A. Arima

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2020

Stories (12)

12 Stories

269 karma pts

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“The Letter” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #61

“Three beautiful kids, a husband who completely dotes on you, a big house, what else could you want in life, Mindy?” mum said to me, trying to put on the same stern voice that she did when she wanted to put her point across. Only that now she was a lot older and her voice was shaky. “A great career, mum!” I said, throwing the sepia-toned envelope on the table next to her. I had tears in my eyes that I was trying very hard to stop from rolling down my cheeks.  “You do have a great career. You think it’s easy to be a banker?” she said...

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“The Glitch” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #59

You were stuck in the elevator for what seemed like an eternity. Those were, however, just two minutes on Earth. You're not on Earth now, or are you? It's a different world altogether. It doesn’t seem like the Earth you have lived for the five decades of your life. Oh, you are a lot younger here, in this place, whatever it is. Everyone is young here. People who are walking about on the streets.So how did you get stuck here in the first place, you wonder. All you did was step out of the escalator that halted for a good two minutes because of ...

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“Scar-faced Grandpa” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #57

“So was grandpa a soldier?” My 10-year old son asked, looking at me inquisitively.  “No! Why do you ask?” I said. “He has this big scar near his eye,” he said, as he flipped the photo album. “Oh yes, the scar!” I said, suddenly remembering. “How did he get it?” he asked. “Oh it is a very funny yet sad story!” I said, sitting next to him now on the couch and looking at the picture that made him curious. In the picture, I was happily sitting in the laps of my grandma with my grandpa sitting next to her. The photo quality was not...

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“Free At Last” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #56

“Why don’t you sit down?” the lady said to the boy, a survey officer, after a cursory scrutiny of his identity card that he showed to her.  “Thank you!” The boy said and sat down in the waiting room of a lawyer’s firm. It seemed like a humble office. Not exquisite like some other firms he had visited in the past. “I am Mindy, receptionist of the firm, and also Mr. Mani’s secretary. I am afraid but Mr. Mani is busy and he prefers to meet people only through appointments,” she said. “I can ask you to book an appointment but this sur...

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“The Actress and Her Makeup Artist” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #55

The ageing actress looked at herself in the mirror. She made a small smile. A smile that meant ‘no regrets’. Today was going to be her last day of shooting. It was a decision that was not forced upon her. Despite getting some very interesting roles suiting her age she knew she had enough of it. She wanted to act till she didn’t get bored. Now she was beginning to. Time to hang up my lovely stilettos, she said to herself. She sat in her vanity van, waiting for her makeup artist to come. It was also going to be his last day at work. A decision...

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“The Girl Who Sold Books on the Road” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #53

Sheila was sweating. It was 38 degrees celsius. No, she was not aware that it was 38 degrees celsius. She just knew it was a very hot day. She stared at all the twenty books lying next to her on the floor-mat. She looked at them fondly. She could barely read English. However, she could read all the titles of the books. She had mugged them up. Her ‘book-uncle’ had made her mug them up. He was a nice man, she thought. It was because of him that she had started going to school once again. Sheila wondered if this book-uncle and her mother were m...

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“The Outcast” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #52

I look at my dad unbelievingly as he crosses the road to come by my side.  “Dad?”  He smiles back, the same smile of his that tilts more to his left cheek. “But?...” “I know!” “But?” I just have no words to say.  “They didn’t allow me to attend your funeral,” I speak a full sentence finally. “Because there was no need,” he answers coolly. “Yeah, I can tell that now!” I reply. Why would my siblings and even my mother play such a cruel joke on me, I wonder. First they announce the news of my dad's death to me y...

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“Those Ten Minutes” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #51

Mindy looked up in the sky at the stars. It was rarely something she did on a usual night, especially at 2 am. She was just not getting any sleep tonight. It was her decision to stop consuming the pills every night. It had been only two days since she decided this. She was tired of depending on them. It was six months now. It was about time she felt that she needed to confront the truth. She had lived in denial for too long. Mindy stood on her 12th floor balcony. It was a pleasant night. And absolutely quiet too. She look...

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“Catch Me If You Can” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #50

I am running as fast as I can. The two of them, one girl and a man, are also running as fast as they can, following me and hurling abuses at me. I want to react but I know that would stop me from running fast. I can feel my worn-out shoes finally giving up on me but there is no way I can stop now. And just as I think so, my one shoe has come off. I can not waste time fastening it. I just let it go and in fact, kick away the other shoe from my foot too. I have to reach home. Mom must be waiting for me. But I am not sure if I would ever reach ...

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“Six Days to Go” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #49

Six days to go. My heartbeats get faster every time I think about it. With every passing second, I can sense my discomfort growing larger than ever. It has been a long wait. I try my best not to think about it...or him! There are no two ways about it. I have to face him. If I avoid him, it would only be for a short period of time. He would send a letter at my place. I do not want anyone to get hold of the letter at home and give me those scornful looks, making me feel all the more guilty. Yes, I can postpone meeting him. I have done it on a ...

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“But Why Me? ” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #48

Ipu and her family were finishing their last minute shopping before leaving for their hotel as they had a very early morning flight to Toronto to catch the next day. Egypt had been an amazing vacation. Ipu loved visiting the old towns especially. They gave her a feel of Arabian Nights, of what it must have been centuries ago.   “Mum, I would really like to buy some oriental makeup before we leave this place tomorrow,” Ipu said to her mother as they crossed many little shops by the pavement. “Makeup? You are too young for it, Ip...

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“You Did Nothing Wrong!” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #47

Suitcase in hand, you head to the station. You know running away is not right. After all, you did nothing wrong. You did not kill Aleena. She was just lying on the floor at the entrance of the house. You thought she had passed out after attending another of her crazy parties the previous night. You walked closer to see her and figured out that she was lying still. You shook her. She was not breathing. At this moment, you lost your senses. Instead of calling up the emergency helpline or police or even a friend, you just dragged her body insid...

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Author bio

(avid) reader | (random) writer | (keen) listener | (proud) mother | (newbie) crocheter Currently, in love with Murakami's Kafka on the Shore Looking forward to reading stories here and having mine read as well! :)