The Quirky Owl

Candy cane, mistletoe, a plethora of parties, the ever present aroma of baked goods and an excessive amount of tinsel are just some of the things that we encounter during the holiday season. It’s a period of happiness and joy, signifying the completion of yet another year. It may seem very minuscule, in terms that most humans live through many years of existence without having the need to think of the last 365 (or 366) days and might prefer to concentrate on the new year ahead of them instead. But it’s not that simple for everyone. For some, December might signify the end of one more year against fighting a terminal disease, while for some it may mark another holiday season without a loved one. Some are suffering through addiction while others are battling their inner demons. There are those who remain separated from their families by distance during this time of gathering, some by fate and others by choice. And then there are those to whom the holiday season acts as an unforget...

Here's a little quarantine special by none other than my best friend. Read and comment! "Piece of cake it must be for you," They tell me through their ugly laughs, "This social distancing thing." How'd they know how painful it was Like feathers plucked from a wing. "You vanish off the face of the planet,"  They say, "Can't even pick up a phone." I wish they'd look at my trembling hands , Everytime it rang and I was alone. Who do I ask to pick up the call? To answer on my behalf because I couldn't? Couldn't gather the courage to even utter a "Hello." Afraid I'd say something I shouldn't? One wrong word and it ends right there, It gets harder to breathe when I think I'm tired of handling their mocking words Even when I stop a minute to blink. "Social distancing" my friend, Is not the word your looking for, "Phobia" is what I suffer. Than just a "pick u...

People say that childhood is the time when you create your dreams, and your twenties and thirties is spent living them. Adolescent girls and boys often stare in awe at the cool demeanor of the impeccably dressed men and women walking past them with their glamorous clothes, the drinks in their hands and the poise they display when having a conversation. The confidence and elegance exuded by these individuals in their seemingly perfect life filled with success, beauty and luxury is the reason many young adolescents inadvertently make them their role models with the only thought being, 'One day, I want to be as that cool as they are’. That is why these children decide to launch themselves into a rat race that throws them obstacles throughout the course, both big and small, hoping they’ll be able to reach the pinnacles of their own success the same way their role models did. But what they don’t know is that those perfect and successful lives aren’t what they seem to be, and once you...

Hey guys, this is not a story in the "Bumbling through Life" series. However, I think you will like this poem as much as I admire the talented writer who wrote it. She blossomed her way out of the bud Of the tensed confined curved walls More of a rebirth, a sense of relief That nothing no longer curbed her existence But she was forced to be immobile Bounded by the pedicel Which was by the stem Stem that was deep rooted in the soil Still, nothing seemed to stop her She'd sway away with the wind Feed some of the insects that seeked nectar And house the others under her long silky petals The good days began to fade away Only for a short while she hoped For a stormy night had found its way Filled with consuming darkness and fright The darkness revealed even darker creatures Surrounding the flower, fondling her petals The odour that they craved for in the day Up their nose in the cruel night The frail petals fell off her With fire they burnt her t...

7:30 AM. Horns, construction work and endless morning traffic. These are my regular companions as I briskly walk my way down onto the railway platform, which unsurprisingly, is crowded as well. The sweltering heat along with the shouts of the local vendors dominate over the calls of Mother Nature as I wait for the arrival of the train. Briefcases, backpacks and sacks of produce lay on people’s shoulders as passengers push through the masses to make their way to their destination.   By now you may be wondering, which densely populated metropolitan city am I in? Well, it’s certainly not New York, where a resident citizen would stroll through into a compartment with a Starbucks in one hand and an overbearing boss screaming at you on the phone in the other. My location is a lot more challenging to be living in, both physically and mentally.   Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you one of the busiest, noisiest and colorful cities in the developing world, Mumbai. Now, as a res...

Hi there! I'm Annie, and this blog was created as a platform to creating writing and stories alike. I'll be posting a variety of literary scribbles, ranging from short stories to poetry. There may also be contributions from other writers I know from time to time. My first set of posts will a series of short stories all based on the story line "Bumbling through Life : An Introvert's Guide to Normalcy". The series will be based on the life of Maya George, an introverted young girl whose life isn't as simple as it may seem. This is a work of fiction, and the characters in this series does not resemble anyone in real life. If it does, it is purely by coincidence. The stories aren't set in a chronological order, so feel free to read whatever you're in the mood for. Step into Maya's world and walk along with her as she faces obstacles in her life, with a spring in her step and a song on her lips. It rings a bell with everyone as it is like a box of ch...