Roopa winced as the water touched her skin. She’d always hated the feeling.
The cold, wet liquid dripped into the cracks and made her moan pitifully.
Hush, soothed Rani’s voice as she cradled Roopa’s head in her palms, spooning the water into the tiny grooves on her scalp.
Roopa’s eyes gazed into Rani’s liquid, brown ones, gratitude spilling forth. How did she get so lucky? What had she done to deserve this woman?
As if reading her mind, Rani stroked Roopa’s furry head, rubbed her belly and said, ‘Did you know your beautiful flaws are what made me adopt you, my dear?’
***
Welcome to The Moving Quill!
For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I’ve taken up the theme of Oxymorons rendered in micro-fiction.
Each day’s title will have one half of the oxymoron while the second half will be revealed towards the end of the post.
Follow me as I unravel each tale in exactly 100 words
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter to keep track of my updates
***
I DID NOT READ THIS???!!!
Please excuse the overuse of the question marks and the exclamation marks, but I am appalled at my own ignorance, Shy! How could I not have read this, or if I did read it (as I think I did) then how did I not comment on it?
Stupid me!
This was so so touching! The last line had me in tears! Really!
Beautiful! An adopted fur baby!
*Sniff sniff*
there I go again! 🙁
Apologies for the lateness!
<3
This was wow! You are nailing the challenege! 🙂
Prakash Hegade (its PH) recently penned this post Dead Air
Ha ha, honoured 🙂
I wasn’t expecting a fur baby. Nice! 🙂
Debbie D. recently penned this post BORN TO BE WILD | #AtoZCHALLENGE (B) #MusicalMemories
Thanks, Debbie 🙂 Thought you’d like this one!
Moms are God’s greatest gifts. Glad the little one was blessed enough to be adopted by a caring woman 🙂
Anita recently penned this post Beautiful Lie #AToZChallenge
The little pet surely agrees with you. Thanks, Anita.
Beautiful flaws is such a powerful phrase in this story. I think many animal lovers will totally connect with this tale.
Thank you very much 🙂
Oh! I never would’ve thought Roopa was her furry friend! Awesome 🙂
Shalini recently penned this post Bangkok
Thank you very much 🙂
You did it! Yet again .
Ha ha, thanks 🙂
Flaws are beautiful, yes. Took me some time to accept my own, but then I did. 🙂
Soumya recently penned this post B: Bookworm & Blossoms #AToZChallenge
I love you for who you are. Always 🙂
Heartwarming this! Loved it, Shailaja!
Aditi recently penned this post Bahuchara Maa #AtoZChallenge @AprilA2Z
Thank you very much 🙂
Awww…it isn’t true love till you love the other with all their imperfections! and you brought that out so beautifully!
Thank you very much 🙂
Is this what they call true love, to find beauty in spite of the so called flaws?
Sweet story 🙂
Beauty is beauty is beauty 🙂
Thank you very much 🙂
When you can find flaws beautiful, then that is truly love. Such a sweet and loving story.
Suzy recently penned this post Be like the River … #atozchallenge letter B
Thank you very much 🙂
awww… that was so sweet 🙂 loved the message in there…
Thank you very much, Ankita 🙂
I’m not a fan of keeping pets. But whenever I read a story about pets, animals, their furriness and cuteness, it just makes me go ‘aaawww’! Just like this sweet story did! 🙂
You’re incredibly sweet, Mithila 🙂 Thank you!
Beautiful words 🙂 not everyone can see beauty in flaws..
Swathi Shenoy recently penned this post Brother
Thank you very much!
Aww! That’s so beautiful. Never expected this twist though the tiny grooves got me thinking 🙂
Thanks Shilpa 🙂
Aww…that’s such a beautiful, heart-warming tale. And I love the twist in the end.
Modern Gypsy recently penned this post Brush primer: choose the right brushes for your art projects
Thank you very much 🙂
Oh! This is so beautiful and heart warming story! I love the twists you put in the end! 😊
Nibha Gupta recently penned this post (B)lind Date #AtoZChallenge
Thank you very much 🙂
Such a heart-warming post to read! And it’s beautiful!
Cheers
Thank you very much 🙂
Heartwarming. Beautiful flaws, nicely done, Shailaja. It may be a short post but says so much more.
Thank you very much , Naba 🙂
Perfection is unreal. The flaws make us relatable and when it comes to true acceptance , like in this case for Roopa as a pet , it has to happen inspite of the flaws !
I particularly like the smart play on the name 🙂
Chandni recently penned this post [B] Badass Women Rule the World #AtoZChallenge Day 2
Ha ha, thank you.’Roopa’ right? Ah the potential within a challenge 🙂
Love the theme and enjoyed reading your post! 🙂
Thank you, Jan!
Aww, this is really sweet, Shai 🙂
Sreesha recently penned this post Bittersweet Memories | #AtoZChallenge
🙂
I think in my case it’s the opposite. The dog looks at me and tells the same! 🙂
Dr Roshan Radhakrishnan recently penned this post ‘Bikers Against Child Abuse’ are a Shining Example of Guardian Angels #AtoZChallenge
How adorable, Roshan 🙂 We love you too, for who you are.
Aha! Who would have thought…😊
Blog: natashamusing
Theme: Travel Epiphanies
Boisterous Fruit Bats
🙂
Loved this heartwarming story that hit home. Thank you for gifting my morning a reason to smile and cherish something I recently did ❤️
Thanks for reading, ME 🙂
Beautifully penned Shailaja….love goes a long way in healing a wounded soul
Thanks Jaish 🙂
Love this – so evocative in so few words. Great oxymoron btw.
Blame #Lexicon of Leaving
People who truly love us, love us as a whole, with all our flaws and imperfections. There are very few people in the world who chose to love us like this!
PS: I am loving these posts.
Jaibala Rao recently penned this post Movies That Shaped Our Generation – Biographies In Motion
So cute. I wondered at the grooves on her head. Kindness is a warm feeling. 💕
Vidya Sury recently penned this post Buddha’s Diet #AtoZChallenge #BookReview
I am enjoying reading these 100 words that mean so much. Love the theme.
So hopeful and positive this is! Sometimes it’s our flaws that add more flavours and Colors and I’m happy she was adopted
Beauty and flaws are oxymorons that we all face in real life. So well written, Shailaja. Good one!
Parul recently penned this post B for Being you #AtoZChallenge
That was beautiful – sweet and warm. They seem just right for each other.
Beat About the Book recently penned this post A plain Jane #Teaser Tuesday 6
Beautiful piece. Very well written
Debbie
Random Musings recently penned this post April in Motivational Quotes – #AtoZChallenge – B
Awwww That is so beautiful… Love and kindness and an oxymoron too. Like always, loved your narration.
Rajlakshmi recently penned this post YogaEveryday: Being a Wannabe Crow #atozchallenge
Thank you very much 🙂
Very nicely written. They must have been destined for each other! 🙂
Vinay Leo R. recently penned this post #AtoZChallenge 2017 – B is for Beauty Lies in the Eyes of the Beholder
Must be 🙂
Thank you very much 🙂
Nicely done…one of my favourite oxymorons. There’s so much depth to this short piece and it tells you a lot about Roopa’s history while wanting more.
Sanch @ Sanch Writes recently penned this post #Brevette: Stories #atozchallenge
OOh I am glad you picked up on that. Contemplating a sequel to this one, maybe later this month.
Beautiful. The moment I read the word ‘adopted’ you won my heart. 🙂
Anmol Rawat recently penned this post Bloody Mary
Thank you very much 🙂 Glad to hear it!
Beautifully written. Cheers 🙂
Kiran
kiranashraf.blogspot.com
Thank you very much 🙂
Beautifully articulated:)
Thank you very much 🙂