Three Words:Three Stories - Part 1

The stories that emerge from your deep experiences often tend to be most honest. You don't care whether your readers will like them or not. What matters is your ability to write what you want.

Last few weeks have been a struggle to re-live some experiences and draw inspiration from them.

This post has three words shared on our Readers' Club WhatsApp group and the stories I wrote about them.

Hinterland

noun [hin-ter-land]

the remote or less developed parts of a country; back country

Tale: Embrace

He buried all his negative thoughts in the hinterlands of his mind. Not knowing how to deal with them, he carried on for years, with problems in his life. It was a great way for a workaholic like him to just bulldoze ahead. His calm exterior and manner of speech belied the violence that had taken root in his heart. He didn't realize he was on the edge and tipping point was just days away. As he walked down from his office today, a woman appeared from nowhere and hugged him. The embrace was selfless and warm. The dams in his eyes opened, as if he had lived for this moment. When he wiped the tears, after what seemed like an eternity, the darkness engulfed him. The woman was not there. But a light shone bright somewhere inside.

Mutable

adjective [myoo-tuh-buh l]

given to changing; fickle or inconstant

Tale: Fashionable Smile

Today it was red and yesterday it was burgundy. The highlights of her hair color changed so often that, I had lost count. She, the girl of my dreams, somehow kept up with the mutable trends in fashion. Some of her idiosyncrasies were beyond my understanding. Like that time when she started matching her scarves' color with her artificial lenses. Once the shrugs caught her fancy in peak summers. The sweat on her brow didn't deter her. But I loved her for something constant. She was kind and ever smiling. Her smile complimented every fashion whim of hers. That smile will never go out of season.

Ignominy

noun [ig-nuh-min-ee, ig-nom-uh-nee]

disgrace; dishonor; public contempt

Tale: The Suspect

It was a momentous day today for him, for his family. The judgement on his corruption case was to be pronounced today. He was accused of taking huge bribes for passing a sub standard bridge. When bridge collapsed, several people were killed. He had a spotless career till then. His case dragged for three years, where he systematically proved his innocence. The verdict that was delivered today, was a slap on the face of his detractors and those people who ran a slanderous media trial against him. As he walked out of the court premises a free man, he realized that while he is no longer a criminal in the eyes of law, he will always be a suspect for those who know him. He couldn't see people in their eyes. The ignominy of this public trial was too much for him to handle. He felt dying was easy.