Face of Crowd

She woke up with a jolt as if someone had goaded her. She had been sleeping for a while now. She sat up in the bed only to realise that it was her own conscious that was her sole company so far and as usual. Getting up from bed, she stood near the shrimp window of her decrepit room.

Outside her window, the last rays of the day lingered dispassionately.

Street downstairs wore a busy look in contrast with the sullen aloofness of her room. The area was engulfed in the familiar cacophony of sounds for it was the market place.

The street lights turned on, some flickering and some shinning brightly. They tried in vain to light up her spirit.

All she noticed in her glance downstairs was a sea of pairs of feet. A pair of feet in a hurry to reach home. A dragging pair fumbling out of bar. A persuasive one selling the lemons, running behind one and all. A dawdling pair returning after the tiring day at work. A relaxed one stopping and marching, busy shopping. All had a nest to return she thought to herself.

She noticed them all, from little high up, never ever, even once paying attention to their faces. Crowd never has a face, she always thought, just like her.

The door behind screeched, opened.

“Not ready? Dhanda nahi karna kya? Paint your face fast”, berated the cold, hard-hearted pan chewing voice.

Her day began on usual note, at night. And outside her window, the day was to set for the world, as it did everyday.


Picture courtesy Pixabay 
#WordsMatter is the monthly blog hop hosted by Corinne, ShaliniR  and Parul
I received this tag from a beloved, dynamic blogger Sunita Rajwade at Mumbai On A High. It’s my pleasure to pass on this tag to my blogging inspiration, Shilpa Garg at A Rose Is a Rose Is a Rose. There are 47 of us on this Blog Hop and it will be spread over 3 days – 2, 3, 4 August. Do follow the #WordsMatter Blog Hop and prepare to be surprised! 
Categories: FictionShort Story

28 Comments

shravmusings · August 2, 2019 at 7:05 am

Nice description of the scene and gripping narrative

    Anagha Yatin · August 2, 2019 at 7:13 am

    Thanks Suhasini.

Balaka · August 2, 2019 at 11:16 am

That is a nice look into the daily life of people.

    Anagha Yatin · August 2, 2019 at 11:33 am

    Every human being does offer a window to their life. All we need is to locate that window and see their life without being indulgent.
    Thanks Balaka for resonating so well with my thought. Thanks for visiting.

Shilpa Garg · August 2, 2019 at 1:10 pm

Evocative and poignant! These are the words that come to my mind as I read this story. A beautiful take on the prompt, Anagha! Loved reading it!!

    Anagha Yatin · August 2, 2019 at 1:35 pm

    Thanks Shilpa

Unishta · August 2, 2019 at 2:35 pm

What a lovely way you’ve tied it all up . It’s sad though being a sex worker . These poor women are condemned to such a lousy, thankless job.

    Anagha Yatin · August 2, 2019 at 2:45 pm

    Phrase, ‘Sorry state of life’, is so inadequate to describe their lives, Sunita. Still the life goes on for them too.
    Thanks for visiting and sharing your view.

Shilpa Nairy · August 2, 2019 at 3:44 pm

Feel sad to think about those women.. as always i like your narration.

An@m! · August 2, 2019 at 3:56 pm

Didn’t saw that coming. But how cleanly you have penned down the dilemma of their lives. Beautiful yet sad.

Rajlakshmi · August 2, 2019 at 6:49 pm

Crowd doesn’t have a face… that line is profound. The ending surprised me. Unfortunately, a sad tale of many women.

Keerthi Vydyula · August 2, 2019 at 8:14 pm

You brought out the intense and inner meaning of the situation in a brilliant way, Anagha. You gave respect to the details and described them in a way such that your reader can see what you what to show without a miss. Brilliantly written indeed!

Shalini | Kohleyed Me (@kohleyedme) · August 2, 2019 at 10:56 pm

Oh so poignant and I didn’t see that coming. Great take on the prompt! Thank you for participating in the bloghop! Hope you have fun!

lifewithmypenguin · August 3, 2019 at 6:10 am

She might have seen same sight for long. Anagha, you brought out the monotony of the character’s life. Giving details to life outside her window creating a canvas for reader. Fine storytelling.

Suzy · August 3, 2019 at 7:51 am

You brought out the longing and despair well. Sad that this is probably the truth for many in this situation.
dropping by from the bloghop

Pr@Gun · August 3, 2019 at 11:23 am

Wonderfully woven, can imagine her face and mind when this would have been happening, she must be looking outside window for a new hope or new world but all she gets is usual days without choice, you have captured mind of many such women who look outside window for that new hope and new life.

Corinne Rodrigues · August 3, 2019 at 3:47 pm

What a wonderful take on the prompt. How life goes on meaninglessly for people like this woman bereft of choices. And how much we take all we have for granted.

Ramya Abhinand · August 3, 2019 at 5:26 pm

Well said Anagha, crowd doesnt have a face. And outsie her window is her world!

Obsessivemom · August 4, 2019 at 6:44 pm

Yours was a post I was really looking forward to reading and I wasn’t disappointed. What a protagonist you picked! Perhaps she doesn’t want to see those faces, she prefers that they all merge together in a crowd. So beautifully penned.

Vinay Leo R. · August 4, 2019 at 11:30 pm

Unexpected ending, and a wonderful take on the prompt, no doubt 🙂

Lata Sunil · August 5, 2019 at 11:56 am

That was nice story Anagha. I liked the way you contrasted and compared the market place to her life. Good one..

Obsessivemom · August 5, 2019 at 12:32 pm

Arey did my comment just disappear? Loved your take Anagha.

Jyothi · August 5, 2019 at 12:45 pm

There was a sadness in this description and an apt ending to it. Very well written. Faceless crowds, that is how I notice people too. Their actions always mean more…

Shubhra Rastogi · August 6, 2019 at 5:14 pm

Loved your narration, something different as usual. You effortlessly build a gripping story around a promt and yes it happens to be very different.

http://natkhatz.com/my-musings/outside-my-window-wordsmatter/

Parul Thakur · August 9, 2019 at 1:13 pm

Wow! a unique take on the prompt. It’s so sad how some people have to do things against their choice. It’s sad but true.
Thank you for joining, #WordsMatter. You post brought a new perspective to things we assume and take for granted. Well done, Anagha.

Sajid Akhter · August 9, 2019 at 5:45 pm

Very well written. Your post is quite engaging and interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a good day.

Geethica · August 18, 2019 at 12:02 am

A crowd never has a face. This is so adaptable in life. Still,the ones who make their presence felt stand out the crowd.

    Anagha Yatin · August 20, 2019 at 5:01 pm

    Thanks Geethica for visiting my blog. You brought a fresh perspective to the topic of the tale. Faceless crowd does has some familiar faces, I must agree.

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