The Familiar Faces: Volume - 1: The Familiar Faces, #1

By V Ram Praneeth

We come across many incidents which impact us in some way. Familiar Faces, although purely fictional, portrays journey of individuals whom we might have seen, been with, loved, and been influenced by. The stories are mainly based on the human emotions and relationships. This is a compilation of prominent life-changing episodes in people's lives. 

A man trying to find closure for his long-lost love. A woman trying to hold on to her beloved. A family that realizes being together is more important than earning riches. A kid who helps people in need with a wide smile. A wife who is tired of being alone. A biker who unexpectedly finds a little friend. And more such people to know about.

Be a part of their journey. Experience their love and friendship. Get inspired. Learn a few life lessons along the way. 

Get to know the Familiar Faces.

• Language: English
• Publisher: V Ram Praneeth
• Release date: Apr 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393263470

Book preview

The Familiar Faces

VOLUME – 1

A Collection of Short Stories

V RAM PRANEETH

Copyright Information

The Familiar Faces

First Published: 2020

Copyright © 2020 by V Ram Praneeth

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.

V Ram Praneeth asserts the moral right to be identified as the author and publisher of this work. This book is sold subject to the conditions that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, locales, and historical events are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a ficitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Edititing and typesetting by Dhivya Balaji for Precis Penning Literary Services.

Front cover design by V Ram Praneeth

Editor’s Note

Familiar Faces is an aptly titled collection of short stories taking scenes from life around us.

Every day, people make thousands of decisions, process millions of thoughts, and even amidst mundane routines, do something small each day that, looking back, life will never look the same. Simple tasks have profound effects, and oftentimes, a kind gesture or a timely helping hand could completely alter someone’s life.

Short stories are like small windows that allow us glimpses into the lives of fictitious characters – who have lives like our own, are prone to fallacies, face difficulties, make mistakes, and take decisions based on the situations.

Familiar Faces has characters of all ages – from a months-old child to a very old couple, all of whom take us along on a journey when we see a day of their life when something they thought was normal took an unexpected turn, setting up an alchemical process to happen.

Human relationships are complex, and each person has their hearts torn between their good and the selflessness that their relationships require. It is, therefore, always an interesting experience to delve into others’ lives, and this collection is a chance to do that.

Love is lost, found, and created in these pages.

Indulge in this, and let the words transport you to a world unto yours.

Dhivya Balaji,

December 2020

Introduction

We come across many incidents which impact us in some way. Familiar Faces, although purely fictional, portrays journey of individuals whom we might have seen, been with, loved, and been influenced by. The stories are mainly based on the human emotions and relationships. This is a compilation of prominent life-changing episodes in people's lives.

A man trying to find closure for his long-lost love. A woman trying to hold on to her beloved. A family that realizes being together is more important than earning riches. A kid who helps people in need with a wide smile. A wife who is tired of being alone. A biker who unexpectedly finds a little friend. And more such people to know about.

Be a part of their journey. Experience their love and friendship. Get inspired. Learn a few life lessons along the way.

Get to know The Familiar Faces.

The Day I saw her Again

Iwas having a very busy day at the office. Everyone else started to leave, but not me. I had to be there until my boss does. I leave when he leaves. I wanted to take a break. I told my boss that I will be back in a few minutes. He looked at me. Clearly, his thoughts were elsewhere. After a few seconds, he nodded and went back to his work without speaking a word. I figured he was busy, too.

I came down to the small tea-stall in the parking lot where we all go for breaks. The stall used to be on the sidewalk outside the building. We had it moved inside so that we can hang out peacefully without much disturbance. I sat there with a lighted cigarette in one hand and hot ginger tea in the other. I saw my team members leaving, calling out ‘goodbyes’. I smiled and nodded, just like my boss did at me.

Before I could notice, the fifteen minutes were over and it was time for me to go back to the office. I put off my second cigarette with my foot and stood up to go. Then I saw the most beautiful sight I had not even dreamt of.

‘This can’t be true. Am I dreaming? Is this really happening?’

At that moment, many fragments of memories came rushing into my mind. I went back in time to when I first saw her at my college – the most beautiful girl I have ever seen; short, with an enchanting smile. Wherever I may be, whatever I was doing when I think of her smile, my heart races and brings up a smile on my face.

I had never able to tell her how I felt. I tried many times, but whenever I was in front of her, I found myself stiff without any words. It was embarrassing and I looked like an idiot. But it was worth it. I got to see her pleasant face, closely. Sometimes she would smile and go past me. In moments like these, I felt that she understood how I was feeling about her. But she never talked to me.

I caught up with her friends to know about her feelings towards me. They did give me some hints that she liked me too. That was a day to remember. A girl liked me. I was on cloud nine, jumping with joy. I took a decision then and there. I wanted to spend my life with her. I bet she did, too. At least I thought she did.

It was a winter day. Our college classes would start at 8 AM. There was thick early-morning fog on the road. It was very difficult to see ahead. That being a small town, there were not many fast-moving vehicles on the road. Most of us used bicycles or walked to our destinations. I used to wait for her before going to college and watch her pass by. I stood under a big tree – the oldest and the strongest one in town; the tree was rumoured to be almost a hundred years old.

Usually, most of the fog would have cleared by the time I reached my spot, but not that day. I was a bit worried that I might not get to see her. She may not even come to college. That thought made me even more anxious. How can I survive without seeing her one whole day? Disappointment started creeping into my mind. There was no other way to see her that day because I just remembered that I did not know where she lived. I had been busy admiring her beauty and feeling satisfied with our small distant meetings that I never thought of finding out where she lived. But there was a tiny hope that she might come and I would see her. It was time. The college already started.

That was probably not a lucky day. I decided to leave. Just then my