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101 Word Short Stories

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The Victim

April 21, 2023 9 Comments

By Kumar Krishnan

Raj halted his bike at the traffic signal. As he raised the visor of his helmet, an unkempt boy dodged his way onto the scene and flung a stone that struck him on the nose. Blood oozed. Pain and rage jostled. The boy stood there, laughing and clapping.

Like a kettle bell, Raj swung his helmet into the boy’s face and sent him sprawling. On the way to the hospital, the taxi driver said: “Why did you hit that boy? He’s only ten. An orphan of unsound mind.”

Raj was filled with shame. He, the victim, now felt like the perpetrator.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yogita says

    April 21, 2023 at 10:13 pm

    Nice..

    Reply
  2. Maggie Elliott says

    April 22, 2023 at 5:20 am

    Great stuff.
    I personally don’t believe being of unsound mind should excuse bad behaviour.
    The kid might think twice about throwing stones again .
    No sympathy for him I’m afraid.

    Reply
  3. Liz says

    April 23, 2023 at 5:47 am

    Reality. Thoughtful. Very good.

    Reply
  4. Nic Nanceki says

    April 23, 2023 at 11:41 am

    Well written, straightforward, and an important lesson.

    Reply
  5. Gauri Ganesh says

    April 24, 2023 at 11:52 pm

    Well written. But the biker need not have hit small kid. He could have been softly reprimanded.

    Reply
  6. Gayatri says

    April 25, 2023 at 1:31 am

    Precise writing and conveys the feeling of regret in a piercing manner!

    Reply
  7. Paul Scott Wood says

    April 26, 2023 at 10:13 am

    This story reminds me of how our “justice system” works today. Blame the victim, not the perpetrator.

    Reply
  8. David Higham says

    April 26, 2023 at 1:38 pm

    Brilliant evocation of the rapid fall from justified rage to being the perpetrator of a wrong.

    Reply
  9. Toni Brayer says

    May 18, 2023 at 3:01 am

    Thought provoking.

    Reply

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