Are we really?

“Just another mad day on the road, honey! So sorry I’m not home for your birthday.”

This was the world of young, ambitious Sam. Harvard Grad. McKinsey Consultant. Racing through life.

Only for the pandemic to strike.

No more mad days on the road. No girlfriend to talk to, either.

Written in response to Justin Deming’s prompt for the week — ‘Moonlight Mile’.

The lyric I used for the story is — ‘Just another mad mad day on the road’.

Racing Through Life was originally published in The Friday Fix on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

In sickness and health,
We vowed to stay together
How naive was I?
For the first sign of a storm
And you left me high and dry

Written in response to Brett Christensen’s prompt — ‘Dry’.

Inspiration credits — ‘High and Dry’ by Radiohead.

I’m doing wonderful, just fine, thank you

Whenever you ask,

“How are you?”

I wanna scream—

About the demons in my mind,

The tempest in my heart,

The burden in my being.

But I can’t do that,

Not to you anyway, Mom.

So I take a deep breath,

And mumble,

“I’m doing wonderful, just fine, thank you.”

Written in response to the prompt for the week — ‘Stay High’.

As someone deeply passionate about mental health, the line — “I’m doing wonderful, just fine, thank you” stood out to me and I knew I just had to use it!

How Are You? was originally published in The Friday Fix on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Each day of my life,

Stretches like an eternity.

And in the drudgery of office work,

I often wonder

Where my purpose truly lies?

Not perhaps, in the grid lines of an Excel sheet.

Each day of my life,

Stretches like an eternity.

And in the misguided hope of meeting the one,

I often wonder

If my soulmate even exists?

Not perhaps, since I’ve already sold my soul.

Each day of my life,

Stretches like an eternity.

And in the bubble of my comfort zone,

I often wonder

Will I get the six-pack that I crave?

Not perhaps, as I munch on a bag of chips.

Each day of my life,

Stretches like an eternity,

But when strung together

Day after day,

Life just passes me by.

Not perhaps, if I decide to act today!

Days of My Life was originally published in Blue Insights on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

In your bright blue eyes
I have seen the universe
Moments of magic

Written in response to Deborah Christensen’s prompt — ‘Magic’.

PS: Welcome to the world, Sienna!

A kayaking escapade

Goa, India. Circa 2005.

I’m a ten-year-old boy on my first tryst with the rising ocean.

Stupidly enough, on a kayak.

Wave after wave washes me down. Oh, such commotion and fear!

My dad looks on. And laughs.

“A calm sea never made for a skilled sailor, son!”

Written in response to Justin Demming’s prompt for the week — ‘Manifest’. The phrases that I have chosen for my story are ‘Rising Ocean’ and ‘Such Commotion and Fear’.

Go Against the Flow was originally published in The Friday Fix on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

A new life beckons

Twenty years a child
He arrives at the crossroads
Rise and shine, young man!

Written in response to Brett Christensen’s prompt — ‘Shine’.

“Mom, could I borrow your white floppy hat for our beach picnic today?”

“Sure, honey!” replied Lisa, rummaging through her hat collection and reminiscing how much she disliked her long frizzy hair after a day in the sun and sand.

Thankfully, years of chemotherapy had taken care of that problem.

Written in response to Justin Demming’s prompt ‘Lisa Sawyer’. The lyric I chose to use for this story is — ‘Hair long as the sea’, and I honestly did not expect myself to go in such a dark direction when I began writing.

Bad Hair Days was originally published in The Friday Fix on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Digital zombies,
Life consumed by slow decay
Did I get more likes?

Written in response to Brett Christensen’s prompt ‘Consume’.

The middle line is from my favorite Pink Floyd song — High Hopes.

A Tale of Toxic Love

We have known each other for four years. Built a myriad of memories. Had our share of fun. Seen the good, bad and ugly. But the spark is dead now. No more chemistry. No more meaningful days together. None of the warmth we first felt. Why care about it though? Why keep up with the pretense that is our relationship? Spending time together has become a compulsion rather than a celebration. An ordeal that has to be rushed through, not a moment that has to be savored. I do not know if the feeling is mutual. Perhaps it does not matter much to you.

After all, it was I who came to you in the first place. It was not in my nature to take such a step, but my friends persuaded me to go for it. Carpe Diem! A tale to recite for many years, I remember thinking. You did not welcome me with open arms but you did not repel me by any means. And in a couple of meetings we took to each other like a fish to water. We shone at social gatherings and my friends enjoyed your company too. With you by my side I felt invincible; ready to take up any challenge and come out on top. You showed me a way of life which had been alien to me for the past 16 years. As I basked in the glory of my new found social stature, I marveled at the fact that you could turn my world around in such a short span of time.

That was the time when things started to fall apart, at least for me. Even at the outset we seemed like an odd couple. I was the nerdy introvert and you were a firebrand. I feared this and started becoming apprehensive of your behavior. At times, I felt that you were completely over-powering me. All the time spent with you was enjoyable still, but it came at a cost. I kept missing work for you and all my free time was wrenched apart. You lingered on my mind all day and this obsession kept diverting me from the task at hand.

I felt the urge to cut you out of my life. Remember the time when I tried to ignore you so hard? My mind told me I was better off without you but my timid heart submitted to the overwhelming desire. When we got back together it was an incredible feeling. We had a great time the next few months. Your dominant behavior seemed to have receded and we were making peace with each other.

However, this was only a temporary respite.

Fast forward to the present and I have realized that you are a parasite. You have the incorrigible ability to leach the blood and soul from my mind and body. Time and again I have been put in positions of mental and physical stress. These days when you are around, my brain seems cluttered. My windpipe constricted. Your domineering behavior has knocked the air out of my lungs. But I won’t put up with you anymore. No matter how much you try to convince me, I will not be tantalized. Our association has been bitter-sweet but it is time we end it.

Dear cigarette, I quit you.

I Quit was originally published in Blue Insights on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.