She stood facing the mirror, her body almost touching the glass. A tiny jar of sindoor in her left hand, she collected a pinch of the vermilion powder with her right. Her trembling hand moving towards her forehead, she paused as she caught her reflection.
There wasn’t a mangalsutra around her neck—the symbol of marriage, the thread that binds a woman to her husband for life. Could she apply the sindoor? What would people think? Say?
A voice inside her head—a male voice—whistled and sniggered.
She whirled around, her heart thudding in her chest, her mind spinning madly. She had definitely heard it.
She had to save herself from those wolves; they gave her no choice. Go ahead, her mind urged her. Do it. Let people say what they want, you know you can deal with them.
With shivering hands she smeared the deep red powder in the parting of her silver hair, a triumphant smile spreading on her powdered face.
How will you harm me now? she muttered under her breath.
Word count: 183
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The above post has been written for Fiction Monday, a fiction writing challenge brought to you by my friend, Vinitha Dileep, at her blog, Reflections.
This week’s prompts – word prompt (MIRROR), and picture prompt.
That is beautifully done!
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Thank you, Damyanti!
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In a words, so many deep feelings of a woman are expressed. The feelings she doesn’t dare to speak to even herself.
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*In a few words
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Thank you, Geethica!
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Really so lovely post. I love to read it. Thanks
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Thank you!
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Oh wow, so well done, Shilpa!
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Thank you, Soumya!
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Ek chutki sindoor ki kimat, tum kya jaano??? Lovely story..short and powerful
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😁 Thank you, B!
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I have a book give away on my blog..do visit and try your luck to win 🙂
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Oh, okay, done!
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Such a deep post of how we must lean on cultural symbols to protect ourselves. Strangely, Jose and I have lost our wedding rings!! And we haven’t bothered to replace them either!
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I sometimes wonder if those cultural symbols really protect us!
Thanks for reading, Corinne 🙂
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Oh this is so heart breaking Shilpa- I can so relate with her plight. You have captured the nuance so well in this story.
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Thank you, Shalz!
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You have captured the mind games so well and beautifully, Shilpa. What a state! Only you can give life to such an intense story
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Thank you, Vini! It’s taken from a real life experience that never fails to frighten me when I think of it.
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So many things women have to consider to feel safe. Powerful write.
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Sad, but true 😦
Thanks Raj!
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