Do you like a good mystery? Who doesn’t, right? Bitten by the ‘mystery’ bug, we have been binge-watching Sherlock Holmes series, reading Hercule Poirot’s stories, and playing detective games. We unabashedly call it “the researching”. For today’s prompt, you are the culprit and the detective. How so? I am glad you ask. Read the rules and the prompt awaits you… because rules are important-
So are you ready for this week’s prompt? It’s neither a sentence prompt nor a picture prompt. It is just an instruction that you need to follow. Hide at least one truth about yourself in the story, among the lies. Hide it well, let the readers guess, have fun reading others’ stories, and guessing their truth amidst the lies. Make Sherlock proud, use the ‘science of deduction’. π Take out the magnifying glass and read between the lines.
pic credit pexels.com
“Seven questions only” Saina explained, holding a list of questions. She had no choice but to meet “prospective grooms”. Having met six guys already, she was losing hope.
“Two can play a game. Bring it on!” Raj rubbed hands gleefully.
“Zodiac sign?” Saina started.
“What?” He faked an exaggerated, shocked expression.
“I ask. You answer,” chewing the pen’s end, she replied.
“Leo. I’m a Leo.” Shaking his head, he answered.
” What is your dream?”
“Now we are talking. I always wanted to be a doctor. Now, I want to be the president of the country”, Looking serious, he sipped his coffee.
“Are you happy with your life?” she asked.
“I don’t have any regrets. I have always done what I wanted to. Few mistakes here and there. I am happy. ”
“What do you look for in your partner?” Scribbling the answer in an illegible writing, she asked.
Glancing at her notes, he sighed, “a good handwriting, along with honesty.”
“And love?” Ignoring the handwriting comment, she questioned.
“Absolutely. And I will count it as a question” he smiled.
“What do you think love is?”
” Love is love,” he replied.
“How profound!” She sarcastically said.
“I mean. It is inside me, I have not found the one I can share it with. Or maybe I have found her, but she doesn’t know it.” He replied and waited for the last question.
Closing her notebook, she asked, “Another round of coffee?”
“Yes. My turn. Why seven?”
“It is my lucky number.” She smiled.
28 Comments
why the red colour for six?
Highlighted it.. I needed the readers to remember it. forgot to make it bold. Thanks for pointing out
I’d guess the only truth is:
I donβt have any regrets. I have always done what I wanted to. Few mistakes here and there. I am happy.
It doesn’t sound clever or evasive. Just boring and honest.
You had me at ‘boring’ ππ. One of these days, the truth shall set you free.
oops that was a little tactless but I hope you know what I mean. When people are being honest they say it like it is without embellishments. so it’s not as dressed up as the lies. Though knowing this could be used to deliberately trick people too. Sort of like is mysteries it’s always the least likely suspect. But since audiences now expect that you can make it the most likely suspect and totally surprise them.
Of course, I get it.
I enjoy bluffs in the mysteries . And yes all the varieties – double, triple and quadraple etc.
Do watch brit Sherlock TV series, if you haven’t already. You are going to love it.
And yes.. We have a winner. You caught the truth. ππ
Hey I guessed right!
Nice story by the way. Loved the end.
Thank you. I had a blast with this one. βΊ
me too. superb idea for a prompt. i remember you asked this about my book too in the interview, i.e, if i had hidden any secrets about myself in it.
Yes. Writers leave a little something about themselves in the stories. Truth sprinkled casually. It stares in your face, but you don’t really know. Being a lit scholar, I enjoy reading between the lines. So much fun
Nice story and I guess the truth would be coming from the main character, and she says “its my lucky number”
Thank you, Suhasini. Waiting to find truth about u.
‘Lucky number ‘ a good guess but we will have to wait to see if it is true or not
The answer “I have no regrets.. I am happy” is the truth.
Nice story. I hope she found her husband to be. Is seven not really her lucky number?
The prompt is to hide one truth about yourself in the story.. So here u need to find one truth about me hidden in the story.
It is a somewhat complicated prompt. I shall try again.
I understand but do read others’ stories. It’s a fun prompt. I bet you will enjoy hiding a truth about yourself somewhere in the story. βΊ
Hers is.. Mine.. I guess we will have to wait for the answer..
So 7 is your lucky number, Priya??
I wonder, why everyone is going for this one? π
The answer “I have no regrets.. am happy”.. Is true.
Another round of coffee and another seven questions???
yes. why not?
thank you, Kalpana
Trick-tease prompt this one!
Loved the story Priya. You have brewed it to the perfection, but only I am hapless with the hidden answer!!!
Thank you, Medha. Do write a story if you liked the prompt.
I have no regrets.. I am happy… Is true