Niveeidha Palani

“The Page Age” by Niveeidha Palani

The bell tinkled softly, but clearly. It was a rare thing, perhaps for the tinkle of a bell to even echo in the ancient bookshop, as there were rarely even customers.It was a cloudy Thursday afternoon. The sun drifted lazily across the hems of several clouds. The roads shimmered in the heat of the midday sun with an occasional whirl of a car or perhaps a motorbike.Sebastian Rome, seventy eight, but still up and running, ran the bookshop across the street, The Page Age. He now sat across the bookstore window, puffing lazily on a cigar and gla...

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“Not your child” by Niveeidha Palani

She's not your child Igor. She never was.<><><>The doorbell chimed and footsteps echoed into the pub."Ah, Igor. You're late, I see." a man sneered.The group chortled loudly.Igor flushed brightly, but it quickly subsided. He sank into the hard, stool with ugly green stains splotched over the side.The man, who soon came to be known as Elijah chucked the cards to Igor."Pay up. I'm betting on meself," he said.Igor smiled. "What? Ya think ya gonna win, chap? I think, not."Elijah's smile faded, as he clenched his teeth. "We'll st...

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“Mrs Dahlia (Part 2)” by Niveeidha Palani

c.w: gory scenesThe smell of burnt shortbread brimmed the household."Dang it!" Mom yelled, mopping her sticky hands over some linen cloth, and unlatched the oven door.Smoke billowed out of the gaps revealing a black, crusty bread on the tray."It's the fourth time, Mom. Need some help?" Tyson sighed."I'm good, Tyson."~~~After three more tries, lemon custard on shortbread crust sat proudly on the dinner table. Mom slashed four large squares of the pastry and divided it into a container. She slumped against the bamboo chair, exhausted."Hon, get...

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“A Murder” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #96

c.w: gory scenes, disturbingAuthors Note: I tried something new. It's different from what I usually write. I meant for this to be a very short passage. Enjoy. :)The roads were soaked, with soggy puddles and the blades of thin grass were drenched in water. It was still pouring, however, from noon, and dusk had forged already.Thunder clapped around the Bringston Village and stringy, thin streaks of lightning whipped the skies. Everyone stayed in, sipping hot cups of cocoa, and staring at the sky, minding their own business.He'd turned up at du...

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“Pierre” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #93

"Hey, Célia where are you?" Noelle demanded. Célia grimaced. "Listen. You won't tell Mom. Would you?" Noelle hesitated. "Maybe." Noelle heard Célia inhale over the phone. Music echoed in the background and someone yelled pretty loudly, "Yeah, baby!" "Célia, where are you?" Noelle raised her eyebrows. "I'm in a party," she confessed. "I told Mom I had a study meeting." "Célia!" "No, listen! Someone there told me he knew Papa's coordinates!" Célia pressed on loudly. Noelle clenched her fists in exasperation. "Get back here at o...

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“Oscar and Pa” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #92

Author's Note: This was inspired a little by a story that I had read earlier. It was so heart-wrenching and so touching, I felt I needed to write something like it.This was based on a true story."Pa!" Oscar cried, jumping on his lap, and giggling.Pa swirled him up into the air and kissed the top of his nose. "My little Ossie, how was school, eh?"Oscar's eyes lightened up like glowing fireflies as he recited a tale about his poem in class and how his teacher had praised him profusely.Pa's lips broke into a wide grin and his eyes shone with pr...

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“Dreams or Reality?” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #91

Authors Note: So this one was submitted around 700+ words. It isn't as long as I usually write, but I wanted to end this in suspense. If you'd like a sequel for this, drop it in the comments please! Enjoy!"Sorry. Not allowed after hour."Orion stared up. A stout woman, French by the looks of it, thick-lipped with magenta lipstick and a brisk bun on the top of her head. She had silver-rimmed glasses, the shape of large ovals perched on her nose delicately and on her finger, she was twirling a bunch of bronze keys."Uh, I need the books. For a p...

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“A Wet Blanket” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #87

Ace inhaled and pushed for what seemed like the hundredth tray in. She folded her knobbly arms and eyed the purple clock ticking profusely on the walls.She had to speed things up. It was almost dawn.Ace slipped the batch of cookies into some clear boxes and lowered them into large Birthday Bags.Her trunk was jammed with pastries.Five minutes later, Ace pulled up at Koli Bakeries."Hey,"Ace managed a smile. "Hey, Lydia. Sorry, no time to talk. I'm kinda in a hurry right now. I need to get these in the car before eight-thirty."Lydia hoisted her...

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“All because of a Gold Bar” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #85

"That's the thing about this city," Elias sighed."What?"Dale unloaded laundry into a neon orange patterned basket. "Eli, I'm going to the launders. Do you want me to do yours?" she asked, staring at the stack of shirts and jumbled-up shorts and boxers piled up against the wall.Elias bit his lip. "Yeah, whatever. I planned to take them in next week. But, sure. Anyways, there's too much crime in the city. They just reported a rob in the bank today morn'."Dale set the basket onto the floor, and pulled up a polished chair, fanning herself. "Boy,...

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“Hal and Ollie” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #83

Hal was curled up on the couch, clasping Ollie and hugging her tight. "Isn't it hot, Ollie?"Ollie pawed Hal's face and leaped off the ground, purring gently. Hal peered at the window. The sun was getting out. She was going to have to get out another popsicle then.Hal worked in those candy factories. She'd bring home a heap of candy packets, her apron dyed and stained bright pink and purple. Her face would be starched odd greens and familiar reds. That was how she lived.Over the stench of coloring and candy."We need to go on a vacation Ollie....

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“Reconnected Forever” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #81

Author's Note: I'm not good with romance, so I decided to make this a "friend" relationship instead.Alice sunk into the recliner, closing her eyes, and lighting what seemed like the twentieth cigarette. She wasn't going good after the fight with Bethany. Period.The fridge, stocked with countless boxes of doughnuts, and cakes. Empty packets of candy littered the room. Water endlessly pooled at the edge of the sink. Screw the plumber.Doughnuts had been the ultimate cure for the pain. A fight about university.Think about that, she spat bitterly...

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“The Speech Disaster” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #80

 The sun shone from a silver-paneled window, bathing the room in light. I squinted, and then slammed the patterned curtains, rolling my eyes. I was bored. I was hot. I was exhausted.Abruptly, my phone vibrated, humming familiar tunes of The Longest Road by Morgan Page.I purred along with the tune and glanced at the caller. My boss, the chief doctor. I sat up straight, cleared my throat, and answered the call frantically, balancing a box of glazed doughnuts and putting the phone to my ear."Hello?""Um, yes, good afternoon, Dr. Stall."Dr. ...

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“Aunt Indigo's Confession” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #79

 Authors Note: This was a little rushed. I don't quite like the title, so I'd be open to any suggestions. I promise I'll get a better story out, but for now, this will have to do. Open to criticism and feedback. Enjoy!  I flop on the couch, stretching stiffly. I notice my aunt staring at the window, as teardrops ooze down the window competitively. "Are you okay, tante?" Aunt Indi gets up quickly and spins towards me. I can't help noticing how her eyes are pretty puffy and red, and how her cheeks are flushed. "Jeanne, I told...

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“Melting in the Sun and Freezing in the Snow” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #77

Author's Note: This seemed a little silly, and childish to write, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. It was fun to write, and I hope you had fun reading it too! Calista lay, sprawled against the sun, wearing denim-cut-offs, and a cotton jersey. She fanned her hair desperately, yawning, and licking the melted sticky popsicle that trickled across her hand. She stood up, tossed her hat, and trudged lazily into the house to find her four-year-old brother, Jax pasting his head into the freeze box, panting. She giggled. "My turn," she smiled, sh...

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“The 911 Call” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #76

Author's Note: This is a sequel to "All for a Book", for those of you who don't know. If you have not read "All for a Book" please make sure to read that one before you read this this! For those of you who are confused, the dialogue written in italics is spoken by Mr Brown, who is the officer who answered Mr Aston, and the dialogue written in normal is spoken by Mr Aston, who is Mavery's husband, and at the end, it is spoken by a paramedic. Enjoy!911? 911?911 calling. What is your state of emergency?Hi, my wife Mavery just dropped down onto ...

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