Stories Made Simple

Prerna……Prerna….. The cold zephyr tingled my ears as the gossamer curtains swayed gently at its touch. My heart turned frigid. I gripped my chest in terror. I looked up at the ornately carved mirror above the luxurious washbasin.  She was back.  Her eerie smile exposed a gaping mouth, blood dripping from the sides.  The loose strands of her long hair veiled her face.  Her red bridal dress was crumpled, torn, and tattered. Her head was smashed! Brain matter oozed out.  Her wild empty eyes stared at me.  I screamed! Hurling my hairdryer at the mirror, I turned around. She was gone! “Prerna, open up!” Abhay was banging on the door. My shaking hands fumbled with the knob. I kept looking in the mirror, mortified, desperate to flee before she returned. I rushed into Abhay’s comforting embrace when I finally managed to open the door.  “She’s out to get me. She will not go! She’s there! She’s there!” Again Abhay calmed me down. He gave me my pills and tucked me into bed.  *********************

“Hmph! No one respects intelligence in this class. Forget respect, I get kicked out for asking sensible questions!” Muruga grumbled.  He was kneeling with his hands over his head, punished by Lord Brahma for disturbing the class. His knees, arms, and shoulders were aching. The rooster on his flag spoke. “You’ve done no wrong, eh?” “No, Soora! Lord Brahma was talking about how beautiful the sky, earth, and the entire universe were! Blah! Blah! Blah! Blowing his own trumpet rather than teaching. Everyone knows he is the Creator.” “Hmm-hmm.” “I wanted to end his self-praise. So, I asked him a question. A philosophical one! Not the boring technicalities of creation!” “Go on.” “I asked him the meaning of the Pranava mantra. And you know what he said? That I was showing off! He said that just because I was able to kill an asura (you know he meant you, Soora) as a child doesn't mean I know everything.” “Is that wrong?” “Isn’t it a teacher’s duty to clarify the students’ doubts?” “Yes, bu