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!
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.
“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.
“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.
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.
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.
Imagine the sweet rustle of leaves, the faint whisper of the trees talking to each other, and the whirr of the chainsaws coming closer. Wait, what? The chainsaws were unexpected, right?
The alarm clock kept ringing incessantly. I was still feeling drowsy and didn’t want to wake up. Just then, someone knocked on the door. “Come in,” I shouted, irritated.
To my utter surprise, Suppandi entered! Can you believe it? Yes, that character from TINKLE comics. He was in MY room, smiling at me like a fool. I sat up with a jolt.
Once upon a time, there was a boy named Krishiv. He had a personality of tenderness, happiness, and anger. But nobody wanted to become his friend, because nobody thought he was cool. He felt really sad.
Once upon a twinkling, there lived a beautiful girl named Moonlight. Despite her beauty and the fact that she was born with a golden spoon in her hand, she never had the vice of greed.
Citizens of the whole space adored her, but the seven stars? Nope, not a chance! They were not as kind. They couldn’t even look at her without their judgy eyes.
