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. 60 teams participated in Season 2 of this one-of-its-kind contest and the winners were chosen by best-selling author MV Kasi. 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 viral video plays a key role. Feel free to creatively interpret this concept in any genre of your choice.
The runners-up in the kids’ category were Prisha Ambi & Paulomi Babre (Team 7). Enjoy their story!
Story Title: Saffron’s Downfall and Realization
Point of View #1 – Saffron’s POV
By Paulomi Babre
“Wasn’t that video wonderful and true? Sophie is so adorable. Saf? Are you listening?”, my sister asked me. We were lounging on the bed and watching viral videos as this was our favourite pastime. I replied, “Ugh, that video was totally fake and pathetic. Everyone knows that stubby and ugly girls are not fit to be models. Sophie’s mother shouldn’t have given hopes to her.” Savannah exclaimed, “Saffron, what’s got into you? You were never so mean and judgmental.”
Sav can seriously be too soppy sometimes, and she thinks that Sophie is cute. Ridiculous! I hobbled out of our room and grabbed some leftover lumpy spaghetti as any type of pasta was my comfort food whenever I was down in the dumps. I wondered, “How could Sophie get to be a model?”. The director was right, and Joanna and Alice were tall and beautiful, the qualities that one required to be a model. She also had a lisp, and her mother had the nerve to get more girls like her for auditioning! After a few hours of pasta eating, I calmed down and thought with a clear mind. The truth was that I loved swimming, and it was my life’s goal. But I got an amputated leg as a racing bike had crossed over my leg. During that time, I was preparing for the National Championship. I was rushed to the hospital and my leg was severely gashed, and they had to amputate it. When I went back for training, they rejected me, saying that I couldn’t swim anymore. They crushed my dreams, and since then, we have been going from one institution to another.
Savannah came out and she knew that I was perturbed and provoked because I wasn’t given a chance to prove myself. She consoled me and treated me to a bowl of hot sriracha and tomato pasta and a tub of cooling lime sorbet. Maybe, I could allow a glimmer of hope to shine and try out some institutions that taught people who wanted to apply for the Paralympics.
Story Title: Savannah’s Compassion
Point of View #2 – Savannah’s POV
By Prisha Ambi
Saffron and I glared at the tiny screen showing a viral video. A girl named Sophie had down’s syndrome and tried to model in an audition but instead got shamed by an agent working there. She started modelling with her mom at home. The mother posted about all this on Instagram. Big modelling companies started noticing her. A year later, Sophie returned to the same audition she attended last year and shamed the agent guy back, who now was like an ant beside her.
What the girl did was super, especially her goodbye in the end. But my sister looked angry, and I knew what was going on in her mind. She said, “There are people who think this is wrong and, yes, it’s actually wrong! The girl was so weird!” “Listen, Saffron. I wish you could understand. Plus, that agent guy is uglier than the main character! And Sophie here is kinda cute with her slanted eyes and stuff.” I tried to enlighten her and make her laugh, at the same time, “No, a girl with down’s syndrome just can’t be a model!”. She got up to have a snack.
After that, I went back to Saffron. “Sis… that video was to make us understand that we can be whatever we want, not to make people go against that decision. If you were that girl, wouldn’t you also fight for your right? I mean, people need moms like Sophie’s.” “Nuh-uh uh, I knew that I would get shamed!” Saffron replied.
“Saffron, I get it! You’re angry! But everyone has the right to choose what they want to do, right? You have a passion for swimming, but you too have a prosthetic leg. You still want to give it a try. Don’t you? At least give it a shot?” I explained. It was difficult to handle her as she had a short temper.
She seemed to be thinking. “You’re right, Savannah. I’m sorry. I had my brain wrapped up in embarrassment, and such thoughts, that I completely forgot about how we were at least getting something out of it. If that man hadn’t shamed her, she wouldn’t have reached where she had later.” Sighhhhh! Finally, Saffron understood! As a treat, I gave Saffron her favourite spicy red sauce pasta and a tub of ice-cream.
The viral video that was considered for coming up with this story can be seen here.