Already?

Please understand, I’m not complaining, I’m just astonished. Very well, then. Today is Friday and that means it is time to write (and read) nanofiction. I’ve become fond of this little ritual of ours, even if it seems to make the week go by far too quickly. 😉

I am elated by the amount of thought, effort and cleverness you are all displaying in our humble comments section. What some of you can fit in a mere 55 words is astounding and delightful– each piece of nanofiction tastes like a well-crafted truffle which leaves me sightless out of joy, as I savor the supple flavors.

Enough with my fawning all over you future-Salmans-and-Jhumpas, let’s get on with it!

Like last week, my title for this post is borrowed from a song–and this is no ordinary song…’twas one of my absolute faves when I was a moody teen–“Blue Monday” by New Order. Am I sad? No, but it’s so kind of you to be concerned. I’m “blue” because I thought I’d add an extra pinch of curry leaves to my weekly lit sabzi.

Today, boys and girls, ladkas and ladkis, adas and edis, we have a theme. Cease with that grumbling at once! This is just a suggestion for you to consider as you contribute your usual morsels of genius. I must say though, “blue” is a rather expansive starting point, if you’re in the mood for a little extra writing-bondage.

After the jump: my top three……from last week.

Project 37 might need to change the numerical portion of their name, if they keep up with this kind of suspenseful goodness:

She was screaming. A nightmarish sound of agony and terror rang against the echo of a promise to protect her forever. It taunted him, making that vow seem empty and meaningless. HeÂ’d never witnessed such brutality.

She fell silent. He didnÂ’t know what to do.

The doctor asked if heÂ’d like to cut the cord.

Reading thekingsingh’s 55 just now made me misty all over again, just like it did last week:

“Lakhi! Jaldi aa! You’re going to be late!” called his mother from the kitchen.

Lakhi finished tying his patka and looked himself over, trying to ignore the now purple bruise under his left eye that he got at school. Looking at his face in the mirror, he recited his daily prayer.

“Please, just leave me alone.”

Finally, Kush Tandon’s example of nanofiction gets a special shout-out because it inspired another 55, and we all know how I feel about “follow-ups“. 😉

Overheard at Delhi National Airport, while waiting for a flight.

Mrs. Mehta, a top executive at McKinsey telling her daughter over the mobile phone, “Now Pinky darling listen, tell Ayah Ma (nanny), if she speaks in her Hindi again to you, we will deduct 10 Rupees each time from her salary. Our house always English.”

Ready? On your mark, get set…BLUE!