Barbecue Garnish

The teakwood tables were neatly arranged.

The stars did not twinkle that night.

The forks, knives, spoons lay motionless.

The Bordeaux lay still in the glass.

But there was some noise.

‘Ah the barbecue sauce’he said.

He garnished the brown sauce over the meaty red below.

Hush… usually Mr.Lecter, likes to have his dinner quietly.

Gyanban Thoughts - Inspired by Dr.Hannibal Lecter of Silence of the Lambs fame.!The focus is on the quietness of it all,the silence of it all,and the underlying,or dying in this case, noises in the barbecue pit.What makes it more chilling, if you notice, the story is being narrated by a third person - who is being made to watch this macabre episode, knowing fully well, it could well be his turn next to be in the barbecue sauce.!

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Pluck - If trees could talk...

This is a story of three friends Maple , Elma & Olivia.I am one of them.

One day the angels decided to go down to their favorite orchard and see how everyone was living their lives. They had been blessed with special powers to grant wishes.

There were three friends they were particularly keen on observing Maple, Elma and Olivia.

They had heard from the orchard that these were the best of the lot.

Maple wasn’t tall, she wasn’t the prettiest and no one quite took notice of her. She would stand in one corner all day long and watch the children play with many of her friends.

As time flew by she grew lonely and dejected, and felt she had no hope for the future. The summers were harsher than before, the winters were colder than ever, and she didn’t even quite enjoy the spring.

Just across the orchard, there was Elma. Tall beautiful, and magnificent. Every time she saw her, she grew even more depressed. Slowly, she began to lose her positivity about everything around her.The lilting rain she once loved had turned into nothing more than leeches and mud for her. She'd lost her friends, her acquaintances.

Seeing her so depressed, the angels swooped down and granted her a wish.

‘I want to be as tall as Elma’ she said.

‘Is that all?’ Are you sure?’. Asked the angels.

‘Yes I am’ Maple reaffirmed firmly.

Then the angels decided to pay a visit to Elma and see if she had any concerns.

‘I’m too tall, and often ostracized because of my height, I want to be like Maple, and be short and accessible, so that more people feel I am approachable and friendly. I am trapped in this perception.

Angels consulted with each other and decided to grant her the wish.

In third corner there was Olivia. She was quietly observing and thinking. The angels took notice and drifted towards her.

‘Olivia since Maple and Elma have been granted a wish, we are thinking if you had any?’ asked one of the angels.

‘Well I saw that, but I guess I am happy the way I am’

The angels looked surprised and asked again. Olivia nodded with the same answer.

‘Well then be happy, we will see you soon’ said the angels in unison and flew away.

Maple and Elma were ecstatic on their new found appearances and did not even notice each other’s change as they were so engrossed with themselves.

Olivia was the first to notice the oncoming storm. She shouted out to Elma and Maple but they wouldn’t listen. Olivia took protection firmly grounded herself and got ready to weather the storm.

Storm unleashed rain and thunder with strong winds. Elma being the tallest fell first. She could not weather the storm and finally fell to ground. Maple was short so she weathered the storm a bit better.

Olivia was the safest, she was ready for it and weathered it wonderfully well.

After the tumultuous night, sunrise showed the destruction all around. Olivia and Maple were the only ones left among all their friends. The orchard was looking like a blood strewn battlefield.

Seeing how lucky she’d been Maple laughed out loud. Hearing her laughter the scavengers nearby sensed that there could be something which would keep them busy for a while. Promptly, they

Reached the orchard and saw Maple laughing at her fortune. The scavengers saw this as a wonderful opportunity to catch her off-guard and took her away.

Olivia got saved as she stood quietly in the corner.

Many moons later, she went on to carry the man some people referred as Jesus.

~ Olivia.

Gyanban Thoughts - In this story, as is obvious Maple, Elma and Olivia are trees, Maple, Elm and Olive. Olivia is narrating the story.This fantasy fable is riveted around the basic premise of people being unhappy with what they have. We always want more or get into comparisons and want what others have.Little do we realize that along with the other side of the greenery, there are problems that come along too. Unfortunately our society is designed in such a way today that comparison brings out the worst in us and we chase that utopian existence.

There are instances where the cross which Jesus was crucified, was made out of Olive wood from the Olive tree.

The title Pluck means the quality of being brave and determined.

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Sounds of Silence

Silence speaks and screams,

sobs and dreams,

it leans and seems,

that it smirks,irks,

It kicks and sticks,

then fires and tires,

It misdirects and misconstrues,

and then settles in virtues.

Silence speaks in portraits,

and mutes in faces,

it speeds the hearts,

and wipes the scars,

It shelters the fear,

and exposes the smear,

It listens to the breaths,

and calms the frets.

Silence speaks through the touch,

If it matters so much,

why do we need the words crutch?

Gyanban Thoughts - In this noisy world , talking world, we forget to listen.We are eager to talk and let our point of views heard,yet not stopping a moment to listen to all that is happening around us,within us.Go out there,and listen to yourself !

image courtesy : here

Daddy's Little Girl

I've to go on a foriegn assignment.' Sylvester lied.

‘How can you leave me now, after all I ‘ve been through’ Catherine sobbed helplessly.

She knew it was for Rebecca.

Two days later, Sylvester barges in to Catherine’s residence.

‘It’s all over.

‘VC’s backed out of the funding.’

Cathering silently smiled murmuring‘Thank you Daddy.’

Sylvester too wipes the wicked smile off his face.

Gyanban Thoughts - this is a micro-fiction revenge story. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned! But here's the twist.I think we all thought Catherine told her dad to influence the removal of VC funding isnt it? But why did Sylvester smile wickedly? Think and tell.

image courtesy: here.

It's Time.

Now that the sun has set,

the "Anna" has been fed,

it's time to get back on track.

Rs.20 extra to reach office on time,

paying the school donation is no crime,

Parking fine,please dont take mine.

It's time for the external drive,

pirated movies and pride,

It's time for the fast net connection,

downloaded albums and devotion.

Need for speed or just counterstrike,

find the cheat code with a facebook like.

If exams are on with full tension,

find the leaking questions,

It's time for the Tuition classes,

A new opium for the masses.

I am so hungry skip the diet,

it's only to live, not cry at,

Extra cheese and diet coke,

my control is worthy of note.

It's time to laugh at the boss's joke,

Fall in line with every bloke,

Armchair policitcs and strategy,

I won't do a thing, but am not lazy.

Spot the accident on the road,

find the gap and dodge ahead,

Why get into this mess,

Dont I have enough stress?

Expecting wife, a shopping spree,

have a meeting,you re not free,

Watching serial , no fight,

Have an extra drink on the flight.

Cover the picture on the packet,

Light the smoke ,discuss the racket.

It's time for bed and inhibitions shed,

not tonight honey the mind said,

It's time for another day tomorrow,

It all starts with another sorrow,

but we get by with some conviction,

and on the fly

find time for some more personal corruption.

Gyanban Thoughts - In this brouhaha of anti-corruption, little does one wonder how we play hand in glove ,how you and I are a part of everyday corruption.Corruption to me is just not about money. It is about the mind.How we compromise and make a conveninet life for us and people around us.Just go with the flow.No one wants to break the chain, lest be ostracised and look like a total fool.

And we have our reasons. Ofcourse Anna could do it - but does he have to go to work every day & face deadline pressures,peer politics, and bosses tantrums? Does he have neighbours who just bought 3 BHK villas & remind him why a 2 BHK is so passe ? Does he have to deal with promotions at work? Or who got their faster , smarter ? Do his morning walk jogger friends remind what stock portfolio to maintain? Does he have to take a swiss vacation ? What about the 7 course meal at a 5 start restaurant? After all the festival season is on, does he not want a better deal on the washing machine ?Does he need not need the child to get into an elite school? Do his freinds remind him of why Reebok and not Sree Leather?

Sigh,

Chances are the answer is no for Anna. And the answer for you is an overwhleming YES. Face it.

While ,having a low need for all things material is probably ideal,but it is easier said than done for the upwardly mobile high disposable income gen X/Y of today.Our society is designed to be captialistic/material in nature - and therefore there s a vicious link to corruption in everyday life.

Money plays a big role in most peoples lives, but for us,it has taken ugly gigantic proportions in the name of growth and progress.

So until and unless we are prepared to change our mindset towards our everyday lives we will never end corruptiion of the mind and money thereof.The fear of facing consequences has to be dealt with firmly,collectively and repeatedly lest we get sucked in to the loop again.

image courtesy : Here

Unusual Suspect

‘I knew it. Bruce’s run away with the loot.’ Shouted Michael.

‘Now what are we going to do?’ asked a tensed Eric.

‘If we're Titanic,he has to be the boat it falls on.’

Michael turned around – ‘Calling the Police now.’

Click –Bang.

Smoke billowed out of Eric’s revolver.

… Eric fell down with a thud.

Gyanban Thoughts - Did Michael kill him ? Or Did Eric kill himself ? Did he die because he feared an imminent jail or did Michael kill him to stage a heist.This 55 fiction is a classic heist case. There is ample scope for speculation that Michael had something to do with Bruce not turning up with the loot, yet it could be Eric, and Michael found out about it.

image courtesy :desktopnexus.com

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