A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose!

Domestic Violence #AtoZChallenge @AprilA2Z

Written by

Shilpa Garg

in

My theme for this year’s Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is Crime Stories in 55 Words. Today’s story, D is for Domestic Violence…

D

55 Fiction

The maroon dot on her forehead signifies female energy. Indian-Bride

The black beaded mangalsutra around her neck protects from evil.

The red vermilion in her hair parting is to bring about good fortune.

These powerful symbols of marriage soon loose sheen.

For they are now dulled by blue marks and the grey clouds of domestic violence.

You can check out my A-Z posts thus far by clicking on a highlighted letter!

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Comments

89 responses to “Domestic Violence #AtoZChallenge @AprilA2Z”

  1. susan scott Avatar
    susan scott

    breathtakingly beautiful, until the colours changed – thank you for highlighting this Shilpa.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks a lot, Susan. Glad you liked this attempt!

      Reply
  2. Shalini R Avatar
    Shalini R

    Splendid! Though it is a heart-breaking story, the use of colors are just beautiful, Shilpa 🙂

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thank you, Shalini 🙂

      Reply
  3. Sanch @ Sanch Writes Avatar
    Sanch @ Sanch Writes

    Such a relevant story and nicely done with the colours.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks Sanch!

      Reply
  4. JazzFeathers Avatar
    JazzFeathers

    Great story as always. But please tell me that at least a few of yoru story will by happy.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks Sarah! I’d want that too, but am wondering if that’s possible with crime stories 😛

      Reply
  5. Sheethal Avatar
    Sheethal

    Those powerful symbols sometimes are taken as license for giving some horrible blue marks.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Yeah, some people think that way, sadly!

      Reply
  6. Rajlakshmi Avatar
    Rajlakshmi

    Powerful write Shilpa. The contrast between the meaning of symbols and the reality. Brilliant.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks you liked this 55er, Raj!

      Reply
  7. Random Musings Avatar
    Random Musings

    Love how the colours go from bright and vibrant to dull and lacklustre. A sad story, well told
    Debbie

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thank you, Debbie!

      Reply
  8. sheela Avatar
    sheela

    Appreciate the symbolic representation of her make up, ornaments etc….. and above all the bleak reality related with this regarding some cases. Another lovely fiction 55!

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thank you, Sheela!

      Reply
  9. Tarang Sinha Avatar
    Tarang Sinha

    I really like the way you have used colours to highlight different things in a married life.

    Very different take on domestic violence.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks a lot, Tarang! Glad you liked this attempt!

      Reply
  10. Ramya Rao Avatar
    Ramya Rao

    This is such a powerful write Shilpa. Higlighting the social issue with change in colors.
    Rarrely have I seen such unique takes on the topic

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks a lot, Ramya. Glad you liked this 55 word story and the take on DV!

      Reply
  11. Shalini Baisiwala Avatar
    Shalini Baisiwala

    How beautifully you have captured an ugly truth about Indian marriages!

    Theme: Peregrination Chronicles (travel)
    D is for Dolphin Delight in Goa #atozchallenge

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks a lot, Shalini!

      Reply
  12. Shailaja Avatar
    Shailaja

    This is simply ‘blow me out of the water’ awesome, Shilpa. How wonderfully you brought the colours together and the stark contrast too. Take a bow!

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks a lot, Shailaja. Glad you liked this one.
      Did I tell you that your are rocking with your flash fictions in 100 words too 🙂

      Reply
  13. Ramya Abhinand Avatar
    Ramya Abhinand

    Sigh!!!! How the colours change….how the postive signs turn into something brutal and negative

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      A sad reality for so many!

      Reply
  14. Chicky Avatar
    Chicky

    Domestic violence is such a curse. I wonder why people stay in such abusive relationships!
    Happy AtoZing!
    Chicky @ http://www.mysteriouskaddu.com

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      I know that’s a big question, but am sure they must have their reasons.

      Reply
  15. Swathi Shenoy Avatar
    Swathi Shenoy

    Brilliant write up but really heart breaking! Loved the symbolic representations

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thank you, Swathi!

      Reply
  16. Miss Andi Avatar
    Miss Andi

    So often unspoken topic, well done for writing about it so well.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thank you, Miss Andi!

      Reply
  17. Sreesha Avatar
    Sreesha

    The way the colors change… Well written!

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thank you, Sreesha!

      Reply
  18. Mayuri Nidigallu Avatar
    Mayuri Nidigallu

    Colors of human nature aptly described. Loved this, as I am loving your other posts, Shilpa!

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thank you, Mayuri. Glad you are liking this series!

      Reply
  19. Roma Gupta Sinha Avatar
    Roma Gupta Sinha

    What an irony, depicted impeccably Shilpa. I pray that the scenario changes in our motherland as early as it can.
    Truly Yours Roma

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Oh yes, no woman should go through this abuse, ever!

      Reply
  20. Jaishvats Avatar
    Jaishvats

    The seriousness of the issue well described in few words Shilpa

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks Jayashree!

      Reply
  21. Geets Avatar
    Geets

    Sadly, it is true in so many households even today! And you brought it out just perfect!

    Cheers

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Yes, this is a sad reality for many women! Thanks Geetika.

      Reply
  22. Keith's Ramblings Avatar
    Keith’s Ramblings

    It started out so beautifully. I certainly wasn’t expecting it to end as it did. Moving.

    Another day in Amble Bay

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Glad you liked it, Keith. Thank you!

      Reply
  23. Suzy Avatar
    Suzy

    Domestic violence makes such a mockery of such sacred symbols. Nicely portrayed

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      True that. Thanks Suzy!

      Reply
  24. shubhangi srikanth Avatar
    shubhangi srikanth

    I loved the way you used colours to show the transition, the blue overshadowing all other colours is heartbreaking.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Glad you liked this attempt, Shubhangi. Thanks!

      Reply
  25. Vidya Sury Avatar
    Vidya Sury

    Gosh! Story of so many women, no? Painful truth. Hugs Shilpa!

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Yes, a grim and a sad reality! Hugs, Vidya!

      Reply
  26. Angelica French Avatar
    Angelica French

    What a wonderful theme idea. Your writing is succinct and powerful. As a novelist, I can’t begin to imagine creating a story in 55 words instead of 55K! lol Brilliant!

    Angelica French
    A-ZPersonalityQuirksforWriters

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks a lot for your kind words, Angelica. Good to see you here 🙂

      Reply
  27. Arpan Ghosh Avatar
    Arpan Ghosh

    Simple, powerful imagery.

    I’ll be sure to check out the rest of your posts. Stories told in only a few words are an art form, and I enjoy them immensely.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks for dropping by Arpan. Am glad that you liked these 55ers.

      Reply
  28. Namratha Avatar
    Namratha

    Beautifully intertwined colours with their significance. Will be back for more

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks for dropping by and looking forward to see you again, Namratha 🙂

      Reply
  29. Deepa Avatar
    Deepa

    Beautifully penned Shilpa. Another sad reality of our society.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thank you, Deepa!

      Reply
  30. zainab Avatar
    zainab

    Words are greatly weaved…colourful yet leaves me with a teardrop!

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks Zainab!

      Reply
  31. Deepa Duraisamy Avatar
    Deepa Duraisamy

    🙁 Sigh. I wonder if there would be a day when we would actually see a world sans these crimes. I’ve been away a while, but I’ll keep dropping by. Good luck for the rest of the challenge.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Hope that we do see a day! Thanks Deepa and good luck to you too!

      Reply
  32. Roshan Radhakrishnan Avatar
    Roshan Radhakrishnan

    I’ve been saying it for years now – don’t think anyone can beat you at the flash fiction format. How have not made your own e-book featuring all these tales over the years? Surely, you must have a 100 by now.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      You are sooooo generous, Roshan. No, there’s a lot to learn and write still. And no, haven’t thought of compiling these, though as of today, I have written some 157 55 Fictions on this blog 🙂

      Reply
  33. Reema D'souza Avatar
    Reema D’souza

    I liked the way you have used colours to bring out the painful truth that a lot of women suffer. Just 55 words and so much meaning!

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thank you, Reema. Glad you liked this one!

      Reply
  34. Vinay Leo R. Avatar
    Vinay Leo R.

    Sad that those unneeded colors come into the picture! Beautifully written.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thank you, Vinay!

      Reply
  35. Tina Basu Avatar
    Tina Basu

    That is very powerful words Shilpa, and sadly that is how the case is for a lot of women across the world in all communities.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Yeah, that’s true and we see DV in all strata of life too. 🙁

      Reply
  36. Mithila Menezes Avatar
    Mithila Menezes

    The use of the colours in the story just enhances the shock value of the whole deplorable truth of domestic violence. Brief and meaningful, that’s what this post is!

    Awesome work with the theme, Shilpa ❤

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thank you, Mithila. Glad you think so! 🙂

      Reply
  37. Parul Thakur Avatar
    Parul Thakur

    I loved how you used colors in your post to signify things about marriage and the violence. You are such a star of flash fiction.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Thanks a lot for your kind words, Parul!

      Reply
  38. Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine Avatar
    Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine

    Sad how none of the colors could protect from the black and blue. =(

    ~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Yes, sadly that’s how they change for some women!

      Reply
  39. The Unknown Journey Ahead Avatar
    The Unknown Journey Ahead

    Chilling twist. When will this scourge be eliminated?? This speaks to me because not only are many women abused, but the abuse levels of those with disabilities (men, too) is particularly horrifying.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      I sincerely hope that no woman goes through this trauma and abuse of DV, ever.

      Reply
  40. Soumya Avatar
    Soumya

    Again, another very persistent reality.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      Hmmm… 🙁

      Reply
  41. G Angela Avatar
    G Angela

    Beautiful pic of the woman; and so well explained shilpa, in a short and small post, you have spoken volumes…. domestic violence is a reality not only among the poor but affects all strata of society, I was shocked to encounter women who work in the IT sector, well educated, financially sound and independent but living in a exploitative and abusive situation. Great job shilpa!!

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      You are absolutely right, Genevive. DV is not restricted to uneducated or lower classes but women from educated and upper classes are subjected to this abuse too. So sad this is!

      Reply
  42. Obsessivemom Avatar
    Obsessivemom

    That’s ironical and so very heartbreaking.

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      True that!

      Reply
  43. Nibha Gupta Avatar
    Nibha Gupta

    if only the color blue wasn’t meant to show the domestic violence!

    Reply
    1. Shilpa Garg Avatar
      Shilpa Garg

      If only…

      Reply
  44. Shweta Suresh Avatar
    Shweta Suresh

    Heartbreaking, but you have managed to capture the emotions in so few words. Great job!

    Reply
  45. Chris Juaen Avatar
    Chris Juaen

    Nice Post …………@…………..!
    Domestic violence really very heinous crime. People need to take a strong step against the domestic violence. Your article boosts the confidence of those people who face the domestic violence, and give the strength to fight against it….. !
    Thanks for sharing………!
    Waiting for you next post……!

    Reply

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