Strangers in the Night

September 02, 2012 , 69 Comments


This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 31; the thirty-first edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The theme for the month is 'Strangers in the Night'. 
Its a set of seven 55 word fiction written in true spirit of blog-a-hon. Hope you will like it.


I
They were best of the couples in town, wearing tallest of affection, bond and love throughout. Always by each other’s side they were like sun with light, flower with bloom. No occasion was complete without them. The love that’s so inseparable in the day turns its face in dark. They become strangers in the night.

II
He threw a glance over her body soaked in sweat and helplessness. His conscience took a wild flight and soon he was all over her. Slowly teasing, maneuvering and making her plead in pleasure. Her eyes glistened as she moved her hand behind him. She didn’t stop stabbing till his breaths disappeared from her skin.

III
Her eyes were fixed on the window. She once looked at herself and next at the clock. When the world takes rest, she became restless, awake, praying it to dawn at earliest. She splashed water several times over her but still couldn’t douse the fire that those strangers in the night burnt her house with.
(Post Gujarat Riots)

IV
He walked ahead furtively, reached to her and held her wet palms in his hands. She stopped in shock and turned at him. A look and she gave her doubts to rest. He walked her through the road and help board the bus. She blessed the unknown young man who helped her cross the road.


V
She marched ahead but the footsteps followed. A harsh smell of liquor and smoke burnt her ears. Holding her daughter’s hands, she began to run. He stopped her mid way and grabbed her hands. Take the money and let us go, she pleaded. He placed a key. “You dropped it near the gate no 9.

VI
Her sobs fade away in the creaks of night. She pleaded mercy but they laughed. Their hands leashed ahead and robbed her off dignity. She was alone and could not fight the mob. With broken faith she cried for help. They said her morality was low because she wore jeans. That day a nation died
(Assam Molestation Case)

VII
The train halted at Vashi station. He quickly stepped down and his eyes went looking around for a familiar face near female compartment. She didn’t come today. Dejected as he turned back to leave, she called him- Hi, I often see you here but we never spoke to each other, I am Isha. And you?


The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Introduced By: Ekta Khetan, Participation Count: -1

The autor is half Human, half machine. Go Figure or just revel in what I write

69 comments:

  1. SG02 September

    Heart rending narration of Gujarat riots and Assam molestation incidents. Very well written.

    “I often see you here but we never spoke to each other”. Hmm. Interesting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan03 September

      :) One of the experimentation...you too can participate from next time onwards as ur writing is very fluid n well constructed :)

      Did that all in last one hour..hope u liked it!

      Delete
    2. SG03 September

      I liked it very much Ekta.

      Delete
    3. ekta khetan03 September

      Thanks :)

      Which one is your favorite piece? Also if you can help me with ur personal ranking, it wud be grrrrrrrreat! :)

      Delete
    4. SG05 September

      Thanks for asking me Ekta. Here are my “individual” comments and my own personal ranking.

      1. Gay and lesbian people having a show off during daytime to hide their sexual orientation in public? Hahaha.

      2. Dangerous woman. Have to be careful.

      3. Tragic.

      4. Rare to find such a good guy nowadays.

      5. Nice guy even when drunk.

      6. Very sad.

      7. Very interesting. That guy is very patient, like me.

      My favorite is Number 4 where the guy helps the lady to board the bus.

      OK. Here is my ranking. My personal view.

      4, 5, 3, 6, 7, 1, 2

      Delete
    5. ekta khetan05 September

      Hey thanks for comments and the ranking...just a clarification or say interesting twist...I didn't write it for gay n lesbian but people who marry for social stigma and show!

      Ooops my lappie battery running outta charge..lemme get back tomo with rest of my comments...till then Ciao!

      Delete
    6. SG06 September

      Hmm. Very interesting. You wrote you “didn't write it for gay n lesbian but people who marry for social stigma”. OK. I agree. She must be a trophy wife for him. That is all. Nothing more. Agree?

      Delete
    7. ekta khetan09 September

      Trophy husband also...could be something other than as well...all open for wild imagination and guess work... Thanks for ranking!

      Delete
  2. Someone is Special02 September

    Dear Ekta Khetan,

    Thanks for participating.. Your link is working fine. Stay Calm.. PS: I'm yet to read your post.. Good Luck!

    Someone is Special

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan03 September

      Thanks so much :)

      Do read and let me know...I wrote in true spirit of blog-a-thon...from 10:30 pm to 11:30 pm today...wording each 55 word tale :)

      Delete
    2. Someone is Special04 September

      Wow!! Hats off to your writing.. It is difficult to write a 55 but you've written seven rendering great thoughts. I can feel your true spirit in writing.. Keep writing..! Good Luck for BAT!

      Someone is Special

      Delete
    3. ekta khetan04 September

      Thanks so much "Someone is special"....you truly are special and your comments made my efforts and day special too!

      Thanks for ur encouraging words. I fell its BAT that brought this writing in me...thanks so much :)

      Delete
    4. ekta khetan04 September

      Oopss.. *feel instead of fell! :)

      Delete
    5. Someone is Special04 September

      Glad BAT is helping you.. Keep writing.. Also comeback to vote for your favorites after reading them!

      Delete
    6. ekta khetan04 September

      Sure! Right now...I am my favorite:) Just joking!

      Delete
  3. muthu03 September

    hmhm... I loved your idea. esp the 2nd one. that made me sit up..

    Cheers...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan03 September

      Thanks Muthu, thats a new genre for me...I edited it quite sometime so that ppl do ot find it obscene. Also if I replace the word "helplessness" with "submission" would that make better sense?

      Delete
    2. muthu09 September

      Sorry for such a late reply, I just noticed your comment. I think helplessness is quite good in that situation. esp when seen from his perspective. -- Well the helpless girl does show her fangs in the end.

      Cheers to that.

      hmhm... You should try Mr.King's Novels. They are good dark stories that have the same dark tone.

      Delete
    3. ekta khetan10 September

      Thanks Muthu! And many thanks for voting for me as well :)

      Yes, though am not much into dark stories but thanks for recommendations...will try reading one soon :)

      Delete
  4. Arvind Passey03 September

    Eerie. Dark. Hitting. Loved the post in the poetry. Loved the poetry in the post.

    Hi! I'm Arvind - the poet. And you?

    Arvind Passey
    www.passey.info

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan03 September

      Thank you so much! I am Ekta the author of post in poetry and poetry in post :)

      Delete
  5. The Solitary Writer03 September


    Very nicely written Ekta


    Strangers in the Night

    ReplyDelete
  6. AmitAag03 September

    ..great story..nicely woven!
    All the best:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan03 September

      Thank you so much and welcome to my blog :)

      Delete
  7. Tomz03 September

    Great Theme and narrative. 55 fiction good choice. A post for revenge?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan03 September

      Thanks Tomz...your entry too is promising and pending to be read (open in my web browser since morning) :)

      A post for revenge?

      Delete
  8. RioZee03 September

    Real worth read. Eccellent gripping tale.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Diwakar Narayan04 September

    How well you have captured different shades of life!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan04 September

      Thanks so much...so which one you liked most? :)

      Keep visiting :)

      Delete
  10. O'S04 September

    I liked the fifth and the sixth best, but enjoyed all of them. Posts like these make me want to take up 55 fiction myself. Very good work and all the best!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan04 September

      Hi Sandy,

      Thanks so much :)
      Do write your 55 words fiction soon and pl don't forget to leave your link here. All the best :)

      Delete
  11. Unknown04 September

    Fiction in 55 at its best. Good ones. 5th and 6th my fav! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan04 September

      Thanks so much Vineet. Keep visiting! :)

      Delete
  12. Sanchyeta Srivastava04 September

    Nicely woven pieces put together... At first it seemed to be a big story in small parts. But, as I read the whole, then I understood... all the small pieces are an indication of one theme..... Strangers in the Night. :) Well done... Ekta. Keep it up...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan04 September

      Thanks so much Sanchyeta! I am glad that you liked them :)

      Delete
  13. Anonymous04 September

    Awesome write!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sia05 September

    Brilliant writeup Ekta.. Just when I finish reading one piece and decide this is the best, the next one supercedes. Very well written..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan05 September

      Thanks sooo much Sia! Pl do vote for me at BAT...the link is given in the post :)

      Delete
  15. T F Carthick05 September

    That was interesting. 7 different takes on the same topic portraying different situations that fit this topic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan05 September

      Thanks, The Fool! You have been here after a loooong time...second visit after that biker dude episode? :)

      Delete
  16. aludarm ;)05 September

    one single phrase,55 words,and you sum it up all! And not just once or twice but 7 times!
    Beautiful pieces, each one of these. :)
    "A look and she gave her doubts to rest." This was the highlight for me!

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan05 September

      Wow! I am so glad that you liked it. Thanks so much for your sweet words n appreciation! Take care and keep reading!

      Happy Blogging! :)

      Delete
  17. Gayatri Soni05 September

    Wow! great to come with different strangers in the night.

    Worth reading! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan05 September

      Thank you Gayatri...keep visiting1 :)

      Delete
  18. Karan Shah05 September

    wow!!! what a different take...i liked it all the way
    but the most i liked was 'post godhra riot' it sumps up it all very nicely
    ATB for BAT :)
    i could not participate...but u can see my post here
    Karan - Strangers in the Night

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan05 September

      Thanks karan....

      Such an encouraging comment that you have written. It really made my otehrwise damp day :)

      Checked ur post, its awesome!

      Delete
  19. Ranita Sinha05 September

    Hi Ekta..first time on your blog and I am speechless..seven stories summed up beautifully..one is better than the other..glad that i visited you..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan05 September

      Hey Ranita,

      I am so glad that you liked my post. Really. Love to see you more here. take care :)

      Delete
  20. Deepa Duraisamy06 September

    From a 55 fiction point of view, excellently written. Its amazing how you have convincingly managed to fit each of the incidents within 55 words. From a complete post perspective, again, nice because it gives a view of the myriad aspects of life and relationships! Though strangers in the night seemed to be only in the first set. I was kind of hoping you had fit it into each :) Best wishes of BAT!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan06 September

      Hi Deepa,

      Thanks for your sweet/ encouraging comments and am glad that you liked it.

      Reg ur query that on strangers in the night being present only in first set- I have used the theme in all the set by trying diff angles. For eg- the post on assam molestation:- The girl met some nasty strangers in the night who mocked off her dignity. In the old lady and young boy post- the stranger in night was friendly who despite being stranger helped the lady to cross the road and all. 3. The key wala post where the lady found a stranger that night who was weird that she got frightened by look n appearance whereas he was chasing not to hurt but to help.

      I could not write the words "strangers in night" as I was limited by usage of 55 words only. Hope that clarifies..pl let me know :)

      Delete
    2. ekta khetan06 September

      Hi Deepa,
      I am so glad you liked it...thanks for your wonderful comments, they are very much uplifting types :)

      Yes, I agree that I have not used the word "strangers in the night"in all other stories as I was limited by words limit and having established the context once, I used that space for incorporating other words while maintaining the same theme. For eg- In the Assam molestation story talks about a girl meeting cruel/ nasty strangers in the night. The Godhra story talks about how a person's home and everything was burnt by some strangers in the night. and hence forth. Trust that clarifies...let me know :)

      Delete
    3. ekta khetan08 September

      Hi deepa,

      Many thanks.,..Have been trying to post a reply but seems my format is not taking any more new comments..let me try again and get back

      Delete
  21. SG07 September

    I have tagged you. Please visit my blog for details.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Rahul Bhatia07 September

    It was a pleasure to read this all encompassing versatile post, Ekta!Keep writing:)

    ReplyDelete
  23. R. Ramesh07 September

    as all the comments here prove..super work ji..take care and best wishes

    ReplyDelete
  24. SG07 September

    You have been tagged. Please visit my blog for details.,

    ReplyDelete
  25. Kshitij KK Khurana08 September

    Great one!

    That was a very different way of expressing your thoughts.

    I can see a lot of effort's gone into it. It's come out well. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan08 September

      Thanks so much kshitij!

      Pl do vote for mat at BAT http://www.blogaton.in/

      Delete
  26. Kshitij KK Khurana08 September

    Woah.. where's my comment. Testing Testing (ignore this one)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan08 September

      Here's your comments! Actually in this template, you have to click the tab at bottom of page "load more" :)

      Delete
  27. Unknown09 September

    Ah so captivating. FFF at its best. Seven touchy pieces put aptly in varoius sociopolitical contexts. ATB

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekta khetan09 September

      Thanks Ash!

      You are so splendid. Loved your comments :)

      Delete
  28. Richi Baidwan09 September

    That was a job well done! All the best for BAT :D

    ReplyDelete

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