Storywala

Victor’s tree

Khushi Jugran, AIS Gurugram 46, X

Young Victor was walking down the street that led to who knows where. He wandered carelessly all day, discovering yet new nooks and corners to hide in his old neighbourhood, satisfactorily filling his boredom under the bright summer sun.
On his way, he heard a sound; this sound was new for him. Curious, he followed the sound to trace the source. Following it, he ended up standing on a piece of land covered with fresh grass as far as the eye could see.
Soaked in the fresh breeze and smell of grass, the pasture was beautiful and peaceful. One could even say that it was pure bliss. Victor wanted to take a piece of that land with him. He could take photographs, but they wouldn’t have the freshness of green grass. So, the next time Victor went to his little paradise, he planted a seedling. He nurtured the plant with all his heart for years. The plant was growing well, until one day Victor found out that his family had to move to a different city. Victor was disheartened. He wasn’t sure if the plant would survive without him. But he had to go and there was nothing he could do about it.
Fifteen years later when Victor came back for school reunion, he saw that the little plant had turned into a massive tree with beautiful branches and blossoming flowers. The tree was blooming in all its grace, but the land around it wasn’t the same. The place that Victor fell in love with had now turned into a cemetery. He soon found out that there was talk around the town to cut down the tree as well. This came as a huge disappointment to him. He looked at the tree for one last time and left. Later, the tree that Victor sowed with intensive care was cut to create more space.
On the very next day, a catastrophe hit Victor’s family as Victor met with an accident and didn’t make it, almost as if his life was tied to that tree. He was buried in the same cemetery, right where his tree had been. Call it concurrence or fate; the tree gave room to his grave.

Deathly hallows lamp

Koyal Das, AIS Gurugram 43, VIII D

Material required

• Black chart paper
  
• Compass
  
• Tracing paper
  
• Scissors
  
• Cutter
  
• Glue
  
• Pencil
  
• Ruler
  
• Tea light (Candle)

Procedure

• Take the chart paper and using a compass, draw an equilateral triangle, with each side measuring 11cm.
  
• Mark the center of the triangle and draw two concentric circles from the center of radii 2 cm and 2.5 cm respectively.
  
• Draw a smaller equilateral triangle inside the bigger triangle in such a way that the sides touch the circumference of the 2.5 radii circle.
  
• From one tip of the triangle, draw two parallel lines to the center of the opposite side of the triangle. It should pass through the center of the circle. You will obtain the deathly hallows sign.
  
• Copy the same image twice on another piece of the same chart paper.
  
• Draw 2 cm margin area for each side of the three triangles. These margins will work as flaps. 
  
• Cut out the triangle with the deathly hallows symbol from the rest of the chart paper and further cut the unwanted portions from inside the triangle, leaving only the circle and the line in the middle. After that, paste tracing paper over the symbol. (Refer to image)
  
• Repeat with other two triangles and fold the edges of all the three triangles.
  
• Paste the side flaps one over the other to make a pyramid.
  
• You can place a tea light at the bottom of the pyramid and voila! your Deathly Hallows lamp is ready to glow!
  

WORDS VERSE

What she wants

Gauri Rathor, AGS Noida, IX

I stand with poise and grace
In denial of my very existence
Unable to control my own pace
I stand for stability and finesse
Mirroring honour and prestige
I carry massive responsibilities
But in the core of my very heart
There lives a girl unknown
She celebrates her womanhood
Praising and admiring her own
But, time and again wonders
Is this what she really wants?
Why in midst of all the glory
She doesn’t feel safe
Why does she lock her door
Her heart filled with terror
Why can’t she trust anyone
After knowing him for years?
Why she is
Only as good as her looks?
Why is she expected to be,
As perfect as a doll in books?
A daughter, a wife or a mother
Life is always giving her a role
And to perfectly fit in that act
Seems to be her only goal
Expectations of love and care
Choices, dreams; I do not dare
Playing roles all my life
Now I’ve forgotten; who am I?
Where is my self? Is it gone?
All these efforts; for me, none?
All my devoirs are praised
But my eminence never raised
The girl who lives in my heart
Is looking for herself and her art
Her dreams, interests and quests
She wants to relax and rest
She wants to see the blue skies
And stars and the shining moon
She wants to see the sea
And play with sand at the beach
She wants to be free to speak
Freedom is all she seeks.