Magic

Magic

1.	the art of producing illusions as entertainment by the use of sleight of hand, deceptive devices, etc.; legerdemain; conjuring: to pull a rabbit out of a hat by magic.

2.	the art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation or various other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature.

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Genuine Fake (113)

The hospital was in a state of chaos that afternoon. Although asleep on the wardroom bed,Nina's subconscience was in an overdrive. Memories of her unhappy married life flashed back and forth. Particularly of that morose night..
"We cannot afford it,Nina,whatabout our aspirations?"asked Shantanu.
"Luxuries can come by anytime,Shaan; moments like these come once in a lifetime!" answered she.
"Ohh yes,for you!" said he and stomped out...
Eight months of struggle had passed since then. Yet everything seemed right today..
"Congratulations for the baby boy", whispered the nurse. Nina woke up to see the baby and a sorry Shaan holding him.
The magic of a new life had just unfolded itself.
And thereafter,Happiness prevailed.

Willy Wingfoot (116)

My eyes went blind with tears
Of not pain
Of not loss
Neither joy
Nor fear
But by the memory of those years

Clinging to the tip of my father's robe,
Wandering around farms,
Upon yellow hills,
Through sea and heavy mist.
On and On.
Singing our own song.

When a secret sip of his mead,
Or to kill a game by his blade,
Were the innocent dreams i relished to aim.

Tonight,
When sorrow becomes my shadow,
And grief makes it hard to swallow.
A walk down the line,
Of a life left so far behind,
Feels like heavenly dew,
flowing down the desert of my throat.
Such is the MAGIC,
My childhood has bestowed.

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Agnisen Chauhan (120)

"Mr. Minella. Constable John saw you shoot Burt Carlson. He caught you in the corridor without a gun or bloodstains on you or on the crime scene. You couldn't have swept all of'em stains so swiftly! No windows in the crime scene room. Dunno what to say, but I'd have to let you go for now. But you would've to drop down here for some paperwork later this week."

"I have a plane to catch in twenty minutes. Goodbye."

Two hours later, Inspector Harte gets a fax for Mr. Minella's face identification from the US Crime Records Database.

Closest match: Carl Vajic, Albert, Texas

Record Backup: Newspaper Ad - "Vajic's Magic…. Magician Vagic's vanishing train act …."

"There all along!!"

Truth Dude (120)

'Ganapati Bappa Morya, Mangal Moorti Morya, Ganapati Bappa Morya, Mangal Moorti Morya...'the hypnotic chant continued to reverberate in the tiny hall.

Half closed eyes, the power of belief, reverence and electrified atmosphere cramped the room amidst the already huddled figures. A few were pacing rapidly in the meager space they had.

Already, the heart beats were heard across the open country.

Already, people clasped their hands tightly…oh so tightly.

'Wwiiiiiiiiikkkkkkiiiiiiiiittttttttttt', somebody screamed.

Prayers and hopes. Aspirations and dreams. All rolled together.

A billion people stood, sat rooted.

Sweat and tears.

And then it happened.

A spell was cast.

A hush fell.

A collective gasp.

And then…

And then…

And then…

A nation erupted whipped itself into frenzy!

Sheer magic…Indiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Yeeeehaaaa!

Dok Saab (120)

He was waiting on the stage for curtains to rise. Son of Peecee Sorcerer, the greatest magician of India, grandson of the court magician of Raja Mansukhdev, magic was in his blood. Tall, emaciated, he looked royal even in his tattered robes and faded turban. Paints flaked off from his rickety instruments.
"How many tickets we sold for this show, Maya"
"Only three rows have been sold, Indroneel"
Aimlessly he pointed his wand towards a wooden cage.
"We can't survive long like this"
"I'll have to find some other job"

Box office clerk of Frolic Cinemas was busy counting notes.
"Sorry, the show is houseful for the weekend"
"SRK's magic!!, it never fails"
"Give ten tickets for Monday matinée then"

Sarang Mahajan (119)

The sun was there by a branch hung

And thunders, inside a teapot rung



Seven blue seas lived in a bottle corked

Moon was inside a pocket parked



Deep, dense jungles grew in a rabbit’s hole

And all the stars twinkled in a cat’s milk bowl



In one stupid matchbox, all the storms would rage

Snowy, grey mountains were locked in a birdcage



Dark clouds gathered in an ironsmith’s nook

Rainbows were dangled by a nearby hook



Just then, I woke up, in my smooth, warm bed

‘A stupid dream of magic,’ with a shake of head I said



But before I slept back, something queer caught my eye

Just above my head, there was a cloud sailing by

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Neharika (112)

His one touch, flowers bloomed out of nothingness;

One wave of the wand, a million stars burst on the horizon;

Each fold of his velvet cloak,concealed a plethora of

fantasies,enchantments,dreams and wonders;

He cast spells and every wish was fulfilled;

He built a castle in the land of pixies,mermaids,unicorns and fairies galore.

As it turned into Gahenna,she asked the denizen of Utopia

When did the magic end.. of love.. of hope.. of life

When did he decide to walk away

As her vision blurred and darkness engulfed all..

The divorce papers slid from one hand and life from another..

The bottle of magic portion rolled on the floor, the label said "poison".

Mandappa KC (116)

The summary of the last seven years of my life – magical.

The details would take me seven times the time. Each second. Each moment. Each breath. Each everything. Everything with her, about her and together.

She tugged at my heart with heaven-sent harp strings. Her words, honey coated dewdrops on my now sugar coated mind. Like an angel kissed life I lived with her.

Then she left. Without a trace. It nearly killed me but it was worth it. And I knew her secret all along. All that happiness, the otherworldly love. I knew her secret. She never slipped up, but I caught on from the first day when she said "Hi, my name is Maya."

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Mickey the Monkey (120)

I longed for Jane at two in the night.
How to reach her, that was my plight.

Couldn't use magic outside hogwarts, I knew.
Desire overtook reason, out my wand I drew.

A big monkey I transfigured to, jumping on the trees.
Into her room I entered, leaving behind all my worries.

Scared at first, she recognized my voice.
I hugged and kissed the lady of my choice.

In came her mother hearing the jangle.
I jumped out, my wand on the table.

"Whom were you talking", she scolded her.
"What's that?" she took my wand with her.

Since then I am hanging near her house, on the tree.
God! When will I get my wand back and be free.

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Priyanka Acharya (120)

A pair of soothing hands, lots of loving kisses, warm hugs as and when required, sometimes, even when not required, and a secret magic ingredient – the perfect recipe to feel well. Whenever I have been sick or simply put down by the troubles of life, this potion has cheered me. Brewed to perfection, by my parents and siblings, even my friends, - for all my twenty five years of decadent life. And now that I move on to a different and new, yet exciting life, a thought crosses my mind, ‘Would I still get it?’ – and my heart answers, “yes, because the secret ingredient is the magic of love”, and I know it’ll just get better and better with time.

GS Virmani (181)

"magic is in mind, its our imagination that something is inexplicable,But there is nothing in this world which happens without a reason.Just we have to find the reason and say 'Eureka Eureka'.Its just our effort,our deeds,our plans, our projection which works..'no MAGIC works'..said the new CEO ,Pritish at opening speech to his board of directors and staff.

Pritish was pretty happy with the recent developments in his life.he was recently promoted to the post with bouquet of all luxuries,got news his wife Smita is an expectant,his younger brother got H1B visa,share market in boom and all investments doubled.

To celebrate there was a little lawn party at his place in evening where among guest and friends there was be a small show of a clown and a magician.Smita herself managed the liquor and food menu for the party.the party was great untill she started with labour pain and was brought to hospital.

Smita's excessive bleeding and being her anaemic brought her soon into 'danger' phase. Shortage of her blood group type made conditions worst.

Pritish was praying for a 'magic' .

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Konfessioner Singh (118)

I shoot blue butterflies
with noiseless firecrackers.

They flutter with purple pigeons
under a yellow starred
black velvet ink sky
between those red fur clouds;

And there’s this supernatural feel…

The dancing bear that escaped
sits next to me,
with his paw wrapped
in a bloody bandage.

His eyes are on the trapeze artist,
she’s waving him farewell.
a black kohl tear
rolls down
a white powdered cheek;

And he is discovered…

By the monkey:
with a stolen monocle,
and an old grudge;
selling toke,
for free backrubs.

And I hear--
that the canons were burgled
for bodies,
of dead human cannon supermen
by blind clowns without knees
searching, searching.

What magic,
at the Circus of the Absurd.

Conversation

Conversation

(Entries NOW closed)

1.	informal interchange of thoughts, information, etc., by spoken words; oral communication between persons; talk; colloquy.

2.	an instance of this.

3.	association or social intercourse; intimate acquaintance.

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Free Woman (137)

Lovers that left without a goodbye

Did you meet someone new, was everything a lie?

Did I do something wrong, when did you decide

That this was not it…I wonder if you cried

I don’t want you back, just want to know why

To ask all the questions, and for you to reply

To have one last conversation, to find peace of mind

To move on with my life, and leave you behind

Loved ones that died when it was least expected

Did I tell you enough, you were loved and respected?

How much you meant to me, what an impact you had

The stories I remember, both happy and sad

Your time was up, and you had to go

Just wish I had told you all I wanted you to know

To have one last conversation…

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Niharika (131)

Crumpling the warrant he walked unsteadily towards the criminal , surrounded by an inquisitive crowd.

Remembering coversations aeons ago "Neighbours have shunned us because of my vocation , I'm sending Vincet away to a land where he wont be known as my son ". Everyday Vincet would ask "Dad can we go for a walk over the bridge and talk ? ". Hurrying away he would reply in a gruff voice "No, I have a sentence to execute ! "

Wishing he had given his son a ear ! Made him understand that his family didnt exile him with hate but love !

His hand was on the lever ,quivering ..Vincet s neck was on the guillotine .. theirs eyes met ..

It was the widest bridge and lengthiest conversation !

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Amandeep Parmar (120)

When the white zen used to tread on those half-hearted roads, there was always a silent mischief in progress. I used to think about the TV channels. Would I miss them? The rickety old man who refused to call me Aman without 'deep' attached to it was no more. They gave my cousin an iron bell with a wooden hammer. I carried a bunch of peacock feathers as they carried him through the village to the crematory. Every now and then my cousin would hit the bell and I would wave the feathers over his body. How does it feel to be telepathic with the deceased? I could hear "Amandeep!" – Loud and Clear. How do you end such a conversation?

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Duperman (120)

"The thing about cats is" the fireman told me, "They suck."

80 year old Pansy Pingleton's 8 year old cat had managed to climb a tree only to realize that it had done the wrong thing.

"Someone has to get her down" I made a futile attempt to invoke cat-love in the fireman who was listening to his I Pod to avoid hearing Pansy's shrieks.

He looked at me contemptuously, "Why don't you do it, Mr. Fancy Dress?"

The conversation with the heartless fireman had ignited my saving the world instinct.

I dusted my silver robe and in one jump got up the tree and got the cat down.

The fireman was dumbstruck as Pansy shouted, "Duperman saved my cat"

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Richa Gupta (110)

Bharitye rail ki general bogie
Apne jheli to kabhi zaroor hogi!!
Ek din hamara bhi number aaya,
Jab general bogie ne humko bulaya.
Chad gaye le kar hari ka naam-
Raksha karma hey bhagwan.
Kisi ne maari kohni kisi ne dhakka lagaya
Finally bogie ke beecho beech khud ko paya

Wahan ka nazaara tha sabse alag
Lagta tha maano machhli bazaar ho ekdum sajag
Makhiyoon ki bhinbhinat si thi sabki awaaz
Bhinn bhinn the sur pahiyyon ka tha saaz
“abbey dikhta nahi kya” “bhrasth hai sarkar”
“saala kameena kahin ka” kahin thi baatein kahin takraar
dekhi humne general bogie ki yeh nirrali reet
ajnabiyon mein bhi hoti hai jamke baat-cheet

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Mandappa KC (118)

Conversation – doesn't count as a word

For Pidi

She's been long gone now. About three and a half years. Tonnes of times I've reminisced.

Of the 2 years we spent together. We were lost in each other. No futile fantasy or perfunctory sex. No serenading outside windows or threats of slashed wrists.

Time has gone and changed a lot of things like it always does. I don't remember the escapades. I don't remember the details.

All I remember were endless conversations. 9-10 hours every day lost in each others words and worlds. At the end of which we still found enough to write little love letters running pages long.

That's something special, I'll treasure forever.

Endless, meaningful conversations, day after day.

True love is just that.

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Truth Dude (120)

"No."
"No?"
"Never."
"But why?"
"Because..."
"It's not right. It's not what you believe in. It's not what was taught to you."
"Yes."
"Jesus! Get out of your mindset already."
"You don't get to tell me what to do."
"Why not?"
"Because… I'm not your possession.."
"So?"
"So nothing…shut up."
"Bitch."
"Loser."
"I love you."
"I love you too!"
"So can we...?"
"No."
"Aaargh!"
"We can't, it's not right."
"But it wouldn't hurt to try though would it?"
"And why not?"
"Because I stand to get hurt...not you."
"But I'd be hurt too. After all, it's you getting hurt."
"So? Like that hasn't happened before."
"Ok, just this once."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Here you go…"
"What's that?"
"My wallet."
Fataaak.
"Oww!"

Mickey The Monkey (120)

He was the master of conversation. He could talk on any subject. Steering the conversation from mundane to complex was a child's play for him. Page-3 socialites dreaded him. He could dig out their deepest secrets in a few tricky questions. He had a very special guest for tonight's show. He went to the studio unprepared, as usual. On the hot seat was a monkey.

"Hello! Karan, I am Mickey."

"Nice Coffee!"

"Have you seen my latest movie?"

"How did you like my role?"

"How was my chemistry with Jane?"

"How about casting me in your next film?"

The master conversationalist was speechless. "Err! Hello Sir" was all he could mutter to justify his talk show In Konversation with Karan

Sarang Mahajan (120)

When Sharmon’s armed messenger returned, the sky was clear. But soon it might be filled with painful cries and dust clouds, the land beneath it bathing in the blood of many sons, husbands and fathers.

“Jidan will conversate,” said the Messenger, failing to hide hope in his voice.

Sharmon nodded and kicked his horse off. When the two kings met between armies, Jidan, a massive man, scanned Sharmon’s diminutive figure contemptuously.

“I only want your wife, Jidan,” said Sharmon.

“And I your head.” Jidan spat.

“Then let the men return home,” said Sharmon feeling the hidden dagger at his thigh. “Let our own arms decide our fate.”

Jidan nodded with a grunt, then jumped off his horse for a duel.

Lord Summer (120)

“Hello there, my lady! The hilltop is so damn smelly!”

I said to the lovely mare, feeling jitters in my belly

She blinked her eyes befuddled, and my heart went cold and numb

I said in my mind sadly, “Oh no, she’s deaf and dumb.”

But then I smiled wider, striking an honest conversation

Knowing she wouldn’t hear me, I told her my true intention

“I am a looser of a horse, got no grass, nor any stable,

“But I’ll find both if you be with me, for I am quite willing and able.”

She could not hear my words, but in my eyes she could see

When she nodded with a smile, they were filled with joy and glee

Dok Saab (57)

Every time
When she was
With me
In my dreams
Holding her hands
I told her
All I wanted to
Tell her!

But That day
When she was
With me
On that bench
Under the tree
In that park
I became speechless

Still…

She understood
All I wanted to
Tell her!

Our eyes
Did all the

Conversation

Willy Wingfoot (115)

Drooling monsters of my dreams turned to Fairies.

Getting wet in the rain, won over hot coffee by the fireside.

"Sure", always said my tongue, while "Cant!" screamed my mind.

By the window, beneath the moon, fetched me sleep. My AC failed.

Ducks and Doves amused me. And Dogs stared at me, I smiled.

My bathroom found a new stand. My Cell stood upon it.

Thoughts learnt to travel as SMS, and wishes, calls.

I called 3, a crowd.

And my heart thought of its own.

HOW?...you ask....

Before the sea, beside my rigid self,
"Start a Conversation”, said she.
I did.
And so it all began...
as I ended up, confessing,
"I Love You".

NM (118)

I dreamt as a kid, to fly a kite, high in the crimson sky…

To be a hawk at times, at times a butterfly…

To have a white house with pink walls…

To sleep on a cloud, with mom, dad and my two little dolls…

I wished to have a conversation everyday with God…

To tell him all; fair, square, even, and odd…

I smiled, laughed and occasionally cried…

Till time blinked, each dream slowly died…

The dolls withered, the clouds sank…

The kite faded, all hopes shrank…

Mom left dad, I went along…

God fumbled; I think he went wrong…

He made the walls white, the sky grey…

I still hear those broken conversations, far and away.

The Genuine Fake (128)

Silence added to the melancholy of the room, as I sat there, watching Jane changing Amie's fever bands. Amie and I, meanwhile, were in our own unspoken conversation. Expressionless, even when she was rushed to the ER, her gaze asked, "Will it hurt?"
I smiled, saying, "No."
She kept her stark gaze while the doctors tried to revive her decreasing pulse. I held her hand and whispered,"Its time."
Her eyes quizzed me in despair, "Can Mommy come along?"...Another negative.
As her body gave way, she cried, "Will she understand?"
I smiled and replied, "Yes with time."
As we walked through the doorway, her final question was, "Are you God?"
I looked through her this time and replied, "No, I am the Messenger".
The brightness of the dark awaited us.

Misanthrope (110)

And he quaffed from the glass in front of him,

The conversation is about to begin,

Agility of his black eye balls,

And cautious movements of his fist,

A thin line of sweat formed on his forehead,

When he saw that his all sins were not dead !

That little change in the shine of his eyes,

& he feared the pernicious thought that came to his mind,

By stealing sights,

He contrite for the thoughts he saw,

Vestiges of which reflected in his eyes !

I didn't speak a word,

Patience won the conversation again,

Or may be the fear,

That broke the enigmatic charisma of the killer !!!

Priyanka Acharya (120)

Julianne entered the room, smiling at her twin sister. Anna looked peaceful, but then she always did. They both were identical twins, down to the birthmark on their shoulders. Julianne always looked forward to these weekly visits to her sister. It gave her the chance to unload her weekly burden. She narrated about everything that had happened in the whole week - her job-change, the new apartment and the new guy in her life. And Anna listened patiently; at least Julianne hoped she did. It had been two years since Anna had been in a coma and Julianne tried to reach out to her sister with these one-sided conversations, hoping that some day it will help her sister regain consciousness.

Konfessioner Singh (119)

“How I’d love, love, love to dance with my father again…”

I can’t get that lyric out of my head. Especially now, when I’m sitting with my chai in the porch after years… Years after dadaji passed away, years after we last talked.

Those early Sunday mornings, sitting here in the porch, our unending fights over everything in the news with dadima acting as the partial mediator… how he’d mark articles for me to read…I miss him, I miss our conversations and our walks together. What would he have said about my new subjects for example?

He would have approved, I just know it…I guess I have enough conversations stored in me to know what he’d have said…right now.

Morning

Morning

1. the first part or period of the day, extending from dawn, or from midnight, to noon.
2. the beginning of day; dawn: Morning is almost here.
3. the first or early period of anything; beginning: the morning of life. –adjective
4. of or pertaining to morning: the morning hours.
5. occurring, appearing, used, etc., in the morning: a morning coffee break.

[ Two Klashers wrote post the deadline and were a couple of hours late, Konfessioner Sarang might not have checked the Inbox again... I am putting up one of the posts of first time Klasher Seema.. this is not up for the Kompetition though! The second Klasher was GS Virmani, he had not kommented last time he participated and I thought it prudent to refrain from entertaining his late entry--Konfessioner Singh]

Seema Kashyap

He starts walking the moment I switch off my mind- you know – the moment my thoughts cease and I drop off into the unknown. I wake up with a jerk and my eyes hurt as I grate them open- even in the dark. Creak-creak- creak-thump. Woosh- I hear the flush. Creak-creak, creak-creak- he enters the bedroom. He will get up again at 1:30am and at 3:30am. If I’m lucky my ear-plugs will work and I’ll be so tired that my mind will refuse to register his sounds.

Creak-creak, creak-crash. Its 6:00am. He’s always up at 6:00am, no matter what time he goes to sleep. Will there ever be a day when I wake up to the sound of birds like I used to in Lucknow? To the sound of bells and chants to gods as papa went about his morning prayers? Not till I live in this thin-floored apartment in New Jersey with a fat insomniac upstairs neighbor. Ugh!

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Mandappa KC (119)

They called him Captain, of what I never knew
He told me bedtime stories of things rare and few
He sat there with a guitar, time after time
Telling me of distant lands, sipping on his wine
He sang of monsters, pirates and ogres too
Boogeymen, nobgoblins and a wily octopus named Goo
They wrecked havoc while they laughed at the moon.
And scared little children who never ate with a spoon.
But stand up. Fight
Fight
With all your might
When you are right
Stand my little soldier he would say to me
Never be scared, whoever your enemy
For the morning will come at the end of each night
And through every darkness, there will be light.

Dok Saab (120)

Naina buried her face deeper into Rohit's chest. She was sobbing. Rohit tightened his hug. "Why don't you sleep, mera bachha? It's getting late. I have to catch the morning train". Rohit kissed her forehead. She responded with kissing his chest. "Can't you stay for one more day? It has been only three days since we got married". "You know I can't miss the morning train. They will throw me out of job if I don't reach by tomorrow". Naina looked at the window through her half opened eyes. The sky was getting dark blue. Some birds were chirping in the backyard. Morning was the best time of the day, she always believed. But today she wished morning never came.

Mickey, the Monkey (119)

It was early morning and I was still sleeping snugly on the mango tree, dreaming about Jane, when this noise woke me up. I scratched my back and yawned. Then I looked for the source of noise. To my utter horror, Jane was lying near the pond and was puking out. Her sister was by her side. In three jumps I reached beside her. "What happened darling", I asked, "you look sick"."You naughty ape, look what you did to my sister"."We only played some games, Linda. But why is she vomiting, she never ate any wild berries". "You foolish ape, this is morning sickness. You are going to become a father".What a lovely morning that was.

Priyanka (118)

Aveek felt numb. He felt a blinding light pressing on his eyelids. He was standing at the pearly gates. He had not survived the night on the frozen mountainside, after he got separated from his team. He could feel the angels near him, engulfing him in warm breath and thought, 'Do angels breathe?' He felt them licking his face. 'Hang on!', he thought, 'angels don't lick faces.' He slowly opened his eyes and was dazzled by the light. Slowly, as his eyes adjusted, he could make out a shaggy head, with drooping ears. Slowly, Jackie came into view. His dog had saved him, and he realized that the blinding light was the morning sun blazing down on him.

Willy Wingfoot (118)

Fireside Ballad of the Wings'of'old:

Aeons ago, hmm, so long ago,

Noon sun bright, my WINGS would glow.

Unto mounts, upon blue sea,

Carried them I, proud and glee.

Merry stirred my flight all day,

Living and dead alike, found me gay.

Blood-red blade, bow and arrow,

Riding a Dragon, came sorrow.

One spew fire, other harpooned spear,

that burnt my rear, and heart bled with fear.

Swift wing, quick wit, bourne by haste,

bound towards the clouds, where lay my fathers great.

Whirling, dodging, yelping and yelling,

they found my calling, and poured down hurling.

Slit! Rip! Scratch! Slash!

Valor and courage, stunned the rider and wormling,

and cowering they flew, like the wind of the MORNING.

The Genuine Fake (196)

0630 hrs. Another daybreak is here, I mumble to myself and crinkle in the glistening rays of the sun. Quite strangely,every morning I start to brush my set of enamel coated structures,a few questions choose to stir my mind up. Most common ones being,
--"How does my alarm clock automatically get into the "Snooze" mode?"
--"Why do I get the best sleep while I am on the toilet seat?"
--"Why did the Bangles choose to write only Manic Monday and not Manic other-days-of-the week?"
--"Why do I almost end up applying shaving cream to wash my face?"
and the last one being,
--" Why do I waste so much time on these stupid questions?"
And then...Snap out! Haste everywhere. A half eaten bread toast on the table. Running behind the company bus [with an occassional "wait" to the driver],finally managing to enter the bus,feeling like a winner [for catching the bus] and a loser [for being late] at the same time and the "preparatory" nap till the workplace.
0900 hrs. Yet another morning,with the same conclusion..
"What is this life,if full of care...
We have no time to stand and stare."

Misanthrope (133)

Flying particles & water vapor together,
Scattered the blue light,
Left me a red sunset for sight,
Me with my dream - were flying in a flight..

For the roar of engine
& cry of the pilot,
My mind acted like a bigot..

When I opened my eyes,
It was sight that I had never seen,
It was the sight that I should not have seen,
Lost in the sanctuary of ghosts,
First time - I was afraid of thoughts..

I waited - watched them,
All at once,
As I didn't react,
Dissapointedly they act..

And as I saw a tubular tongue of a sunbird,
I started looking for the sun,
It was light - pure - yellow - devine,
The particles had settled,
It was a sunrise,
It was a morning light..

NM (96)

“It’s a beautiful morning” she said, yawning, looking out of the window…
I didn’t say anything but kissed her softly on her brow...
She smiled and began to get dressed…
I was so much in love that I felt almost blessed…
“Let’s get married, Rhea…” I said, “Let’s start anew… it’s still dawn…”
She didn’t even look at me as she pulled out the blanket, fawn…
“We’ll run away”, I tried to assure, “We’ll go to Venice… we’ll go to Rome…”
“I think you should leave” she stared at me coldly, “Kshitij will soon be home.”

Sarang Mahajan (115)

They roughly pushed me inside a small cell and locked the heavy iron door... for the next sixteen years. I crashed down, burdened by heavy chains. The darkness around me was impenetrable. Eyes open or shut made no difference.

In night, a square opened briefly in the door to let in my one-time meal and water, but no ray of light.

"Just food? Where's hope?" I whispered.

Hours later, a tiny hole appeared in a wall. I was told, they did it every morning to let in air. I looked outside, and hope washed away my dark thoughts. I smiled and said, "Dear Morning, I want to feel you again, some day after sixteen years."

.

.

Lord Summer, the Stallion (120)

I stirred and opened my eyes at the cock’s crow
And sprang out of the stable, for my three-hour show

A cool breeze greeted me warmly, Sun smiled behind the mountains’ bow
I threw up my hooves and whinnied at the welcome, scarlet glow

I trotted through the chirping woodland, dew upon its brow
And stopped to see the swans in the lake, gliding nice and slow

I greeted the blue bird and the yellow one, and every duck and dove
And a deer, a fox and the rabbits, who were peeping out of their cove

Then came the master’s whistle, as the day began to grow
And I said, “See you tomorrow, Morning, but now Summer has to go.”

------------------------------------------------

Smile

Smile…

1.	to assume a facial expression indicating pleasure, favor, or amusement, but sometimes derision or scorn, characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth.

2.	to regard with favor: Luck smiled on us that night.

3.	to have a pleasant or agreeable appearance or aspect, as natural scenes, objects, etc.: The landscape smiled in the sunlight.

[ENTRIES NOW CLOSED]

Lord Summer (120)

I lay drained and hungry beneath a massive hill,
Standing atop which, there was some grass still,

I was tired as a stone, and weak as a fly,
But my tongue stuck out long, saying, “Go Summer, try.”

I stood upon my trembling legs and trotted up the slope,
Through a blurry vision, eying my last hope.

For hours I staggered, on, on and on,
The waving grass calling me, “Dear horse, come on.”

But what happened up there, you don’t wanna read,
From the other part of mountain, climbed up a lovely, female steed.

I let her finish the grass; in return she offered a smile,
And I said grinning wide, “I can live on that for a while.”

==================

Sarang Mahajan (120)

Where my car coughed and dried, was a lone hut sheltering darkness
Outside sat six people, or rather, six skeletons

An old man squatted on the ground, his life’s wealth his ribcage
There was also a skinny woman, who let her pallu drop at my sight
Her husband glanced my way, then walked away, silently
Three little girls stared at the twilight

Only misery and desperation can dwell here, I thought.

But then, one girl, clumsily clad in man’s shorts, walked up to me
Not amused by my car, but by my Donald Duck keychain
She smiled, the smile touched her eyes.
I smiled too.
If that innocent smile could spring out of that gloom, then there was hope, surely.

===================================

Richa Gupta (119/122)

The guns had started early today. The war and the casualties had hardened them by now and 4year old Ilayasa and her two older brothers could even smile, laugh and still be happy at little things. Zahed rounded up his 3kids for school. The 10minute walk was fraught with danger but it was a part of their routine now. Rubaiyya came out to see them off when Ilayasa remembering her bottle ran inside down to the basement. There was a big swoosh and the explosion rocked the whole house. Ilayasa came out to find her family lying in a twisted tangled pile of bodies. Today was the day she lost her whole world and today she lost her smile.

=======================================

GS Virmani (118)

"Do you like me?" asked Anirudh to her newly wed bride Neha.

"It is inconsequential now." she replied

and after a pause she started sobbing.

Hey what is this! I cant see you like this. I inferred your silence as an affirmation to our marriage. why didn't you told me before that u r not happy with this nuptial.

a few droplets of water on Anirudh's face made him awake from tense dream.

Neha was combing her curly wet hairs.the fragrance of her body was soothing enough to relieve pain of surreal..he embraced her into his arms and kissed twice.

"I had a bad dream just now Neha"..said Anirudh.

"It is inconsequential now"..replied Neha with a Monalisa "Smile".

====================================

Mandappa KC (120)

He was witty as always. Neha smiled the reassuring smile of a faithful girlfriend.

"I love your smile, but I got to run. Be back in fifteen" Saying that he grabbed his jacket and ran out of her sight.

Across the street to another café where Sneha was waiting.

He was witty as always. She smiled the smile of new found love. Her cute dimples more prominent than her sexy thin lips. "Oh, the things I do for your smile baby. Catch you later." Then he left.

A wicked smile on his lips as he crossed the street back to Neha.

Little did he realize their coy smiles inbetween. They had outwitted him. Caught

red-handed his wit and smile disappeared.

=========================================

Willy Wingfoot (122/135)

As tears rolled down my cheeks,momma took my hand, caressed my palms...& asked me.

Why i cant ride a Broom,momma? Why dont the trees fly?Why do the birds run way from me?Why i cant wear a robe to school? Where's the Oilphaunts? the Unicorn..fairies,..the Golems??Why am i not ruled by Kings so great?Where are the wizards with Fireworks?And the queen on the frozen throne?What of the Elves and the gruffy Dwarves?...Treasure,Gold...and MAGIC,momma??

She gave me a hug, put the blanket over and kissed me GoodNight.
That night i saw through the window, and faced a grim Moon staring back.For reasons unknown i smiled at it with my wet cheeks...n i found an overwhelming Hope in my little chest...when the MOON smiled back.

====================================

Mickey (95)

I can never forget that smile.
It certainly was a smile…
She was in great pain.
Her body was writhing,
Almost convulsing.
Face wet with sweat,
Hairs disheveled,
Teeth clenched,
She cried in agony.
Suddenly,
The pain worsened,
She went into a spasm
Her fist gripped my hand tightly,
A loud cry we heard,
Lusty cry of a baby.
She looked at me
A brief glint in her eyes
Just for a moment
Her lips curved upwards
And the dimple in her cheeks deepened.
It certainly was a smile….
I can never forget that smile.

==============================================

Butch gazes, Silver grazes on the Rio Grande Valley (120)

"And so esteemed jury, mine is not a plea. It's a demand for justice. They can mix contaminated water in milk, they can make our food poisonous with all the pesticides they use, they can rake millions with our tax money, they can render thousands homeless in the name of economic development. And how have we acted? Shambhu here with is pale face and ramshackle constitution might seem a sucker for scandalizing our honorable minister and make some quick money. What most fail to realize that, inspite of wiping off everything he had, his family, his house, his body, they have failed to wipe away one very important thing. His SMILE. Thanks Shambhu, for not letting them get you. "

==============================================

Priyanka Acharya (111)

He felt someone's eyes on him. He looked up and saw a girl, dressed in a full length cocktail dress, looking at him, and, he couldn't believe his eyes, smiling at him. At that time she looked as the most beautiful girl in the room. She went on smiling at him. He went up to her and said, "Hello". The girl looked at him, smiled in a suggestive way and said, "Hello". He was pleased. He continued, "I am Jack. Can I buy you a drink?" She said, "Sure, but before that I wanted to ask you if you could introduce me to your absolutely handsome friend, sitting at the bar?"

==============================================

Truth Dude (109)

her head hurt like hell.

bleeding.

fuck, that hurt!

she sat up a little dazed..

how long was she unconcious?

had she been raped?

her recollection was hazy.

she looked around...and saw the disarray.

then she saw the body.

he smelled of whisky.

and he was blue...

hard, cold and blue.

yes, he'd come at her.

almost every night, he'd come.

fetid and limp dicked, he'd come at her.

while her mother was out.

while the world slept.

he'd come at her.

screams and moans...

the bruise on his head

he wouldn't.

he wouldn't anymore.

that fat sodden bastard wouldn't.

and after years, she grinned a broken toothed smile.

====================================

Santonu (112)

The great soul was smiling, a big broad smile, after he came out from the jail, spending 3 decades in the darkness of the cell, was he really so happy? Mandela was smiling when riots broke out in the streets of South Africa, just to say the world, I am there. Mandela was smiling while unveiling the bust of mahatma at the heart of South Africa, was he reminiscing the events occurred to Gandhi and still smiling? Smile was there when Julus were at battle and lost lives, was he too concerned? He smiled also at the day of his divorce! Nelson Mendela smiled even when the world shed tears for him

====================================

Misanthrope (197)

Rain of blood on the city under threat ,

They say shoot and the god says die,

The brave & the coward - 

Everyone has to die & the devil smiles.

The grail is broken,

Deprived thoughts wants to be free,

The rays of night shines in my body,

Depressive screams of victims I hear.

A mother wants to touch her child,

The blast wants to kill the child,

The child died.

The devil smiles..

The reason is clear,

Destruction is the fear,

Life is useless,

Bravery is fatuous - 

slaves of humanity baths in blood,

The devil smiles.

My bonny eyes died,

I don't see anything,

I jus feel the blood - I jus hear scream,

My soul gets violent,

I felt the gun,

I want to touch the trigger,

The gun cries : the bullet flies,

I am alive no more,

Fear killed me for the soul.

And the devil smiles,

And the devil smiles,

And the devil smiles,

The sun rises : the ray lights the dead,

My eyes reflects the face : the face that killed : the faces are two,

They show the truth : The devil smiles & the god follows.  

====================================