Storieo

Category: Inspiration

Collection of Best Inspirational Short Stories

  • THE SWORD IN THE HIDDEN CAVE

    THE SWORD IN THE HIDDEN CAVE

    Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a kingdom ruled by a powerful and just king named Arthur. King Arthur was loved by his people and was known for his wisdom, bravery, and fairness. He had a beautiful wife named Guinevere, who was loved by all the people of the kingdom.

    One day, a powerful sorcerer named Merlin came to the kingdom and offered to teach King Arthur the secrets of magic. King Arthur was fascinated by the idea of magic and eagerly accepted Merlin’s offer. Merlin taught King Arthur how to cast spells, brew potions, and summon magical creatures.

    As King Arthur’s power grew, so did his ego. He began to see himself as invincible and all-powerful. He became more and more obsessed with magic, neglecting his duties as a ruler and spending all his time studying spells and potions.

    Guinevere became worried about her husband’s obsession with magic and sought the advice of Merlin. Merlin warned her that King Arthur’s thirst for power had become dangerous and that he was in danger of losing his soul to the darkness.

    One day, King Arthur decided to summon a powerful demon from the underworld. He believed that he could control the demon and use its power for his own purposes. However, the demon proved too powerful for King Arthur to control and it began to wreak havoc on the kingdom.

    Merlin knew that the only way to defeat the demon was to use the power of the legendary sword, Excalibur. However, Excalibur had been lost for centuries and no one knew where to find it.

    Guinevere remembered a legend about a hidden cave where Excalibur was said to be hidden. She set out on a dangerous journey to find the cave and retrieve the sword. She faced many obstacles along the way, including a treacherous mountain pass and a raging river. Finally, she reached the cave and found Excalibur. She returned to the kingdom and gave the sword to Merlin. Merlin used the sword to defeat the demon and save the kingdom.

    King Arthur realized the error of his ways and renounced his obsession with magic. He returned to his duties as a ruler and became a wise and just king once again. Guinevere was hailed as a hero for her bravery and her journey to find Excalibur became a legend that was told for generations to come.

    In the end, King Arthur learned that true power comes not from magic, but from wisdom, compassion, and humility. The end.

  • Image Fallacy…

    We are not the same person as we were yesterday. It sounds scary but it is true. Yes there are a few habits which do not change or may take years to change, but our needs and wants keep changing as we grow in years.

    In time we realize that what gave us joy no more excites us, what made us tick is now become a relic of the old. There is no issue as long as we are aware that we are in a flux, but far often that is seldom the case.

    As a human we have tendency to create and hold on to an image, this image is a result of our experiences with ourselves and with people around us, we hold on to aspects that made us feel good, happy, sad, angry, joyful, jealous etc. Slowly these tendencies start dictating our behavior with ourselves and others because we already have a mental image of the outcome or way someone will react, which is open to change and may not be true anymore.

    It is easy to test this hypothesis, by thinking about a good friend whom you have lost touch with, just listen to the mental chatter you get in your mind while thinking about that person. All of what you hear may have been true for the time when you were connected, but may not be true anymore, but yet we hold on to that same image. This may sound a small e.g. but try applying this to your own self image.

    It is not easy to fall out of this trap, I am still learning and it is an uphill task to challenge the ways of your own mind which seeks refuge in the illusion of that image perhaps because it finds meaning but at the same time it restricts us from growing, giving second chances and be open.  Choose wisely. 

  • Game of Cricket taught me.. 

    No this is not an exercise in acknowledging the virtues of team building, patience, perseverance and countless other stuff that the game has taught me. Infact this is an attempt to realize some of the short comings I as a human being can have and how one can take this learnings to apply to any aspect of Life.

    Let me explain how.. I am 37 years young and I have been fortunate to play cricket in more than 100 different places (this count includes different areas in my birth city of Bombay & elsewhere in India and the world). I realize now more than ever, that to me the game was always more important than the people I played with. I say I realize now because over the last 3.5 years in Canada, I have been part of 2 teams. One comprising players who spoke tamil and the other who spoke only punjabi. 

    The fact that there are teams that consist of players only from one community speaks volumes about how teams are made here in Canada. When I observe myself in this situation, I realize I became a part of the teams because I had a single minded pursuit to be able to play the game. So I played for the first team I found in Toronto and Calgary respectively. I respect the teams and its players to accommodate me in their teams which was a result of not only my performance in playoffs but also my apolitical attitude, my clarity on playing the game even when I did not understand the language my team mates chose to speak amongst themselves on and off the field.

    I understand that one would think what did this teach me that I am on rant about my cricketing experience in Canada. Well, I realized when you love something and are clear about your intentions, everything around it just background noise. There can never be a hurdle in letting you do what you really love to.

    This is true for everything in life which requires us to be trustworthy and vulnerable otherwise there is a tendency for self-doubt and self-sabotaging behavior. I sincerely hope me and people like me realize that there are sometimes parts of us which stop us from our own growth because of Fear. Lets operate from the place of Love instead of Fear. My love for the game did not allow the fear of not blending in, weigh on me. I just did what I did best, Keep Playing.

     

  • Death AND Relationships

    Death is not just a permanent passing or non existence of a person. We die every day and every moment. We die every time a relation ceases to exist or a relation has undergone paramount changes.

    Every time when we connect with someone deeply, it isn’t that we like the other person or love the other person, what we like or love is how we feel about ourselves in that person’s company.

    Every time one looses a person he/she connects to, one looses that little feeling about themselves while that person was around. More often we don’t miss the person, what we actually miss is ourselves.

    Everything and everyone around us is just a catalyst to how we think and feel about ourselves. We die every moment and there is nothing to be sad about it and may be life’s beauty is in its impermanence.

  • Being Inspired by the Ordinary..

    For Far too long we have looked for Motivation, Courage, Inspiration from successful people, be it in the field of Business, Sports, Science etc. We look up to those few individuals who have made name, fortune and reached a pinnacle in their respective fields. I don’t intend to take anything away from their achievements and glory, But intent to convey that there is so much to learn, be inspired and motivated by the ordinary, which in itself is extraordinary.

    Today I am going to mention about one such person whom I met 3 years back as a housemate in Toronto, Canada. His name is Murat (name changed), originally from Turkey. He had been living in Canada since 3 years when our path crossed. He knew very little English, as a result of which he always struggled to get constant work. Every now and then he would secure a temporary labor job which was a major source of living for many immigrants moving to this part of the world.

    The thing that fascinated me most about this man was his joyful state of being despite living in uncertainty of his visa status and the need to constantly renew work permits to stay in the Country. He was doing very well back home in Turkey, but moved to Canada because of the political uncertainty surrounding the minority population i.e. the Kurds. He once admitted to me that he didn’t like it much in Canada but chose to stay for his Family especially his 4 daughters who he thought would get better Education in Canadian public schools.

    It was difficult for me to fathom then, how he chose to stay away from his family in a country where he doesn’t know the language, makes you feel lonely and is harsh in terms of financial stability if you have not been educated or worked here. Despite all the pain and hurt he secretly endured, Murat always had a smile on his face and have hearty conversation. I still remember some things he tried to convey in little English he knew “Aashish, you good man, Canada weather No good and Can (Canned) food garbage” Literally makes me smile again while writing. 

    People like Murat don’t have a label to speak of or bank balance to prove their success, but to me he still is an inspiration to learn from and also from all people like him who are giving their best despite no tangible and visible measures to account for their efforts and sacrifices. My Gratitude to all, Thank you.

  • Spell (learn to read)

    Spell (learn to read)

    Laura was her name. Every time I remember. At that time there were no such buildings. We were a ranch school. I was just received. That’s why I felt safer doing paperwork or preparing food for the kids, than teaching. I used to work with big grades. But, and the smallest? It did not cheer me up.

    I went making the life of the school. In the field, school is everything. As long as you know how to win people. They have their time, they are not very open at first, but the first May 25 got almost everyone. We celebrated with chocolate and a grandmother came to make us fried cakes. When Don Nicanor Paredes arrived at the afternoon, it was the hubbub. He had killed a goat and brought it to school. The first time he was approaching. He was the father of two of the boys, one of a quarter and a second. Very respected in the whole place, Don Nicanor.

    I knew that their presence meant a lot because it was certain that the others, who still doubted, we’re going to get closer to school.

    And so it was. By the end of the year, we had twenty-two boys. Laura, among them. She was an emaciated slim woman with bright eyes of mischief. He clung to me at once. I went where I was going and he kept giving me some frog-like jumps.

    With her I began to teach literacy. I did not really trust what I had learned. It seemed a lie to me that by teaching how little children could learn to read or write. I feared they were only false theories. But I tried. Laura looked at me patiently. It made me doubt. I was sure I was doing it wrong, very badly. But we loved each other so much that after each class we would go out together to take a little spin around. Sometimes we took the class by the river. Class, or whatever it was called that happened to us when my hand carried his little hand and we drew letters together in the sand.

    Until one day, I was correcting at the comedian table, with my back to the window. Laura in front of me, leaning on her elbows and holding her face in her fists. Something began to say. When I actually listened to her, I still took a little time to understand, because I was headlong into the failed two-digit division procedure. Also because Laura’s voice came out in bits, like breaths, with a sound or two. Song whispered it seemed. Slow and like to fall asleep.

    -Wha er … er, no! … Wha re hou se and but che ry. Warehouse and butchery!

    When he finished spelling I saw in his eyes the reflection of the almanack we had on the wall, right behind me. And I did not move, to continue seeing that glitter and the face to understand and the dazzle by the discovery, and my own braids falling in the table of the time in which mom amassed, while I wrote with my pencil bitten and dad loomed on my shoulder. And then I did not move, although I dropped the pen because I had a shake in the chest that would not let me speak. And she knew it and she turned around to take me in the face with her friendly hands and hugged me and I felt that I had started to be a teacher and that I was in the only place I should be.

    After talking to Erasma, the other teacher, I explained and explained. I hoped that Laura would go to read in one of those books that sent us the Council. Or in the notebook, we were making together. But never in an almanack, never in a sunset, never in that time when I was almost distant from her, correcting the notebooks of the larger boys.

    My grandmother could say that there is a moment when the heart begins to fly and you know it. A moment when the heart moves and it is not the beat of other times, but a beat like a tight carnation that takes the air. And that is when you have begun to fly, to exist also in another chest, or somewhere else. If so, that was my first flight and maybe that’s why I’m still here, in the country schools.

    I remember that time I took the medal of Santa Rita that was hanging and put it on his neck. She looked at me as deeply as only she knew.

    Laura was her name. Laura Antinao. And I will never forget.

    Fuente: educación y gestión

  • Mini: Part-5

    Mini: Part-5

    Night passed. All the students were so tired that they slept soundlessly. Next morning they woke up and got ready to see Shimla. Mini was very small but still, time and circumstances had made her mature before her age. Unlike other fellow-mates, she loved silence and the unspoken words of nature. She would often gaze at the beauty of nature and seemed to have lost herself in it.

    The days passed without any change in Mini. She used to love her silence and was completely lost in its illusion. Miss Chowdhary tried her best to make Mini speak or cry, but all her work were in vain.

    The tour ended. Mini returned home on October 24, Her trip was wonderful but unsuccessful as far as Miss Chowdhary and the Saxenas were concerned.

    Days passed. Ravi had to go outstation on a business trip.

    “Nisha, hurry up, I am getting late,” he said picking up his suitcase.

    “Ok! I am coming. Ah … here are your car keys,” she said hurry up.

    “Bye Mini,” Ravi said giving her a smile. She did not reply.

    “Ok! Bye Nisha and take care.”

    “I will. Do not worry,” Nisha answered.

    Ravi went to the airport in his car. It was already 9:30 at night. Mini and Nisha came in and after their dinner, they were going to sleep when the telephone rang.

    Trin-in-Trin- in.

    “Hello,” Nisha said picking up the receiver.

    “Hello, Mrs. Saxena? It’s urgent. I am speaking of Sadar Hospital. Mr. Saxena has met with a serious accident. He is in the ICU Please come quickly,” someone answered from the other side of the telephone. These words startled Nisha so much that she left the receiver and dashed into her room. She got her purse and along with Mini she came to the Sadar Hospital.

    “Nurse, may I know where Mr. Ravi Saxena is?” Nisha asked.

    “Just a minute Mr … Mr. Ravi Saxena. Red Maruti 800 car, serious accident. He is in the ICU. Third, from the left of the corridor,” she answered pointing in the direction of the ward. Nisha and Mini went running there.

    “Doctor, I am Mrs. Saxena. How is Ravi?” Nisha asked in a shaky voice.

    “Mrs. Saxena. I have to talk to you. Mr. Saxena’s condition is critical. He has been seriously injured. His collarbone is fractured. The right side is paralyzed right femur bone of his leg is broken. And most important, his skull has sustained minor injuries. At this time, an operation is really very important to save his life,” the doctor explained to Nisha.

    “Do not worry about the money, doctor. Start the operation. I’ll get the money,” Nisha said.

    “Then it’s fine. Nurse take the patient to the operation theater,” the doctor said to the nurse. “Mrs. Saxena please come with me. I’ll give you the form to be filled, “He replied directing Nisha to the respective office.

    “Nurse, what happened?” Nisha inquired as the nurse stepped out of the operation theater.

    “The doctor is still operating,” she replied and went away.

    All this commotion had caused great disturb within Mini. Nisha’s pale, drained face had terrified her. Tears rolled down Nisha cheeks. She was really shaken and disheartened by Ravi’s accident. Mini, who was watching all this carefully, melted at the sight. She placed herself close to Nisha.

    Mini could not bear to see Nisha’s sad face, the face which once glowed with happiness and joy was totally disturbed. Mini now realized that Vista was really a good mother. The face which was never oppressed was now filled with tears with the hard cruelty of circumstances. She could feel that motherly love just now.

    “Mummy,’ Mini cried. Mini’s words startled Nisha so much that she could hardly believe her ears. She was crying, bringing tears to Mini’s with grief. Nisha was an overwhelmed with joy- with grief. She hugged Mini close to her heart and cried aloud. Mini too could not stop her tears from flowing. Both of them were deeply engrossed in the flow of emotions.

    It was 2 o’clock at night. Mini was sleeping on the bench.

    “Doctor,” Nisha called out when she saw the doctor coming out of the operation theater “How is Ravi?” She inquired.

    “We have tried our best. The operation successful. But we can not say anything till morning. You can go home and come back in the morning,” the doctor advised Nisha. Nisha went home with Mini and returned to the hospital in the morning.

    “Doctor, how is Ravi?” Nisha asked as soon as she saw him.

    “He is ok. He has regained consciousness but he can not talk. It will take some time for him to come back to normal. But something is there which is concerning us. His ECG report is not satisfactory. His heartbeat is too fast. If this does not slow down then … then, “he hesitated.

    “Then what doctor? ‘Nisha inquired becoming serious.

    “Then … his life is in danger,” the doctor answered. A deadly silence fell.

    “A…may I see Ravi?” Nisha asked breaking the silence.

    “Oh! Sure,” the doctor said and went to see his other patients.

    “Ravi,” Nisha said, gently putting her hand on his forehead. “See who has come,” Nisha said bringing Mini close to Ravi.

    “Papa,” Mini said. Though Ravi was not well, his face lit up at these words. He glanced at Mini with love and affection. A slight smile flickered on his face.

    From that day there was remarkable progress in Ravi’s condition.

    “Congratulations, Mrs. Saxena, Ravi’s heartbeat is normal again. Thanks to Him, who saved Ravi, “the doctor reported to Nisha after his routine check-up. яндекс

    “He’ll soon be ok,” the doctor said.

    “Thank you, doctor,” Nisha said.

    Ravi knew what had brought back to life. It was Mini.

    In a few months, Ravi had recovered from his weakness. Mini too had recovered from her deadly silence. They returned home happily. Ravi and Nisha had found their lost child and Mini her lost parents. Though Mini missed Simmi, yet she could feel her presence close to her heart Now they were happy. Happier than they were before.

  • Mini: Part-4

    Mini: Part-4

    “I think so. But what to do?” Ravi asked.

    “In such cases, the parents should give full attention, love, and care to their children. Make her believe that you really love her. I think that will help her come out of her trauma.”

    “Thank you, doctor! You have helped us the lot,” Ravi shook hands with the doctor and came out. Mini was in the car with Nisha. Nisha was trying to talk to Mini but her blank looks only disheartened Nisha.

    They returned home. That night, after Mini had gone to sleep, Ravi told Nisha what the doctor had said.

    “Can Mini be cured of her illness?” Nisha asked with seriousness in her tone.

    “She will. But it may take a long time. Maybe one month, two months, six months…or…”

    “Or … what?” Nisha interrupted.

    “Or … maybe some years, “Ravi answered.

    Tears rolled down Nisha’s eyes. How could a mother ever bear her daughter’s sickness with gladness? The mother’s heart within her could not hide her feelings for Mini.

    Next day Ravi decided to take Mini to school. When Mini went to her class, Ravi had a talk with Mini’s class teacher. He explained Mini’s sickness. “Miss Chowdhary, will you help us?” Ravi asked after explaining to Mini’s teacher.

    “Mr. Saxena-you does not worry, I will try my best,” she said.

    “Thank you. I hope you understand my problem,” Ravi said and went to his office.

    “Good morning Ma’am,” the students said when the teacher came into the classroom.”

    “Good morning, children. Mini… how are you?”, The teacher asked with politeness. But Mini did not answer. She stood up quietly with the old, dull, worn out doll close to her chest, and then, without speaking, she sat down. Silence fell in the class.

    But the teacher knew very well how to break the silence. “Ok children! take out your books and let’s start with today’s lesson.”

    The day went by without any change No one could succeed in breaking Mini’s silence.

    Often, she was seen sitting in the garden with that doll in her hand. She would sit there for hours. Her tears had dried and her emotions were dead. She hated talking to anyone. She stopped going for parties or outings. Except for going to school. She did not step out of the home.

    Days passed. Time seemed to have brought nothing new with it. Three months had passed. Mini’s teacher tried her best. She told stories Jokes and all she could do to make Mini happy. But she could not change Mini’s mind. Exams came. Mini could not do very well in her exams. She just managed to pass. Finally, the Parent ents came with their parents to take their report cards.

    Mini came with her foster parents. Few parents were there. Miss Chowdhary was giving the report card to a boy who had failed in almost the subjects.

    “Mr. Deshpandey, Rahul needs to work very hard. He has failed in five subjects.”

    Mr.Deshpandey’s face was raging with anger.

    “Rahul! what is this I am seeing?” he shouted”.

    “Dad! I was ill during the exams,” Rahul answered trembling.

    “You fool!” Mr. Deshpandey said and slapped Rahul. Everyone was stunned by this action. Mini was so frightened that she shifted close to Nisha. It was the first time when Mini was so close to her mother. Nisha hugged Mini and came to the teacher’s desk.

    “Mr. Deshpandey, this is not your home where you can carry out your indecent act. Please leave at once,” Miss Chowdhary said sternly.

    “Good morning, Mr. Saxena said to Miss Chowdhary stepping forward to take the report card.

    “Mini has not done well, but I think she will surely improve,” Miss Chowdhary said handing over the report card to Mr. Saxena. Ravi glanced at the report card and said, “It’s fine.I don’t blame my daughter or you for that. I know she is capable of doing much better work. Well, thank you.” These words from Ravi startled Mini. She had expected a similar behavior from Ravi. She returned home with a different feeling.

    That night she could not sleep. The scene of the classroom came incessantly in front of her eyes.

    Next day she woke up in a different mood. While leaving for school she glances at Nisha and smiled. This was the first time Mini had flashed her such a pleasant smile. She came running to Mini and hugged her, kissing her repeatedly. Tears rolled down her eyes. But these tears reflected happiness. Ravi took Mini with him to school.

    “Mr. Saxena, our school tour is going Shimla. If you wish you can send Mini with us,” Miss Chowdhary said, “I think it will help her. She will experience a new atmosphere and she may improve.”

    I think you are right. When are you going? Ravi asked.

    “Next week,” she replied, “and the charges are one thousand rupees.”

    “Ok! I’ll pay the money today itself.”

    That afternoon when Ravi came to pick Mini up he gave the money to the tour.

    In the night Ravi told Nisha about the trip.

    “I think this trip will help Mini to recover,” Nisha said. One week passed without any incident. Finally, the day came when Mini had to go to Shimla. Mini left Bombay that evening for Delhi. Miss Chowdhary took special care of her. She wanted Mini to come out of her shell.

    They reached Delhi the next day from where they took a private bus to Shimla. It was almost dark when they reached Shimla. Miss Chowdhary along with few other teachers took the students to their rooms in the hotel. Mini was to share a room with two of her classmates- Rashmi and Sheetal.

    At night Rashmi and Sheetal told each other stories. They too tried their best to make Mini talk. But they could not break Mini’s silence.

    “Oh! my mother forgot to give me my pillow, “Rashmi exclaimed.”

    “And my mother forgot to give me my bed sheet, Sheetal said. Mini looked at her bedding. Nisha had carefully placed all the things compulsory for Mini. There was a strange feeling within Mini. This feeling rose for the first time in Mini’s heart and caused a great stir throughout her soul.

  • My Story

    My Story

    The world is not a wish granting factory.

    As much as I would like to deny the truthtfullnes of the statement, I cannot because not all wishes come true.

    I am Oindri Kundu, born on 5th August 2000 in Kolkata with a multiple conginental abnormalities along with phocomelia in left hand. Being born without a rectum passage, I had to undergo a surgery (Colostomy) within 17 hours of my birth. Further examinations revealed more complexities. Hence Dr. Sharon Ishika Ghosh, paediatric surgeon of Kolkata referred us to Dr. Ashley L J D’cruz, of Bangalore. I think of him as my Godfather because without him my existence would have been impossible. Over there we came to know that the construction of the colostomy was done in the wrong position leading to my first operation in Bangalore-reconstruction of colostomy. Even after this surgery, due to my complex problems in urinary bladder, ovaries, etc, several other surgeries took place.

    In 2004, I started suffering from urinary tract infection every two months or so for which I had to be admitted in a hospital in Kolkata and treated with intravenous injections. Since this started occurring frequently, we again set off to Bangalore to find the reason behind all of this and it’s solution. Dr. Ashley informed us that since some of the urine was retained in the bladder, urine infection occurred. As a result he and his team decided that I should be on continuous drainage with the help of a catheter. To avoid any sort of infections, the catheter had to be changed once in 12 days by my mother, since I was unable to do so on my own.

    As I grew older, Dr. Ashley wanted me to be independent and not rely on my mother to change the catheter. Hence, in 2012 I underwent a major surgery,the Metrafenoff Operation where a small hole like incision was made on my stomach in the right (through which I could insert the catheter and drain my bladder completely). Along with it, Dr. Ashley did another operation of augmentation of the bladder surgery because he knew that since my blood parameters started behaving abnormally and I started feeling weak as well as tired, this was heading to the direction of kidney transplantation. However, to kill time and survive on my own kidney I started to live a restricted diet by limiting the amount of protein intake, nutritounal health drinks and fruits. I simply cannot forget the feeling of not getting to eat all those mouth watering fast foods which had become my favourites. But as they say, hardship leads to success so I started adjusting myself with that diet and being satisfied with it. For motivation and support, first my mother and then later on my father, both of them started having the same diet.

    However after years of restraining myself from all those appetizing treats and four times of blood transfusion, I underwent the fistula operation in 2015, in order to start dialyisis on the advice of Dr. Rammohan S. Bhat, head of the Nephrology department. Everyone knows what dialysis is. It is a procedure to make the impure blood pure through a medium sized machine and is performed when one’s kidney fucntion is at its least. On Dr. Bhat’s advice, as soon as dialysisis started, me and my parents started getting the paperworks ready which were required for my transplant. A certificate called No Objection Certificate by West Bengal Government was required to perform the transplantation. I really won’t go into all the details of the hassles we had to face just to get one NOC. After receiving that, we again came back to bangalore where we had to stay for one month prior to the the date of operation and 5 months post operation for further close observations. The operation itself was for 12 hours straight and I had to stay in the hospital for 14 days.

    At 16, as I look back on my past, it still gives me the sense of accomplishment and success on being able to overcome all the hurdles and obstacles thrown my way. This does not mean that the fight is over. After 8 months of being completely fit and fine, going to school and tuitions, I again started having problems such as heamachuria in urine. Cystoscopy and all kinds of scans were done but unfortunately no reason was found behind it and we were sent back to Kolkata since at that time my father was very ill.

    He was suffering from a viral fever which in turn led to a severe liver disease and he was admitted to a hospital. After one month’s fight, in the last moment his kidneys gave way and he passed away on 19th September. After completing all the rituals related to the demise of my father, we (me and my mom) returned back to Bangalore for further treatment of the same problem. Now, after doing the Kidney Biopsy we found out that there’s an acute kidney rejection (i.e. the kidney is getting rejected by my body as it is a foreign organ). At present, I’m going through the anti-rejection treatment which is supposed to reduce the rejection chances to nil.

    In spite of all these problems, I had always led a completely normal life, going to school, participating in quiz, projects, games and other activities, playing with friends, working for TTIS, doing online internships, travelling with my parents, etc. It did not matter to me that I had underwent so many operations, I always faced life with full of optimism. I’ve accomplished to do so with the help of my parents’ support, love and care. I will never forget all those sacrifices that they had made. My dad left his job of a regional manager in a reputed company and built up a pre-school since no private sector office would have given him a six month leave. My mom, a lecturer of a reputed college, arranged her hectic schedule in such a way that she did the household work, went to college, gave private tuitions and also sought out enough amout of time to attend me and to my needs. Even after such a tiresome day, she always has the strength and stamina to bear with me talking about all sorts of things with a smiling face.

    My parents always tried to get me whatever I wanted (of course there was a limit to it, like, I could not just ask them to go to Hogwarts set or something) so that I was in a jovial mood always. They were the ones who were there to bear all the pain, distress and stress with me and guided me to overcome it by cheerfulness and smiles. I will never forget this whole contribution, support, love, care and adoration dawned on me by parents, and will cherish it forever. I am also thankful to my grand parents, other members of family, my mom’s colleagues and specially principal mam for motivating me. My friends from school as well as my new squad of TTIS (you guys know who you are) have helped me when I was down, and cheered me up with their jokes. Even people from the Internships I’ve done have helped me and supported me whenever they could.

    School is known to be the second home of a kid. This is unbelievably true. My school, G. D. Birla Centre For Education, has supported me since day one and has been doing so even now. I am immensely grateful to all the support given by my teachers and also for treating me equally since the very beginning. My teachers did not hesitate to pick my name for activities which they knew I excelled in and give me chances to prove myself. My Principal mam has also been a great support. She has granted me long term leaves as and when required so that I am not under too much of stress. She even assured me that the school will help me in all sorts of academic problems.

    Facing and overcoming obstacles are hard, especially if it is as big as mine. I don’t mean to say that I have got the world’s biggest obstacle on my shoulder (of course there are others who suffer much more difficulties than me), but if you have the determination and strength to overcome them you can. Determination leads to success. Along the way, when I lost my father, the grief both me and my mom felt was unexplainable. No amounts of ‘Sorry for your loss’ could repair the damage that had been done.

    My mom who too had suffered through an irreplaceable loss, however still tried to put up a smile on my face by keeping her emotions at bay.

    I can’t really say how to overcome the grief because the wound is still anew, afresh. They say time heals the wound. But I find it to be untrue. Passing of time helps us to overcome the pain felt, it does not heal the wound but it just lessens the pain.

    Sometimes to get distracted from all these tensions, I resort to listening to songs, drawing, reading books and most importantly writing. Writing helps me to express how I feel about all the beautiful things around me, my thoughts crammed in my head. It is a sort of outlet for me. Writing for TTIS is even more fun. Interacting with others, a little bit of fighting on who would do which part and then finally getting it all sorted out, is nothing short of joy. TTIS has definitely played a positive role in my life. It has given me new friends, mentors and guides. Writing for various sites due to my wide choice in Internships has shown me that there are a variety of topics one can write on and how to improve my writing skills.

    I am really thankful to Biswanath Sir for encouraging me to write about myself at such a young age where my fight against life has not yet ended. I’m still fighting and will always have to fight throughout my life. But I don’t mind. As long as I know I’m gonna have my friends, mom, books and writing, I’m gonna be fine.

  • Mini: Part-3

    Mini: Part-3

    “We would like to …” Ravi was not able to complete his sentence when Mini cried, “Simmi didi.”

    “Mini! Simmi cried back in astonishment. They hugged each other. Tears rolled down their eyes.

    “Who’s there?” someone called from inside. Simmi wiped her tears fast and said, “Someone is here to meet you, Madam.”

    A healthy woman in pink flowered saree came out.

    “Yes, whom do you want to meet?” she asked.

    “We are Mini’s parents. Mini would like to meet Simmi. They are old friends, “Ravi explained the situation to the lady.

    ” Ok! Please come in. Simmi you can talk to her, “she said. Simmi and Mini went out to the garden while Mini’s parents went inside with the lady.

    “Who was she?” Mini asked.

    “She was so called mother,” Simmi said. Simmi did not have to say but Mini understood.

    “You tell me how are your parents? They look very nice They have given you such a beautiful frock and this doll,” Simmi said taking the doll from Mini’s hand.

    “And this doll,” she said taking the other doll.

    “You can throw this away. Their doll is more beautiful than my doll.”

    “No. I like this doll.” Mini sad taking Simmi doll and hugging it close to her heart.

    “See, this is Mini,” Simmi said pointing to Mini s new doll.

    “And this is me,” she said taking the old worn out the doll in her hand.

    “Mini is good. She has good parents. But Simmi is lonely. She has no one. She is alone, she is ….” Simmi said and burst out crying. Mini was too taken aback by Simmi’s words.

    “Ok, Mini. Now we should go,” Nisha said coming out of the house. Simmi quickly wiped her tears and was normal again. Mini went away, but that day created a stir in her life. She was now sure that she would also be treated in the same way by her parents sooner or later.

    Days passed There threat in Mini’s heart. This unseen threat seems to hold Mini in its firm grip. She could not feel it at present but she was sure that she would face it in the future June was the terrifying day for Mini. She got up and came to the drawing room where her parents were sitting Mini, er … there, … there is some sad news for you, “Nisha tried to speak.” Your friend … Your friend.Simmi, ‘Ravi said. -many did! What’s happened to her? “Mini said suspecting something was wrong. A heart was beating faster and faster” We know it is hard to bear … but … but, whoever comes in this world has to go, sooner or later “Ravi said.” Your friend. Simmi is no more. She was suffering from tuberculosis. “What! It can’t, Simmi! Simmi is DEAD? “Mini said, hardly believing her ears” Simmi cant be dead. No. No. “Mini said and ran away to her room crying. Nisha went after her trying to console her.” Mini, not cry. We will take you to her house if you want, “Nisha said.

    “Simmi cannot be dead. Simmi cannot be dead.” Mini was saying it again and again. Her tears did not stop.

    Nisha and Ravi took Mini to Simmi’s home. Simmi’s the dead body was kept there.

    “Simmi didi, wake up. Do not sleep for so long.You know today is Sunday. We have to go to the church wake up and get ready. It’s already 7:30 now “Mini said innocently. She kept her doll near Simmi. She could not adjust herself to Simmi would die and leave her. Nisha and Ravi the present situation. She had never thought that thought it was unwise to keeping there for long. Therefore, they took her away.

    Mini did not say a single word. She hugged Simmi’s doll close to her heart. From that day onwards there was a drastic change in Mini’s behavior. She stopped speaking. She grew thin and weak and was often seen sitting in the garden with the doll.

    It was a matter of great concern for Mini’s parents. The sudden deterioration of Mini’s health had worried them. They tried to make Mini speak. But all their efforts were in vain. Finally, they decided to take Mini to a doctor.

    Mr. Saxena!… I think this matter is very serious,” the doctor said after examining Mini.

    “What happened doctor?” Nisha asked the doctor, very worried.

    The matter is… “the doctor was about to speak when Mini stepped in with the nurse.”

    “Mrs. Saxena, please take Mini outside,” the doctor advised Nisha, Nisha took Mini out so that the doctor could talk to Mr. Saxena.

    “Mr. Saxena, as I said, the matter is really serious. For a little girl of seven years, such a terrible shock can lead to great mental problems.

    “I suggest you try to make her happy. Or … if that is not possible…then …then make her cry. Does she go to school? the doctor asked.”

    “She used to, but after Simmy’s death, she has stopped going to school,” Ravi answered with anxiety in his voice.

    “Oh! … Then it would be better if you send her to school. There will be a be a different atmosphere and she will be able to recover, “the doctor advised. “For time being I’ll give you some medicines, but she needs something more than that.

    “Thank you, doctor,” Ravi said and was about go when the doctor stopped him and asked, “Mr. Saxena! … Is Mini your own child?”

    “No, doctor. We have adopted her,” Ravi replied.

    “Oh! I think there can be other problems also. Sometimes children think that their parents do not care for them, especially for orphans. I am the pediatrician. I have come across children and parents who face this kind of problems. Does she have a similar problem with you?”

    These words of the doctor caught Ravi’s attention.

    “A .. I … I do not know. But we have often seen that Mini has something in her heart which she does not tell us. In the beginning, she hated us. And after Simmi’s death, she is silent” Ravi answered, sitting on the chair.

    “Then I think that Mini has some ill feeling for you. Maybe she has not understood you ” the doctor said.