WORD SALAD

It has been 3 weeks since the last post I am told. I present episode 11, not as many stories as the previous episodes, hopefully it makes up for that in other ways. :)  #71 Silent letters   He tried repeating after the man on screen pacing around the room. The word sounded different when he said it. What did it mean? He couldn't understand this language but wished he could. His neighbour went to school, she'd help him for sure.. She could've been his grand daughter, a fraction of his age.. They sat there, outside their shanty in the evenings. With the street lamps illuminating their choppy progress. Her tiny fingers and then his rugged ones would trace the letters. Why would they put letters in a word, that would be silent? These foreigners were odd people, he told himself. People made fun of him. What was the point of it all the asked. He pretended to be deaf and aloof,which mostly worked. He soon learnt enough words to be able to read subtitles. Four letters...

After a break, and what can be kindly described as a low phase, here is Episode 10. Few things make me as happy as drives around Bombay. Totally recommended (though only during non traffic hours). Hope it is a good read :)  #64 Taxi She wearily got into the taxi. Long day at work. The lift was out of order. She had spent most of her day on the staircase. She had just finished talking to one of the most toxic people she knew. Not only was her friend never happy, she ensured the caller was miserable too. She couldn't understand how people never enjoyed little things. He got into the taxi after her, and started to r amble about traffic. Politics. The country was going to dogs. Pollution. All the old buildings that needed to be demolished. So many skyscrapers could be built in the same area. She shuddered at the thought of it. Skyscrapers reminder her of graveyards, they felt like vertical graves housing the living dead. She had tuned him out. She was gazing out...

This week is again a mash of fiction, reality ( love you guys,you know who you are) and fantasy ( I sincerely hope somebody figures this out). To those who enquired over the weekend for a new episode- I am grateful. Episodes are always given at Word Salad to those who ask for it. Images are courtesy Google as always except for one. #57 Rebound  He was sad, sore. Angry. He hated everything. Everyone told him all he needed was a rebound. They tried setting him up, asking friends to meet him. He wasn't interested. It wouldn't be the same.He met people because he was asked to. Somebody had taken the efforts. H is heart wasn't in it.  His ex had long left,but had left his ashes behind. She had burnt him over the years.  Roasted his dignity. Seared his efforts to keep their marriage alive.  Blanched his self respect. Broiled his public image. She had left him, stewing in self-hate, disgust and doubt. He had thought something was wrong with him. She was so sweet...