brilliantnut

Flash Fiction scratch pad

Mon, 18 May 2009 09:48:47 GMT

T: I had this friend in school
T: he was a year senior to me
T: and dating this girl in my class
T: now the girl's parents forbade them from going out so they got a junior, a year younger than me to deliver their messages to each other. finally girl fell for the junior and started dating both junior and senior. senior had no clue about what was going on.
T: when he finally found out, he gave the junior a black eye, went up to the terrace of his building (naval buildings are short in some cities, this one had 3 floors)
me: uh oh.
T: and threatened to jump because of the betrayal
T: finally he did jump
me: Tezaab style... :-P
T: and ended up breaking his leg
T: yeah totally
me: ouch.
me: it mustn't have been very hard for the junior to do some simple manipulation to take benefit of the situation....
me: Girl (to junior) : Tell Senior that I'm free at 4 PM, and come and meet outside the coffee shop
Junior (to senior) : She said that she's not free to meet you at all..
me: Girl (at 4 pm outside the coffee shop): Where is Senior?
Junior (present at the right time at the right place): Oh, I wonder why he didn't come... here, let me get you a coffee while we wait...
me: --- Many hours pass ---
T: hahahahahahaha
me: At 8 pm, outside coffee shop...
Girl (literally in tears in the arms of Junior): How dare he stand me up like that?
Junior (comforting her) : something urgent must have come up... come, I'll drop you home...
Girl (to junior): oh, you're such a sweetie.... you want to come upstairs for coffee?
SCORE!
T: all said and done, I disliked the girl's role in this triad
T: oh she was quite the player, that one.
me: how could you blame the girl in this situation, is something beyond me.. :-P
T: you could totally write flash fiction based on this
me: that's what I was thinking... :-P

[Flash Fiction] The Pick Up Line

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:47:22 GMT

It started with a glance.

It was a Friday, and as usual, I was out pub-hopping with my colleagues from work. It was a weekly ritual, that helped us get the frustration of staring at an LCD display all week out of our systems. Amidst the insane laughter accompanying the inane office humour, I happened to glance towards the door, and saw her enter.

Perhaps, it was a matter of chance, or maybe even providence, but she happened to look towards me at the very same moment. Eyes met, and there was a slight glimmer of... something. But then she smiled innocently, and I couldn't help but smile back.

She was wearing a simple sleeveless, knee length summer dress. A slender body, graceful walk, jet black silky hair; she seemed like some angel stepping onto earth.

As she walked to a table with the bunch of friends she came in with, I counted heads. Headcount + Body Language added up to good news in my head. She was single, and hopefully ready to mingle.

As the evening progressed, there were many silent glances exchanged between the two of us. Somehow, she did not seem to mind the fact that I was so blatantly checking her out, and instead was returning the favour.

As I got more drunk, and my inhibitions were lowered, I formulated the perfect pick-up line in my head. As I emptied out the Tequila shot, my confidence rose to the brim. I got up, walked towards her, rehearsing my first words in my head, confident in the knowledge that it would work.

As I woke up to the bright glare of the afternoon sun, I wondered whether the events of last night actually happened, or was it all a dream? As I cleared the cobwebs in my head, I remembered the pretty face, beautiful smile, the glimmer of anticipation as I walked towards her... What had happened then?

As I racked my head to remember the culmination of my walk to fame and started adding toothpaste to toothbrush, the answer stared back at me from the palm of my left hand. Whatever my pick up line was, it must have worked...

9156867890

Hmm. Now, if only I could remember her name...

I started this flash fiction while drunk, and couldn't remember the end when I woke up (had only written the first 3-4 paragraphs). Have been thinking about it for a while, but couldn't think of a good punch line. The good folks on #xkcd-love helped me finish it.

[Flash Fiction] The Mugger

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:03:27 GMT

Why was he staring at me?

Well, not really staring, but more like giving me shifty looks. Whenever I was looking out of the window of the rocking bus, I could feel his eyes on me. But every time I looked at him, he looked away.

Suspense novels, thriller movies, the internet and my overactive imagination had given me an unhealthy dose of paranoia. I could think of at least five different reasons why this dude would want to mug me, and not all of them deserve mention in polite company. Needless to say, I was very uncomfortable throughout the half an hour long bus ride. I was hoping he got off before or after me, so I could put my mind to rest.

In any case, I went over every scenario that could unfold in my head. I revised my Blue Belt katas in my head, confirmed that my pocket-knife was accessible easily. You see, said paranoia had ensured that I was somewhat prepared for any emergency. Now, I hadn't ever had the chance to test my self-defense skills in real life, and, being the peace loving personality that I am, didn't even want to test out said skills, but if this dude wanted a fight, I would totally show him a fight.

My fears were magnified at the end of my journey, when he got off the bus at the same stop as I did. As I started walking away from the bus-stop, he was following me at a distance of a few paces. I kept an eye on him using reflections off the glass paned buildings, passing cars. By the next ten minutes as I navigated through the crowded city streets, hoping to lose him, I became fairly certain that this incident was going to come to a violent end.

As I stepped into a deserted lane, en route to my office, I made up my mind to end the torment. Without the support of the reflective surfaces surrounding me, I had no way of knowing whether the footsteps behind me were his, without looking back, and I was determined to not do that. I slowed down, and waited for him to catch up. Adrenaline was pumping through my veins, and my heart was throbbing. I half shut my eyes in anticipation...

As the footsteps came closer, he went past me, turned around, and said to me, "Dude, I've been noticing since the bus.. Your fly is open.", and walked away.

As I walked into my office, my breathing had calmed down, and I had relaxed to the point of the whole incident being funny in retrospect. The HR chick came up to me and reminded me of the interview I had scheduled, and that the candidate had just arrived moments ago....

[Flash Fiction] The Geeks have inherited the World.

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:18:17 GMT

I opened my eyes to a splitting headache. "Some game, huh?", I said out loud, but received no response. The bed next to me was warm.

Something was wrong. I was usually able to approximately locate her within the apartment by the assortment of sounds accompanying whatever she was doing, but I couldn't hear anything right now. The glowing green digits of the holographic clock were blinking 2106:10:06 WED 0203 in a fashion that usually irritates me.

My reflexes kicked in, and I pulled out the mini-blaster from the drawer, and was at our room's door by the time I had released the safety catch. After ascertaining that the hallway was clear, I got to work at the control panel in the passage.

Three individuals, dining room. One female on the floor, warm, still. I release a breath I did not realize I was holding. She is alive, albeit unconscious. Two males, pacing the room, along with two Curie signatures. Armed. Heavily, looking at the Curie counts. Looked like I was a goner.

Except, they forgot two things. (1) Never attack a geek on his home turf. The overactive imagination ensures that they have rehearsed and prepared for various unusual scenarios in their heads. (2) Never ever attack a geek's girl without taking out the guy first. An angry geek does not lose his cool, he only gets more determined and will hurt you worse. These guys were dead meat.

I got to work on the console, and start getting various necessary items out from my inventory. Stun gun, check. Blaster loaded, check. Both ankle knifes, check. Laser pistol, check. Laser-proof armour, check. Ear-plugs, check. Second pair of ear plugs for her, check. Electromagnetic handcuffs (previously used for interesting activities...), check. Dark glasses, check. Shiny black overcoat, check. Baby, its show-time!

Phase 1: Incriminating Evidence. I've got them recorded on CCTV, and have set a delay timer to send it to Security-ops, to protect me from prosecution, in event of success, and to get them caught in the unlikely case of failure.

Phase 2: Visual disorientation. I set the dining room lights to pulse at various significant frequencies, designed to cause immediate discomfort, blind-spots and headaches. She was safe here because she was unconscious. At the very least I hope she had the good sense to shut her eyes.

Phase 3: The strike. Ensuring their location on the CCTV, I enter into the dining room precisely in step with a particularly high flash of the lights. Stun gun shots take them both down before they know whats happening. This was almost too easy.

Phase 4: Auditory annihilation. I get to her prostrate form, and insert the ear-plugs in her ears. A quick click of the fingers later, an ultrasound pitch of sound blasted through my 9.1 surround sound speakers. It would be a long time before those two would hear again.

OK, things seemed to be somewhat under control now. I tie both the guys with their backs to each other. Now, time to get her in the room. I overturn her to pick her up... Wait a minute, this isn't my wife at all... Suddenly the chick opens her eyes, pulls out my blaster from my hip-holster, and shoots me in the head.

As I black out, I have the grim satisfaction of seeing my name on the high score list, before the ominous "Game Over" splash.

I opened my eyes to a splitting headache. "Some game, huh?", I said out loud, but received no response. The bed next to me was warm.

Something was wrong...

[Flash Fiction] The Best Day of my Life

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:23:29 GMT

I woke up before my alarm rang. This rarely, if ever, happens, but that day was different from the word 'go'. I had a gut feeling that good things were about to happen to me. Now those who know me, know that I have a hopelessly optimistic outlook to life, but today seemed especially bright to me too.

I was shaved, bathed, clothed and ready to roll by the time Mom was up. This is something that only happens when I have an early morning flight to catch, and only half the time then. Then again, Mom only needed one look at the radiance on my face to be convinced that I wasn't ill today.

I was the first one to reach office. This is something that never happens, and my teammates assumed I had been in office overnight, as was a constant habit. No one even took notice of the constant smile on my face since these guys are somewhat used to seeing me smile for no reason. They were a bit amazed at the higher than usual amount of top-notch code that I churned out. They were even more amazed at me packing up and getting ready to leave at the usual time I come in. Its rare for any boss to compliment someone who is leaving early, but I could see the work I had put in that day already impacting the quarterly appraisals.

I pulled my car into her driveway bang on time. This is something that has happened occasionally, but she was pleasantly surprised nevertheless. I'm not sure if she noticed that something was different, but the good mood was contagious, and we were in splits of laughter by the time dinner ended. Clumsy as I am usually, I managed to get through this date without breaking or spilling anything. After all, I could do no wrong today!

At her doorstep, she kissed me. This was not the first time this happened, but this one was the kiss of the lifetime. This was the kiss that tells the guy that this is the girl of his dreams, and awakens in him the desire to move heaven and earth for her happiness. This was the kiss that tells the girl that this guy is going to treat her as a princess all her life, and he's a keeper. Most importantly, this was the moment I was subconsciously waiting for since a long time.

I dropped to one knee and showed her the ring I've been carrying with me since a while. This was the first time this happened, and my only regret for the entire day is that the moment was never captured on camera. No words were necessary. The shocked look on her face, followed by the most beautiful smile I've ever seen was enough for me. As I transferred said ring from the box to her finger, her eyes misted over, and she gracefully fell into my arms. We held each other for a long time that night.

I think its okay to be late all the time. The odd day that you do everything on time, good things happen.

[Flash Fiction] The Break Up

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:03:07 GMT

"I'm breaking up with you", she said, sobbing.

While my world was shattering around me, my mind went to full alert, analyzing the situation at overclocking speeds. Something wasn't right.

We've been happy together. I've never cheated on her, hurt her at all, and there is no reasonable event in the near past that should have triggered this. Of course, she has been slightly lapse in talking to me...

The dots connect. There is someone else. One of my worst fears has come to pass, and my deepest insecurity has been exposed. There have been many guys constantly vying for her attention, and while talking to her, I've always confidently claimed that I don't worry about them much, while secretly plotting to kill all of them in my daydreams.

My heart was burning... Do the years of togetherness matter none at all? Is all the joy that we've shared worth nothing? Where did I go wrong?

But she always accused me of thinking with my head rather than my heart. Time to put that head to good use.

Why was she crying? Is that something girls just do when breaking up? I don't think she would. She's being prompted. The infinitely optimistic part of my brain fires and tells my heart that it can still salvage this.

"Really?", I say into the phone after barely five seconds, putting everything I feel for her to make up for the thousands of miles between us, "Why don't you tell me the same thing over dinner," and after a strategic pause, "without him present?"

"So, you're back together?", my best friend was looking at me intently over his steaming latte, "But will you be able to forgive her?"

"Of course I will," I said, meeting his eyes, "I love her."

[Flash Fiction] End of a Relationship

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:16:53 GMT

It has been nearly seven years now. We've seen the best of each other. We've seen the worst of each other. Through good times and bad, we've been constant companions.

We started out together in college. We would go together, come back together. What started as a simple companionship soon grew more, and we would go out with friends for movies, coffee or pool. As we started spending more and more time together, we grew closer, and started having a lot more alone time. Often, we would go out on a whim, get drenched in the rain, and enjoy it tremendously.

Of course, I would be lying if I said that everything was perfect. Every friendship has bumps, and ours had its fair share along the road... Jealousy, anger, mistrust, betrayal; we've survived it all. Honestly, there were mistakes on both sides. I can't even count the number of times I have been stood up. Likewise, I'm somewhat ashamed (in retrospect) about shamelessly drooling at other options. As I grew more involved in my work life, I had less and less time for the random excursions that we both used to enjoy so much. Still, the important factor is that, even after all had been exhausted, we were there for each other.

Once, we had an accident together. It was a serious one, especially for me. My injuries were so severe that I don't even recall the details of how it happened. Yet all through the agonizing torment, we were concerned for each other first. The next six months were terrible. Each day, we would see each other, but both our injuries prevented us from being out together. That period taught us the value of our company. We came back from the injuries changed, especially in the way we saw each other.

Still, seven years is a long time for such a relationship. There have been others before me, and there might be others after me, but I'm certain that this has been, and will be, the one partnership which will leave the deepest impact on us. All good things must come to an end however. These days, there is no joy left, it's all just routine. We have both come to the silent realization that it is time to move on. Even the time that we do spend together is mostly by necessity and not by choice. Maybe parting is the right thing to do.

Yet, I'm still having trouble letting go. After all, selling my first motorbike is not an easy decision to make.

Happiness in a phone call

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:44:15 GMT

Sometimes so much happiness is derived from a phone call which lasts only a few minutes, and all conversation is whispered, that it just makes the day!

Who knows this better than me!

The long, dark tea-time of the soul

Wed, 24 May 2006 13:22:59 GMT

Char din ki chandni thi, ab andheri raat hai

The four days of moonlight are over, now the long dark night begins...

A hopeless optimist usually, I've never felt this hopeless before

Yet another blog.

Wed, 24 May 2006 02:03:07 GMT

This is my fourth blog/journal. Given my past records of regularity in updating stuff, I don't think that anyone should be holding their breaths for content here :)

Why am I here?

Because I found a couple of friends on LJ, and I figured I might as well sign on, to let other people find me a bit more easily ;)

What am I going to post here?

I don't know, haven't figured out that bit yet :(