Year: 2022

The Fairy’s New Year Gift

Two little boys were at play one day when a Fairy suddenly appeared before them and said, “I have been sent to give you New Year presents.”

She handed each child a package, and in an instant was gone.

Carl and Philip opened the packages and found in them two beautiful books, with pages as pure and white as the snow when it first fell.

Many months passed and the Fairy came again to the boys. “I have brought you each other’s book?” she said, “and will take the first ones back to Father Time who sent them to you.”

“May I not keep mine a little longer?” asked Philip. “I have hardly thought about it lately. I’d like to paint something on the last leaf that lies open.”

“No,” said the Fairy; “I must take it just as it is.”

“I wish that I could look through mine just once,” said Carl; “I have only seen one page at a time, for when the leaf turns over it sticks fast, and I can never open the book at more than one place each day.”

“You shall look at your book,” said the Fairy, “and Philip, at his.” And she lit for them two little silver lamps, by the light of which they saw the pages as she turned them.

The boys looked in wonder. Could it be that these were the same fair books she had given them a year ago? Where were the clean, white pages, as pure and beautiful as the snow when it first fell? Here was a page with ugly, black spots and scratches upon it; while the very next page showed a lovely little picture.

Some pages were decorated with gold and silver and gorgeous colors, others with beautiful flowers, and still others with a rainbow of softest, most delicate brightness. Yet even on the most beautiful of the pages there were ugly blots and scratches.

Carl and Philip looked up at the Fairy at last.

“Who did this?” they asked. “Every page was white and fair as we opened to it; yet now there is not a single blank place in the whole book!”

“Shall I explain some of the pictures to you?” said the Fairy, smiling at the two little boys.

“See, Philip, the spray of roses bloomed on this page when you let the baby have your playthings; and this pretty bird, that looks as if it were singing with all its might, would never have been on this page if you had not tried to be kind and pleasant the other day, instead of quarrelling.”

“But what makes this blot?” asked Philip.

“That,” said the Fairy sadly; “that came when you told an untruth one day, and this when you did not mind mamma. All these blots and scratches that look so ugly, both in your book and in Carl’s, were made when you were naughty. Each pretty thing in your books came on its page when you were good.”

“Oh, if we could only have the books again!” said Carl and Philip.

“That cannot be,” said the Fairy. “See! They are dated for this year, and they must now go back into Father Time’s bookcase, but I have brought you each a new one. Perhaps you can make these more beautiful than the others.”

So saying, she vanished, and the boys were left alone, but each held in his hand a new book open at the first page.

And on the back of this book was written in letters of gold, “For the New Year.”

A New Year’s Eve

“This is not how I had wanted my new year’s eve to be,” I sighed as I sipped the cocktail. I had carefully chalked a perfect plan for the night— a sumptuous dinner cooked by myself, after which I could snuggle in my cosy bed with a cup of hot chai and a perfect movie ( or a rerun of F.R.I.E.N.D.S if nothing worked out).

As I ruminate the predicament I was stuck in, I was able to make out the words of the DJ over the blaring noise, stating that the dance was about to begin. I checked my watch and found that it was only 10 PM which meant I had to be locked up for a minimum of two more hours.

I decided to take a stroll on the lawn outside and as I stepped out, I couldn’t help but admire the beauty of the venue. With the commencement of the dance, people had crowded the dance floor and the bar was visibly empty.

The bartender was juggling the glasses and mixing the drinks in a smooth and swift motion. I was amazed by his skills and easy composure. Without taking my eyes off his actions, I walked closer to observe him.

He had finished serving and as I lifted my head I caught him staring at me. That was when I realised that I had been gawking at him for a long time. He whispered something to his coworker and walked towards me.

“Oh my god! I’m screwed. How do I get out of this?” I wondered.

“Hi, do I know you?” he asked.

“Hi. Umm. No,” I replied. “Umm. You were wonderful with the glasses,” I added quickly.

“Oh, that…er… Thank you,” he smiled.

I relaxed a little and spoke, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare at you. It was just I was mesmerised by the ease with which you handled them. You are definitely a pro.”

He smiled wider. “I am flattered. Thank you again. Would you like to get some drinks?”

“Nah! Drinks are not my forte. I just came out for some fresh air,” I replied.

“You must be kidding,” he said and noticed my grave look . “Are you telling me that you are here all alone on New Year’s Eve?” he asked, surprised.

“Ahh… Unfortunately, yes, I am.”

“That’s sad.”

“Yes, I wish I was at home, enjoying solitude as I welcomed the new year,” I shrugged nonchalantly.

He motioned me to move aside as people were walking towards the bar. “Shall we go for a walk?”

“Yeah,” I replied and we started to walk in the direction of the shore.

“So, if you hate this party so much, why are you here?” he asked.

“I am the marketing head of the advertising firm that is sponsoring this event. I had planned to go home and spend the new year with my family which got cancelled due to work schedule. But today afternoon, I had almost completed my work and planned a quiet evening for myself.

Our CEO was to attend this event, but he had some last-minute programs,” I rolled my eyes and noticed him listening with rapt attention. “The event organisers requested someone from our office to be present.

With everyone else going for a vacation, my boss convinced me and my colleague and that is how I ended up here. However, my colleague seems to be enjoying the event. She is on the dance floor now.”

“Oh that is bad,” he shook his head. We were silent for a moment when I asked, “I have been talking about myself. So tell me about you. Though I have to admit you are too good looking for a barkeeper,” I blushed as I asked.

He cocked an eyebrow as he asked, “Are you mocking me?”

“What? No…No,” I protested.

“Alright. I am an engineer by profession and quit my job exactly a year ago. I fulfilled my dream of travelling to all the states of India and this is my last stop.”

“That is awesome. Have you been travelling alone?” I asked curiously.

“Yes. I have not only been travelling but also trying my hand at odd jobs — from a dabbawala to selling local goods to bartending. Every job has given me a new experience that I will cherish all my life.

I have met people from all walks of life and learned life lessons. This journey has been an amazing one, but I still feel something amiss,” he paused.

We had reached the shore and the music from the dance floor was distant and the only sound we heard was the soft crashing of waves.

“But, why did you leave your job?”

“In pursuit of happiness. No. Not the movie. I was growing restless with my office job. Hence, I decided to go in search of my true calling.”

“Haven’t you been home? Don’t your parents miss you?”

“They do. But, they are currently shuttling between countries to look after grandchildren. They also know how determined I can be,” he said.

“Oh.”

“But, what plagues me is I have not found an answer yet,” he spoke softly.

“Maybe, you are searching in the wrong place,” I replied.

“What?”

“Happiness is a state of mind and not of the surroundings. It differs from person to person. For a child, getting a toy is happiness whereas for our grandparents spending time with us is happiness. You are searching for it elsewhere, but I think you should seek it within yourselves. Happiness can be found in the darkest of times…”

“Only if one remembers to turn on the light,” he completed.

I was glad he was a potterhead too. Both of us spoke for a while.

“Thank you. I needed to hear this. You have opened up a new perspective for me.”

I smiled, “My pleasure. And do meet your parents. They may not tell you, but they will be missing you.”

“Yes, I am leaving home tomorrow,” he grinned wide, his smile reaching his eyes and a dimple forming on his right cheek.

Precisely at that moment, fireworks went off in the sky.

“Happy New Year,” we spoke at the same time.

“I should thank your boss for sending you to this event,” he said as we walked back.

“Yeah, I guess it did not end up bad. I will find my friend and head back home.”

I took the lead towards the makeshift stage.

“Hey what’s your name?” he called out.

I turned back and smiled and continued walking.

Tangram – Step It Up


Task description: This week during I had free time, so I got to chooses what I wanted to do, I decided to do summer learning journey. I did task called ‘Tangram Tangles’. After that I completed the task, and I posted it on our blog. I enjoyed this task very much, and I hope to do more like this soon. Hope you enjoyed. Please leave a comment; thank you for visiting my blog.

Fun fact for the Day: Do you know why going to the beach is popular during summer? Well, I’m going to tell you! Most beachgoers only visit the beach in the summer when the conditions are great for tanning and swimming – mild wind, warm water, high temperatures, and strong sun!

Tangram Tangles – Kick Start


Task description: This week during I had free time, so I got to chooses what I wanted to do, I decided to do summer learning journey. I did task called ‘Tangram Tangles’. After that I completed the task, and I posted it on our blog. I enjoyed this task very much, and I hope to do more like this soon. Hope you enjoyed. Please leave a comment; thank you for visiting my blog.

Fun fact for the Day: Do you know why ice cream is so popular during summer? Well, I’m going to tell you! Cold water is preferred to warm water as a thirst quencher and cold products such as ice cream may also be perceived as pleasant because oral cooling satiates thirst.

Ice cream is a sweetened frozen food typically eaten as a snack or dessert. It may be made from milk or cream and is flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit such as strawberries or peaches.

It can also be made by whisking a flavored cream base and liquid nitrogen together. Food coloring is sometimes added, in addition to stabilizers. The mixture is cooled below the freezing point of water and stirred to incorporate air spaces and to prevent detectable ice crystals from forming.

Rainbow collage – Step It Up


Task description: This week during I had free time, so I got to chooses what I wanted to do, I decided to do summer learning journey. I did task called ‘Rainbow collage’. After that I completed the task, and I posted it on our blog. I enjoyed this task very much, and I hope to do more like this soon. Hope you enjoyed. Please leave a comment; thank you for visiting my blog.

Rainbow collage – Kick Start


Task description: This week during I had free time, so I got to chooses what I wanted to do, I decided to do summer learning journey. I did task called ‘Rainbow collage’. After that I completed the task, and I posted it on our blog. I enjoyed this task very much, and I hope to do more like this soon. Hope you enjoyed. Please leave a comment; thank you for visiting my blog.

Surfboard Business – Wild Waves – Step It Up


Task description: This week during I had free time, so I got to chooses what I wanted to do, I decided to do summer learning journey. I did task called ‘Design your own surfboard’. After that I completed the task, and I posted it on our blog. I enjoyed this task very much, and I hope to do more like this soon. Hope you enjoyed. Please leave a comment; thank you for visiting my blog.

My Surfboard Design – Kick Start


Task description: This week during I had free time, so I got to chooses what I wanted to do, I decided to do summer learning journey. I did task called ‘Design your own surfboard’. After that I completed the task, and I posted it on our blog. I enjoyed this task very much, and I hope to do more like this soon. Hope you enjoyed. Please leave a comment; thank you for visiting my blog.

Fun fact for the Day: Do you know how surfboards are designed? Well, I’ll tell you – The board will either be made completely from scratch or by carving out the board from a surfboard blank, a large piece of foam that works as the core of the board. Inside is a piece of wood called a stringer, glued between two foam blocks, which provides flex and strength.

Maths Riddles – Kick Start


Task description: This week during I had free time, so I got to chooses what I wanted to do, I decided to do summer learning journey. I did task called ‘Maths Riddles’. For this task I had to answer some math related riddles questions. I did find any of the riddles hard or confusing, and when I check them I was so happy that I got them all right. After that I completed the task, and I posted it on our blog. I enjoyed this task very much, and I hope to do more like this soon. Hope you enjoyed. Please leave a comment; thank you for visiting my blog.

Poetry Slam – Living Up To Expectations



Task description: This week during I had free time, so I got to chooses what I wanted to do, I decided to do summer learning journey. For the task I had to write “A Letter to” poem and record myself reading it. After that I completed the task, and I posted it on our blog. I enjoyed this task very much, and I hope to do more like this soon. Hope you enjoyed. Please leave a comment; thank you for visiting my blog.