Striidas Publishers

28/03/2026

28/03/2026

Author : Somdatta Mitra
Country : India 🇮🇳
Dated : 28.03.2026.
Title : THE LAST PHONE CALL.

Ringing on the corner ,
My deaf ear could hear .
A stranger's voice would vibrate ,
" Hello ! I'm from the Federal Bank ", please bear .

My heart pounded as the call kept me entwined,
An estranged feeling creeped , a daring pursuit would chime .
Fanatic or any phishing , clouds of whispers ,
Troubled me as I enquired, " Ah ! What's the purpose ? "

In came the vivacious reply ,
" From the bank I strife , your account 's flagged ma'am.
I'm on a routine check to be precise,
With all that essentials I want to mention twice".

It was uncanny , I couldn't restrain ,
"...my curiosity, so I asked, 'Flagged? What's the issue?''
He hesitates, then says, "Let me check, ma'am, just a moment"
I stay alert, "No, thanks, I'll call the bank myself".

It seemed quite estranged ,
I drank a glass of water to be sustained.
An hour later , again a call interupts,
" Hello ma'am "...I'm from Federal Bank,
we've noticed suspicious activity on your account".

I stay cool, "I've already reported a phishing call, please verify your number"
He insists, "Ma'am, it's urgent, please confirm your details"
I cut him off, "No thanks, I'll call the bank directly".

The voice again raised a few questions ,
As the next call came through .
I smiled in a scoff , an alarm that awakened my spam filter,
A declaration of my wit in a digital age.

I still stood in an enigma,
Wondering how they got my number !
The bank 's employee never asked how I was ,
Just s straight to the scam for a purpose .

I shook with deliberate anger,
As if a cork in a shaken bottle , ready to pop.
I took a deep breath, "Time to block this pest"
The bank's real rep confirms, "Ma'am, you're safe, well done".

I nod, "Thanks, guess I'm not that gullible ".
I smile as if a ship that's weathered a storm ,
Battered but not broken ".
I am relieved from the anxiety ,
A fine tide , knowing I will sail smoothly .

A sense of accomplishment washes me ,
Refreshing my digital armor ,
I lock my phone , " Game on , bring it on".
I walk away, "Not today, scam artist"
My phone's secure, and that's all that matters .

©®Somdatta Mitra
Striidas Publishers

24/03/2026

The marketer

The book was successfully handed over after a thorough explanation, which she clearly understood, at P.C.E.A Enoomatasiani Boys High School in Nairobi

24/03/2026

At Striidas Publishers, our expert team is ready to bring your story to life. Submit your manuscript and let us guide you through the publishing process —affordably and professionally.

21/03/2026

💔 TO THE WRITER WHO CRIED WHILE WRITING THAT STORY…

18/03/2026

Kiptoo sat quietly under the dim light, flipping through the pages of his manuscript. It was his first book—a story he had poured his heart into for months. Every sentence felt like a piece of his soul, every chapter a reflection of his struggles and dreams.
“I’m done,” he whispered to himself, smiling with pride.
The next day, he shared the manuscript with his friend Amina, an experienced editor. She read it carefully, her pen moving steadily across the pages—circling words, underlining sentences, and writing notes in the margins.
When she returned it, Kiptoo’s smile faded.
“What is all this?” he asked, flipping through pages filled with marks.
Amina looked at him calmly. “This is your story… refined.”
“But you’ve changed so much,” Kiptoo said, his voice heavy with disappointment.
“I didn’t change your story,” she replied gently. “I revealed its true strength.”
Reluctantly, Kiptoo sat down and began reviewing the edits. At first, it hurt. Sentences he loved were rewritten. Paragraphs he admired were shortened. Some parts were removed entirely.
But as he continued, something shifted.
The story began to flow more smoothly. The characters felt clearer. The emotions grew deeper and more powerful. What once seemed like a rough diamond was slowly turning into something brilliant.
Days later, Kiptoo looked up from the final edited manuscript, his eyes filled with realization.
“This… this is better,” he admitted.
Amina smiled. “That’s the power of editing. It doesn’t destroy your work—it elevates it.”
When Kiptoo finally published his book, readers praised its clarity, emotion, and impact. They didn’t see the messy first draft—they saw excellence.
From that day on, Kiptoo never feared editing again.
He embraced it.
Because he understood one simple truth:
A writer creates the story…
But editing makes it unforgettable. ✨

17/03/2026

You are welcome!👏👏