Stories with a Moral

Fables and parables are the simplest forms of stories. They are usually told more with the purpose of teaching a lesson rather than for entertainment. The difference between the two being parables are focused on adults and usually told by religious leader or personality development gurus while the target of fables is usually children. While parables have people as characters and are set in the real world, fables tend to be in an imaginary world and tend to have animals as characters. These kind of stories tend to be very simple and don't have the complexity and subtler nuances usually seen in mainstream fiction.

These stories serve as illustrations for some concept or philosophy that are otherwise enumerated through essays. They are usually the best form of fiction for a writer of essays trying to cross over into the realm of fiction.  All the writer has to do is to first clearly decide the point he wants to convey and then try to come up with a simple series of events that bring out the point loud and clear. Pitfalls to avoid are trying to make too many points in the same story and adding too many unnecessary details that can distract the reader.

Below are some of my attempts in the genre.

Change
A tale of the strange experiences of an IT professional in the streets at night and the lessons he learns.

Journey
A haughty college student meets some people during a train journey. His interaction with the people on the train teach him valuable lessons in life.

The Heart's True Music
The tale of an old musician who seems to be playing away to glory with no care in life.

The Curse of the Last Swan
The last man alive on a deserted island reminisces over his life as he walks through the island.

In Search of Freedom
The story of a boy working at tea shop who is not satisfied with his life. He meets a sage with magical powers and asks him to help him change his life situation. My first genuine fable.

What if we don't go Organic
Why should we Organic? I have tried to express through a simple myth like story accompanied by pictures.

A Corporate Parable
An attempt to narrate one of Aesop's Fables in  the corporate settings of a IT company. Let me see if the reader can find out which one.

Dreams Gone Wrong
An attempt to narrate a story from Indian mythology in modern day settings - a tale of a corporate employee's ten year roller coaster ride.

Blank Pages
A tale similar to 'Aladdin and the Magic Lamp' set in modern times but with a twist.

Mind's True Marriage
A story told in four parts detailing the considerations one has to take into account in a marriage decision. It has been told through the story of a girl contemplating marriage. She encounters four Greek Goddesses who put before her the different points of view.