Lollipop

“Lollipop.”

That’s what they called him; and he hated each one of them for that. He had also given names to them; and each name was as nasty as it could be. But he could only fret for he was too timid to call them by those names.

He happened to be nearby when their car dived into the lake. He jumped without thinking; lake was not deep and he was a good swimmer.

“Lollipop.”

But the word was said with admiration. He smiled and called back, “Croakroach.”

Everyone including Croakroach laughed, they thought it was cool.

Word count 97

This post is part of Friday  Fictioneers by Rochelle Wisoff http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/3-october-2014/

That Old Man

(concluding part-please see my post of 27th Sep for first part of the story)

The doorbell rang.

“Now what?” he muttered.

He opened the door. It was Ranjeet who was at the door.

“Why are you so upset?” Ranjeet asked. He had sensed that Pratap was angry and flustered.

“Did you see that old man?” he asked abruptly.

“I didn’t see anyone?”

“How can that be? He just left my place. You would have passed him in the corridor or stairs.”

“There was no one in the corridor or the stairs. I would have seen him if someone had been there.”

“How is that possible? He could not have gone out in a split second.”

“But why are you agitated? Who was that old man? What did he want? Did he say anything?”

Pratap told everything about the old man.

“I can’t believe it. Someone came to meet you; he said he was a ghost and that he lives in the house you have bought.”

“Yes. But I am sure that someone is playing tricks with me, some dirty game.”

“Why don’t you call Ajay Lal?” Ranjeet suggested.

Pratap called Ajay Lal. After usual chit chat he made a polite query about his grandfather.

“Actually my grandfather passed away when I was a small child. But I recall that many years later my father had once told me that he suspected that his father was poisoned to death by someone my grandfather totally trusted,” said Ajay Lal.

“Do you perchance have any photograph of your grandfather?” asked Pratap

“I don’t think I have any such photograph. But why are you getting interested in my grandfather?” Ajay Lal asked.

“Oh! I was just curious about the person who built that beautiful house,” Pratap ended the conversation.

Ranjeet had been listening attentively.

“We are no wiser than we were.  Let us go and check for ourselves.” Ranjeet said.

“Check what?” Pratap asked.        

“Check if anyone is living in that house?”

“I have twice inspected that house. It is a deserted place; no one has been living there for years.”

Pratap was getting suspicious about the whole affair. He was sure that there was something fishy about the old man who claimed that he was a ghost. But Ranjeet insisted and, unwillingly, he went with him.

The main door was locked. Pratap had a key. He opened the door. The moment they entered the house Pratap felt that someone was in the house.

He heard some noise coming from somewhere inside the house.

“There is someone in the house. Did you hear that noise?” he asked Ranjeet.

“No, I didn’t hear anything.”

When they entered the bedroom Pratap was shocked to see the old man who had come to meet him.

“What are you doing here? How did you enter the house?” Pratap asked the old man.

“I am packing my things. I have to leave this place now that you have rendered me homeless. I will be done shortly. I don’t own very many things,” old man replied in a sad voice.

“Whom are you talking to?” Ranjeet asked. He was shocked and bewildered by Pratap’s behaviour.

“He is the man who came to meet me today,” Pratap replied pointing to the old man.

“Are you in your senses? There is no one here except two of us.”

“Don’t you test my patience, Ranjeet. This man who is packing his things in this room met me today. He is trying to trick me with his nonsense,” Pratap said in anger again pointing to the old man.

Ranjeet was now scared. He could see no one in that room. He almost shouted, “Let us leave this place, right now.”

He literally pushed Pratap out of the house.

“What is wrong with you?” Pratap asked.

“Don’t you understand? I didn’t see anyone in that room. And still you insisted that there was an old man in there. Same man who came to meet you and claimed that he was ghost.”

“So what? I don’t care, it’s some dirty trick.”

“Pratap, he is a ghost. He is perhaps unhappy with you because you have bought this house. He has made himself visible to you and not to anyone else.”

“That is nonsense.”

“Then why could not I see him? Why could not I hear him? You were talking to him but I didn’t hear his voice, I did not see him.”

Pratap was about to say, “It is a sinister conspiracy and even you are a part it.”

But before he could say anything he saw the old man leaving the house. He was looking forlorn and sad. Slowly, rather mournfully, he walked towards Pratap. For the first time Pratap felt uncertain.

Old man said, “I am not a vile ghost; don’t be scared. I don’t mean any harm to you. I love this house. Please take a good care of it. I wish I could continue to stay here. But it can’t be. All my life I didn’t hurt even a fly. Still someone I trusted poisoned me. When I became a ghost I did not bother even a child. Still I have been rendered homeless.”

He suddenly left without waiting for Pratap’s reply. Pratap’s face turned pale. Ranjeet looked at his friend and a cold shiver passe through his heart.

“What happened? Did you again see him?” he asked Pratap in a tremulous voice.

“No,” said Pratap. He rushed towards his house. Ranjeet had to literally run to keep pace with him. An uneasy silence followed them.

The moment they reached Pratap’s house, Pratap said, “I think I will not buy that house.”    

Even before Ranjeet could say anything Pratap entered his house and locked the door from inside.

© i b arora

Confusion

Panic rising, he tried to walk as briskly as possible in the fading light; why is it so dark even though it is not even noon?

He was certain that he would never reach in time and he would again miss the train.

But where am I going and why do I have to catch this train at this time of the day?

I must be dreaming; yes, it is a dream and like a fool I am getting worried and confused.

But how can it be a dream if I am awake and walking on this road; I must run as fast as I can and catch the train.

Linking this to Five Sentence Fiction-Prompt Confusion hosted by Lillie Mcferrinhttp://lilliemcferrin.com/five-sentence-fiction-confusion/

That Old Man

(Part 1)

Pratap was now a proud owner of a house in the Blue Lake area. Some of his friends had warned him against buying that house. They had told him that the house was haunted. But Pratap had just laughed at these warnings. In fact he made fun of his friends who tried to scare him.

“There is no thing such as a ghost,” he insisted. He was unable to convince Ranjeet who was his friend from school days and who kept arguing.

“Then why was no one willing to buy that house? It has been lying vacant for many years. No one bought it even at half the price,” Ranjeet said forcefully.

“I don’t believe in ghosts and I am going to buy that house,” Pratap had almost shouted at his friend.

“You are a fool and you will regret your decision,” Ranjeet said in irritation.

Pratap had been dreaming of buying a house in the Blue Lake area for many years. Incidentally, there was no blue lake anywhere in that area. But it was the part of city where anyone and everyone worth something wanted to be.

The houses in that area were expensive and beyond his reach. But this house was available at a price which he could afford. It was a golden opportunity and he was not going to miss it; silly rumours were not going to deter him. He brushed aside all objections and suggestions of his friends and well-wishers and decided to go ahead with the deal. 

He returned to his flat at around six in the evening after completing the deal with Ajay Lal, the owner of the house. His joy knew no bounds. But he felt irritated when he had to himself open the door. His wife had left for Delhi previous night to look up her father who was not keeping well.

No sooner had he entered his flat than he had an unexpected visitor.

“Can I come in?” asked the visitor.

Pratap had never met that man. There was something strange about him. He was wearing faded, worn out clothes. His face was full of wrinkles and his eyes were pale, almost sad. He looked as if he was sick for many days.

“Do I know you?” asked Pratap.

“You shouldn’t have bought that house in the Blue Lake area,” the visitor spoke in a listless voice.

“Why?’ Pratap almost shouted.

“It is a haunted house.”

“I have heard that crap. I don’t believe in ghosts.”

“But I am the ghost; I am the ghost of that house. And now I would be rendered homeless since you have bought that house.”

Pratap was taken aback. He looked at the old man with piercing angry eyes. He was sure that old man was trying to make fool of him. Or was there something else behind the rumour?

“Please tell me honestly, were you planning to buy that house?” Pratap was getting suspicious of the old man.               

“Why would I want to buy that house? It already belongs to me. I live there. I have been living there for years, no decades.”

“I hope it is not some kind of a silly joke.” Pratap said in an irritated tone.

“I know that you have bought that house from Ajay Lal. He is my grandson, but he does not know that I am still living in that house.” Old man was talking in a mild tone, as if he was just whispering his words.

“I just can’t understand; I have twice inspected that house. There was no one there. It was totally vacant. In fact it has been lying vacant for years. Now you come and tell me that you are living in that house. What should I make of it?”

Old man just did not respond kept quiet. His silence unnerved Pratap.

“And if I am not mistaken Ajay Lal’s parents and grandparents are not alive.” Pratap looked at him with suspicion. He was getting unnerved. Something about the old man disturbed him.

“That is true. I died many years ago. In fact I was poisoned by the person I totally trusted. On one found out and the man was never punished. But I know I was poisoned,” old man said in an emotionless voice.

Pratap lost his cool, “Will you please leave right now? I can’t bear this nonsense any more. If you think you can fool me then you are totally mistaken. I have bought that house. It now belongs to me. No one can trick me out of this deal.”

The old man looked at Pratap with unblinking eyes for quite some time. Then he left abruptly without uttering a word.  Pratap closed the door and unknowingly locked from inside. He had never done that before. In fact, even during night the door was rarely locked from inside.
(to be continued)

© i b arora

The Party

When everything was ready he said, let us start the party.

But she was uncertain, is that Sun peeping through those bottles.

No, it is the new light.

No, it is Sun. I know and I don’t like it.

Why are you doing this? Why do you create a scene every time I invite my friends?

But why is Sun peeping through those bottles?

He held her. She was shivering.

He was the only child we had after sixteen years and you won’t even cry.

Only he knew that he had been crying ever since. But he hated telling her.

Word Count 100 words.

This post is part of Friday  Fictioneers by Rochelle Wisoff  http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/09/24/26-september-2014/

Beginning

She looked at the earth, thoughtfully, and felt sorry for her.

“Mother,” that’s what she called the earth, having never seen her own mother, “it seems you are greying faster than me. But you will never ever stop us from exploiting you. Why?”

She thought of the day ahead. She wanted it to end, the endless struggle. But could she stop her silly sons from exploiting her.

No, she thought, for she was just like her mother, the earth.  

“If I am like her then why should I regret? A mother never regrets.”

She smiled and thus began her day. 

Word count 100

This post is part of Friday  Fictioneers by Rochelle Wisoff

http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/09/17/19-september-2014/

Man, that’s how the Government of India works-4

“Friends, at some stage or other of your career in Government of India, some of you, if not all, would be required to frame rules , laws, policies and procedures which others would have to follow. But be careful if and when you make rules and laws; for in Government we are quick in making new rules and laws but we are rather slow in reviewing and repealing them,” said the officer; he had at least twenty five years of experience of working in different capacities in Government of India. He was talking to us; the newly inducted members of different civil services.

“Let me tell you a story and you will understand the point I am trying to make. President of a country, we will call it Blueland, invited the President of another country, let us call it Greenland. The President of Greenland arrived on the state visit and he was very warmly received by the President of Blueland. Both the Presidents developed a liking for each other and everything went as per the plot. On the third day of the visit, the two Presidents were relaxing in the Presidential Palace. They were enjoying their drink and the unusually heavy snowfall.

“President of Greenland looked at the Presidential Lawn below. It was known for its beautiful and rare plants. But that day everything was under a thick blanket of snow.

“Something odd about the lawn struck the President of Greenland. The oddity was a lone sentry standing almost at the centre of the lawn, holding his automatic weapon; there was nothing to protect him from the heavy snow. Presidential Palace was fully secured by latest surveillance systems. Expert snipers were positioned at vantage points. Even then a lone rifleman was posted in the midst of the lawn; what purpose could he serve?

“‘May I ask you something?’ asked the President of Greenland

“‘Of course my friend, you may.’

“‘It may sound foolish, but I am wondering as to why that sentry has been stationed there? What specific purpose is he serving? he said, pointing to the sentry standing in the lawn.

“The President of Blueland was taken aback for he had never noticed the sentry. ‘I am really sorry but I never took note of him. I have to find out why he is there. And before the day ends we will know the answer.’

The officer stopped for a few seconds and looked at all of us with a naughty smile. He knew that all of us were eagerly waiting for him to continue. We all wanted to know how the story would end.

“Well friends, it took some time before the President got his answer and what he found was amazing. He was informed that once upon a time Blueland was ruled by a King; the King had a young daughter, the daughter loved to play and dance in the lawn. In those gone by days the lawn was called Queen’s Lawn. There was a rose plant in the lawn. Beautiful roses would bloom on that plant. The princess loved the roses; she had taken a fancy to that plant. But one day she was shocked to see that someone had plucked all the roses and damaged the plant. In tears she ran to the King; King got angry for he could not bear to see his little princess in tears. He ordered his Commander in Chief that the rose plant, so dear to the princess, must be protected and always. Not even for a minute was it to be left unguarded.

“Commander in Chief immediately detailed sentries and thereafter the rose plant was kept under a watch round the clock.

“Days, weeks, months and years went by. One day Blueland became a republic; ruled be a popularly elected President. The King’s palace became the Presidential Palace; the Queen’s Lawn became the Presidential Lawn; and both were given face lifts on many occasions. Now there was no rose plant which the little princess loved. But the sentries would still unfailingly arrive as per the order issued by the then Commander in Chief and stand on guard at the place indicated in the order.

“No one in the intervening decades had reviewed the order even after the King and the little princess and the rose plant had vanished in departing waves of time. That is how the governments work.

“Therefore, don’t be in a hurry when called upon to make new laws and orders. They are likely to survive many generations.”

I have never forgotten this story for many a time I did come across rules and orders which had outlived their utility.