QUINTUPLETS: TRAVELING WITH STRANGERS

Here are five 110 word story with a twist

Story No.1

As Venad Express was pulling out of the station, a young man clutching his briefcase leaped through the door. He stood puffing but victorious, mopping the sweat from his forehead, as the train gathered momentum. An older man on the train watched him with disdain.

”You young people don’t keep yourself in shape,” he said scornfully. “Why, when I was your age, I could carry a cup of coffee in one hand and run half a mile to catch the 7:30 in the nick of time and still be fresh as a daisy”

“You don’t understand”, panted the young man. “I missed this train at the last station!”

(110 words)

Story No.2

The stylish old man in impeccable suit sat next to me when he boarded the U-Bahn from Vienna. I was perusing the map to locate Schwedenplatz station to see the river Danube. Frustrated, I sought his help, but he replied that he would alight at a station before mine.

He described in advance the scenery I would see from my window–first the peach orchard, then the birch mountain, then oak alley….

Finally, the train halted at his station.

As I was helping him off the train, a young man, trying to get in, jostled him.

‘Would you let this blind man off first?’, the old man implored.

(108 words)

Story No.3

The Coromandel Express was approaching Cuttack station. The 2nd class compartment was empty except for him and the middle aged lady in deep slumber with a gold chain adorning her neck.

He needed a gift for his beloved for their 25th wedding anniversary. Business had turned him into a destitute. He vacillated and then in a sudden urge ripped that gold chain.

He was about to move away, when he heard a voice behind him, “If you will accept, I have a thicker one. It is a bit plain but one that fits all.”

He turned to see the lady with a handcuff and a pistol.

(107 words)

Story No.4

Panhandlers, of myriad categories, have always been a nuisance to commuters in the Flying Rani express. I generally avoid them. I was on my usual weekend trip to Mumbai from Surat. A young girl with beautiful blue eyes was collecting alms for the Lathur earthquake victims. When she approached me, with a flourish I pulled out a few notes from my wallet and placed it in her bowl.

“Two hundred rupees for your blues eyes”, I said looking into her lustrous eyes.

She smiled coyly, took the notes and put it in her pocket.

‘Now sir, could you give something for the quake victims as well?’

 (106 words)

Story No.5

It was his first day in Saudi. He was on a bus to the office. He spotted a pink palatial house and asked the Saudi co-passenger,

“Do you know whose house that is?”

The Saudi looked out and replied, ‘Mahdri’

Soon they came upon an even bigger sprawling mansion.

“Do you know who owns that?”

“Mahdri” came the reply.

The same query and the same reply over and over again, only increased our Indian’s admiration for Mahdri.

Mahdri must indeed be a big business tycoon.

A month later, he asked a smart Saudi who this ‘Mahdri’ was.

He replied, “My dear fellow, ‘Mahdri’ in Arabic means ‘I don’t know’ “

(109 words)