Beyond The Screen - By Lavanya A/P Peram Kumar

Written By: Lavanya A/P Peram Kumar

Category: Flash Fiction

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the fast-paced world of digital interactions, Lavanya A/P Peram Kumar offers a poignant narrative in her flash fiction piece, "Beyond The Screen." Participating in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Lavanya's work delves into the theme of digital distraction and the quest for self-identity. Through her character Mia, she explores the allure and illusion of the online world, a reflection many will find familiar in today's tech-driven society.

About the Work

"Beyond The Screen" captures the essence of modern-day challenges with technology and self-perception. Lavanya intricately weaves a story around Mia, whose day unfolds with social media distractions and a quest for virtual perfection. The narrative's tone is reflective and insightful, urging readers to ponder the impact of digital media on their lives. It's a vivid reminder of the importance of pausing and appreciating real-world experiences.

Beyond The Screen

Original Submission by Lavanya A/P Peram Kumar

Beyond The Screen

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The phone alarm starts ringing on the nightstand beside Mia's bed. Still half-asleep, she reaches for her phone to turn it off and saw the time. It’s 7:00 a.m. Just as she was about to put it down, a notification pops-up. Just one peek and I'll go shower in a few seconds. She thought.

A few seconds turns into an hour as one last reel became another. Funny shorts, trending challenges, and endless posts filled her screen. Every time she ties to stop, something new caught her eye. Even though she is bored, she still keeps scrolling as if it were her duty, until her thumb froze on a picture of a breathtakingly beautiful girl. Every feature seemed perfectly placed. Her flawless skin, sparkling eyes, and radiant smile seemed almost too perfect to be real. Mia opened her photo gallery and began comparing her own selfies with the girl's picture. Why couldn't I look like her? She gets upset and goes to take a shower leaving her phone on her bed.

After breakfast she gets ready to start her day, before leaving she takes selfie. Unsatisfied, she adds a filter, brightens her skin, and adjusts her features. After several attempts, she finally smiled at the edited picture. But deep down, something felt wrong. The girl in the photo barely looked like her. She ignores the feeling and heads to college.

After class is dismissed, she goes to her local restaurant to grab lunch. While having her lunch she scrolls through her social media liking posts and commenting on her friends posts. As she scrolls she notices an ad for skin care product. The selling line was enough to grab attention. “Want flawless skin? Get yours today!” Her thoughts about the pretty girl’s photo pops in her head and triggers her to click it. In seconds her feed is now filled with skincare products, fashionable clothes, and things she had never thought of buying before. She adds a few items to her cart, wondering whether she really needed them. Feeling the illusion satisfaction she finishes her lunch and leaves for home.

Before dinner, she starts working on her laptop. After finishing work, she takes a break by chatting with her friends in their friend group. One of her friends shares a video of a delivery man saving a patient in wheelchair that is sliding down steep in the parking lot. At first, it looked real but after looking closer Mia notices something unusual. The video shows a nurse accidentally releasing a patient's wheelchair on a steep parking ramp. As the wheelchair rolled downhill, a delivery man rushed forward and stopped it just in time. At first, Mia was amazed. But something caught her attention. The same ambulance appeared on both floors of the parking lot, parked in exactly the same position. She replayed the video with her eyebrows furrowing. This is AI generated. Everything looks so real now days it’s hard to tell the difference in a glance. She notices that not everything is as real as it seems. Mia wonders how many videos she had believed without ever questioning whether they were real. She learns that it's important to stop, think, and question what she sees before believing or sharing it.

Mia puts her phone down for a moment and notices the aroma of her mother’s cooking and her family’s laughter from across the hall. She hadn't noticed before. “Mia! Dinner is ready!” her mother calls. “Coming!” Mia replies. She sets her phone on her desk and as she is about to leave her phone buzzes again. She reaches to check then stops instead she walks towards the dining table, where her family was waiting. The digital world isn't going away and neither is the real one. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is pause, slow down, and enjoy the world beyond the screen.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating diverse voices in literature. It invites writers from around the world to submit their work, showcasing creativity and innovation in poetry and prose. This competition aims to nurture talent and provide a stage for writers to express their unique perspectives.

Thank you, Lavanya A/P Peram Kumar, for your thoughtful contribution, "Beyond The Screen," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your exploration of digital life and personal awareness resonates deeply. We appreciate your participation and look forward to seeing more of your creative endeavors.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.