01 Apr An Apple A Day
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, someone said.
Rhia decided it really would this time. She’d had enough of doctors and nurses.
It was exhausting to have her home turned into a nursing home, with doctors and nurses buzzing in and out of the apartment. It wasn’t even the clinical smell of sanitizers and disinfectants, which was still tolerable, but the unpleasant smell of sickness and foul-smelling medicines.
An apple would be the best choice, she decided. It was the lull right after lunch and before evening tea – the perfect time to put her plan into action without the knowledge of her righteous husband.
But hadn’t the wicked queen used the apple to put Snow White to sleep? Was she the wicked queen? Who’d be Snow White, then?
‘Papa, some apple?’ She stirred the old man awake.
‘Hmm…?’ He flickered his eyes open.
‘Apple. See, I’ve softened it for you.’
She spooned the syrupy mash into his mouth, feeding him till he had finished it all, then helped him lay back down.
An apple today would keep the doctor away tomorrow.
msaraf
Posted at 18:00h, 01 AprilI love how dark your writing has gotten! It is delicious: literally and figuratively 🙂 And this short short is such a punch to the gut – the way it ends!
Wandering Soul
Posted at 21:34h, 01 April🙂 Thanks, Mira! You just put a huge, big smile on my face. 🙂
Nupur Maskara (@nuttynupur)
Posted at 19:26h, 01 AprilNice take on an old saying. Love the notice above!
Wandering Soul
Posted at 21:33h, 01 AprilThank you, Nupur! 🙂
rashimital
Posted at 21:14h, 01 AprilI have started loving your work, Piyusha. This was a good read. Didn’t see the path the story took. Look forward to more.
P.S.- This notice above comment box is hilarious. 😀 😀 😀
Wandering Soul
Posted at 21:37h, 01 AprilThank you, Rashi! You’ve made me soo happy. So glad you liked it. Hahaha, glad you liked that too. 😀
Neha
Posted at 23:03h, 01 AprilI love the way you work a twist into the ending of your stories! Will be back for more as always 🙂
Wandering Soul
Posted at 07:14h, 02 AprilYay! Thanks, Neha. Hope to live upto expectations. 😊
Pratip
Posted at 23:34h, 01 AprilUmm! Okay, I don’t know to use flattery words but the story and the twist at the end are just awesome. Looking forward to reading your posts regularly… 🙂
Wandering Soul
Posted at 07:14h, 02 AprilThank you ☺
Nilanjana Bose
Posted at 01:15h, 02 AprilNice, tight writing! Great start to the challenge.
Nilanjana
Wandering Soul
Posted at 07:15h, 02 AprilThanks so much.
Tina Sequeira
Posted at 15:33h, 02 AprilThis was very cleverly written, Piyusha! Loved the twist you gave to a common idiom. Looking forward to more such great reads! You are off to a fab start already! 🙂
Wandering Soul
Posted at 16:33h, 02 AprilThank you, Tina. 🙂 You always manage to put a smile on my face. 🙂
Tina Sequeira
Posted at 16:39h, 02 AprilLove your writing, Piyusha! Keep them coming, my dear 🙂
Nisthur
Posted at 17:48h, 02 AprilBeautiful
Meha Sharma
Posted at 18:19h, 02 AprilGreat story! What a twist. Loved it!! Will come back for more.
Wandering Soul
Posted at 19:54h, 02 AprilThanks so much, Meha. 🙂 Yay, I am glad you’ll be back. Look forward to seeing you around more often.
Medha Nagur
Posted at 15:19h, 04 AprilThat was a great narration and what an unexpected turn of events. I so loved how you have put it all together. It was dark and intense.
Wandering Soul
Posted at 15:31h, 04 AprilThank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. 😀
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