Well…we had ended 2011 with a quick, short-story writing contest announced on Dec 24, 2011. The details of the contest are here.

After a very close run to the finishing line, we now have the results!

And the winners are (drum rolls please!)

1st. The Way by Omkar Pathak of FYBMM @KJ Somaiya. Yes – FYBMM! The winning story here

2nd. By The Lighthouse by Shwetal Shah of SYBMM @UPG. The entry here

3rd. An Expedition To Mandvi by Karan Soni of FYBMM @Nagindas Khandwala. The contribution here

What do they get? It’s all about winning right? Well…they get bragging rights, a winning entry on their CVs, and a cool certificate to flaunt around!

Omkar, Shwetal, and Karan – We will reach out to you guys at your email addresses for the certificates! Kudos!

I was on a hunting expedition in Mandvi north forest range in Surat district.

It was a dark and stormy night when I ventured into the forest. The Weather Service had warned of a major storm moving in. I planned to return to my camp hopefully before the storm hits. The night was not usual. It was a different kind of darkness I entered, not just the simple darkness of night. A darkness that spoke of mystery.
I was tired, hungry and exhausted. I scanned and found a decent spot in the midst of the woods to rest. As I rested, the first bursts of lightning flashed far to the south and I sensed a close presence. It was an ephemeral presence, nothing solid. But before I could turn, a lightning bolt struck close by, its brilliance filling my presence with dazzling glitter. For now I was blinded. As darkness returned a slight pressure against my right told of another being next to me, a female body, soft and warm. A moment later she was molded tightly against me as if she wanted to have every pore of her skin in contact with me.

Out of the darkness a small fair hand appeared in front of my face. A forefinger touched my lips as lightly as a feather. Do not talk the finger demanded, be still and wait. Her soft hair brushed my neck like a lover’s caress. It smelled of fresh air and sunshine, of trees and of flowers. The scent of her body bathed me in a cloud of sensuous feelings. I was mesmerized and stood still with her warm body molded to mine. The flimsy dress she wore let me feel every one of her heart beats. The feeling was beyond the ordinary range of perception. There was a quick sinuous movement and my head was held tight between her hands.

One second later another lightning bolt struck and I found myself alone in the midst of the woods. Only her fragrance remained. I shook myself trying to wake up. Did I just hallucinate? Was there really a live, warm body cuddled in my arms just a moment ago?

Yes there was. The lingering sweet burning sensation on my skin told me so.

– Karan Soni

I just got up to refill my cup of coffee.

I had been toiling hard all day to finish my book “My lighthouse dates.” I decided I have to complete this novel that I have been writing since I saw her in my dreams and promised her that the world will get to know of the most beautiful love story anyhow in this week. It was time it saw the light of the day and people could read this story- my love story. And all of a sudden lightning struck, the windows started stuttering, light kept flickering and strong breeze started going in and fro through the window, all the coffee spilled and the pages from my unfinished novel started opening and I heard a voice. It was as if she was talking to me through that book, I was taken aback, shocked and hesitant when she said “I’m waiting for you, come to where we used to always meet.”

It was a dark and stormy night when I ventured into the forest, the only way to reach the lighthouse, with a dim torch in my hand and fright in my heart, I somehow gathered the courage to go and meet her, a place we had discovered together in our heydays, when we had no care in the world and ventured to different places and found so many such unique places. But this was a special place. This is where I had proposed to her and we had made promises of dying in each other’s arms. I always come to this place when I’m low and I know that she’s going to be there like always, dancing, singing and hearing me out, who knew that one day she’ll be killed in the local fight between ours and the neighbouring town, while waiting for me.

It’s been 25 years since that incident and she has kept her word and always waits for me, I couldn’t find anyone like her and we still are in a relationship. My neighbours think I’m some weird person, who only keeps to himself, talks to himself, keeps going to the forest and so keep away from me, what they don’t know is I have everything that they lack in- true love, true support. And I know she’s that bright star who’s shedding the light on me and showing me the way through life and through this forest.

“You forgot right?” “No honey, how can I?

I was slogging all day to complete the novel so I could gift it to you on our 19th anniversary and I still love you, this is our love, that we both want to share with the whole world, with hatred all around, we have to foster back the emotion of love in people and tell them it exists and after we lay under the sky, talking for hours like we always do, with the rain to add to the romance I return back to finish the greatest fairytale of them all – our conversations by the lighthouse – the symbol of our love.

– Shwetal Shah

So, there I was in the middle of a lonely road…No people, No friends. No one but just one person, Myself. There was cold breeze everywhere.

As I took some steps ahead, All I Could feel was a cold nostalgia rolling in my senses. I was petrified because I Was all alone. All I could think was how do I Get home, to where I Belong. Tears had been floating in my eyes since a long time, may be even before I got lost in here.

I was abandoned. There was hardly anyone to accept the way I was. Just another joker for everyone. With such thoughts gripping my mind, I kept on walking and finally I saw a way. The way passed through a forest which was to my left. I could see that the way ended to other side of the forest where probably I’d find a way back to my home.

So What do I do ? How Do I Make my fear vanish ? How Do I gain courage ? How does a teenager like me do it? Alone?

I couldn’t hold on those tears for long. I felt the need to get back home. I looked up to the skies, it was windy all around, I was about to collapse in front of my fear when.. Someone held the palm of my hand. MOM! How did you get here mummy? She didn’t answer, instead she looked at the way and smiled at me with those eyes holding hope like every single time.

It was a cold, dark and stormy night when I ventured into the forest.

We began to walk, slowly. I told mom that I wanted to go home. She Said “I Will”

There was moonlight spread all across the way. The storm was getting stronger. I’d held mum’s hand as if it were stuck. I Could hear the sound of night insects, our own footsteps, sound of dry leaves getting crunched under my shoes and finally a wolf crying. I was shocked, Spooked and even speechless.

Mother embraced me in her arms tightly. Her hands tenderly moving in my hair. Clearing the tears on my face, she said, “Don’t cry” I felt alive with her words, I Felt there isn’t anything that can give solace to me other than this woman.

Again, holding her hand, I started walking. The way was about to end. I Could see one of those lights coming from my native. Finally fear had took a step back. Finally, I felt I’d get home soon.

I held the smallest finger with all my fingers as i’d learned to walk minutes before.
I looked at her and said, “We’re getting home, Mumma”
She had tears in her eyes, She nodded saying “I’ll be there”, and I Could hear thundering.
And there it was, The way ended, I could see a small fence and beyound that, my home.
I was on cloud 9. I yelled “I’m back home! Yohoooo !” I left Mum’s finger and ran ahead to see how close we were. We were almost there.
And then I looked back…
She was gone.
She wasn’t there. My innocent eyes were searching for her everywhere…everywhere..
I fell to the ground. Hitting my hands to the road..crying..yelling her to come back. Come back home.
I wanted her back. I never wanted her to leave me alone in this world. Why Did She..?
Why Did She Die..?
Now, I Wish the way never ended. I Wish I was still on the other side. I Wish she’d take me back home.
I looked up to the skies, screaming “Why did you go mumma ? I Can’t live here without you ? Please come back Mommy! Your baby begs you. Please!”
And..
It started raining…

– Omkar Pathak