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The Castle Of Dreams: by Nathaniel A Miller It uses the concept of the times, contemporary Fantasy and the use of a Elvish language u... [5,046 words]
The Daffodil by Vinod Sasidharan A fictious story about a young man.. [682 words]
The Mirage by Vinod Sasidharan A mystery love story of an young scientist working in kodaikanal ... Story Title : ... [3,052 words]
None1234 by Vinod Sasidharan none [1 words]
Ruins by Amit Shankar Saha - [1,644 words]
Nanotech by Susan Brassfield Cogan Alien technology is not for everyone! [971 words]
Carpet, 03.17 A.M. by Maurice Codourey From a series of stories about the town of zurich in the tradition of black humour. And horr... [673 words]
High Altitude by Tony James Sayers This one is an action thrilled, high octane story, yet to get off the ground. [1,715 words]
The Genome Paradox by Armand Waksberg A short story: What else is hidden in the Genome Code? [9,721 words]
Zen And Zoom by Kathy Lafollett When a husband and wife define their life, it's not always parallel, but it is entertaining! [2,437 words]
Wait ! by Buxton - [797 words]
Unwanted Company by Erasmus Flynt - [826 words]
Tribute To Abbie Angel by Allington Kinsley This short letter is for Abbie Angel, the teenager that I met two weeks ago in Toledo, O... [720 words]
Train Tracks by Hayley Burdett This is about a woman, remembering her childhood and coming back to the place where she's spent it... [132 words]
The Year Of The Cat by Maria Lapachet The Year of the Cat is writer Maria Lapachet’s first-ever collection of short fiction. The... [1,200 words]
The Sudden Riot by Jannah Akira Are you dreaming? Wake up! [2,982 words]
The Massacre Of Sierra Madre by Kevin Myrick The beginning of a series I'm calling "The Sierra Madre Stories", this is the firs... [3,637 words]
The Man From Sierra Madre by Kevin Myrick The second in the "Sierra Madre Series" with more death and an interesting plot twist... [3,659 words]
The Death Of Smith And Jones In Sierra Madre by Kevin Myrick The next story in the "Sierra Madre Stories" series in which descr... [3,072 words]
The Bus Stop by Hayley Burdett - [209 words]
That Extra S - Mile ….
Punk Club Saturdays -- A Memoir by Hayley Burdett - [444 words]
Lost Girl by Abbie Angel A true story about a girl who ran away from home when she was 15 years old. It's about me. [1,526 words]
Lost Girl 3 by Abbie Angel Abbie Angel, 15, is still running. This might be my last entry for a while. [884 words]
Lost Girl 2 by Abbie Angel More of my story being lost in a mean world. [619 words]
Lost Chances by J Shartzer "Sounds to me like a cheezy teen sopa opera." "Lily! That's so mean!" [850 words]
Life Is Beautiful - by Vinod Sasidharan This makes u understand why life is beautiful .. [340 words]
In The Beginning by Kevin Myrick The followup to "The Last Two Minutes of an Insane Man's Life", which takes the reader back to... [1,225 words]
Imagine Alone by Mungo Faust - [471 words]
He Grows Up... by Partha Pratim Majumder The story of Monty rotates on the issues of growing up of a boy in the illusion of much hyped ad... [4,098 words]
From Darkness Into Light by Larry Samuel McCrea A first person POV that tells of one man's struggle in a world trapped between a heave... [1,344 words]
Friendship, Oblivion by Skyler Drevan Have you ever had a relationship like this? Have you ever had a friendship like this? I th... [373 words]
Foolish (2) by Malia Harrison A short story. [857 words]
Flourescent Lighting by Hayley Burdett A woman who's mother is stricken with alzhemier's and how she deals with the problem. [287 words]
Engineering An Engineer by Partha Pratim Majumder In the community of contractors enlisted with the government, a newsitem has spread li... [1,897 words]
Boundaries by Stormy It is only natural that we would seek out and discover the borders of our kingdom, for a kingdom it ... [1,178 words]
Blackout-Part One by E Rocco Caldwell A detective that suffers from alcoholic blackouts is hired to discover the affair of a client... [1,140 words]
Baby Shower by Maria Lapachet The Year of the Cat is writer Maria Lapachet’s first-ever collection of short fiction. The short st... [1,040 words]
Anastasia by Brotherman A love story, dedicated to my uncle.( im gonna work on it more, however) [3,561 words]
A Young Otters Dream by Mungo Faust Please forgive me this one, it is a bit silly but in my defence,I wrote it for my daughter... [556 words]
A Message From God by Abbie Angel From a runaway girl, inspiration from God? Possibly. [599 words]
Afterimage by J Shartzer An uncle's interesting occupation. [2,274 words]
Will Hunter Plays Golf by Higgins The game of a good golfer deteriorates. [997 words]
Waterworld by Bri Q Brisee The combination of muggy heat and absence of water were reaching unbearible levels in a dusty desert... [1,201 words]
Wanted - Unwanted by Partha Pratim Majumder - [1,891 words]
True Friends by Sapphire Lim About frenz. About frenz arguing and misunderstanding each other. [2,145 words]
Time Ripper by P J Lawton What if a serial killer could jump through time. Maybe he has! [1,459 words]
Thinking About My Father by Kevin Myrick A Sort of Essay/Short Story about the relationship with my father. [979 words]
The Watchers by P J Lawton A young man has a strange encounter and is orderd to keep quiet, after 50 years he finally decides... [1,874 words]
The Tornado Man by Seleta V Johnson A heartwarming tale about a child's faith in God. [1,060 words]
The Letter by Shelley J Alongi Instalment One. A plane crash, a letter, and twenty years of memory cause Alex, a deaf man, and Juli... [5,349 words]
The Great Galactic War by Josh Diodispazio It’s the year 2705 C.E more of the Universe has been charted there are 7 known quadrants... [2,506 words]
The Day The Irish Invaded Canada by Paul McCarthy A story of war, love, and intrigue - based on actual events (5.423 words) [5,418 words]
The Classic Good Guy by Lyss Von Puttkammer - [1,711 words]
That Really Burn’S My Biscuits- On Both Sides!!! by Seleta V Johnson A country girl’ s look at life [755 words]
Syberg by Lawrence Peters Part one of a science fiction story... [956 words]
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Sonnet 35 by Jannah Akira They move to a new house. Hoping to start a new beginning but instead they found that they are not al... [7,152 words]
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Power To Live by Buxton - [82 words]
No Crib For His Bed by Seleta V Johnson A very touching and heartwarming story of God's love and miracles.. [847 words]
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My Birthday Treat by Mungo Faust - [548 words]
Mums The Word by Alessandra Mace 16-year-old Sky is mortified when her careworker, Jack has to leave for the US for the birth of h... [3,830 words]
Man Undaunted by Matt Brown - [1,883 words]
Living And Leaving by Partha Pratim Majumder The place is a crematorium. The characters are three dead souls leaving the world in disgust... [859 words]
Last Two Minutes Of An Insane Man's Life by Kevin Myrick The story of a man who is insane and has his inner demons leave him af... [914 words]
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In The Womb Of A Bomb by Partha Pratim Majumder Humor sprouts from a real life situation , when at a far off place, a bomb was located in... [2,417 words]
Human Abstract by Skyler Drevan Unusual art exhibit. [4,254 words]
Home At Last by Krista Weiss A short story about a woman's strugle with the transition from single college girl to married moth... [1,281 words]
Future Shock by P J Lawton A young woman gets a glance into the future, can she change her destiny? [1,035 words]
For Love Of Maple Bars by Young Salinger-esque. [1,541 words]
Don't Let Your Horseshoe Hit The Plum Tree by Seleta V Johnson A funny little tale about a country teenager [854 words]
Dake by Jannah Akira It’s really hard to fall in love. When you fall in love, you’ll find it so hard to let go. When you have l... [7,220 words]
Cogito, Ergo Sum by Erasmus Flynt - [708 words]
Bird Of Prey by E Marc Coe - [2,585 words]
A Walk Through Town by Cristina Sanidad A story of magical realism. [1,132 words]
Time For A Killing by Gregory Jackson A story of a passion and psychological twist which takes place in a rural town. [2,331 words]
Transform by Reid Bryansmith - [4,892 words]
Trail Of Hope by Matthew Hooper - [1,216 words]
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To Whom Beauty Holds by Skyler Drevan All about Vanity. [2,545 words]
Theme Of Life by Okkida A short story. [3,072 words]
The Unfortunate Magician by R Campbell A magician learns the true power of magic, and that all is not what it seems. [4,782 words]
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The Mother Of All Birthdays by Skyler Drevan - [1,850 words]
The Earth Fights Back by Armand Waksberg What happens when the earth can't take it anymore. A short story. [2,142 words]
The Chronicles Of A Great Warrior by NeedhamT The twisting turning medieval based story of awesomeness! [3,269 words]
Strangers In The Mist by Nur Syafiqah A Jaaffar A thrilling piece. Hope somebody could review it. [1,667 words]
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Oil On My Mind by Charles Evans A story of greed and patience. The struggle to obtain what's yours against incredible odds. Da... [4,401 words]
Joe's Life by James Mudge Short story about Joe Warner's life. [1,239 words]
Forbidden Goddesses Part One by E Daugherty - [817 words]
Eighth Day by Erasmus Flynt - [1,423 words]
David's Life by James Mudge The story is about a boy named David. Davis is a very athletic person. [744 words]
An Error In Judgment by Valerie J Gawron A story that shows once again that all is not as it seems. [3,590 words]

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TITLE (EDIT)
That Extra S - Mile ….
DESCRIPTION
-
[1,421 words]
TITLE KEYWORD
Relationships
AUTHOR
Partha Pratim Majumder
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A creative story teller of India.
[August 2006]
AUTHOR'S E-MAIL ADDRESS
pratim_in@yahoo.com
AUTHOR'S OTHER TITLES (12)
And The Light Returns !!! …” (Short Stories) God finds out the earth with values eroded. To him, erosion of values means absolute darkness. When he fails to find out values in the all levels of the society including top, an ordinary ragpicker... [1,392 words] [Literary Fiction]
Bare Facts (Short Stories) When western culture and western fashion representing economic power of West has been making serious dent mark in the conservative society and socio – economic condition of third world countries like... [1,461 words] [Literary Fiction]
Engineering An Engineer (Short Stories) In the community of contractors enlisted with the government, a newsitem has spread like fire that newly arrived District Engineer appears to be beyond all temptation and dishonesty. They have starte... [1,897 words] [Literary Fiction]
He Grows Up... (Short Stories) The story of Monty rotates on the issues of growing up of a boy in the illusion of much hyped adulthood, in the dreams of “being a man”, and finally in the mystery called love. But, to the contrary, h... [4,098 words] [Literary Fiction]
In The Womb Of A Bomb (Short Stories) Humor sprouts from a real life situation , when at a far off place, a bomb was located in a government office. The sensation of a bomb and human reaction to it is the focal point of this story. Let th... [2,417 words] [Humor]
Jolly John's Last Laugh (Short Stories) In 1963 , A young Englishman bought an old Bunglow at the foothills of Himalayas near Simla. The problem faced by him was the issue of adjustment with the atmosphere of that old house and his despe... [2,437 words] [Literary Fiction]
Life On The Broken Wings (Short Stories) A young pretty girl , who is handicapped since birth , has to pass her leisure sitting on the wheel chair in the balcony of her first floor apartment in a congested locality. Her tender mind uses to r... [1,860 words] [Literary Fiction]
Living And Leaving (Short Stories) The place is a crematorium. The characters are three dead souls leaving the world in disgust and gloom. They are asked three questions by God about their final round of experiences to know their wish ... [859 words] [Spiritual]
Mom's Color Code (Short Stories) Relationship between mother and son. The very intricate relationship that needs no description. [1,287 words] [Relationships]
The Gatekeeper Of The Heaven (Short Stories) Theme : Hypothetically, the concept of God,heaven etc. are all created by and preserved in the belief of man. Again, the treatment of the same in the mind of illeterate and common man as well as in... [2,419 words] [Relationships]
Wanted - Unwanted (Short Stories) - [1,891 words] [Relationships]
When Oil Wells Will Be Dry….. (Short Stories) In the felicitation ceremony of the ace rock climber / mountaineer , a question shakes all and sundry including the mountaineer, who finds himself out of foothold in an auditorium in US , after his r... [700 words] [Popular Fiction]
That Extra S - Mile ….
Partha Pratim Majumder

After the whole day, the large Gift Shop on Park Street was about to close, at eight thirty sharp, when I entered it straight from Airport. The man at the counter had to put a fatigued welcome smile at me, as I was receiving the token against the deposit of my huge and bizarre luggage, which was set to occupy the entire space at the entrance.
So, I went for fast pick up of one Harry Potter, and an Old Classic of Jules Verne, apart from a Birthday Card. I reached home by ten at Jodhpur Park . By then, Bobby was well in slumber.

Once again, I failed to keep my family commitment.

At first, my wife was stiff in exposing her reaction. Her face was a citadel of agony and frustration, that I could not miss. The birthday decoration around ,looked at me sarcastically .
The cake was half eaten. Few cut pieces were stored for the absent guests like me. The paper caps and lanterns kept on hanging here & there loosely. A deep sigh came out of her to say , another birthday was celebrated in my absence.

The gift pack was put by the side of my son other than a small dry kiss on his forehead . The face of the child ,however , could not give a hint that he was also disappointed. That night, at dinner , my wife at last burst in like an erupting volcano .”What is this going on, Tapan ? What this is all about ?” She retorted. “Do you ever show any responsibility to us ? Do you ever understand a child’s psychology at all ? Do you think that you have finished to live with us ? “

While I was showered with so many “Do You”s , I , revocably tried to put my those old argument of what and how I was forced to do. So many compulsions and pressures at work place and above all, those certainly destined some uncertain and unpredictable situations.

“ Look , I am extremely sorry , T had a very tiring day . Entire things were all upsetting for me. I was planing to come last evening Ticket was booked accordingly alongwith the Special Officer of Court, , who flew with me to Chennai for a special assignment. He fell sick with ....” She sounded wild , “ How can you easily make up stories ? Can you remember what was your last story reasoning your delay from Mumbai ? Probably not.“
“Don’t misunderstand me . Please...it is not true. I can not leave a sick man....” She intercepted by raising her finger the way an umpire would go for signalling the end of a batsman’s innings. “ Stop. It’s enough. Not a single word any more. I am tired of it. “

I did not give up. “ No. You have to listen, I don’t understand your intolerant attitude. This is quite normal with others also. This may happen to anybody at any time. “
I took a breath and candidly put up an example to disprove her argument. “ Do you know about Mrs. Mukherjee’s incident? Being wife of Finance Director of our company, she had to bear loneliness and trauma with her broken leg for a whole week in the company flat at Alipore, as her only son was studying in Bangalore and hubby in Delhi awaiting a meeting with concerned Minister after appointment was fixed. She had no support other than a cook and a servant. If she can , why can’t you ? “

She had vacated the room , before I finished citing my example.
Nobody tried to understand each other’s problems as usual. Dinners were hardly eaten. I was in a fatigue of the whole day since last night . But , I was ridiculed to say that it was my conspiracy proved once again to arrive at the resolution that for last two years I had been keeping myself busy in everything except in family affairs. The dialogue could indicate that it was the child , who was under suffering. Being mother, Kasturi could not tolerate all that.

She stormed in to the room once again and rolled out her well made warning , “ Please note that I personally do’nt care. It is all for the child we brought to earth. That boy must not suffer. I warn you. “ I was dumb founded under feminine warning. Then I thought of the fact that our dispute over the apple could take us to the sky but the apple of the discord remained on the table. My explanation was smartly refuted with counter charges. But everything must have a limit. So, I countered resolutely.
“ Please , don’t try to frighten me by your threatening.” ,

Thereafter, a riot of words only we were productive of . The night hour was robbed of the silence till the child with divine face sat awake with his broken dream. Kasturi stopped first to take up the duty of arranging another bout of sleep for the child as I had a lone smoking session at the balcony looking at the stars that had been blinking the way they used to do in the skyline above Marina Beach in Chennai even last evening.

Next day, it was Bobby who made me awake. The child with a scruffy look after a full length slumber came to me to tell how bad he missed to receive the gift from his Papa before his friends, present before Special Birthday cake. “ I get the books and card this morning. Why didn’t you wake me up after your arrival ?“ He enquired . Without waiting for my reply, he ran to dining table to fetch a piece of cake on a dish and poured into my mouth.

“Eat it , Papa, this is my Birthday Cake .“ As I was finding it difficult to swallow the mouthful of the cake, soon my facial expression turned out quite funny. He broke into a giggle saying ”you look like Charlie Chaplin , papa !! “

Dear Bobby, I must confess and apologize. The executives like me travel two very different worlds. For the betterment of the companies they work , this class of people are always on the run. They even sometimes do not have control over their own world. They stand nowhere, but they fly. In all executive training programs, the experts, are often vocal to register the doctrine of motivation of running that extra mile to give the desired edge over the competitors in survival strategy and achieving the set goals. To reach that unprecedented success milestone. They put up so many examples, so many success stories , so much of mathematical calculations, usage of so much of jargons and management terms, only to solidify their contentions and conclusions.

And in the natural yield of intellectual input on regular basis, the executive-turned student is to run ...... that extra mile. Once, you would be elder enough, son, you should understand it , while running , or flying ............ like me. I wish if you know how much I also suffer as you suffer too.

Bobby was before me as I opened the zip of the baggage. I handed over his favourite tiny items like sachet of butter, jelly, cheese, candy, sauce etc. as usual after every flight .
A child gets optimum pleasure in those small wonders. His bright eyes are glued to those trifles , which often we see fallen on floor of the plane under the seats .


His soft palms are full , eyes sparkle , lips flutter to say , “ Do you know .Papa ! In our school, a village boy has got admission on transfer. Sukhiram Srivastava. From Allahabad. We call him Sukhia. He has no idea of eating food in aeroplane. I told him that my father flies like a kite. I promised to show him food served in the small packs after you arrive. So, today , he will be surprised to see what he has never seen .“

“So, you think , son, the passengers in flight take so huge food , eh ! “


Now , this is my bout of laughter , giving piercing way to shatter the gloom of last night imbroglio ,when his mother also joins in laughter, overhearing the joke from kitchen. The fresh morning has started on becoming fresher on the face value as the boy of innocence looks on.
                            

 

READER'S REVIEWS (3)
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"I can't say this enough...you have a wonderful gift iin developing characters...this story worked because the the conflict of those characters. The husband and wife shows their disdain and utter confusion and the sweet son in the morning after gentle like the morning itself spreading peace throughout the house...the usage of words in this story help relay the turmoil of the night and the clam of the day...the think the title should reflect the conflict instead of the effort but that's up to you. This is another work of art!" -- e. rocco caldwell.
"The storyline has a smooth run. Sweet finish. Impeccable style of storytelling and building characters. Good." -- Ron Martin, California, USA.
"Quality prose. I like it. " -- David , USA.

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2004 Partha Pratim Majumder
STORYMANIA PUBLICATION DATE
July 2004
NUMBER OF TIMES TITLE VIEWED
2227
 

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