FRIDAY FICTIONEERS hosted by the prima donna of short fiction Rochelle at
SHE’S GOT THE BLUES
(genre: historical fiction)
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
By Neel Anil Panicker
A week ago Asha watched on TV the heart wrenching visuals of countless Blue Whales swept ashore, their glistening gargantuan lifeless forms on the sandy ocean bed.
Quite a few had turned this vista into a photo-op, clicking selfies while poking, nudging, pricking at the creatures in a misplaced show of braggadocio.
Watching the horrific grainy images, Asha had dropped more than a tear,
her heart breaking out in silent prayers for the departed.
A week later it was revenge time; the blue whales played a game on her only son.
A mother paid the price for a son’s hubris.
©neelanilpanicker2017 #FF #fiction #she’sgottheblues #100words
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Blue Whale (game)
The Blue Whale Game (Russian: Синий кит, Siniy kit) also “Blue Whale Challenge”, is an Internet “game” that is claimed to exist in several countries. The game allegedly consists of a series of tasks assigned to players by administrators during a 50-day period, with the final challenge requiring the player to commit suicide.[1][2] The term “Blue Whale” comes from the phenomenon of beached whales, which is linked to suicide.
Blue Whale began in Russia in 2013 with “F57”, one of the names of the so-called “death group” of the VKontaktesocial network,[3] and allegedly caused its first suicide in 2015.[4][5] Philipp Budeikin, a former psychology student who was expelled from his university, claimed that he invented the game. Budeikin stated that his purpose was to “clean” the society by pushing to suicide those he deemed as having no value.[
neelwritesblog 
I’m new to this blue whale game, but 2 posts this week have mentioned it already. What a horrible world we live in sometimes.
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Yes, this is a very horrible game inflicted on young impressionable minds. In India we have seen a few deaths related to this game. Thanks Kelly .
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fascinating background, Neel
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Thanks Neil.
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No wonder he turned out to be a sadist of the worst kind. That’s a killer game . Thanks for the background, Neel. And that’s so very well written.
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Thanks for the appreciation, Moon. The Blue Whale game has led to a few unavoidable suicides here in India too.
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Topical. Well done.
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Thanks YS.
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Thanks for the backstory Neel. As Iain says, never heard of this and yet two Blue Whale stories this week. It’s chilling. A tragic story
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You are welcome, Lynn. The Blue Whale game has taken a huge toll around the world. Here in India, the government is mulling a ban over it after instances of a few tragic suicides all over the country. .
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Just awful, Neel. Thanks to bringing it to our attention.
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The blue whale stories are grim!
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Yes, they are very grim indeed.
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Oh my goodness, I’d never heard of that “game” — how horrible! The actual blue whales being beached and dying is sad enough, poor things.
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It is a killer game and i too am sorry for the actual blue whales being beached. It is a very sad thing, Joy.
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I’d weep for the whales, too, and wonder what drives them. This game is a new one on me too, but I don’t keep up with all the crazes.
I suppose, knowing the outcome, those who choose to play have already decided their fate? Or is there a Russian Roulette angle built in?
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No, there is no Russian Roulette angle to this blue whale game. Once someone commits to play it he or she is in effect signing his death warrant. It is a vile game with only outcome_death.
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What a horrid story – not your writing, Neel, that is fabulous – but this “game”? Awful!
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Yeah, the game’s horrid and my writing is fab. Thanks for the lovely comments, delectable Dale.
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A ghastly tale, portrayed with the confidence of a journalist. I am impressed how you keep increasing my vocabulary, Neel.
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Thanks Kelvin and cheers from this end of the globe.
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The game is just horrible 😦 but as usual your writing is awesome 🙂
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Yes Sree, you know how the game is wrecking havoc on young minds in India of late. Thanks for the lovely appreciation.
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Yes I’ve heard all the news…this is insane☹️☹️
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Dear Neel,
Thank you for the backstory. I’d not heard of the game. Touching and infuriating story. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s good that most of us are not aware of this highly barbaric and evil game. But as parents and grandparents, as some of us most likely are, we must be absolutely hooked onto what our young ones indulge in online. Evil predators prowl the dark underbelly of the world wide web trapping and snuffing out young innocent lives.
Thanks Rochelle for the appreciation.
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Just when I think I’ve heard it all. Thanks, Neel.
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Thanks for the warning, never heard of this evil game. Which should poor shame on governments which do nothing about it.
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I too was totally unaware till this horrific , life-taking game touched Mumbai shores. A circular was doing the Whatsapp groups to keep a watch on unusual activities on the kids.
http://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/08/phobia.html
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Good one, Neel. I guess Reena had written about this Bluedy whale game as well. What sort of sick world are we living in these days? Wish life had remained simpler as I saw in the 80s and 90s
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This is gut wrenching. I had never heard of the Blue Whale game. It makes me despair for humanity. Your story was beautifully crafted.
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Good God! Does such an evil game really exist? People’s minds are getting so fragmented these days, they are losing touch with reality. Great writing Neel.
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The Blue Whale dominates and for the wrong reasons. Very tragic and disturbing. Just yesterday I saw a clipping of a girl on the sidewalk with another one jumping off a tall building. I hope it is deactivated before more lives are lost
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This is appalling. We have lost our sense of the value of human life, created by God, in His own image. This “game” breaks my heart.
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Well weaved story. It is banned now I think and hope.
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You’re the second one to post on the Blue Whales game, Neel. I was not familiar with that. I must say, I have learned much.
Now, as to the writing … it’s doing great! Keep going!!!
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What a chilling game… I’m filled with horror that such a game might exist.
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