Flash fiction- 55 word stories

I have just one thing to say in defence of these stories. All of them are exactly 55 words.

The beer bar was shrouded in shadows. The dancers gyrated to raunchy bollywood numbers on the makeshift stage while the patrons gaped at them.
A group of young friends in a corner chatted animatedly. “Shit!” said one of them, pointing to a couple of middle aged men who had just entered. “My dad is here!”

 

***

The private detective listened as the lady said, “I am sure my husband is cheating on me. I want you to get me the proof so that I can divorce the insect.”
After she had left, the man sighed as he remembered that her husband had been in the previous day with a similar demand.
***

As the sunlight faded in the cold and foggy December evening, most of the working girls hurried home. Some had families to go back to while others went back to their respective working women hostels or PG accommodations.

However, for the girl with sad eyes, excessive make-up and cheap perfume, the day was just beginning.

 

***

Her husband was away to Bangkok.  

It’s a very important academic event and I simply can’t miss it, he had told her before going.She had smiled in acquiescence while feigning ignorance about his real motive.

She picked up the phone and dialed. “Hi sweetheart, today you can stay the whole night if you wish…. “

 

***

The midwife had been struggling with the delivery the whole night.

 It was a difficult case and they should have taken her to the city hospital, she grumbled.

But the family was poor and could ill afford the transport and the costs involved.

At last, the baby arrived and cried lustily. She smiled in relief.

 

***

 

It had been raining the whole night.

The overflowing river waters were threatening to enter the little hut where she lived with her three children.

 They had all spent the night huddled in the middle.

It stopped raining in the morning and the sun peeped through the clouds bringing with it a message of hope.

 

***

He stopped his car on seeing the roadside lunatic. 

Some Good Samaritan had left cooked rice and water on the sidewalk for the birds.

The mynahs and crows were having a feast and he was happily sharing their meal.  

He snapped a photograph on his mobile camera for his face book update and drove on.

***

He scoffed at the concept of ghosts. 

Was willing to spend a night in a haunted house to win a bet ; he took a flask of coffee and his ipod, made himself comfortable and waited for the night to end so that he could collect the money. 

The night never ended, at least for him.

 

 

 

 *** 

 

 

Room number 206, Sunrise Hotel.

Bored housewife ….afternoon trysts.
Fun as well as some cash.

Waiting for her next client. 

The bell chimes! She puts on her most seductive smile to usher him in.
Both stare at each other in utter shock. 

Wasn’t her husband supposed to be working in his office at that time?