PHOTO PROMPT © Anshu Bhojnagarwala
My heart broke into a million pieces as I saw the piano, my piano, lie abandoned by the wayside. I would never forgive Henry for this.
So many memories of my family were associated with this piano. Countless birthdays, parties, weddings, and sadly, innumerable funerals too.
But then, Henry returned from his studies abroad, and announced, “I know this piano has been in the family for generations, but it has to go. It’s all rotted up, empty from inside.”
Empty?
How dare he?
My family had been in the piano for generations, does that count for nothing?
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97 words.
Written as a part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). To read many more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
jagahdilmein 
what an insensitive way to treat a heirloom. for goodness’ sake, it should be refurbished to its former glory.
I’m ashamed to admit that the narrator was a termite 🙂
The memories and history are more important than the wood. One day Henry might realise that.
Ohh, I kept it too subtle. The narrator is a termite 🙂
loved the idea of the family being in the piano
Thank you so much Neil, though my story wasn’t that DEEP, I meant it literally, since they’re termites (in my head at least).
Very poignant.
Sometimes the younger generation doesn’t value it the same way, because they don’t have memories associated it with it the same way?
I’m ashamed to admit that in my head, the narrator belonged to a family of termites 🙂
Now, there’s a motivation to tickle the ivories… Well done!
Thank you so much Violet
I’m thinking of The Borrowers for some reason 🙂
Termites in this case 🙂
I guess the family feeling didn’t make it down to him personally.
Difficult, considering the narrator was a termite 🙂
Dear Anurag,
Do I detect a bizarre twist here? The family is IN the piano? Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Now that was interesting – especially that ambiguous final line! Nicely done.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Ha ha ha, you caught it. Yup, not a a human, but a termite 🙂
Oh Henry doesn’t give into sentimentalities it seems. Not liking this henry guy
Would your views change if I told you that the narrator was a termite who’d been living inside the piano? 🙂
Your story has a good twist, Anurag. You steer us in the direction of thinking that the narrator is human, and then reveal that he isn’t. Nice work!
As I just replied to Dale, you’re among the few people who got my subtle hint 🙂 In my head, the narrator belongs to a family of termites 🙂
I hope they come back to haunt him! Nice one.
The termites will be back, the termitators?
Oh! Penny just made me realise that we are assuming the one “talking” is human… I guess not!!
Love this!
Penny is extremely perspicacious as usual. The narrator belongs to a family of termites, who had eaten the piano from the inside 🙂
Elves? Beetles? They should come back to haunt him. Unsensitive Henry.
Termites, actually 🙂
Henry will regret what he has done…
I’m ashamed to admit that in my head, the narrator belonged to a family of termites living inside the piano 🙂
I can feel the pain. Seriously. Henry needs to head for the hills.
While I agree, I’m ashamed to admit that in my head, the narrator belonged to a family of termites who had eaten the piano rotten from inside 🙂
A captivating tale of life from a termite’s perspective. They do destroy everything though.
They do indeed. Thank you so much Fatima.