A Supernatural experience

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. 

The four collegemates who had dabbled briefly with the Ouija board were meeting at a secluded villa after 45 years. Vivek made it a point to carry an Ouija board hoping to start where they left off.

Of the four, Diwakar was the one who had seen big ups and downs in life. He had risen to become the most sought-after lawyer in his city. Yet he experienced the biggest tragedy when he lost his 22-year-old son in an accident. For months he mourned; gave up all activity, unable to concentrate on his practice.

Diwakar declined to play Ouija. No need, I already met him. One night, the switched off bulb outside my bedroom began to flicker. Then his voice came into my ears “Dad you can’t do this. You can’t give up on life when sister and mom are dependent on you. I am okay here and doing very well. I promise you; I will come back as a newborn in the family shortly.” Finally, I regained my peace and the will to live concluded Prabhakar.

177 words

This too Shall Pass

 The India poetry circle's WhatsApp group set a challenge to its members to write prose or poetry in max 200 words on specific prompts for each day for a week from 18th January to 24th January 2026.

 For 19th January 2026, the prompt was to write on the following picture: 

 Lovely, shy, tentative 

hers is the typical demeanour of a teenager

a time when you aren't child enough, or adult enough 

a time when you are confused

not sure whether you want the freedom of adult more

or the protection, reassurance and pampering of child more 

You will get over it dear, they all do

your mother, aunt , grandmother

had to pass through the phase in their own time 

and they made it to equilibrium eventually..

Is it more challenging for me? You ask

well, maybe with the advent of the social media

you are more under public scrutiny, with a need

to be always wearing the best, be it attire or a smile

Tough times throw up tough people 

not for nothing has the good lord made you Gen Z 

fearless, bold with nerves of steel!! 

What is "Contentment" for You?

Two friends, both senior citizens, were chatting up,

meeting 10 years post-retirement

they reviewed their work and retired life

against the parameter of “Contentment”


One of them continued to work post-retirement

Adorning senior positions of power & prestige

“I am still not content said he, I love to strife, contribute

Do my best till my last breath”

“Today should be more fulfilling than yesterday”


His friend seemed to have taken it easy, post-retirement

“I now have time to read, write, take music lessons

Do all the things, I denied myself while working”

“I am happy and content, prioritizing my desires & needs” he said

 

The former disagreed, “Being content” means stagnation

“You continue to be ‘alive’ when you contribute, be useful to others”

The work lives of the friends also were on similar lines- One moved up

the corporate ladder, ever pushing himself, retiring as a director


The other chose the R&D wing of company, less visible yet exciting to him

He never cared so much for taking ‘credit’ for the innovations

Was more involved and enjoyed the process of innovation, creativity

Content to spend more time with family, watch sunsets, be amidst nature


The wife of the host then entered with steaming coffee & hot samosas

“Why are you guys wasting time debating a subject so subjective?

Each of you got what you wanted, in work & retired life.

Every person is unique and driven differently: contentment

Is what you feel from the inside. If the feeling is satisfying

And you are happy, so be it! It’s non debatable” she concluded

NB: This poem was composed for and recited during the Seniors Today online Poetry Meet on 29th May 2026

Colours of Life

          

    

             Image Courtesy: Mohammad Abdullah on Freepik

           The Hindi cinema, as we had known it

Depicted all colours of life- bright, radiant, grey, dark

In a single movie, you had romance, conflict

Grief, happiness, fights, disappointment

 

Plenty of songs reflecting the various moods

the hues of life, that became super-duper hits

remembered fondly to this day with the

singers, lyricists and music directors becoming legends

youngsters recreating them in music competitions

Celebrations of festivals like Holi, celebration of seasons

Like spring, monsoon, winter, meant a splash of colours!

 

Then, we compared with the West, criticized our natural selves

Made fun, dismissed these films as “Masala, formula films”

Gave up our own natural flavour to “get rid of songs”

Restrict them to “one or two”, at best

 

Yet, the cold, expressionless, dead pan style of western pictures

Are not us- Indians are an emotional people

No matter, how much we try to ape those held “Sophisticated”

We are what we are! It is necessary to be

Who, we are in the inside, sans pretensions

 

Life is not about any one colour, it is an admixture

A tapestry of the highs and lows and the moods in between

“Living life to the Lees” is about embracing all the colours

Accepting everything, not rejecting anything…

 NB: This poem was composed for and recited at the Seniors Today online poetry meet on 13th March 2026.

Together forever (Written on a picture prompt)

 

Whether going up the stairs

Or going down the stairs

There’s nothing like having a hand to hold

 

A hand to pass on the warmth of love

A hand to emit the vibrations of love

A hand to steady yours when things get tough

Necessitating you to go down the stairs!

 

Not for nothing have couples marrying, been told

To be available to partner with boundless love

In happiness, grief, sickness, at all times!

 

Our picture prompt is symbolic of that bond

Hands clasped, legs in the air signifying a carefree joy

Internally it’s about two spirits merging in love

With a promise to be “there for each other, forever” 

NB: This was written to participate in the the monthly poetry contest of Million Muse FB Group for the month of February and received a "Gold" certificate.

Mother Language

             

Anything that has the word ‘mother’ in it

Cannot but be dear, emotionally resonant

Culturally connected, rooted to identity

So is the case with the mother tongue!

The first lullabies we listened, the first stories we heard

The idioms, proverbs, memories, belonginess

Are all associated with our sweet mother tongue!

Yes, globally, the most cherished identity

is the mother tongue!! 

At the Races

Those betting on horses can be an interesting breed

Perhaps that applies to those engaging in gambling

In other ways too, like cards or roulette



Yet the obsession at the races is in a way distinct

the betting is on a living being, a horse

You back a horse as it has the potential to win

But when a horse is losing, not delivering again & again

And you continue to back the same horse

Somewhere, ego has come into play

Unwillingness to admit you were wrong in the first place!



Same can happen when you have trusted a “False spiritual Guru”

But unwilling to disassociate, stop following him

don’t want to look foolish for the poor judgement

 

Same is true in politics- You trust a party based on tall promises

None of which materialize, instead more rhetoric, more promises

Yet you continue supporting same party, even at a cost of

 

heavy damage to common man, and the nation at large!