Sreedevi Mahapatra

“The invisible wall” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #70

“I know these mean thieves. They have stolen the cabbage, tomatoes and trampled the poor radish plants. Snakes in disguise. What I have not done for these pigs. Let the lightening fall on this ungrateful family and turn everyone to grey ash...” spitting with all her might Sundari Pangi threw the sickle in her hand with all her might at the fence which separated her neighbour. The entire neighbourhood was enjoying the curses with sadistic feeling of witnessing the Patra and Pangi family turning into enemies, who were once ...

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“The Cherry Thief” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #69

“ Where’s the newspaper? I saw the paperboy throwing right here under this mango tree. See the broken twig with the leaves”, shouted uncle Krish. Almost a dozen relatives gathered around, some looking at uncle and some at the mango tree, a few at the whitewashed compound wall. But there was no trace of the newspaper. At the far end of the house, the octogenarian Mr. Rao was busy tearing and throwing the bits of the newspaper into the water tank. Mrs. Rao who was observing this antic, rushed like M...

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“The Distressed Damsel” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. The entire jungle of the Eastern ghats reverberated with the sounds of cymbals, drums and bamboo pipes announcing the birth of the first royal child of the tribal kingdom of the Parja tribe . The kingdom which was hidden by the tall sal trees, and teak trees and bamboo groves, rejoiced as their king at last could father the heir of the parja dynasty. The long wait of two decades had come to an end. Meanwhile the kingdom saw a dozen weddings and...

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“The illusory Sellout” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #67

Around six that evening, when the doorbell rang, Eshan was busy getting things ready for the evening's party. Wondering who had turned up so early, he grumpily went to the door. It was Nathan. "I'm here to help you," he said with a smile. "How much can you possibly do all by yourself." Holding forward a single rose that had a long, slender stalk, he bowed “ I wanted to be the first to congratulate you and here is a rose for my thorny Eshan for his new assignment” Eshan knew that the emphatic 'all by yourself' was hardly intent...

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“The Crushed Rose” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #66

“ Saheb, saheb, please take this bunch of fresh roses for memsahib”, cajoling and running along the flashing BMW car was Rose, the flower girl, at the intersection where the car waited briefly for the signal to change from red to green. But before the passenger could decide, the light changed from Red to Green and the traffic moved like a giant wave leaving Rose behind like an abandoned sea shell on the beach waiting for the next wave to wash it back to the sea.  The name Rose stirs our imagination of royalty, soft te...

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“Thanatologist Tantrums ” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #65

Brown, dry leaves in every direction blew with rustling sound, a soft autumnal drizzle and icy wind added to my woes. I still walked aimlessly with so many thoughts rushing like traffic on a busy intersection. I reached almost the outskirts. My legs refused to take up one more step. Reluctantly I stepped inside the white wooden gate. To my dismay it was a graveyard with stone slabs end to end. Though it was creepy , I decided to take some rest before I could start my unknown journey. At seventy five , on...

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“The Invisible Anklets” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #64

“ chum, chum ...chum, chum” the sound of anklet bells could be heard distinctly. I opened my eyes to see the alarm clock on my bedside showing half past midnight. I thought may be it was my imagination playing tricks , the after effect of a horror story which I read in a off beat magazine bought few days back. An eerie silence followed. I wrapped my comforter more closely , shut my eyes tight and tried to sleep. “ Hello, good morning. Time to wake up and get ready”, came the polite instructions from my roommate Asha, who wa...

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“The Lone Bird” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #63

“ Ouch ! Uncle I told you several times not to pinch me or I will complain to mom”, I shouted at my uncle who was training us how to fly. He gave a dirty crowish look and once again pinched me.  “Dear mother’s pet , better do your exercise properly or next time it would be a kick on your lazy back!” He lifted his crow feet to kick me but smartly I ducked. The drill continued. “Stretch your Left wing , right wing stretch, flap, flap, fold your legs, head forward and take off”, shouting my uncle supervised a dozen ...

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“The Planetary Trick” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #62

I am Ralph Sastri, a thirty year old young man. Presently working in the ‘ land of opportunity ‘ the great America’. I was born in a little village in one of the Indian states. My folks believe in providence , superstition and astrological predictions .  I was the pampered child in the family who had the good fortune of being born after a half a dozen girls or let’s say my cousins born to my uncle. My father was proud to carry forward the family lineage . The joy of my grand parents had no bounds. It seemed m...

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“Down the Doll Lane” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #61

Getting down at Vishakapatnam airport Pihu , took the first available taxi towards the inter state bus stand. She had to catch the only bus which went to her sleepy town. She was excited about the trip. Firstly going to the little town and meeting her friend Beena after two decades and to witness the ‘Rath Yatra’ the annual fair. Pihu getting on to the bus realised that nothing much had changed about the rickety bus or the passengers. Pihu took a window seat. Fortunately there was no other passenger sharing the seat with her though the bu...

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“Why is the “T” Silent” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #60

“ Let me cling hard to this refrigerator door. At least it will keep me afloat. All these years I never had the good sense to learn swimming. What ever the material the door is made of, at least it’s able to bear my seventy kilos weight, as well as keep me above the dreadful yellow murky water” thought Vijaya. She remembered her last conversation with her mother. “Hello ma. You better speak loud. The signals seem weak. I am not coming home for this Christmas. No vacations for teachers handling senior classes. Anyway, the isl...

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“The Dull Sun” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #59

“Congratulations Mr.Nema. Here are your promotion orders. Now you will head the sales department of the branch office at Ghansore”, saying in his usual loud voice, the boss Mr. Iyer handed the letter to Suresh Nema. Suddenly all the curious office staff came forward to congratulate him on the much awaited promotion.  Mr. Nema didn’t get a chance to read the orders , he had to hurry to the parking lot for carpool with other three people who stayed in the same apartment block but didn’t work with him. He didn’t want...

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“The Ring on the Wrong hand” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

“ Wish there were high speed winds, blinding showers, thunder and lightning... yes yes please lord “,prayed little Ganesh. Next day morning he had to appear in the term exam. It was Mathematics paper.Though he loved his teacher Mr.Bisen, he hated the subject.  It was an usual practice in the little town, a little breeze or light shower was enough for the Raghu, the lineman to disconnect the power from the electric substation. He was so powerful that no one in the town dared to question him. A skinny fellow , barely tall...

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“The Trees Had All” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #57

The entire house hold of the Kapoor family was buzzing with far and close relatives who made a bee line to visit the the octogenarian Kapoor , who announced to make his “WILL”. Everyone waited to have at least a little slice of his vast estate. They wanted to be in the old man’s memory in case he might forget them which is quite common in that age.  Sons , daughters, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, first cousins, distant cousins, relatives from Mrs. Kapoor’s family , rela...

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“Lady Corona” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #56

“ Open the door! But don’t come out. First wear the suit, cover your head, put on your face mask properly. Pack your bags . Fast! No time ! we are waiting. Come down...” barked a terribly dry voice. “Thud” a packet was thrown carelessly close to my apartment door. I wondered who could dare to order me around ,barging into my premises? I gingerly picked up the packet with my left hand - smiling why we make the poor left hand to do all ghastly things and with two fingers of the right hand sli...

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