Help! Help!!
Help! Help!!
Somebody please help!
They have been kidnapped!!
I tried my best to prevent this abduction.
Alas! I failed miserably.
The odds are that I may never see my friends again. This nearly breaks my heart.
God willing, if they do come back in my life again, they’d never be the same. Seeing them all torn and mutilated, tears me apart.
I am told that I must not act so possessive.
But I can’t help when these are the friends who gave wings to my mind and flight to my imagination, my best counsellors… teachers…
Please return them back.
![DSC_0351_thumb[16]](http://shilpaagarg.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/DSC_0351_thumb16.jpg "DSC_0351_thumb[16]")
I am taking part in The Write Tribe Festival of Words 8th – 14th December 2013. The Theme for today is Books.
December 10, 2013 12:39 am|
Shilpa – I bow to thee 🙂 Your drabble attempts are just pure magic !
December 11, 2013 12:49 am|
😛 Thanks a lot, Sid! You made my day 🙂
December 10, 2013 1:46 am|
Is that your bookshelf? lovely.
December 11, 2013 12:52 am|
Yes, it is mine, my prized possession 🙂
December 10, 2013 1:55 am|
Brilliant take on the prompt Shilpa. I feel that most of the time when people borrow my books and never bother to return them 🙁
December 11, 2013 1:04 am|
Thanks Sunita. This drabble is the result of the pain of losing so many books to people who borrow and never return! 😐
December 10, 2013 2:08 am|
LOL! that was a Wonderful take on the prompt…Whats it with people I wonder.
December 11, 2013 1:06 am|
Aah! The people who have no respect for book lovers! 😐
December 10, 2013 2:16 am|
Oh I hate this too…books not being returned, the front cover upturned, pages coming out!! Treat them with respect I say!! Brilliant drabble again Shilpa!! 🙂
December 11, 2013 1:09 am|
I hear you, Aditi!
Thanks a lot, glad you liked it 🙂
December 10, 2013 5:14 am|
I hate to loan out my precious books. I very rarely buy books. I usually check them out of the library, therefore, if I buy a book it is because I love the story and want to own it and want to read it over and over!! I have let my children read my Harry Potter Books…but I always want them back in the condition I gave them out. This was brilliant! ♥
December 11, 2013 1:23 am|
I know what you mean, Kathy. The books that we buy are so precious and anybody mistreating them is so painful! Thank you, glad you enjoyed this post, Kathy 🙂
December 10, 2013 5:43 am|
Loved the post, but loved the picture of the bookshelf even more. Is that your bookshelf?
December 11, 2013 1:25 am|
Yes, it is mine!! 😀
December 10, 2013 6:39 am|
Hey you’re up early. And that’s a lovely piece. I love to lend books but hate it when people don’t return them.. Or give them back in a bad condition. Completely agree with that sentiment.
December 11, 2013 1:27 am|
I have learnt the hard way. Have lost so many books and have got some back after incessant calls and reminders and that too in bad condition. 😐
December 10, 2013 6:45 am|
I’m not even feeling sorry for you! 😉 And yes, I am filled with venomous thoughts of those who borrow books and don’t return them.
December 11, 2013 1:29 am|
And why is that, dearest Corinne! 😀
I mirror your sentiments on this one! 👿
December 10, 2013 7:18 am|
Oh those poor things… I have been through this pain too Shilpa, now I have a strict no lend policy. My poor dearies have suffered enough, no more I say…
December 11, 2013 1:32 am|
Me too. I have a small yellow stick note (it’s there in the pic above too) about my ‘No Lending. No Borrowing’ policy.
December 10, 2013 7:57 am|
i too buy the books that i love, and want to possess forever… really nice write up on the prompt…writing a 100 word drabble is difficult for me… i learn it from you..
December 11, 2013 1:36 am|
Glad you learnt a new form of micro-fiction. Do try it out, Pratikshya! 🙂
December 10, 2013 8:53 am|
Aah… that fear of losing books. 😀
December 11, 2013 1:37 am|
🙁 😥
December 10, 2013 9:00 am|
Very nice! I too hate it when people don’t return my books and CDs.
December 11, 2013 1:38 am|
Oh yes, CDs are another casualties… these are definitely NEVER returned!
December 10, 2013 9:04 am|
Should I call the FBI?
December 11, 2013 1:40 am|
LOL 😀 No, let them handle matters of great concern, such 😀 ‘crimes’ we will solve by cribbing or letting go! 😀
December 10, 2013 9:36 am|
Seriously! How I hate lending book… but at times can’t say No too :(…. and what a beautiful collection. If I ever come to your place you should keep me away from this shelf. 😉
December 11, 2013 1:42 am|
I know what you mean, Sheethal. I have hardened with terrible experiences, so that’s why a clear message in the cupboard itself about ‘No Lending. No Borrowing’ policy! 😀
December 10, 2013 10:39 am|
What is an empty plate doing in that shelf?? 😯
December 11, 2013 1:44 am|
LOL 😀 That’s not an empty plate. It’s a decorative plate which has analysis of my name on it. Its stand got lost in various shifting, so it lies like this in this library cupboard! 🙂
December 10, 2013 10:39 am|
Nice concept! I avoid lending books to friends and relatives for they hardly return them..:P
December 11, 2013 1:44 am|
Sensible decision 🙂
December 10, 2013 10:52 am|
Shilpa , when I was in I std I had a collection of ACKs , I used to put a star on the page page corner as a sign of identification and passed it on to my friend but with a warning to return it. After a few days , another friend gave me a ACK and told me to read and return it and I told her that I had already read it but on proper scrutiny found it to be mine with the star intact but torn and bruised.
December 11, 2013 1:45 am|
God!! How terrible!! 😐
December 10, 2013 10:53 am|
lovely book case.
December 11, 2013 1:45 am|
Thanks Kalpana 🙂
December 10, 2013 11:26 am|
Nice book rack that is. Lending books does mean torn and dirty pages received back. Truly a painful experience.
December 11, 2013 1:52 am|
Thanks Rekha. True, rarely people care for books the way you do!
December 10, 2013 11:29 am|
I usually confront those who spoil my books, cannot really tolerate.. as far as books not returned..sigh…what can I say
December 11, 2013 1:51 am|
I can relate to your pain and anger. I remember once a colleague from husband’s office took a few books. Even after months she never bothered to return them, daily reminders to husband were falling flat and then I called her up, she acted so weirdly, as if I had committed a crime by asking her to return my books! 🙄
December 10, 2013 12:09 pm|
I hate who spoil the books or don’t return them…. But now that I have switched digital people have stopped asking me 😀
December 11, 2013 1:53 am|
I must switch to e-reader soon too! I remember your post comparing the 2 formats!
December 10, 2013 1:01 pm|
I just commented on insignia’s blog that a family is judged by the book shelf it has.
Your shelf speaks a lot.
December 11, 2013 1:53 am|
Aww!! Thank you so much, Mr Chowla! 🙂
December 10, 2013 1:29 pm|
Nice drabble
December 11, 2013 1:53 am|
Thanks Cifar 🙂
December 10, 2013 1:46 pm|
Many of my good collection have been abducted too, similar is the condition of my books. only i don’t know to articulate so beautifully in drabbles like you:).
Beautifully written shilpa, keep up the good work!
December 11, 2013 1:54 am|
Wish the kidnappers read such posts! Sigh!
Thank you so much Asha for your kind words! 🙂
December 10, 2013 2:46 pm|
Wow, is that your book collection. That’s so cool, now I’m jealous
December 11, 2013 1:55 am|
Yessss 😀
December 10, 2013 3:03 pm|
😆 it was a lovely read…the flow of thoughts made it more beautiful.
December 11, 2013 1:55 am|
Thanks a lot, Soumya. Glad you enjoyed reading these 100 words 🙂
December 10, 2013 3:22 pm|
It is very disgusting when people borrow books and don’t return.
December 11, 2013 1:55 am|
Agree completely! 😐
December 10, 2013 5:31 pm|
sigh… I used to have an awesome bookshelf filled with all sorts of novels. Everyone would come and borrow them .. now, hurtful as it is to say, my books have travelled to more countries than i have 🙁
December 11, 2013 1:57 am|
OMG! Your books have traveled out of the country too!! 🙄
December 10, 2013 6:06 pm|
Love your collection of books 🙂
December 11, 2013 1:57 am|
Thanks Aparna 🙂
December 10, 2013 6:42 pm|
Am still sighing and drooling over that bookshelf **SIGH***
Ha ha ha.. I also hate lending my books and am still looking for those people who have stolen mine never to return back!! :/
December 11, 2013 1:58 am|
Let’s ‘hunt’ together! 😀
Thanks Privy 🙂
December 10, 2013 6:44 pm|
Nice way of reminding people to return borrowed books in good condition.
Alas will they ever listen…
December 11, 2013 1:58 am|
Hope they are reading this… 🙄
December 10, 2013 7:06 pm|
that’s the reason , i don’t lend mine at all!!! btw awesome bookshelf!!!
December 11, 2013 1:58 am|
Me too! Thanks S 🙂
December 10, 2013 7:12 pm|
I remember reading your earlier posts about how special your books are to you 🙂
December 11, 2013 1:59 am|
Wow, you have an awesome memory, Jayashree! ♥
December 10, 2013 7:22 pm|
Brilliant take on the prompt and quite a collection of books you have there! Care to lend me some 😉
I have to say, half my pre-kindle reading list is by lending books only 😀
December 11, 2013 2:00 am|
LOL 😀 That defeats the whole purpose of this post, Siva 😀
December 10, 2013 9:04 pm|
I m extremely possessive of my books and I could related to every word you wrote here.
My take on the prompt http://maithilibhatnagar.blogspot.in/2013/12/a-girl-who-reads.html
December 11, 2013 2:01 am|
Glad to have your company for this cause, Maithili 🙂
December 10, 2013 9:43 pm|
Who took it? I’ve heard that friendships break more due to non-returning of books, than due to non-returning of money!! Good usage of the prompt, this.
Destination Infinity
December 11, 2013 2:04 am|
Aah! So many!! Is it?… Dont know about that but non-returning of books certainly leads to a lot of heartburn!
December 10, 2013 10:09 pm|
What a superb take! I’d never have thought of this angle.. A secret : I’m happy that some are lost as I don’t need to find shelf space 🙂
December 11, 2013 2:05 am|
Aha! You must be having a LOT of books then! 😀
December 10, 2013 11:43 pm|
An intelligent one, Shilpa:)
December 11, 2013 2:05 am|
Thanks Vishal 🙂
December 11, 2013 2:49 am|
well said, shilpa.
I usually feel that way when my borrowed books are returned torn…sob sob!
December 11, 2013 1:02 pm|
So, will you lend your books again? 😐
December 11, 2013 8:28 am|
It tears my heart out when my books get targeted!! 🙁
I’ve stopped talking to friends because they mutilated my books!!
December 11, 2013 1:03 pm|
Wow! That’s said like a true book lover!! 😀
December 11, 2013 11:48 am|
A lot of my books have been abducted as well. Now I just read on my kindle app; No more kidnapping! Nice one.
December 11, 2013 1:04 pm|
Yes, Kindle app is the best way to stop these kidnappings!! 🙂
December 13, 2013 2:42 pm|
I soo empatise with this… There have ben times when i hv given my books to frnds cause knew they would love and few of them dint even bother returnng it :-/
December 21, 2013 4:22 pm|
I know the feeling too well, Meena! 🙁
December 15, 2013 4:49 pm|
You want to borrow my book. I no lend, you go mad.
I lend book. You no return, I go mad.
Better you go mad!
December 21, 2013 4:23 pm|
Hahaha! That’s a good one 😉
December 16, 2013 12:19 pm|
Very hard, not to feel possessive when it comes to books 🙂 I’m in full agreement with what you said 🙂 Books are like your babies 😀 you touch them, feel their love and love their special smell 🙂 And quite an enviable collection you have there 🙂
December 21, 2013 4:24 pm|
Learnt my lessons the hard way, Sreeja!
Thank you, I love my collection a lot 🙂
December 18, 2013 5:45 pm|
haha
Hope u got ur books after this 🙄
December 21, 2013 4:27 pm|
No, never recovered the abducted ones but I dont lend to anyone now! 😛
December 19, 2013 5:54 pm|
I know your feelings about those ‘borrowers’ who forget to return the books back. 😀 It’s really funny how just reading a blog makes you know the few little things about the bloggers. 🙂
December 21, 2013 4:28 pm|
You have a fantastic memory, I must say that, Shilpa 🙂
November 13, 2016 1:34 am|
Really scary stuff. To allow such a post is alarming. It shows that even if he is well intentioned, Kevin Pho has lost his bearing on what being a physician means.