Remorse

Snowstorm by Maurice de Valminck

He did not have many wants. 
He just wanted to be accepted as a member of the household but they were all scared of him and that hurt him.

He was as harmless as a new born baby, that he knew for sure. But he was unable to carry any conviction with any of the family members, notwithstanding the fact that some of them were his descendants. He could understand their apprehensions; there rarely was a ghost as humane and unselfish as he was. This made them nervous and self-conscious.

He did his best to befriend them; even without their knowing he was taking care of many of their problems and needs. Only a few days back they had all got stranded in their car in a snow storm. It would have been a disaster. But he had mustered all his power and strength and had saved them from a sure calamity.

At last, to his great relief, the little girl became his friend. He was happy as never before. But what a misfortune it was for the little girl. An exorcist made her life almost miserable.

Today again the exorcist was paying a visit. Exorcist made him angry. Later when he saw the poor little girl he almost died in remorse.  

******

A post for Two Shoes Tuesday, word prompts-wants or needs

And for Magpie Tales on a photo prompt

Murder

She was sixteen and innocent. Her mutilated body was found in a desolate park behind her school. Police were able to find some clues to indicate that the crime had been committed by a local resident.

The murdered girl lived with her father’s mother; her parents had divorced and moved out of the town five years back.

It was a small town and everyone knew everyone else. The town had not witnessed such a heinous crime in many decades. But now the town was reeking with distrust. Everyone was acutely conscious of the fact that one of them was a brutal rapist and murderer. Everyone was suspicious of everyone else; everyone was scared of everyone else.

But this distrust somehow did not touch the old woman; the grandmother of the murdered girl. She knew everyone intimately; she firmly believed that they were all decent, easy going and tolerant people; she trusted each one of them.

As was her wont, she would go to the church every day; she would pray for everyone every day; light a candle every day; ardently hopeful that investigation would eventually clear everyone, for she was unwilling to believe that anyone known to her could have committed such a crime.

She died without losing her faith and trust.

*****

A post for Three Word Wednesday

Word prompts- Distrust, Tolerant, Hopeful

And as well for ABC Wednesday T for Trust 

The Library

                                                                                    Photo prompt-Copyright- Randy Mazie

It was exactly after thirty five years that I was returning to the town. Everything struck new, different and unfamiliar.

But the Library was unaltered.

As I entered the dimly lit hall, I encountered a stillness that I could not associate with any of my earlier memories. There were few readers and fewer books. Most of the cupboards were partially empty. All books were wrapped in neglect. Everything smelled of impending death.

“What has happened to the library?” I asked hesitantly.

“The right question to ask is, what has happened to the readers?” Librarian looked at me with pained eyes.

A post for Friday Fictioneers on a photo prompt.

Irritation

He knew that he was no longer a kid; he was almost as big and strong as his mother.

But the mother would only treat him like a kid and chided him as if he was always in the harm’s way.

“How many times have I told you that such manoeuvres are not for the kids to try?” she said in an unrestrained irritation as he landed near her, brimming with pride, after a soul stirring flight.

He thought of his friends who had already flown to the distant island.

He looked at his mother with bleary eyes; he was dreaming of audacious flights he would try in the company of his reckless friends.  

A post for Five Sentence Fiction

Word prompt-Irritation

Serendipity

“Serendipity? What do you mean? I never heard this word,” he asked. He was baffled.

She did not answer. Perhaps she had not heard what he was saying. She was lost in her thoughts.

“Did I ever tell you that my grandfather and his father were in the army? They had fought many battles and in many countries.”

“So what?” he was still not sure where it was leading to.

“Last week we sold our grandfather’s house.”

“…..” he looked askance at her.

“We were to transfer the house on 17^th. For no reason we decided to stay there on 16^th and spend a night in that house. That house was full of our childhood memories…… I was not able to sleep. Just to while away my time I started going through some papers I had found in an old box. In 1917, my great grandfather had helped a rich Belgian merchant who had been arrested on the false charge of spying. In gratitude, the merchant had given him a precious diamond. War over; great grandfather wanted to sell the diamond but someone told him that it was the missing Florentine diamond. He got scared and didn’t sell it. He hid it.”

“Now I see why you are looking so lost. You must be wondering where the diamond was; you do want that priceless diamond but you can’t find it?” he said in a crudely mocking tone. Something hurt him deep inside.

“No,” she thought she could feel his hurt.

 “What does that mean?” he asked impatiently.

“We found the diamond. It was buried in the lawn of that house; buried under a plant of yellow roses.”

“I can’t believe it,” his eyes were brimming with greed.

“I wonder if I had quickly gone to sleep, what would have happened to that diamond,” she asked.

“Where is that diamond? His suppressed desires were overwhelming him.

“What does serendipity mean? Did I mention that word?” she looked a bit lost.

“Where is that diamond?” he almost shouted.

She just could not look at him.

****

A post for ABC Wednesday

S for Serendipity  

This Day

This day was like any other day.

“I have to reach office by eight; I will use the bathroom first.”

“I will just take ten minutes. I don’t want to miss the train, not today.”

“No, it’s never ten minutes with you; I know you well, you can’t fool me now.”

“Why don’t you understand, I have been missing the first train every day of the week,” he had almost shrieked.

“It is not my problem.”

He shrank within himself for he knew that both parents would keep arguing till one of them left for office.

This day was like any other day.

Every morning he would get up and wish that it would be a different day. Sometimes it did start differently. The rays streaming in the room would appear warm and bright. A butterfly would come and flutter near the window. Squirrels would jump and play on the walls and even on his wheelchair.  Air would smell beautiful.

But, more often than not, it never ended that way.  Something or other would happen and they would be at each other, like two sworn and tired enemies; unaware that he was observing them; that he was acutely sensitive and could feel even the slightest vibe floating in the air; that every moment of life he was shrinking within himself. 

*****

A post for Two Shoes Tuesday

Word prompt- Observe

Junk

                                                                                       Photo prompt-copyright-Claire Fuller

It was not a great car but he loved it.

He had inherited it; his father had spent his all savings to buy it. Father loved it more than anything else in life.

But his wife and children derided him for his love for this “junk”; yes, that’s what they called it.

“When are you taking out the junk for repairs? I wish we could go on a long drive; get it repaired soon.”

He knew what she meant. She would not even look at it.

“I have already sold it.”

She was stunned; for once, she felt his pain.

******

A post for Friday Fictioneers on a picture prompt