THE LOVERS’ CURSE (100 words)
PHOTO PROMPT © Shaktiki Sharma
By Neel Anil Panicker
A grieving lover is no grasshopper.
It’s been two years since she died, though memories of her dwell longer, eons perhaps, as Rajesh walks past the college corridors to take the day’s first class, head bent and blind to students’ sniggers; ears desperately fighting the barrage of snide remarks, albeit muted, that are his due for loving and losing one of their very own, the brightest of them all __ the ever smiling, ever happy Priyanka Desai, Priyanka to all, Priya to her friends, but simply Piu to him__ the love of her life and the reason for her suicide.
©neelanilpanicker2017 #fiction #short story #FF # 100words
neelwritesblog 
There’s a big burden of guilt there. Nicely done.
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Yes, that’s precisely what Rajesh is battling. I am so glad it came through. Thanks Sandra
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Dear Neel,
A touching story. Perhaps Rajesh is too hard on himself. Nicely written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, he is too hard on himself. Guilt is a hard thing to live by. Thanks Rochelle, your appreciation is what I value.
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Well that was grim. He caused her suicide?
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That’s what he likes to believe.
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Too often the innocent take the blame for something another did. I hope he learns to let it go…
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Yes, that’s what i hope too. Some lovers love clinging on to past memories and imagined guilts.
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Yikes. Heavy load, there.
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Yes, the burden of guilt is not so easy to bear.
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So much I want to know after reading this. Nicely done.
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Thank you, Clare.
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I can feel his guilt… and also the student-teacher relationship… too often ends sadly
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Yes, these are very borderline relationships that can lead to a lot of pain accompanied by guilt.
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A heavy load as others have said, but hopefully he realises it was her choice and not his fault. Good one Neel.
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Yes, and i hope this realisation comes soon. Thanks Lain.
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A very hard thing to live with. Well done.
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Thanks Sascha.
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How sad, that he not only carries that guilt, but that others ridicule and shun him for it. Unless their approbation is all in his imagination, another sign of him punishing himself too harshly, and be unable to let go of the tragedy.
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Yes, i too feel the MC is imagining this. At least that’s what I would hope for.
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one of the longest sentences i’d ever read. but it works..well done.
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Yes, it just came off this long. I am glad it worked. Thanks for your appreciation, Plaridel.
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She could have just turned to alcohol or drugs. She didn’t have to kill herself. (joking here).
In truth, suicide always leaves questions and the tendency to feel guilty. Was he to fault, could he have prevented it? Probably not. There were demons inside that overwhelmed her.
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Thank you for your incisive analysis of the situation. Some demons just don’t go away.
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Tragic tale. The way you circle closer and more intimately to the narrator through woman’s many names is LOVELY.
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So sad.
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To blame one self is it seems a singularly human attribute. A fine piece of writing Neel
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