Zeeshan Mahmud

“The Fakir” by Zeeshan Mahmud

Submitted to Contest #207

In the latter part of the 17th century India, there lived a fakir well-versed in black magic who was purported to resurrect the dead. He gained some prominence although eyewitness accounts and testimony of his feat were sparse and scanty.  It is presupposed he hailed from an ancient syncretic faith of Hinduism, Sufism, and Islam. Although Quran forbade the performance of black magic, there has been history of the occult in Islam, none other than the famous book Shams al-Ma'arif being the most well-known among t...

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“The Last Imaginative Diary of Dr. Freyburg” by Zeeshan Mahmud

Submitted to Contest #206

Disclaimer: Contains themes of abuse, suicide, and physical violenceHour 1There is not a drop of ink in the room. As white as a polar bear's backyard. I am dressed in ice-cold tuxedo as well. It is madness. But I know I can breeze this like a SEAL would do BUD/S. In fact, this is vacation for me. I always craved some quiet time after my Wall Street buzz wore off from back in the days.I know plenty of food will be here. I can also do pushups. Of course, I have to get u...

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“The Crazy Psychologist” by Zeeshan Mahmud

Submitted to Contest #206

Disclaimer: The following contains graphic scene involving snakes as well as abuse and strong language. Reader discretion advised.Varun Sharma had life long fear of snakes. Black mambas, anacondas, rattle snakes, garter snakes and… cobras. Especially cobras. The way the fake eyes on the hood looked at one to scare away the predators was enough to induce Hitchcockian nightmare. There was once a sprite - his neighbor’s kid- who threatened to leave a box with a snake inside in front of his do...

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“The Ritual of 369” by Zeeshan Mahmud

Submitted to Contest #205

Warning: Contains a scene of extreme violenceThere was an old-fashioned blackboard in the dining room. And just like the wooden times there were broken chalks and duster on the ledge.Soh picked a half-broken one up as puffs of calcified dust fell on her tiny palm. Then she got up on a small stool and scrawled:Let there be world peace!Let there be world peace!Let there be world peace!Then she took the duster and wiped i...

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“"They will chop off your penis!"” by Zeeshan Mahmud

Disclaimer: The following contains images and references of blood, graphic content and references to male anatomy."They will chop off your penis!"You will be okay. No he didn't say that. The father looked at the timid kid of half. Was he mocking me? He wondered. But then again everyone at school in both so-and-not-so sotto voce knew the joke. But few admitted as to what it truly entailed.He loves his father. But he cannot help but wonder he was enjoying the p...

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“The Man With No Face” by Zeeshan Mahmud

Submitted to Contest #204

Warning: Contains graphic scene and language “See the thing with a n— like me is that n—-s are confused as to if I am really a n—- n—-uh or a just a plain ol’ albino n—--. And I ain’t gon beat ‘rund the bush no mo’. If your boy haddn dun this 90 years go … f—-in slang my brain with that chayain and fry ma face over the grill like a charred hickory ol’ babacue sauce man… f— no. I ain’t square danc...

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