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The Throb – Horror Fiction

Horror

Ananya woke up with her own cry, a shrill shriek as she opened her eyes. Her body was cold and
shuddering…A sudden thought flashed her shivering brain.
Nightmare! The same one! Yet again!
She looked at the dim light that escaped through the door, it relieved her racing heart. “It would have
been 3 am” she thought looking at the darkness outside. Trying to pull back her blanket to sleep, she saw
her, she sat there in the corner legs curled close to her chest, eyes blood red and wide open, moving her
body to and fro vigorously. Ananya quivered and clasped her hands, it isn’t a dream she murmured
looking at her scarily.
She gathered courage and stared back, the same way she used to do day after day on the roads of
Mumbai when preying eyes ogled. “Who are you?” she gulped a lump down her throat. She was quiet but
looked back straight ferociously and moved to and fro holding hugging her knees.
Ananya felt her nerve vibrate on her temple. She touched the swelling with her index finger. “Ah” a
throbbing stinging pain ran through the back of her head. She looked up tightly closing her eyes, then
gently opening them.
She saw her sitting on the ceiling hanging head down still staring. “STOP” Ananya cried out loud. The
throbbing stopped, she had vanished and an eerie silence wrapped her.
Ananya closed her eyes once again and smirked then looking at the Shiv idol that lay where the beam of
light fell.
She had calmed her demon within….albeit for now!

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The Perfect Shot – 100 word fiction

‘There it is! Cliff we saw in the marvellous picture online!” he pointed, as they hiked to the summit to click the best picture!

She adjusted her tripod facing the sunset, he closed in behind her with devious intentions. Finally he would get rid of her!

He readied himself to give her a push, she bent on one knee as he had taught her the best angle for shots.

A slip and he tumbled sliding down, he held her hand. She left his to get the best action shot of a man falling off a cliff. Karma pays, she smiled. 100 word fiction

Photo Credit: Danny Bowman

This piece of 100 words is written for Friday Fictioneers.

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Penumbra – Book Review

A dull life of Prakash Ray is caught in frenzy as he visits his uncle at his bungalow to celebrate his 60th birthday.
As Prakash reaches the venue, he is introduced to a motley group of people, all gathered there for the old
man’s big day: his son, his reticent brother, a dignified middle-aged lady who once owned the bungalow,
a listless lawyer who manages his legal affairs, a mild-mannered young man who works as his secretary,
his beautiful, young biographer, and his mysterious friend, who has never lost a game of chess to him.

Penumbra

As the storm lashes on through the night, one of the people in the bungalow is murdered! In a game of cat
and mouse that follows, Prakash soon finds out that under the surface of apparent warmth and
friendliness, nothing is as it seems and that the bungalow holds one shocking secret after another! In a
bid to save his own life, Prakash hunts for the truth, which lies in a mysterious penumbra of shadows and
lights, covered in a sheath of deceit and guile, only to realize that the worst is yet to come!

What I liked about the book:
– The plot – fantastic storyline, the writer has ensured he keeps it to the point and does not lose the
readers’ interest
– Characterization – Each character’s appearance is very well timed and thought process well
described.
– Writing style – The reading is easy and fabulous description of scenes, especially the time when
Prakash walks from the bus stop to his uncle’s bunglow

Scope for improvement
– Some parts of the story felt a little dragged but that can happen with thrillers as you are eagerly
waiting to know who the murderer is
– Climax – I was expecting a little more on this front! However it did not sound unbelievable or
ridiculous.

Should you read it?
Yes, pick it up on a Friday and you will not put the book down till you finish it. Strongly recommended if
you like murder mysteries!
Goodreads Rating: 4.15/5
Sunshineandzephyr rating: 4.15/5
About the Author: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7869915.Bhaskar_Chattopadhyay

P.S. I know I have been away! But as they say difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. I was just treading a difficult road. Am back with no bang just the mundane 🙂

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Leap of Faith – Five Sentence Fiction

step off

“Tell me you are with me and would not leave me?” Ananya firmly held on her sweaty hand on Rohan’s at the edge of the Mont. Bernard cliff.

“”Of course love, have I ever left you, we do this together ok.” Rohan coaxed with a sly grin.

She balanced her trembling feet and turned to face Rohan when he pushed her hard off the cliff with both his hands. 

“Rohan………” Ananya’s scream became feeble and fugacious as she fell off the cliff.

After a deafening  silence the scream returned, you brat I will not spare you, as the bungee reflexed and bounced back, “yooohooo…I so love this adventure, she exclaimed.”

Image Source: here.