Flash Fiction (also called micro-fiction or short-shorts) presents a simple challenge: tell a story with all the classical elements: a beginning, middle and end, a conflict and resolution, a credible protagonist.. but do so in a very limited number of words. the theme is message and i'm sending it to the Kala Ghoda festival. this is the first time i'm experimenting with flash fiction. the story is ambiguous and strange [ its meant to be]. enjoy!
His floppy ears cocked at the sight of the venomous monster. It made raucous ‘clink!’ noises and flashed its sharp, distorted teeth as it rode past him. A young lad with scruffy hair and dark, flaky skin rode it, with a large bundle flung across his shoulders.
Hari gave the monster a cursory glance and shrunk into his master’s shadow. They were coming for him… the same monster, shadowy lad, heavy bundle…exactly like the ones in lizard-lore…. Another death…. today would be his last night…
A sausagey figure with what looked like cigarette stubs for legs darted towards him. “It’s them!” Hari whimpered. “Run, Tango! They’ve come to get me…or you!”
“Ah!” snorted Tango, with a wild, playful look in his eyes. “I’ve lived two years of my life like a king. I need some challenges. I want to be a human next birth.” he added with a wag, “If you’re troubled, contact the B.O.N.E. for protection!”
“Yeah!,” said Hari, still looking a little troubled. Tango didn’t believe in lizard-lore, so he took the whole situation lightly. And there was Mumbai, brimming with them, those ‘Mauthwallas’! To people it simply looked like a laundry boy on his cycle. But they were monsters. They brought bundles of clothes starched with death and pain. They rang an odd bell on the porch of their next prey….
His master was hapless too. He wouldn’t be able to protect himself from these ‘Mauthwallas’. Hari struggled to communicate this message, but all he could do was cock his ears, twist his tongue and dart home, dragging his master behind him.
“We must try to avoid those cycles, or this dog will never walk properly.” His mistress mumbled.
Hari blinked at his owners and gave them a satisfied sigh. He had managed to convey his message!
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6 comments:
Rheaa Rao - simply fabulous! I'd come across 'Sudden Fiction' and 'Flash Fiction' seems even better!
Smita
there's also something called 'Nano-fiction' aka very,very, very, very, short stories.
-tolerable,tolkien-like teen
RHEAA RAO
CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THIS FLASH FICTION?
flash fiction- stories that have everything that short stories do... an introduction, conflict, main characters, etc. except they're really , really short
[usually not more than 300-400 words]
have u read this book called the angel stone?? really good. anyway, pertaining to the post, loved it, but i love everything to do with doga and animals in general. u r so lucky to have a dog like that!
This is great! Love the twist at the end, never realised it was actually an inanimate cycle! It's actually interesting how you've captured this all from a dog's point of view and how they may see the world... I actually believed the 'monster' was some kind of an actual living beast! Oh and B.O.N.E.? Lol, that was a nice pun!
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