Two Accidents

 The India poetry circle's WhatsApp group  gave a challenge to its members to write a drabble every day for a week starting January 4th 2026. A drabble is a 100 word story with a beginning, middle and end. However, being a  first attempt the word limit was fixed as anywhere between 100 to 200 words. 

<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/image-auto-accident-involving-two-cars_25866280.htm">Image by fxquadro on Freepik</a>

A screenshot of two similar accidents involving a family travelling in a car struck by another vehicle at a busy point near city market; one in the year 1964 and the other in 2025.

In the 1964 scene, as soon as they hear the thud sound on vehicle being hit, all the people around including the driver of the other car, bystanders on the road and those in the nearby shops rush to provide relief and to take the injured to hospital.

In the 2025 scene, the culprit driver immediately speeds away. Bystanders are mostly engaged in watching and commenting and expressing anger at the behaviour of the culprit driver. Hardly anyone comes out from the nearby shops. A few are busy on their mobile recording the proceedings for a viral reel on social media.

When finally, an ambulance is arranged, it gets caught in the heavy traffic with most people reluctant to give away as they are concerned about their own individual priorities. (161 words)

Hope

The India poetry circle's WhatsApp group  gave a challenge to its members to write a drabble every day for a week starting January 4th 2026. A drabble is a 100 word story with a beginning, middle and end. However, being a  first attempt the word limit was fixed as anywhere between 100 to 200 words. 

Courtesy: Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

He had lost his job. His wife abandoned him, six months after the crisis. They had no children and his parents were long deceased. An only brother hated him on account of long standing sibling rivalry. What is the point of living? For whom should he live?, he asked himself and moved towards the sea with a single track mind. 

 Then a folk story he had learnt at school flashed through his mind *"Turn again Whittington, Lord Mayor of London". He turned back. He would live for the society, humanity at large. Next morning he received a communication informing of dream job commensurate with his experience. (104 words) 

*NB: The  Dick Whittington story is about an orphan who facing lot of adversities decide to leave the city of London. As he is leaving, he hears the church bells ring to the chimes "Turn again Whittington, Lord Mayor of London". Subsequently it turns out that a ship loaded with merchandise for sale at distant lands also had a cat of Dick. At one place the people who were struggling with rat menace were overjoyed to welcome Dick's cat and overnight Dick became a rich man. The story was written after a real life mayor who served with distinction for three terms doing lot of welfare activities for the city.

Duty Supreme

 

"Kuta thava karthavyam", my school princi wrote 

in the autograph book, at the time of leaving school 

Though long ago, seems like yesterday that the

sane advice to "Do your duty"

was given by teacher to student

At that time though, I hadn't paid much attention

to what was seen as "Big talk of adults" 

yet years later, I dwell and rely on those words 

for guidance and inspiration.... 

An advice so very relevant and most essential for current times

times, when people give scant regard to 'Duty' 

it is 'Rights' that they are concerned about

"What's in it for me?" 

Another valid quote to ponder over is

"Ask not what others or the country has done for you

Ask what you can do for the society and country" 

When duty is top priority 

performed without fear or favour 

if to this is added, as icing on the cake 

 "Duty towards the next generation" 

preparing them for future challenges 

then, success and a sense of satisfaction

 cannot be far behind! 

When more and more people, all over the world 

join the bandwagon, it's celebration time 

for it is thumbs up, not just for one nation

but for all of mankind! 

NB: This poem was composed for and published in the 2025 anthology of the Chennai Poetry Circle which was released in January 2026. 

Opportunity to Stitch

The India poetry circle's WhatsApp group  gave a challenge to its members to write a drabble every day for a week starting January 4th 2026. A drabble is a 100 word story with a beginning, middle and end. However, being a  first attempt the word limit was fixed as anywhere between 100 to 200 words. 

Work was becoming scarcer and scarcer in their village. As a tailor Pandu felt the brunt the most. Earlier they came to him at least during the festivals. He could then earn enough during the bounty season to see through the lean months. But now people preferred readymade dresses available in the nearby towns. 

Pandu was considering relocating to a town or leaving the very occupation. Someone came running to inform Pandu that there were visitors from the city at the “Big House”. “I saw three kids whose dress required some tailoring support.”

Pandu rushed immediately only to return his face crestfallen. “The holes in pants don’t need repair. They are meant as fashion in city”, they smiled. It is called ‘ripped jeans. (123 words) 

Birthday Wishes to a Special Four Year Old

Oh now, you have become a big boy Aiden

You have turned four years old !

Also have responsibility to care 

For a one year old, toddler brother 

Yes, you have mixed feelings with addition to family 

Not getting the same attention from everyone 

A sense of insecurity, prompting you to wonder 

 "Do they love me?" 

It breaks my heart as grandpa to hear 

You ask "Do you love me amma?" (Mother)

"Do you love me achan?" (Father)

Just look around you

Your little brother adores you

Look at grandpa, grandma on  mother's side

Or at us grandparents from father's side 

For us, you will always be our first grandchild ever! 

As for your parents, you will always be the first one 

to gift them the status of "father", "mother" 

Sweet child, never be in doubt, all of us

 Including elechans/uncle and elemas/aunt on both sides 

Love you and will always love you 

More importantly the good God 

Is watching over you, and every child on planet 

Showering blessings so that  little buds 

Blossom into beautiful flowers!

Happy birthday Aiden!!  

The Dream that Stayed

The India poetry circle's WhatsApp group  gave a challenge to its members to write a drabble every day for a week starting January 4th 2026. A drabble is a 100 word story with a beginning, middle and end. However, being a  first attempt the word limit was fixed as anywhere between 100 to 200 words.

<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/teen-boy-trying-sleep-counting-jumping-sheep_1311595.htm#fromView=keyword&page=1&position=2&uuid=6baa97a5-7cc6-4a77-a9a8-bc78280b3ac1&query=Dream">Image by iconicbestiary on Freepik</a>

 He was nine years old then studying in class five. Those days boys and girls sat in separate rows not expected to interact. Their eyes met sometimes when students came to the corner assigned for keeping lunch boxes and water bottles. Then abruptly she disappeared, her father was transferred to another city.

The face of the girl lingered in his mind, came sometimes in dreams, sometimes in daydreams. What came of her? . How did her life pan out?

Years later, he accompanied grandson for a singing audition. Beside them sat a person accompanying her granddaughter. The face seemed familiar. On interaction, he got his answers. Same lovely face,  grey haired yet alluring as ever! (115 words)

And Then They Were None

<a (href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/medium-shot-senior-man-bistro_24751448.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=38&uuid=7f39ea81-77f1-4435-8f7e-22bb7da237e1&query=Man+drinking+coffee+in+restaurant">Image by freepik</a>)

Rakesh was planning to walk back home for the much needed exercise. But, by the time he reached the Durga Devi street he was feeling tired and wanted a break. Then, he saw a small restaurant from where he thought some snacks and coffee would rejuvenate him. As he was sipping his coffee, Rakesh noticed a number of  celebratory flower pot crackers going up and flowing down lighting up the house situated on the opposite side of  the street. 

" Hey Diwali is long over and it's almost Christmas time. Why then, such celebrations in that house?" 

" Oh, that's for Deepa, to celebrate her success, her achievement. If you wish you can speak to that person at the corner table, Nandagopal, a neighbour and distant relative as well" replied the proprietor of the cafe. 

After introductions, the two middle aged men  started conversing. Nandagopal began narrating the background story and Rajesh was totally engrossed. His tiredness and the urgency to return home was all forgotten. As more customers came in and were searching for tables, Nandagopal offered" If it is okay by you, let's go to my house next door and complete our conversation.". 

Thus they moved to Nandagopal's residence where the entire narration and revelation was completed. At one time when Deepa was aged 21 years, she was madly in love with Rohit. Then something happened and in 2021,  in the middle of reign of the dreaded Covid epidemic, they broke up.  The repercussions were very heavy on Deepa, who was always sunny, bright and a happy go lucky girl.

 Deepa abruptly went into a shell; experienced sadness, numbness and despair refusing to meet close friends and relatives. She exhibited mood swings, irritability and emotional outbursts. As if all this was not enough, she began to experience nightmares in the form of bad dreams at night, mostly pertaining to trust issues. She often woke up in a cold sweat. During the years that followed, worried parents took her to psychiatric specialists. The treatment with a combination of drugs and psychotherapy left her drained and in despair. This was the time when the girl gave up all hope and resigned to her fate of being under treatment for life. The dreams continued to come; even as some went away for some time, they seemed to reappear later on. In fact five type of dreams persisted and troubled her at different points of time.  

Around this time, continued Nandagopal " I came across a technique to deal with such issues. I broached it with her parents and then went up to see Deepa". 

"No uncle! No more experiments! I am fed up!" she screamed.  

"I told her parents to mull over what I said about 'Past life regression therapy' with a cool mind and let me know. I had in the meanwhile identified a reputed practitioner in the city with very good references" 

" Well what happened finally?" Rakesh asked with enthusiastic curiosity. 

" Deepa agreed and commenced the PLR therapy four weeks back. Of the five recurring, troubling dreams, three went away. In the second session, one more went away. In the third and final session, she was transported to a relevant life 500 years back and then the last troubling dream also went away"

"And then there were none!" Exclaimed Rakesh excitedly

" Yes, now Deepa has overcome not only the dreams, She is not agitated but cool about the places she had visited during the romantic period. Seeing the Facebook profile of Rohit or his present relationship status does not affect her in any way anymore. It is as if we got back our old bubbly, vivacious girl"

" So happy for your Deepa!" said Rakesh. "My son Prithvi also went through similar circumstances. Perhaps this therapy will help him too!" he concluded and took leave of Nandagopal, profusely thanking him for the hospitality.