The Goat That Knew the Bus Routes
I have been a bus conductor for many years. Long enough to know people by habit, not by face. Every morning, at...
5 min read
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Five00-25: The Butterfly Effect
Entries from November 2025 to January 2026 · 450 to 500 words · 21 entries
A minor choice/incident, for example, a missed bus, a dropped key, opening that one message at that one particular moment, changes everything.
Prompt by Mithru Rachamalla
Entries
The Hooves That Knew The Dark
In our village everyone feared debts, “Kaateri,” the blood-drinking ghost, and also the overflowing river during monsoon. But I feared only one...
5 min read
Table No: 29
“One Masala Dosa to Table No: 29!” On a bustling Sunday morning, the waiter of Annapoorna was finding it hard to cater...
3 min read
The Happily Never After Slip-up
The Happily Never After Slip-Up I never knew losin’ footwear could ‘ave such catastrophic consequences. One missin’ slipper imprisons me for life,...
4 min read1 comment
A blast from the past
"Little miss perfect, sitting on a hornet, Chewing on her carrots, spitting out ferrets!" Zinnia could not believe this was happening again!!...
3 min read
When the Shutter Lifted
Raghav Menon locked the cash drawer, switched off the warm yellow lamp above the counter, and surveyed his tiny bookshop tucked into...
3 min read2 comments
OF WINE AND MEN
This one's for all my greek mythology fans and for all the rest of you, fret not! This tale is fit to...
3 min read
The Unplanned Project
In the early hours, the mist parted to reveal the first of the three wooden bullock carts. They emerged loaded high with...
3 min read
THE WHISPERER
I carefully apply the sacred ash in three distinct lines across my forehead, ensuring they do not overlap. I comb my tuft...
3 min read
AUTOPLAY
Sleep-deprived Monika mindlessly scrolled through Instagram. Reels blurred into each other like static. Suddenly a grainy CCTV clip autoplayed without warning. She...
3 min read
The Butterfly Effect
Dear friends, This is my story. I do hope you like it. THE DECISION She heard snippets of their conversation as she...
3 min read
True Colour
When the lockdown started, Malini was making a list of things to buy online. Many items were out of stock, so she...
3 min read
The Visitors
The Supreme Commander of an unnamed country was relaxing in his well appointed office, feet resting on his well polished desk. The...
3 min read
THE DECIMAL
"Are you challenging me?" Arjun enquired. "I am simply showing you the reality, I am perfect and I have proved myself with...
3 min read
An emotional train ride with Amma
"So what time is the train?" Amma asked for the nth time. "Oh God! 6pm!. In fifteen minutes we have to leave...
3 min read
The Butterfly effect : Did the plants start it, or did I?
One day in the last 10 years... "You are not meant for teaching." "Why?" "Managing two kids at a time makes you...
4 min read
Kill Code
Klaven strode past the cop at the door and into the lobby of the Cornice Hotel. People glanced his way, taking in...
3 min read
Entwined In the Curse
Waves crashed against whatever remained of Eshwar’s feet. He stared at the moon. The moon fairy appeared, shimmering like silver. He looked...
3 min read
Exchange
Anand gazed at the star-studded sky. He loved the nights, wearing the black satin gown, decked with millions of diamonds, and the...
3 min read
Weight What?!
“Borderline high B.P., Type 2 Diabetes! You hit some milestones for sure this month, didn't you, Ritvi?” Suhas adjusted his spectacles on...
3 min read
THE KISMET CONNECTION
Titli The staggering weight of what I was going to do made me hesitate outside his door. Because I knew how the...
3 min read