Tag Archives: Stories by Me

P for Pick your health before anything else

People tend to get so busy with the day-to-day stress in their lives that they ignore their health. 

Physical as well as mental health often take the backseat, especially the latter one.

Picking everything over one’s own health might temporarily work for the general population, but superheroes cannot afford to ignore it.

Part of your training includes ensuring that you have all enough strength and energy to fight a super enemy and recover quickly after the fights. So, while we train you every night, you must promise to include COASTED in your daily diet from now on,” A Minute explained the importance of the superfoods to the One Minuters.

C – Carrots: For bone health, vision, better immune system, blood pressure management and energy

O – Oats: For better heart health and a healthy gut; especially for Tim who would consume almost everything

A – Almonds: For bone health and brain, and relieving anxiety

S – Spinach: For bone health, vision, energy and anti-inflammatory properties

T – Turmeric: For better memory, pain relief and heart health    

E – Eggs: For strong muscles, vision, heart health, better memory and energy

D – Dates: For energy and anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and anti-bleeding properties; necessary for the superheroes after fighting the evil superpowers.

Planning everything perfectly was A Minute’s forte and, for relieving stress, she suggested some relaxation techniques, getting proper sleep and Saturday fun sessions; she would have been a successful stand-up comedienne if she was a person.

Pay us for our efforts in training you by strictly following the relaxation techniques and a COASTED inclusive diet. Those who skip these will bear the brunt of whatever is approaching you. This is not a movie or a comic book, this is real,” The Voice sounded very serious.

Preparing for The Command’s inevitable approach was getting more real as Dev realised one thing, “True, all those superhero movies just show action, no one shows any superhero eating or resting, ever!”

Perhaps, you would want your kid Keith to eat these superfoods as well Beth. These are all, in any case, good for kids. After all, The Command is waiting to try and use him as a host. Keith must be strong both physically and mentally,” A Minute added.

The story continues tomorrow in the next post. Did you notice that I managed to start each sentence of this chapter of the story with the letter P (I have managed to do the same from the B letter post)! This is my 16th post for this year’s A to Z Challenge (#atozchallenge). Head to my previous posts to read the entire story.
Read all my posts for the challenge in the A to Z links below:
A ➡ B ➡ C ➡ D ➡ E ➡ F ➡ G ➡ H ➡ I ➡ J ➡ K ➡ L ➡ M ➡ N ➡ O ➡ P ➡ Q ➡ R ➡ S ➡ T ➡ U ➡ V ➡ W ➡ X ➡ Y ➡ Z

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M for Memories make the mom strong

Milliseconds after telling Beth that The Command was waiting to have Keith under its control, The Voice suddenly disappeared or was rather inaudible.

Morning was just a few hours away, so Tim, Holly and Dev decided to leave while Daphne and Evelyn stayed back at Beth’s place to comfort her.

Much to Daphne’s surprise, Beth did not wish to talk and headed to her room after ensuring that they were comfortable in the guest bedroom.

Memories are mysterious things –  one never manages to forget the bad times that keep haunting forever, but when a life is at risk, the good memories gently arrive making one feel that life isn’t that bad.

Much of Beth’s night was spent reminiscing about the happy moments with Grace, Keith and Rohit.

Meeting Rohit, her ex-husband, five years ago was one of her fondest memories as they couldn’t take eyes off each other at a common friend’s wedding.

My God Cassie, he is the most amazing single dad! You should have seen how he takes care of his one-year-old baby Keith. You will see, I will marry him someday,” Beth had told her best friend the day she met Rohit; they married only after a few months.

Maternal instincts had kicked in the moment Beth had held Keith in her arms for the first time and they had bonded instantly.

Mom, I love you,” Keith used to tell her daily until Grace was born.

Mom, I love my baby sister the most. I love you and dad also… a little bit,” he was the most loving and caring brother to Grace. 

Maybe if she and Rohit had not separated she could have spent more time with Keith, Beth thought as she regretted managing to meet him only on weekends.

Married or not, we will always try to spend weekends with both the kids and be the best parents ever,” it was Rohit’s idea who still was her 2 a.m. friend.

Misfortune always seemed to find Beth, but this time it was about the safety of her kids and she decided to do everything possible and even impossible to keep them safe.

Might as well put our superpowers to good use, let’s give our hundred percent when The Voice trains us. I don’t know what exactly my superpower is but I will definitely not let that Command hurt my kid or anyone else’s. Daphne, don’t worry about Evelyn, I will take care of her,” Beth surprisingly sounded positive during the breakfast, much to Daphne and Evelyn’s relief.

Meet me at the Andheri stadium at 11.59 pm tonight, you will have no trouble entering,” both Beth and Evelyn heard The Voice speak into their ears.

Man, what is with The Voice and number 59? He always makes me count till 59!” Evelyn said.

Me too,” Beth replied and continued to narrate the turbulent plane incident; it was about time the superheroes knew more about each other.

The story continues tomorrow in the next post. Did you notice that I managed to start each sentence of this chapter of the story with the letter M (I have managed to do the same from B to L posts)! This is my 13th post for this year’s A to Z Challenge (#atozchallenge). Head to my previous posts to read the entire story.
Read all my posts for the challenge in the A to Z links below:
A ➡ B ➡ C ➡ D ➡ E ➡ F ➡ G ➡ H ➡ I ➡ JKLM ➡ N ➡ O ➡ P ➡ Q ➡ R ➡ S ➡ T ➡ U ➡ V ➡ W ➡ X ➡ Y ➡ Z

K for Knock of The Voice

Keen to understand what that transparent elongated bubble like thing was, Beth looked at others and noticed that Evelyn was sweating profusely, Holly and Dev were holding hands and Tim was having an anxiety attack.

Kids their age should be busy partying or studying, but instead, they had to defeat an unknown force that they were clearly not prepared to fight against; Beth realised why she, almost double their age, was part of this – they needed guidance, direction and motivation.

Keep faith, we will figure out something together. I know I am new to all this and I still don’t know what I am capable of, but I am with you all through,” Beth, a mother herself, couldn’t let those youngsters feel helpless and alone.

Kindness was Beth’s best quality, something that people often took advantage of, but she realised that she should help out these youngsters and keep her fears about her daughter’s safety to herself.

Kia, Beth’s new car parked just outside her house suddenly moved, as if someone very strong pushed it, and since everyone was still keeping an eye on the window, they all noticed it.

Know this Beth, The Voice has arrived and it can talk to us all at the same time,” Dev informed her.

Knocking the door, The Voice was finally heard two minutes later which felt like eternity to everyone in the room.

Knocking, well, that’s new,” Beth taunted The Voice, “So I understand that sound travels much slower than light, but six years to arrive, doesn’t that sound too slow?”

Keith is not exactly your son, right Beth?” everyone suddenly looked shocked as The Voice spoke at once, right into each person’s ears.

Keith is my ex-husband’s son, he’s like my son, why do you mention him?” Beth trembled, she had been thinking about Grace all this while but how did Keith fit the scene?

The story continues tomorrow in the next post. Did you notice that I managed to start each sentence of this chapter of the story with K (I have managed to do the same from B to J posts)! This is my 11th post for this year’s A to Z Challenge (#atozchallenge). Head to my previous posts to read the entire story.

I’ll be posting daily except Sundays all through the month. Stay tuned. Read all my posts for the challenge in the A to Z links below:
A ➡ B ➡ C ➡ D ➡ E ➡ F ➡ G ➡ H ➡ I ➡ J ➡ K ➡ L ➡ M ➡ N ➡ O ➡ P ➡ Q ➡ R ➡ S ➡ T ➡ U ➡ V ➡ W ➡ X ➡ Y ➡ Z

I for I Spy – A fun game for kids, a challenge for superheroes

Instead of having an argument with her, Beth was now teaming up with Daphne and the four young superheroes, not knowing exactly what each one was capable of.

Iron Man was her favourite and she would never miss any Marvel or DC movie but little did she know that she might be a superhero herself; she wondered if the filmmakers actually encountered some real-life superheroes, and if these movies were actually based on true stories.

I want to know everything – What are your superpowers? Is The Command around and has any of you ‘heard’ it, and what about The Voice? Why doesn’t it contact me now? Do I really have a superpower? How do I know how to use it?” Beth obviously had too many questions.

It was a lot to discuss over a few cups of coffee, so Beth invited them over to her place.

Ideally, she would not have invited a set of complete strangers to her house, but nothing was ideal in this case and since her daughter Grace was at her ex-husband Rohit’s farmhouse for three days, she was ready to take a chance.

Impressed was an understatement, Beth could not believe how these twenty-somethings were absolutely fearless, brave and willing to risk their lives to save the world.

Imagine playing I Spy – be completely aware of your surroundings and you can sense when The Command is around you. It cannot take form as such, but you can feel something move!” Dev roughly explained how she could ‘spot’ the evil power.

I Spy was the game Beth and Grace played together almost daily and almost everywhere:
I spy with my little eyes something round and green,” Beth would say and Grace would spy all around the room to finally spot a green bead in the centre of the dreamcatcher.
I spy with my little eyes something red with wheels,” Grace would always point at vehicles and trees while looking out of the window whenever Beth drove and she would always pretend as if she couldn’t spot it as she was driving!

It had only laughter and fun associated with it until that moment.

I don’t want to spy with my eyes something that I can’t see, something that I can’t hear yet, something powerful that would command me to do what I don’t want to do, damn but I will have to fight it – Beth was scared.

Imagination is a power we all underestimate and it was somehow the source of all the amazing things each of these four superheroes could do.

I can get into people’s head, travel into their memories and change a decision they made in the past. It could be as small as skipping a meal to as big as a career choice. It changes a lot in their lives and everything that’s connected, but it can get really messy at so many levels,” Holly explained her power.

If I really focus on my imagination, I can eat anything, any size – from a bullet to a lightning bolt,” Tim sounded excited until everyone joked how he could fart after that!

I can change the form and size of things and animals, but I haven’t been able to change the complete form of anything yet,” Dev was very unsure about using his powers as it could be really damaging if not done correctly.

I can sing to make anyone go into deep sleep,” Evelyn sounded a little embarrassed about her superpower as she continued, “That probably explains why the kids in my singing class yawned when I sang!”

It was amazing how the youngsters retained their sense of humour given the challenges they were about to face.

Introductions to their powers were thus done and Beth was told that The Voice planned to take her through her capabilities the next day.

Innocent youngsters in their early twenties are overloaded with so much responsibility and risk, Beth thought as she expressed concern about their safety and the fear their parents might be facing.

It was at this moment that Daphne somehow gathered the courage to share something that no one could manage to speak about – Beth was the only one to have a child after getting the powers so there was a chance that her four-year-old daughter might have genetically inherited some superpower and perhaps even attracted the interest of The Voice and The Command.

The story continues tomorrow in the next post. Did you notice that I managed to start each sentence of this chapter of the story with I, the letter of the day (I have managed to do the same from B to H posts)! This is my ninth post for this year’s A to Z Challenge (#atozchallenge). Head to my previous posts to read the entire story.

I’ll be posting daily except Sundays all through the month. Stay tuned. Read all my posts for the challenge in the A to Z links below:
A ➡ B ➡ C ➡ D ➡ E ➡ F ➡ G ➡ H ➡ I ➡ J ➡ K ➡ L ➡ M ➡ N ➡ O ➡ P ➡ Q ➡ R ➡ S ➡ T ➡ U ➡ V ➡ W ➡ X ➡ Y ➡ Z

H for Heroes of The Voice and Halwa Recipe

Hugging Grace goodbye, Beth thanked Rohit for agreeing to spend the long weekend with their daughter.

He always looked forward to take Grace to his farmhouse where his parents stayed as he barely got to spend time with her on weekdays; the father daughter duo loved playing catch, petting animals and gardening together.

Hi, Daphne here, please check my mails and call me, please,” Beth received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number as soon as Rohit and Grace left, and immediately regretted reading it.

How could Daphne have her new number, Beth wondered and finally checked her mails that kept saying the same thing: The Voice needs you, we all need you, please get in touch, we have arrived in Mumbai!

Her life was just getting normal and she now felt that everything was going to change soon as suddenly, after six years, she felt that weird pain in her right arm again.

HELP! She screamed and cried as this time the pain was unbearable and for much longer than the previous episodes.

Her entire body felt like it was on fire and at the same time on an ice slab; she knew she had to meet Daphne even though she had disappeared when she needed her the most.

High Time Cafe, Andheri Link Road, 5 pm today, Beth replied, though until ten minutes ago she had absolutely no intention of meeting her.

Hoping that she would meet just Daphne and her daughter Evelyn at the cafe and get some answers, Beth was surprised to see three more youngsters along with them.

Heading towards them, Beth felt strange; she was all set to be rude with Daphne, but that wasn’t possible in the presence of these youngsters.

Half-an-hour later, Beth was overwhelmed with the overload of information and in complete disbelief as she learnt that she might, well, still have superpowers.

Holly, Dev, Tim and Evelyn, all in their early twenties, had experienced the same pain in the past, had heard The Voice and were instrumental in making that turbulent plane steady – something that until that moment Beth felt she had done singlehandedly.

Heroes, we all are superheroes Beth, believe it or not! The Voice will speak to you soon but if The Command tries to make you do anything, just don’t do it… it is the dark power, very dark, very evil and it is coming for you,” Dev spoke with such conviction that Beth got goosebumps.

Halwa recipe, quick please… Keith wants to eat it now and he is throwing tantrums,” Beth read the message from Rohit; she had completely forgotten that his six-year-old son from his previous girlfriend wanted to eat the halwa she always sent for him.

Heat half a cup of ghee, add a pinch of green cardamom powder, add one cup fine semolina and roast on low flame. When almost pinkish brown, add some raisins, 1.5 cups of water, half cup jagggery powder, keep stirring until it all comes together. Add a tablespoon of ghee, mix well and you’ll know when it’s done.

Having sent the halwa recipe, Beth looked at all those hopeful youngsters, complete strangers, who had travelled all the way to Mumbai from different parts of the world to help her with ‘something big that was about to happen’.

Hide, run, escape – her mind said to her but then she saw tears in Daphne’s eyes.

Hell yes, I am in, tell me what to do!” Beth couldn’t let these youngsters fight alone.

The story continues tomorrow in the next post. Did you notice that I managed to start each sentence of this chapter of the story with H, the letter of the day (I have managed to do the same from B to G posts)! This is my sixth post for this year’s A to Z Challenge (#atozchallenge). Head to my previous posts to read the entire story.

I’ll be posting daily except Sundays all through the month. Stay tuned. Read all my posts for the challenge in the A to Z links below:

A ➡ B ➡ C ➡ D ➡ E ➡ FGH ➡ I ➡ J ➡ K ➡ L ➡ M ➡ N ➡ O ➡ P ➡ Q ➡ R ➡ S ➡ T ➡ U ➡ V ➡ W ➡ X ➡ Y ➡ Z