ENGLISH Story writing .[7 m]

Every man must labour
The kingdom of Lilapur once had a very lazy king. He didn't do any iota of work. He was always attended by servants. He only ate, drank and made merry. The king's metabolism became weak. Slowly he became victim to many diseases. Many doctors were called but the king didn't recover. Finally, he put his hopes on a Sadhu who lived in an isolated temple high up on the hill. The Sadhu was famous for his advice and people almost called him a miracle man. The king sat in a palanquin and his poor bearers carried him to the Sadhu. The Sadhu realized that the only way to reduce king's weight which was root cause of all his problems was to make him do some physical exercise. He told the king he would pray for him for a week's time and on the seventh day he told the king he would have to visit the temple on foot. When the time came, the king trudged up the hill totally breathless and sweating. He also climbed down the hill. The Sadhu also gave the king an iron ball which he had to roll in the palace ground for a fortnight. In a month's time king had lost a lot of weight and from an obese man, he became healthy. He followed Sadhu's instructions religiously and became fit and energetic. He paid more attention to his kingdom and increased its wealth and subjects were happy with his rule.

Company Matters
Once there lived a rich merchant who had an only son. The merchant was very busy making money and he didn't realise that his son had got into bad company. The father earned money and was stingy in spending it. While the son didn't earn a dime but lavishly and recklessly spent his father's hard earned money. He built a group of good for nothing crony friends who initiated him into bad habits of smoking and drinking. The father and mother pleaded and requested him to mend his way but it was pouring water over duck's back. The mother remembered teaching her son in childhood through proverbs and short stories. She requested her husband to get a box of fresh apples and placed a rotten one among them. When the son came home he requested his mother to slice an apple for him. She told him to take it himself. The son forget all about the apples and two days later when he returned home early he opened the box and found that all the apples had spoilt. He asked his mother how the apples could become rotten In such a short time. The mother said that there was one rotten apple in the basket and it was enough to spoil the rest of them. She compared the rotten apple to his good for nothing friends and how they were on verge of spoiling his beautiful life. So if he wanted to be like a fresh apple he would have to shun their company. The son understood and mended his ways.

Nature is a Giver
A long time ago, among the tall, soft wood trees that inhabited the forest. There was a pine tree which stood tall and stately. This towering tree once saw a little skinny girl wearing tattered clothes moving about sobbing loudly. The pine tree tried to bend and speak to the little girl. It asked the little girl, "Why are you sobbing?" The girl replied that she had heard the elders say that if one offered flowers to Goddess Durga, she would grant them their wish. She wanted her parents to overcome their poverty. She decided to get the best flowers for the goddess so she had come to the forest to pluck them. As she had walked deeper into the forest, she had lost her way. The pine tree told her that she would not be able to reach her home as it would soon be dark, so she should sleep in the cave near its trunk and it would guard over her. The little girl did as the tree told her to do. When she woke up in the morning she was about to collect her flowers, but they had withered so the pine tree wrapped its branches around the flowering trees and made them shower beautiful flowers, which she collected. She went into the cave to get her basket and found a small bag with gold coins. She asked the pine tree's permission to take them home. She gave the pine tree a big hug as she went her way to her village.

Repentance Pays
Three boys were standing outside the Principal's office. One of the boys had a black eye and another had a bruise on his cheek. The boys were feeling very nervous because they knew they had broken a rule of discipline by quarrelling and having a violent fight during school hours. They were sent by their class teacher to the Principal. The three were sorry to have fought with each other and were now afraid that their parents would be called and they might be suspended - while they were standing outside Principal's cabin the old head clerk came to them. They confessed to him and asked him to save them from being rusticated. The old clerk didn't say a word but went into the Principal's cabin. All the three were trembling with fear. The Principal made them stand in suspense. She wrote something on the paper and gave to the head clerk. The boys felt that their fate was sealed. They came out with tears in their eyes. The head clerk spoke to them that school is a place to learn, to live with decency in a society and not a training ground for hooliganism. The Principal had condoned their act but given them a chance to improve their behaviour. All three hugged each other and decided to be on their best behaviour always.

A Lucky Day
Last week I went to the market on my bicycle to buy books. I placed the bicycle outside the shop. No sooner did I alight from the cycle then I saw this old man falling down with his bags near the shop. I ran and helped him up. I asked him if I could help him reach some place. He pointed to a house close by and thanked me saying that he would manage. I insisted and as I held his grocery bag in one hand. I made him hold my other hand so that he would walk comfortably. When we arrived at his house I helped him open the door. As we walked in, I was dumbfounded his entire drawing room was a fantastic library. I just stared at the books. The old man looked at me and said something that was music to my ears. He gave me permission to take books I needed for reading and also said he would be happy to have my company whenever I was free. What a lovely coincidence I went to buy books and was gifted a library.

A Night on Edge
The night before the Zonal Debate Competition, everyone was fast asleep, while I was practising. Suddenly there was a call from my cousin from the USA. I had picked up the phone and Atul and I start talking. He was sure I would be asleep and he would just take a minute to speak to my Dad and ask about all of us. He asked about my school and studies and I told him about debate competition for the next day. He gave me a lot of points. I thanked my stars, for making him call us up at a time when I was really tensed. I was not at ease. I slept for a while and got up at the break of day. I tried to recollect and revise some of the points so that I could speak with finesse and keep the attention of the audience. I was the third speaker of the day. Would you believe it, there was no shaky start. I conveyed to the audience with the right tone of voice and I felt there was pin drop silence. I was speaking on the topic, 'Are we ready for Democracy'. I was speaking against and it was a tough thing to do. However, I stood out, my teachers and students gave me a standing applause. The results were declared and I had made my school win by a huge margin. That night I kept awake to thank Atul!

A Day to Remember
Sitting alone on a beach I felt myself like a speck by the sand against the vastness of the sea. Suddenly I saw a boat coming towards the shore. The boat seemed to be going wayward. I was a little scared it would come headlong and hurt us. I wondered how a boat that size was coming onto the sand. It was sure to get sand stuck. The boat reached close to us and then it was totally stuck and slowly it bent on one side. The crew were saved by the lifeguards. I was keen to know what had happened to the boat. The crew members spoke of their ordeal as they had come into the trap of a cyclone. They had to keep in front of the storm to remain safe. They had been moving without food and water. Luckily with the storm having lost its fury they found themselves close to the beach and they took the risk of becoming sand struck. All of us immediately helped them with food and doctor facility. The local people offered them means to connect with their families and assured them a safe journey home. As they described the stormy winds my hair stood up and I could picture their state and I secretly thanked their guardian angels for having stood by them and their families.

My pets and me
Fahad had a husky who loved to go for long walks. The park near his house was his favourite. Fahad was surprised to see his sturdy husky become friends with a black cat in the park. The cat was not at all afraid of Bruno, his husky. They ran around together, did mock fighting and sat and gazed at the people and their pets move by. Bruno was very protective of the little black cat. Time passed people watched this strange couple with a smile. One day Bruno was not ready to leave the park without meeting his cat friend. He searched around everywhere for her. She was not to be seen. I commanded him that it was time to leave and he should get into the car. He wasn't hearing a word of what I was saying. He jumped out of the window and ran towards the pump house of the park. I followed him and there we saw the cat lying all huddled up and feeling very sick. I had no choice but to take her home and call the vet. The doctor diagnosed a stomach problem and the little thing was running a fever. I made a cosy place for the cat to sleep near Bruno. I came to accept that Miss Catty was going to be a permanent fixture and we are going to be a threesome. My pets and me!

Sushma's mother worked as our housemaid for three years and then had to give up activities like sweeping and swabbing due to acute arthritis. Sushma started helping her in doing household chores. One day, I was busy studying in my room when I found her looking at my books with a lot of interest. I asked her if she had been to school. She nodded and said she had studied up to standard IV. Her father was out of work and being the eldest sibling she had given up schooling to help keep the home fires burning. I asked her why she didn't study as an external student. She said she was too tired and totally drained out by evening so it was not possible for her to study by herself. I requested daddy to buy her books for V standard and we helped her with most of the subjects. Dad got her admissions and paid her fees. Sushma worked hard grasping the topics. She burnt the midnight oil and we were happy to see her sail through the high school. She came with the result and box of sweets and give me a big hug. She credited me for her success, but I say hats off to her patience and perseverance which helped her corner a great feather in her cap.

That day grandfather came home with a baby monkey in his arms. When he came in mother shrieked that there was no place for a baboon in the house. Grandpa you should know is as cool as a cucumber. He didn't argue. He sat on the swing with the tiny little thing in his arms. He started talking to the baby monkey but the words were meant for us. He said while he was on his morning walk in the park he heard a crash and when he came out he saw a car had run over the mother monkey and the little one was trembling on the side of the road. No one bothered about it. Grandpa took the lead befriended the baby and brought it cuddling home. By the time he had finished telling us about the incident, mother had found a milk bottle and had brought it for the baby. As mom carried the baby monkey grandpa had a smile on his face. In an undertone he told mother "I only had to awaken the mother in you." We all laughed and got down to making preparation to welcome a new member in the family - our new pet, Chiku.

I was travelling in a passenger train with an old man who was sitting in a seat opposite mine. Both of us had window seat. As the train caught speed, I smiled at the old man but I saw he had distant look in his eyes. I asked him to which place he was travelling to. I learnt he was going back to his village from the city. He had lost his wife 5 years ago and had gone to live with his son in the city. The hustle and bustle, heavy traffic, pollution and nuclear family lifestyle had made him feel a prison of his own making. Within a year he felt he was encroaching on his son's private life. So he left his son's house and boarded the train to come back to his village home where he had his neighbour friends, his cow and his parrot. There was a feeling of sadness on his face as he felt he may not get to see his grandson again as he was growing old. We came to a little town where he had to alight. His face was now totally animated. The air of that place had brought joy to his face and I realised the old man had come home.

Fahad had a husky who loved to go for long walks. The park near his house was his favourite. Fahad was surprised to see his sturdy husky become friends with a black cat in the park. The cat was not at all afraid of Bruno, his husky. They ran around together, did mock fighting and sat and gazed at the people and their pets move by. Bruno was very protective of the little black cat. Time passed people watched this strange couple with a smile. One day Bruno was not ready to leave the park without meeting his cat friend. He searched around everywhere for her. She was not to be seen. I commanded him that it was time to leave and he should get into the car. He wasn't hearing a word of what I was saying. He jumped out of the window and ran towards the pump house of the park. I followed him and there we saw the cat lying all huddled up and feeling very sick. I had no choice but to take her home and call the vet. The doctor diagnosed a stomach problem and the little thing was running a fever. I made a cosy place for the cat to sleep near Bruno. I came to accept that Miss Catty was going to be a permanent fixture and we are going to be a threesome. My pets and me!

Sushma's mother worked as our housemaid for three years and then had to give up activities like sweeping and swabbing due to acute arthritis. Sushma started helping her in doing household chores. One day, I was busy studying in my room when I found her looking at my books with a lot of interest. I asked her if she had been to school. She nodded and said she had studied up to standard IV. Her father was out of work and being the eldest sibling she had given up schooling to help keep the home fires burning. I asked her why she didn't study as an external student. She said she was too tired and totally drained out by evening so it was not possible for her to study by herself. I requested daddy to buy her books for V standard and we helped her with most of the subjects. Dad got her admissions and paid her fees. Sushma worked hard grasping the topics. She burnt the midnight oil and we were happy to see her sail through the high school. She came with the result and box of sweets and gives me a big hug. She credited me for her success, but I say hats off to her patience and perseverance which helped her corner a great feather in her cap.

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The Intelligent Fisherman
Many many years ago in Sultanpur, one day, the King held a feast. However, there was no fish in the feast. This made the King very sad. Just then a fisherman came at the palace gates. He was carrying a very big fish. He S wanted to present the fish to the King. The gatekeeper stopped him at the gate and refused S to let him go in. The fisherman pleaded with t him, so the gatekeeper said, “I will let you go s in ‘only on one condition, that, you will share half of what you get from the King with me.” The fisherman agreed.
The fisherman went in. The King was very pleased to see such a big fish. He asked the fisherman to name his prize. At this the fisherman S’ replied, “Please give me hundred lashes on my s bareback.” The King was surprised. The King offered him a lot of gold. But the fisherman was adamant. So the king ordered his servants to S’ give him hundred lashes on his bareback. After fifty lashes, the fisherman asked the servants to stop. He then turned to the King and said, “Sir, your gatekeeper had wished to share half portion of the reward, that you would give me S for the fish… please give him the remaining fifty lashes.” On hearing this, the King dismissed s the gatekeeper and rewarded the fisherman for his intelligence.

Bad Company
A rich man had only one son. He loved his son dearly. He was a boy of great promise. His father was proud of him. Unfortunately, the boy got into bad company. He lost interest in his studies. He wasted his time in idle gossip and play. He was no longer a good student.
His father grew worried. He advised his son but without success. At last he hit upon a plan. He bought a basket full of fine mangoes from the market. He got a rotten mango also. He then asked his son to place the rotten mango inside the basket of fine mangoes.
In the morning, the boy took out mangoes to eat. To his surprise all the mangoes were rotten. This left a deep impression upon his mind. He realised the evil influence of bad company. He gave up bad company. His father was pleased.

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed
It is a true story. Once there were two friends, Sanjay and Vijay. They were childhood friends and attended the same school in a village named Rampur. After completing the education at school, Sanjay went to the city with his father and thus the two friends parted.
Both of them grew up into their youths. Sanjay had completed a course in ‘Hotel Management’ and opened a posh hotel in the central part of the city. As a result, he became a rich and respected man. But Vijay couldn’t do anything good in the village. He tried very hard but his land couldn’t offer him much. So his condition deteriorated.
One day, Vijay gathered courage and came to the city to meet his friend and asked for his help. Sanjay thought about the matter and advised him to open a pan stall at the entrance of his hotel. As the hotel was situated in the central part, the pan stall started proving to be advantageous to Vijay. He started earning a lot and opened three more pan stalls.

A French Soldier And Caged Parrots
It is the story of old days. Once there was a soldier in France. He took part in a battle and was taken a prisoner of war. He suffered many hardships. He was always sad at heart. He longed for home. At last, he was let off. One day he was walking through the streets of Paris. By chance, he saw a man selling caged parrots. He was moved to pity. He bought all the caged parrots. He opened the cage and set them free. People thought he had gone mad. Someone asked him why he had behaved like that. The soldier replied, “I have been a prisoner of war myself. I know how bad it is to lose one’s liberty. So I have set the caged parrots free.”