A Chase of Cheers: Mr. Lootgia Ram’s car had been stolen. And old Mr. Ram had gone crazy about it. Uncle Samanta had taken up the case. Of late he had been trying his hand at chasing criminals. At sixty-one he was full of enthusiasm in his new interest. “This must be the work of Karchori Lal,” he observed as …
Read More »A Wisp of Straw: Making Of A Bird House
Pinky was standing at the kitchen window when she first saw the bird fly past. A small black and brown bird, when a patch of pure, dazzling white on the wings. In its beak it held a wisp of straw. Pinky strained hard to peep out of the window but the bars held her back. She only saw the bird …
Read More »A Gift From Mother: Mystery Thriller Story
A Gift From Mother: During 1942, Bengal rose like one man to participate in Gandhi ji‘s Quit India Movement. In the course of the struggle for freedom, a young Bengali girl, Sharada Chatterjee aimed a revolver at Mr. Gordon Jackson, Police Commissioner, Calcutta, and fired twice. The incident took place at the prize distribution ceremony of a high school where …
Read More »Two Little Sparrows: Story about birds and their nest
Two Little Sparrows: “Cheap-cheap!” The shrill cries woke Nandita up. She switched on her bedside lamp. There was a fluttering. Wings whizzed past above her head. “Oh, it is you!” Nandita called out to the two sparrows perched above the window curtain. “It is too early to chirp. Let me sleep!” One of the sparrows blinked a mischievous eye. Then …
Read More »Courage Conquers All: A story from High School
Life is only froth and bubble Two things stand like stone Kindness in another’s trouble Courage in your own. Courage Conquers All: “Have you heard the latest news? A new boy is to join our class!” Tikkoo Kapoor called out as his friends entered the assembly hall morning prayers. “Rot!” Suresh declared immediately. Courage Conquers All: Neela Subramaniam “Are you …
Read More »Blue Bike: Story of a road accident & repentance
It was the most beautiful bike and it belonged to Ranjan’s Uncle. A magic, kingfisher-blue with a matching pannier and two smart rear-view mirrors. A real beauty of bike and the first of its kind in the neighborhood. Overnight, Ranjan had become a prince among us boys. We clustered around him in class the next day, eager for details. Story …
Read More »Malachite Casket: Ural folk tale by Pavel Bazhov
Pavel Bazhov is best known for his collection of fairy tales The Malachite Box, based on Ural folklore and published in the Soviet Union in 1939. In 1944, the translation of the collection into English was published in New York City and London. Later Sergei Prokofiev created the ballet The Tale of the Stone Flower based on one of the …
Read More »Mistress Of The Copper Mountain: Pavel Bazhov
One day two of the men from our village went to take a look at the hay. Their meadows were quite a bit of a way off. Somewhere the other side of Severushka. It was a Sunday and real hot. That sort of fine weather you get after rain. Both of them worked in the mines, on Gumeshky. They got …
Read More »The Fairy Christmas: Story by Etheldred B. Barry
The Fairy Christmas: It was Christmas Day, and Toddy and Tita were alone. Papa and mamma had gone out West to see their big boy who was ill. They had promised to be home for Christmas, but a big snow had blocked the railroad track, and nurse was afraid the train would be delayed until the day after Christmas. The …
Read More »Santa and the Christmas gift: Children’s Story
Santa and the Christmas gift: Santa was in a fix. He was forced to unwrap and use one of the gifts, which was a little girl’s rather unusual request. How would he make it up to her, he wondered. As winter was spreading its freezing arms to cover all mountains and meadows alike, Santa excitedly rubbed his gloved palms. He …
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