Creators’ Catalog I is a collection of nine selected stories compiled from the submissions of Creators Contest 2022. Held in February, this year’s contest was required to have the following lines: “A knock on the door with a familiar voice calling out. Suddenly, all surrounding sounds drowned out, making the heartbeat get seemingly louder.”
Open for all categories of submissions; this year’s collection has flash fiction, short stories, and memoirs. The stories deal with themes like fantasy, experiences, war, and compassion, with originality being the acceptance facet.
Story I
They say the strongest of us are often the most tested by life. It takes soul-crushing willpower to rise from a shortcoming that shapes our life once and for all.
“The Deaf Musician” by Srinandana Sarma shows how a young boy loses all hope after an accident but doesn’t cave into fate’s play & stands up for himself.
Story II
Many of us love fairy tales because they tell us moralistic stories, fantastically romanticise our world and offer sympathetic characters. However, what if one lives in the real world as though they were living in a fairy tale?
“A Fairy Tale Life” by Vrinda Wakhlu tells the story of a man who has lost his senses and no longer realises the difference between a fairy tale and real life. It is all the same for him; others must live with it.
Story III
Not long ago, innocents were hunted based on their birth during troubling times. During this horrible period, there were few who sought to help the suppressed ones by offering them homes and, thereby, their lives.
“Anna & Rose” by Niranjan Vemireddi tells the story of a jew named Anna living with a german called Rose. Though Anna’s family is dead, Rose protects the child and wants to keep her safe at any cost.
Story IV
We often do not get to repeat our actions or quests, no matter the conclusion. However, we are the first to claim that given a chance to repeat, success is not far from reach.
“Déjà vu” by Santhosh Annabattula narrates the story of an assassin stuck in a time loop after being assigned a quest to extract an asset. However, the assassin is not just attacked by the guards. He is hurt by the ones he is trying to save too.
Story V
Calling a dumb man dumb doesn’t cause much harm, as the one accused of stupidity doesn’t bother. However, calling a spiteful and cunning man dumb again & again isn’t just harmful but lethal.
“Envy” by Likhita Balaga tells the story of Abhi after he finds out that his best friend died in a car crash and his supposed finance is getting married to someone else, and his brother just returned from the states.
Story VI
Not all of us are brave enough to face the demons in our lives. Even when these monstrous creatures are sucking out the last rays of hope, many broken spirits let them until darkness consumes them.
“Inbound” by Manognya Bethapudi narrates one such tale of a person set to fail and fall. Until a true sense of revenge and survival pushes them to slay the demon that is leeching on someone else’s pain.
Story VII
“It’s vacation time!”
Instead of going for a normal picnic with friends this time, I have decided to spend time with my grandparents in their native village. I was overwhelmed about this trip, so I quickly booked the tickets and shared my trip details with them over the phone; while speaking, I could visualize the sense of joy in their voice. When I reached the village train station, regardless of their age, both of them visited the railway station to receive their beloved grandson with so much love and affection. Believe me, the elders’ love is priceless.
Story VIII
TRRRRRRRRINGGGGG! Blared the alarm from the phone.
This alarm, just an hour before midnight, was a reminder for her that she should get to bed and end the day. It was at that time that she heard a faint sound that seemed like it was the main door knob opening.
Story IX
As a child, my favourite pastime was going for walks with my grandmother in my sweet home town and loved hearing the bedtime stories by my mother. These stories were mostly derived from the preachings of some wise holy men, whose sermons we often attended and few from the enlivening artforms of harikatha and burrakathalu which were staged during the festive seasons. Though having forty winks in between, a few stories made an indelible impression in my mind.
Hey Swio, Bunny here. Is this like the E-copy of what we ordered from Amazon?