z Random Post # 24 - X - EXactitude !!

His master had taught him to use the xiphoid weapon for the kill.

"You must hold it like this for the best effect, taking care of your grip",  he had said , demonstrating with the knife.

And now, he had done it exactly that way.

There was no one in the vicinity.

There wasn’t even a muffled scream, when the knife pierced through the life ; just the agony ,that oozed out lifelessly.

He moved towards his isolated room, his strides confident.

Carefully, he adjusted the slice of the wood under the microscope, to study the xylem tissue for his botany practicals.
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Images : Google

Linking this to A toZ 2014 and the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.

A to Z Random Post # 23 W - Wishlist.....

The picture on the Tee-shirt made her giggle.

A funny looking wizard, mounted on a broom.

She thought of  'wormtail', from the book she’d read at the school library.

She loved the hero too, a young wizard; she wanted to read more about him !

"Oh! I wish I had a magic wand , I’ll make a good witch then," she thought , pointing an imaginary wand at the wizard’s picture.

But she had some work to finish.

Only then could she go to school and read books.

Sighing, she got back to washing the clothes.

Her mistress would come any time now.

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Images : Google

Linking this to A toZ 2014 and the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.

A to Z Random Post # 22 V - Victory !

I increased my pace when I saw him from a distance.

He was getting ready to leave.

May be, he didn’t know I was coming too.

He began to run slowly ; he would gather speed as he went.

I knew his pattern , I had seen him do it before.

A waste of time , if I couldn’t go with him today.

"Oh God! Please help me make it, this time," I thought , running, trying to catch up with him.

I stretched my hands to catch him.

Yes ! I did it !!

Hurrah ! Victory !!

Catching a train at Victoria Terminus was never easy !!

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Linking this to A toZ 2014 and the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.

A to Z Random Post # 21 U - Unusual, though....

Many of them discouraged her , when she sought her doctor’s opinion.

But her gyneacologist offered her complete support to her decision.

" We’ll surely go ahead, if you want to do it," she said.

She had read about it ,a lot ; the pros, and the cons !

She knew the costs involved too.

But she, sure, could afford it now  ; this was an investment for a safe future.

"This is for your own good," she whispered, gently stroking her swollen belly, as if seeking permission.

  

With her husband by her side , she happily signed her consent form,  for Umbilical Cord Blood Banking .
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Image courtesy : lifecellinternational.com

Linking this to A toZ 2014 and the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.

Umbilical Cord Blood Banking is catching up as a new form of Insurance. Read more about it here and here. Also, learn about Cryo-cell.

A to Z Random Post # 20 T - the Tough Job !

He’s as tensed as everyone is.

All are waiting for him ,to decide.

He looks at me, as if in a silent prayer.

I don’t look at him ; I have my work to think of !!

His decision depends on me to a great extent, I’m aware.

I also know ,about the emotions of many people attached to my job.

But no matter what ,  I have to be fair !

I see him walk towards me ,with someone else.

Time for action, now  !!

Someone shouts 'Toss', flips me in the air ;  he wins with 'tails', and his team goes to bat first !

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Linking this to A toZ 2014 and the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.

A to Z Random Post # 19 S - Safe in his love :)

I fall in love with him, at first sight.

I’m sure he has spotted me too, when he walks towards me, his steps confident.

She interrupts him, just then.

I wait with bated breath, as he points his fingers at me , saying something.

To my relief, she smiles and comes straight to me, humming happily.

"You’re going with him, dear," she slowly whispers to me.

Though overjoyed,  I remain solemn.

" Take care of her," she says.

He nods, smiling.

I feel the happy warmth of soft silk on me.

And he walks out proudly with his brand new , stylish Sunglasses !

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Linking this to A toZ 2014 and the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.

 

A to Z Random Post # 18 R - Rejuvenated !

She looks quite happy, as some visitors are arriving this evening.

She sees me and frowns,  thinking I’m a little too thin.

"Oh ! They would love you , if you were chubbier ,"  she says.

I look down, dejected.

I’m on the verge of running away from there, when she catches hold of me.

She makes me sit still, and gets me some warm water, to soothe my nerves.

As I drink it, she  gets ready to prepare dinner and dessert, eyeing me smugly.

Poor me !! :-(

This woman,  I tell you !!!

 

She sure knows, how to puff up raisins for the cake ! :-)

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Linking this to A toZ 2014 and the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.

 

A to Z Random Post # 16 the Punch !!

He punches me hard on my face.

Well aimed, it is.

The next blow comes before I can recover from the first and it jolts me out of my way.

I cannot even whimper in protest !

He seems to be angry ; his fury flowing out with every blow !

Ever since our first day together, I’ve been experiencing this.

Obediently.

  

With every passing day my level of endurance is increasing !!

I do it ,only because it pleases him .

He prepares to leave .....

I heave a sigh of relief ; my muscles feel relaxed ......

Life as a pugilist’s punching bag is never easy !!

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Linking this to A toZ 2014 and the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.

A to Z Random Post # 15 - O - Oh ! he's handsome :)

He loved the garland very much.

The flowers and the leaves spread a divine smell, filling him with renewed vigour !

He and his playmates had a garden full of those fragrant leaves, all for themselves.

Someone told him, that the leaf might have been  his consort in her previous birth.

He felt those leaves were created especially for him ,when they bowed down, ready for him to pluck them.

  

Later when he grew up, his wife would use the same leaf, to prove her love and devotion for him .

How handsome he looks, garlanded with Ocimum Sanctum, the humble Tulasi !!

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Linking this to A toZ 2014 and the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.