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Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019
Gnadig was about 40 and had been in service with billionaire JV since the past 20 years. He had been brought up to be honest and truthful and avoid moral pitfalls. JV while interviewing him had appreciated his bent of mind. Nevertheless Gnadig had to vastly deviate from his code:His boss was used to giving and taking bribes. Gnadig was initiated into it. JV would say “We’ve to remove obstacles from our path and the smoothest way is by paying bribes. Remember life itself is an obstacle race.” Gnadig was trained to handle the giving and t...
Reed city has many people running petty businesses and Zeby was one among them. He was 22 and had done a course on hotel management. He had got training at a 5-star hotel but had turned down a minor job offer there. He lived in a house which had a garage that could only hold his scooter. He had converted that into a tea shop and sold only tea with a few flavors. His ginger tea was popular and customers would stand outside and drink the tea.That evening a man in soiled clothes came and ordered tea.Zeby asked “Do you want any flavor?”“No. Just...
Reed wasn’t a big city when the British had ruled India. It had its few rich citizens and among them was Fred. Not that he had created the wealth. It was the foresight of his father who had run several industries profitably. And he had built the mansion LAKE VIEW set within a compound with garden all around. It was built mostly of wood and lime mortar with many ornately carved wooden pillars. Fred had inherited this building where he lived with his wife Sarah. It was said Sarah had died of consumption while Fred who had gone to Ceylon had ne...
Don was a software specialist and would often travel around the country to meet customers. His wedding with Liz was to come off in March. That day in December he called up Liz and asked “Where would do we go for the honeymoon?” “They say Phuket in Thailand is ideal.” He said “I haven’t been to Thailand. Yes it would be a good destination. I’ll check” As the wedding day neared Don said “There is an important contract to be negotiated. Don’t be disappointed if we don’t go to Phuket. I’ll take you there later. That is a promise. Our honeymoon m...
You Tube camera woman Amber was standing on the street filming when a man in regal attire appeared in her view. She asked “Who are you?” People who were passing were indifferent to what was happening as they assumed some film production was in progress. The man said “I’m King Midas.” “Can you turn people into gold?” He nodded. She said “Prove it.” “Come with me.” They entered the film studio nearby and saw film producer Jasmine filming. They stood in silence watching and heard Jasmine saying “Ruby you’ve to show more. The audience will ...
Dr.Ravi got up early as usual and peeped through the window curtain. The rain had stopped and it was going to be bright and sunny. He did 50 pushups, checked his weight and got ready. He dressed himself in a T shirt over pants and looked into the mirror. He was handsome though nearing 50. He was bald and clean shaven except for a dense moustache. He locked his house and walked to a restaurant for his breakfast. As he ate he recalled the day when after having breakfast he had found he had forgotten his purse. He had told the restaurateur he w...
The illuminated magnifier lighted up my engagement ring and the big diamond in it. Was it natural or lab made? I will find out. At midday after I had returned home from work my mother said “Rohini, Anand has left for Dubai. It seems he had called you but couldn’t get through to you.” I got a call and said “Mom the hospital wants me again. I’ll talk to you after I come home.” I am a diagnostic radiologist and receive frequent calls for consultation. I went to the hospital, where the surgeons sought certain cl...
I am Hari, an officer of the Indian administrative service and am concurrently in charge of archaeology. Recently British tycoon Harold Witherspoon had returned an ancient idol stolen from India and I had collected it at Nottingham. Witherspoon said the idol had been in possession of his family since the close of the 19th century. Government of India had expressed thanks to Witherspoon. That morning I was seated browsing the newspaper when my wife Nandini, dressed to go to work joined me. Nandini was also in the administrative service ...
I am a citizen of Reed city In India and have been living as a tenant on the fourth floor of a building named SILVER CROWN for the past six months. The owner of SILVER CROWN is Mr.Gupta an elderly man wḥo occupies the ground floor. Gupta is a very friendly person and mixes freely with all his tenants. One day he mentioned to me “Mr.Rai, I owned an old house on this site which I demolished to build SILVER CROWN 5 years ago. By and large I’ve so far been happy with my tenants.” That day when I returned home from office I saw an envelope i...
Neha was slim and tall and had a nice face cut. She was unlettered and worked for Ruby as live in maid. That evening Ruby called Neha and said “You know the post office.” Neha nodded as she knew the compact three storied building. “Take this receipt and bring back the box they give.” Ruby checked the time and said “The post office closes at 5 and it is 4.30 already. And you have also to shop. Go first to the post office.” Neha set off walking. On the way a woman she knew blocked her and spoke a few minutes. Then came her beau on ...
18th March 1918. Dearest Armand, As conveyed to you by cable I was delivered of a girl child at home with the help of a local midwife on the 15th at 1-30 AM. As decided I have named the baby Narcisse. She has the official name of Narcisse Segal. She has the same blue eyes like you. Doesn’t cry much. I have also sent cables to my parents in Rouen announcing the happy event. The neighbors had dropped in to see the new arrival. They know you work for the French foreign service and have now been posted in far away Ouagadougou. I’ve se...
Rubi Isle is the most important territory on planet tellus – earth’s twin about 800 years younger - and was ruled by a king. The king had grown old and a successor had to be found. The king’s daughter Princess Glacoma wasn‘t yet married and she expected she would succeed her father. Glacoma was slim and tall and very beautiful and even the royal heirs of neighboring Zygos were offering to marry her but she remained single seeking to be the queen of RI. A new Man of God (MOG) with radical thinking had established himself in RI. He was quite y...
Darlene said “Brian, why don’t you put one more log into the hearth? It is cold.” “Yes Mom.” He did it and the dim illumination in the room was enhanced by the flickering flames from the fire place. Brian said “Mom, I enjoy the cold after my spell of duty in India where it is beastly hot. Living here in Dunbar you’ll never realize how hot it can be in India. The captain of the S.S.CLYDE by which I returned joked and said that people in colonial service should be paid heat allowance.” Darlene nodded. She said “Every month I would look for mai...
Rubi Isle is well-known among the lands of planet tellus – earth’s twin only 800 years younger. One of the prosperous citizens of RI was Fez. He not only owned a cotton plantation but a popular tavern which made him rich. Fez was 18 and he was tall and handsome. Besides managing his business interests he was a patron of cultural activities. He had founded the RI Entertainers which consisted of singers, dancers and play actors which had attracted many who would donate towards expenses. The current leading star of the show was Sigma and she he...
Librarian Indira climbed a stool and reached for books under alphabet F. She got a Fleming and put it back saying “There is a Flaubert before that who has written Salammbo.” She said with a whistle “Salammbo where’re you?” There came an answer “Here I am” and a young and beautiful woman stood before her. The librarian asked “What’re you doing in our library?” Salammbo laughed and said “You called me and I appeared before you.” The librarian said “Today is Monday and it’s our weekly off. I’m locked in here alone as I’m stock verifying the boo...
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