Theme 28 - Black

On their way back, Khushi exclaimed, "Papa!! I stood first in the oral quiz. I knew that apples are red and sky is blue. But, I wonder what they actually look like?"
Jayesh stopped as he looked into her eyes. Eyes which were confined only to black. He had no answer to this quiz.
- Lokesh Dugar


Its midnight. Staring at the wall opposite, grappling with the endless plethora of thoughts within, trying hard to clear up my mind and hit the bed. Waiting in anticipation for the soul to be free from this immense delirium. But all I end up with is, Darkness!
- Pragya Dubey


Like my past, like my future, like my name, like my dreams. . .
The memories I wanted to erase got refreshed as even the professor on the first day of college asked, 'Hey, you black guy, where are you from?'
'South India', all I could say, with sort of guilt in my voice. . .
- Mehul Newaskar


I vaguely opened my eyes and tried to capture essentials but couldn't. Then the doctor stepped in and mother cried. I heard she lost her arm. I couldn't figure out even a bit till I saw the sight of the plane crash and dreadful passengers flash in my mind. And then I speculated. The crash had taken away my sight.
- Simran Chandwani


Despite of being a millionaire and leading a luxurious life, Pooja's family life was totally black because her husband and son didn't do anything for her except giving her big bank balances.
- Divneet Kaur Walia


Over-confidence had ruined him.
At the time of studies, he was busy Liking Megan Fox and Batman on Facebook, sharing videos on WhatsApp and reading why women like Guitarists.
The question paper was a total black out for Soham, not because it was tough but because Soham had no one to blame for his failure.
- Paridhi Mahendra


With every uttered word, the differences grew more. With every occurring thought, her pain worsened. There was nothing left to be spoken now..only emptiness..full of plain.
A sorrowful and dark night followed..
- Apoorva Ranka


She was blinded by the sudden flash of lights, astounded by so many people waiting for her to perform and surprised by what her friends had done for her. And when she performed, she opened up to the whole new world waiting to be explored, when all she could see was the darkness of failure.
- Jaya Kataria


I chose to shut my eyes, there was too much black around.
- Sahil Chandwani


In the darkness of their room, he forced his kiss on her. There was no point in protesting.
Her tears had dried already. And the kohl in her eyes had been smudged, too.
- Priyanka Dharamsi


Black. Yes, it was a black day for Neela as she remembered Jai. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She blamed herself for his accidental death due to an overdose of drugs. Being his elder sister, she could have stopped his addictions. He didn't respect his life and she failed to teach him how to love himself.
- Neha Manghnani

Theme 19 - Shoes

"Why don't I fit in my father's shoes?” He always wondered. Little did he know about the competitive world outside his father's huge mansion. He was too young to understand, that to fit into father's shoes, he'll have to grow with experience & become a better human being, even better than his own father.
- Rohan Bapat


Shoes are important part of dressing, but I observed our saints walking, travelling barefoot all their lives. It’s for our ease but I never thought how they manage. We get everything in life so easily not being bothered about others’ struggle to achieve.
- Khyati Jain


Topper by all means but algebra was just not my game. I cried myself to sleep a day before the exam, knowing nothing can be done, too late to even pray. Next morning I found a pile of paper crimped by my side. Dad said, “Put it in your shoes rock star, life is easy”.
- Priyanka Kabra


With the one pair of shoes that he gifted me, I walk with him everyday!
- Shikha Sharma


A sleek eight-year-old, she wore a pair of black bellies, just like one wears to school. However, one could not help but notice the faded pink bow on each of them.
"Maa painted them for me", she said.
And in that moment, I hated myself for having those perky pink shoes once.
- Charu Rawat

Time is a great healer they said. Not to him though. With a younger sister in sight, and an inconsolable mother right beside, he knew it would be impossible for him to fill in his father's shoes.
- Harshit Bhatnagar


Extravagant Page 3 party, drunkards and druggies all around. Obscenity in the form of dances. And random make outs in the lobby. Fake smiles, random fashion discussions and crude demeanor. Nobody cared about the clothes that resembled the rags; not their attire but their shoes spoke of the class here.
- Priyanka Dharamsi

She was having them in all colors from the darkest shades of red to white. All beautifully placed in the rack in her room, where the little girl was standing, staring them with a broom in one hand... Bare feet...
- Nayan Pandya


Rapes are happening. Kidnaps are casual. Murders are common. Laws are liberal. Convicts are free. Victims? Their misery cannot be expressed in words.
I wish the convicts and Netas would have walked in the shoes of victims just once.
- Anusha Gupta


Simran bought little pretty pink bowed shoes. Akash, little black ones. After 9 months, both the pairs lied neatly in a corner of the house, like some untouched dream.
- Priyanka Agrawal


Aahna picked beautiful Red Heels. After leaving the store she was followed by a young man, very descent. But the chase confused her.
Reaching her he said. You picked up the wrong bag, its mine.
Hit by the Cupid, they silently stared at each other - charmed.
For Aahna with shoes, came love.
- Paridhi Mahendra


I stood there and noticed the pair of pumps she wore to the party – blue, peep toes, yellow sole and red 5" heel. That lucky bitch had got the exact pair I wanted with my new dress. But not for long… She was soon going to remove them for the paper dance…
- Jaya Kataria


She isn't the same, but alongside.
I've had many, but the perfect one does fight.
She counts on me and wants me beside.
A pair isn't complete until the other shoe is right!
- Mohit Kalra



She came across a footwear shop while selling flowers on road side, and was mesmerized by the holographic nature of a silver heel. It was beautiful, simple, and uncomplicated. But she can't afford it..
It became her dream to buy it.
Some people can't fulfill their small dreams.. We are lucky enough.
- Anjali Hardia


She was sitting and chatting with a notorious poor child, who used to play around, make noises and trouble everyone.
But unlike other days, he was very quiet, calm & sad.
After their few minutes’ conversation, she stood up, gifted her shoes & went away.
And that boy.. He was back to his regular business.
- Shashank Mehta

रोता हुआ गया वो अपनी माँ को बताने की जूते के तलवे में छेद हो गया ।
वही जूते जब गरीब का बच्चा कूड़े से बिन कर लाया, तो उसके चहरे पर मुसकान मानो फटे पैरों की ताजपोशी बयाँ कर रही थी ।
- Lokesh Dugar


जूते सी-सी कर बड़ा हुआ हूँ मैं, रोज़ी रोटी भी कमा लूंगा|
ऐ खुदा बस इतना रहम करना, मेरे हॉंसले को तू सी कर रखना!
- Sanchi Bahrani


उस महंगे जूते का घमंड उस दिन चूर हो गया जिस दिन उससे कही ज्यादा सस्ते जुराबों की गैरमौजूदगी में उसे भी नकार दिया गया।
जुराबों: मोजे
- Gaurav Salvi


कभी बचपन में एक दूसरे के छोटे-छोटे खिलौने
जूतों में छुपाया करते थे हम दोनो.
वक़्त के साथ जूतों का साइज़ बड़ता गया
और खिलौने कही गूंम हो गये......
- Nikita Kumawat


बुज़ुर्गवार को अपना बार-बार अपने पैर से जूता बाहर निकालते-पहनते देख उनके बेटे ने कहा "जब ये जूता इतना ही परेशां करता है तो इसे पहनते ही क्यूँ है । " जबाब था "ये जूता तुम्हारा दिया है इसे फेंका तो दूसरा शायद ना मिले। "
इससे बड़ा मखमली जूता मैंने पहले कभी नहीं देखा था।
- Rahul Jharia

Second Entries:

जूतो को छिपाकर कही खुशी से नेग लेते हैं लोग.
आज मेने सड़क किनारे किसीको आँखो में आँसू लिये
फटे जूते छिपाते देखा...
- Nikita Kumawat