A Christmas miracle

Yusra Zahra, AIS VKC Lko, VIII A

It was Christmas day and Lori was all dressed up in her red jacket, a beautiful long red dress, and a red woolen cap. With a bouquet in one hand and a ‘Miss You’ card, which she had finally completed around midnight, Lori ran all the way towards the car. Today was her mom’s birthday, and Lori and her father were going to spend some time with Natasha.
“Dad, please also buy chocolates and chips for the little girl!” Lori said. Her dad paid heed to her words. The smile on Natasha’s face was priceless as Lori gave her the bar of chocolates and a polybag containing several packets of chips. Her parents’ face beamed with joy as they accepted the gift of blankets given by Lori and her father. Before going back to the car, Lori once again went to the resting place of her mother to whisper some more information which she felt was necessary. A gentle touch on her shoulder by her father reminded her that they had to return home as her aunt Ashley and cousin Azarael would be joining them for lunch.
Time flew by and a full year had passed since that Christmas day. It was a cold and dreary morning, and the spirits of joy and festivity were amiss. Lori was still in bed and gazing outside her window. Her dad could be heard advising people over what had become the new norm - video conferencing and work from home. This year Lori had no new clothes or gifts for Christmas as they were in lockdown. She was sad as she could neither complete the birthday card for her mother nor visit her and share her emotions, feelings and life’s vicissitudes. Tears started flowing from her eyes and memories of her mother started to overwhelm her heart. She had not heard her mother’s voice since the day fate had separated them forever. Whenever time permitted, Lori and her father went to the Garden of Peace where her mother had found her final abode in this ethereal world.
Her loneliness, however, increased after the onset of the pandemic and Lori felt enslaved once the schools were closed and social distancing rules were enforced. Her train of thought was interrupted when she realised that her father was calling for her. Lori could not control herself as she looked at the TV screen and saw her mother’s plaque and a bouquet of roses and her card gracing the little space belonging to her mother in the Garden of Peace.
“Lori, this little clip has been sent by the manager of the Garden of Peace. He told me that they brought flowers for your mother too,” her father said. Before Lori could ask who, she saw the familiar face of Natasha and her parents by her side on the screen. The same child for whom Lori had brought chocolates last Christmas. “They remembered the day, Dad?” Lori asked. “Yes, Lori, they did remember the day,” her father smiled at her and hugged her close. Lori was crying once more, but this time, out of pure joy and love.
(Budding writer, Yusra Zahra won first prize for the above story in ‘Novella’ category as part of an Inter-School Online Literary Festival held from August 2-13, 2021.)

 

 

Mini choco lava cakes

Ayushmaan Banerjee, AIS VYC Lucknow, V

Ingredients

• Chocolate biscuits 1 pkt
• Milk ½ cup
• Eno 1 sachet
• Vegetable oil 2 tbsp
• Hershey’s chocolate syrup as desired
• Peanuts to garnish
• Chocolate pieces as desired
• Grated chocolate (optional) as desired

Procedure

• Take the biscuits and powder them well using a blender.
• Add the powdered biscuit in a bowl and mix it with milk. Keep mixing until a smooth consistency is achieved.
• Add a sachet of Eno to the mixture and mix well.
• Now, take a cupcake baking tray, and place parchment paper muffin liners inside the various moulds.
• Pour the mixture and place a piece of chocolate in the middle of each mould.
• Next, microwave the same for about 5 minutes.
• To check whether the cakes are completely cooked, insert a toothpick and see whether it came out clean or not.
• Let them cool for some time and then unmould the cakes.
• Pour Hershey’s chocolate syrup over each one of them and decorate with peanuts and grated chocolate.
• The delicious mini choco lava cakes are ready to be devoured by you.

The silhouette

Tanya Ganguly, AIS Saket, X B
 
Outside a big bright lit doorway
Stands a tall and misty silhouette
Amidst the loud rolling thunder
And the dripping wet weather
 
A lamplighter by profession
Homeless at the time of birth
Desperate’s his situation
For the wanting of a hearth
 
Staring at the cooking pot
Bubbling on the crackling fire
He hopes someone takes notice
And offer him, his heart’s desire
 
Just some food to end his hunger
Some water to quench his thirst
And a warm bed if possible
To rest for some time, not much
 
He lights every lamp, every day
And in fact, every life too
But he doesn’t have a fire
To warm himself through
 
Under a simple and humble roof
He hopes someday he’ll get
Respite from the biting cold
In that soft and comfy bed
 
His service is his suffering
All his efforts go in vain
As he goes around lighting lamps
Looks like no halo, a lost saint
 
His complex of being the ‘saviour’
Compels him to walk every day
To go out in rain or wind or snow
And light the dark away on the way
 
Now, he wants some kindness
For his days are now numbered
Hopes someone will thank him once
Before he sleeps the eternal slumber
 
But life like it is goes on oblivious
Of his valiant and essential role
And his saviour’s complex forces him
To light every nook, cranny and hole
 
Sighing and turning right around
The silhouette trudges on and on
Knowing that these should have been
Wishes much long gone.

It’s Me

Know Me
My name: Aadvika Ghai
My Class: II
My school: AIS Vas 1
My birthday: January 23

My Favourites
Teachers: Komal ma’am and Pooja ma’am
Subject: Mathematics
Friend: Renee Bhatnagar
Game: Trying different races with my friends
Cartoon: Peppa Pig
Food: Rajma rice and momos
Mall: Mall of India
Book: 101 Animal Stories and Cinderella

My Dreams & Goals
Hobby: Creating videos for
my YouTube channel.
I like: Creating my own stories with toys, especially during lockdown as I cannot go out.
I dislike: Not being able to go to school
My role model: My mother
I want to become: A famous YouTuber
I want to feature in GT because: Being a new admission, I want my friends and teachers to know more
about me.