“Why me?” We all ask this question at some point in life. Through the constant trials and tribulations thrown at us, the fragile heart yearns for the answer. Rich. Poor. All men pose this question to the universe in some manner. This question approaching the meaning of the suffering we all endure is also explored in different branches of Philosophy. Existentialism. Nihilism. Absurdism. Determinism — you get it. Billions of people are all stuck around finding the question of this WHY…including me of course.
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Two to Tango by Smayan & Ashvik
At Beyond the Box, we are constantly thinking of ideas to give something unique, refreshing as well as challenging to our community of writers. Two to Tango is one such endeavour to encourage the participants to work along with another writer as a team and bring about a creative synergy. 44 teams participated in Season 4 of this one-of-its-kind contest held in Sep-Oct 2024. Below prompt was given to the writers and they were asked to narrate the same story from two different points of view.
Prompt – Write a fictional story in which a letter gets delivered ten years late, impacting the present in some way. Feel free to interpret this in any context/style/genre.
The Special Mention winners in the kids’ category were Smayan & Ashvik (Team 40). Enjoy their story!
Vivid Moments
I remember the moment vividly,
The Moment of despair,
Realizing that I am so different from others,
Belittled by society,
That looks down on different ones.
Revering Cultures And Traditions
Retired IG of police Krishnamurthy walked home after his session at the Gymnasium.
The temple bell rang, indicating the morning Deep Aradhana time. His spacious apartment in a skyrise was opposite one of the famous temples in a South-Indian-dominated locality in the heart of Mumbai city.
Krishnamurthy entered the house, feeling the heavy weight of the impending emotional storm. He braced himself for the drama that was sure to unfold.
Marissa and the Moonlit Mystery
“Every year since then, the divine Moon chooses an apprentice to learn its secrets.”
“Grandma, how does the Moon choose who its apprentice will be? And who was it this year? Oh Grandma, I still have so many questions!” Marissa’s voice was filled with wonder.
“You’ll understand one day, Marissa. One day,” she said reassuringly, gently holding her soft hand.
The Forgotten Path
“Sometimes, a single step in the wrong direction can lead you to the most unexpected adventures.”
Once, there lived a boy named Rahul. He was 10 years old. One day, while he was sitting and watching TV, his mother asked him to bring a pack of milk.
When he was going to bring the packet of milk, he tripped over a stone. As soon as he tripped, he saw that he had landed in a beautiful place. It seemed as if it was a whole new world. He started to explore it.
Handwritten Letters in the Digital Age – A Lost Art?
“The act of writing itself is like an act of love. There is contact. There is exchange too. We no longer know whether the words come out of the ink onto the page, or whether they emerge from the page itself where they were sleeping, the ink merely giving them colour.”- Georges Rodenbach, The Bells of Bruges
Those who grew up penning letters know what went into writing one. It was an act of transferring one’s thoughts and a bit of one’s soul through the ink on paper. Whether it was a letter between lovers or between parent and child or siblings or penpals, it was a personal creation that carried the emotions of the sender to the receiver. You could perceive the mood of the sender and, to an extent, even their health based on the quality and legibility of the writing.
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The Evolution of Children’s Literature in India: From Folktales to Contemporary Stories
Children’s literature in India has undergone a remarkable transformation – from oral storytelling traditions and timeless folktales to a vibrant, diverse, and contemporary literary landscape. Across centuries, the stories told to children have reflected changing cultural, social, and educational priorities. Today, modern Indian authors are crafting literature that is not only engaging but also inclusive and representative of the country’s multifaceted identities and present-day realities.
THE NORTH SEA – ONE OF THE MOST TREACHEROUS VOYAGES FOR A SAILOR
Thick fog blanketed the port before we set sail for the North Sea. An eerie silence deafened our ears, until a squawk from the lone seagull above broke the uncanny quiet. The atmosphere reflected the emotions of everyone present: every sailor, whether a captain, a first mate, a seasoned veteran, or average joes like us deckhands.
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Book Review – Hey Kitty
Hey Kitty
by Shilpa Suraj
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
“Be kind, have courage, and always believe in a little magic.” – Cinderella. Who hasn’t read the evergreen classic love story? Over the years, we’ve seen multiple adaptations of it. But author Shilpa Suraj flips the sweet, familiar tale into a new-age novel brimming with relatability.