He looked exasperatedly at the queue ahead of him. He would miss meeting the client for his sales pitch. The cascading effect of that made him grimace.
A faint ringtone brought him back from the anxious thoughts. As he took out his phone from the pocket, he speculated if the call was from the boss ‘reminding’ about his targets and/or impending pink slip.
The phone screen showed 38 missed calls in 10 mins! He wondered what was going on.
As his wife excitedly shared the news of a new life, he wondered if he was chasing misery or unleashing hope.
This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda. We give out creative writing prompts each weekend for Indian bloggers. This time your entry must contain, ‘38 missed calls in 10 mins! He/She wondered what was going on.’
49 Responses
Really catch 22!! I can’t imagine what he would do next, now! 🙂
You are on a vacation na?? 😆
Yes, a big dilemma he is into! 😐
this is so lovely!
🙂
Thank you Ankita 🙂
38 missed calls in 10 minutes – what a network jam! The cell phone company should start restricting these missed calls 😛
He seems to be chasing misery. BTW!
Destination Infinity
Guess, the network was working fine, it is just that in the din around and within, he didnt hear the ringing cell phone 😛
Hmmm… could be, it all depends on the attitude that one has towards situations!!
It’s sad when the wife is full of hope for the new member the husband trying to make both ends meet is miserable.Nice take on the prompt.
Life’s like that… Thanks Kalpana 🙂
My personal feel is that it’s unleashing a new hope for him. A responsibility with love and not burden. Nice take 🙂
That’s a positive outlook towards the challenges that life throws our way! Thank you Hari 🙂
Ahhhh. That’s a lovely story. Pity for the guy. Now he has to huzzle and buzzle to feed 3 people.
Yeah, life’s not easy for men too! Thank you SG, glad you liked this story 🙂
I love the way you drabble Shilpa and this one is ‘power packed’ 😀
Thanks a lot, Bhagyashree 🙂
Delightful drabble!!! Hope your protagonist balances both worlds successfully.
I hope so too, Jini. Thanks 🙂
i think a new hope that is going to charge him up 😀
Yeah, looking at the things from a positive perspective always help. 🙂
A little happiness in the busy life…. Even thou he have to slog more now..
Hmmm… that’s true. Hope he thinks from that perspective too 🙂
A little happiness but still increased burden. I think this is a poignant piece. I think a lot of us feel overwhelmed when given news like that. Still, by the time the new addition arrives everyone is excited, elated, and happy to welcome him or her. Brilliant story!
Well said, only when the news sinks in, we are able to enjoy it! Thanks Kathy! Glad you enjoyed this one 🙂
Always difficult to balance our careers with ‘life’!
Well said, Corinne… difficult and delicate!!
Loved your take on the prompt…100 words conveyed so much. All he best for the wow 🙂
Thank you Preethi 🙂
Another drabble perfectly executed! Seems like a real catch-22, wonder what his mind and heart felt in that moment…
A confusion perhaps… 🙂
WOW! Good take on the prompt!! Truly a catch-22 situation.
Oh yes… poor guy! Thanks Asha 🙂
Tough situation indeed. But it’s definitely a unleashing of hope I think
True, as they say, keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you!!
Oh boy, such a wonderful contrast in the limited words..
Thanks Hrishikesh 🙂
Life can be tough at times, and it depends on the person’s attitude towards life that would make or break things/ situations around them.
Absolutely, Rama. Like they say, attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference… If you say you can or you can’t you are right either way!!
Short and crisp, good one Shilpa.
Thks Indrani 🙂
why 38 I wonder? (In the prompt!)
And yes, a perfect Catch-22 situation! nicely written Shilpa 🙂
I just calculated… if you dial a number and if it is unanswered it goes into voice mail after 50 seconds. So ideally in 10 minutes, one should have been able to give 12 missed calls (10 min x 60 secs/50 sec=12 missed calls) But looks like the caller here disconnected after few rings, thus the number of missed calls is so high in 10 minutes! 😉 😆
Glad you liked this story, Pixie 🙂
Lovely story, Shilpa! How life balances the bitter with the sweet!
True, life always balances itself out… Thks Rachna 🙂
Here he has his work,his targets at the back of his mind–there a new chapter begins in his life.
Isnt life a mystery?
Oh yes, life’s a mystery… an adventure, a puzzle, waiting to be found, to be followed, to be fixed.
A catch 22 situation! Perfectly depicted in a limited number of words.
Thank you Ma’am 🙂
superb 100 words!! catch 22 indeed!!
Thanks LP 🙂