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Galaxies

November 20, 2022 20 Comments

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I always shut Master’s study room door with shaking hands. Tossing aside my cleaning cloth, I open his book to the page containing colorful pictures of spiral galaxies swirling with dust and stars. For a few minutes, I am engrossed in reading, my servant duties forgotten, my senses oblivious to everything else.

Yesterday, I did not hear the door open, only felt the whack of Master’s stick striking my arm; but I’m back today, dusting the room, trying to resist the book’s gravitational pull. I study my tender bruises—bright pink and purple, like galaxies dotted with pinpricks of red stars.

By Deepti Nalavade Mahule

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joanna says

    November 20, 2022 at 1:16 pm

    Great story! 🙂

    Reply
    • Deepti Nalavade Mahule says

      November 23, 2022 at 9:33 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  2. JK Hayward-Trout says

    November 20, 2022 at 2:19 pm

    Torture and the pull of curiosity. What a compelling story with dazzling imagery.

    Reply
    • Deepti Nalavade Mahule says

      November 23, 2022 at 9:34 pm

      Thanks for reading and for your thoughts on what the story is saying. Really appreciate this!

      Reply
  3. Oscar says

    November 22, 2022 at 4:18 am

    Perfection

    Reply
    • Deepti Nalavade Mahule says

      November 23, 2022 at 9:35 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  4. Veronique says

    November 23, 2022 at 8:02 am

    This is one of the best stories I have read on this site so far (I have read about 50). IT would have been nice to know where the servant learned how to read, but space is an issue for sure. Maybe, flesh it out and make it a short story (1000 words)?

    Reply
    • Doug Jacquier says

      November 23, 2022 at 5:24 pm

      Agree. Great core for a longer story here.

      Reply
      • Deepti Nalavade Mahule says

        November 23, 2022 at 10:23 pm

        Thanks for reading and for sharing your specific thought about my piece!

        Reply
    • Deepti Nalavade Mahule says

      November 23, 2022 at 10:21 pm

      Oh wow, thank you so much! I’m humbled. Thanks also for sharing your thoughts on exploring the the protagonist’s storyline and where the story has the potential to go!

      Reply
  5. Chetana Vaishnavi says

    November 23, 2022 at 9:53 am

    Very nice story.
    Loved it

    Reply
    • Deepti Nalavade Mahule says

      November 23, 2022 at 9:35 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  6. yogita says

    November 23, 2022 at 10:14 am

    Great story!

    Reply
    • Deepti Nalavade Mahule says

      November 23, 2022 at 9:35 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Kristie says

    November 25, 2022 at 10:03 am

    What a compelling story! The imagery carried throughout works so well.

    Reply
    • Deepti Nalavade Mahule says

      November 26, 2022 at 12:08 am

      Thank you! Glad you liked the imagery!

      Reply
  8. David Higham says

    November 25, 2022 at 1:18 pm

    What a gem of a story. The whole universe in 101 words.

    Reply
    • Deepti Nalavade Mahule says

      November 26, 2022 at 12:09 am

      Thank you for reading and for your comment!

      Reply
  9. Kelly Louisa Balliu says

    November 27, 2022 at 9:11 am

    Superb imagery, tinged with sadness but also hope in those few moments where the servant is lost in wonder.

    Reply
    • Deepti Nalavade Mahule says

      November 28, 2022 at 12:52 pm

      Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts about my piece!

      Reply

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