Garden Of Happiness

In the small city of Zevato, every year a competition was held, where citizens showcased the grandeur of their gardens. On that day, the mayor of the city along with other delegates used to visit every citizen’s garden and then at the end of the day declared the winner.

In the same city lived a poor couple with two kids. Though they were poor, but their hearts were rich with love, care and compassion. Their house was at the end of the city and all the poor people lived there. Rich people hardly wandered there.

On the day of the competition of “Best Garden”, the town was decorated very beautifully; everyone was in a jolly good mood. The mayor of the city and other delegates came in a car and started touring the city’s houses to see the gardens. As their caravan was moving ahead, suddenly the driver lost control over the car and surged in another direction. He tried to steer the car to avoid colliding with the rocks and made a jerky halt. As the car stopped everyone had a sigh of relief.

When the mayor and other delegates looked around they saw unfamiliar territory, they had never been to this side of the city. The houses were dilapidated. But contrary to the appearance of the houses, gardens in front of them were very beautiful. They had so many lovely flowers in every colour, different climbers were all around the garden, the leaves were fresh and green and reflected the glowing sun. The spectators were mesmerised. The mayor wondered how he could never ever come to this part of the city!

On hearing the commotion poor people came out of their houses and astonished to see such rich and important people in their yard. The mayor and other delegates were busy looking at the wonderful gardens. They unanimously decided that the gardens of these people were the best and declared them winners! The mayor apologised to the poor people and promised to make things better for them. The poor people were very happy and thanked the mayor.

Suspended In Space

There were three dandelion flowers tucked far away in the corner of a corn field. The farmer loved the corns but never ever cared or even looked at the dandelions and considered them as weeds. This made dandelions very sad. But they still had hope and thought that one day someone would definitely care for them.

It was a bright sunshine morning and dandelions were in full bloom, they looked like three little suns in the vast green. As the wind swayed the dandelions too swayed along. Their happiness was unsurpassable. Days just went by and the ripples of time showed on dandelions too. 

Their yellow faces were slowly withering and turning white and frail. They had started to look like moon. The moon in the dark sky looked from above and wondered what those tiny things that looked like him were? He sent an angel at night to enquire. On seeing the angel dandelions were very excited. They told their story to the angel, also told him that soon their seed heads would fly away to distant shores, but till now they did not find anyone who cared about them except for the moon, who was inquisitive.

The angel went back to the moon and told him everything. Moon had sympathy for the dandelions. He asked the angel that when seed heads would blow, he should gather them and spread them in the space.

The winds were changing and so were the dandelions. All three bid adieu to and as the wind blew their seed heads blew with them. The angel caught all the seed heads and sprinkled them in the space. The seed heads sparkled with joy and became shiny dots in the dark space.

Those little dots are now what we call “The Stars”.

Lesson Learnt

Once there were twin sisters named Chinky and Pinky. They were identical twins hence, everyone used to get confused on seeing them.  But the minute they spoke or behaved the difference was clearly visible between them. Chinky was shy, sweet natured girl while Pinky was ruthless and misbehaved and made fun of others.

One day an old man was on his way back home after getting water from the village well. Pinky saw this as an opportunity to create a mischief. She pretended to be Chinky and asked the old man if she could carry his pitcher. The old man was very pleased and allowed her to carry the pitcher. As soon as Pinky carried the pitcher she emptied it right in front of old man’s eyes and clapped happily saying that she was Pinky and wanted to have some fun. The old man was very annoyed and sad, but could do nothing. Pinky then ran away. The old man wondered how different these twin sisters were in their natures.

A few days passed and every other day there was always some sort of mischief on part of Pinky and everyone in the village was fed up with her. Whereas, Chinky was the gem in everyone’s eyes. The school holidays were over and it was time for all the children to go to school. As Chinky was down with fever she couldn’t go to school while Pinky was fine and started for school with other children.

On her  way she saw beautiful flowers and started collecting them and forgot about the school. Other children went to school and Pinky followed the trail of flowers down the valley and was lost. When she realized this, it was too late and she started crying. But no one heard her cries. She just could not find her way back home. At a distant she saw someone walking, she immediately ran to that person. He was the same old man, Pinky had made fun of. On seeing Pinky the old man ignored her and kept walking. Pinky then learnt her lesson. She apologized to him and promised that in future she would never ever make fun of anyone. The old man’s heart melted and he told Pinky to follow along and soon both of them reached their village.

Gauri’s First “Main”……..

It was a misty, hazy cold morning, when the first snowflake fell. All the Gaddis were leaving with their sheep to the plains. At Haria’s household everybody was happy and sad. Sadness was because Haria was going and would be back after many months and happiness was because of the arrival of cute Gauri, the she- lamb.

Sita had packed hot Makki Rotis(corn bread) and jaggery for Haria. Haria packed up his things, picked up the stick and along with his sheep and two dogs (Heera and Panna) started for the plains with other Gaddis. All the women folk and elderly people sang songs for their well being and wished them good luck.

Bunty and Sitara waved good bye to their father and promised to take care of everyone at home. Soon, the Gaddis were gone and the village was quiet for a while. But, later in the evening everyone from the village gathered at a fireplace and prayed together and had a little feast, then everybody retired to their homes.

As soon as Bunty, Sitara and Sita entered their house they heard a feeble sound from the animal shed. It was the sound made by Gauri. Although earlier also she used to make sounds but they were almost inaudible and this time it was clearly heard.

All the three rushed to the animal shed and saw Gauri snuggling with her mother and bleating “main”………..such a sweet moment it was for Bunty and Sitara, they clapped in joy !

As it was almost sleeping time, Sita asked them to sleep and with a very happy heart Bunty and Sitara slept, waiting for tomorrow so that they could again hear the bleats of Gauri.

Gauri,The Cutest and Whitest Lamb : An Introduction

At the foothills of Dhauldhar range there was a Gaddi village (Gaddi is a shepherd community of Himachal Pradesh, India) , where many Gaddi tribes lived with their sheep stock. During winters, Gaddis migrated to the plains with their stock and returned back in summer. All the gaddis lived in peace and harmony and helped each other in dire times.

In the same village lived a Gaddi by the name Haria. He had a wife named Sita and two children named Bunty (boy) and Sitara (girl).He was a hard working and god fearing person. He and his family used to tend their livestock lovingly. His livestock included many sheep, lambs, goats, a cow named Rani, a bull named Raja, a rabbit named Chinku, two dogs called Heera and Panna and a horse called Ramba.

One of the ewes of his herd was about to give birth. One night Sita heard a sound,she just woke up and saw that the ewe had given birth to a she – lamb. Everyone was so excited. The lamb’s beauty was marvellous, she had large blue eyes with big lashes, cute, innocent face and her colour was the whitest that anyone had ever seen. Bunty and Sitara hugged the lamb and started thinking of a name for her. Meanwhile, Sita took care of mother ewe. Soon, Bunty and Sitara came up with a name and decided to call the lamb “Gauri” as she was the whitest of all.

Winters were approaching and therefore all the gaddis including Haria were preparing to go down to the pastures with their flock.  Bunty and Sitara were so sad as they were about to part with Gauri, but Haria thought otherwise. Since, Gauri has been just a few days old, so he decided not to take Gauri and her mother with the flock .Bunty and Sitara were very happy and they looked forward to their adventures with Gauri.

A Unique Friendship

Once there was a mama eagle and a baby eagle who lived in an aerie high above the mountains. The baby eagle was only a few days old and demanded lots of food, which her mama eagle always brought. 

One day the baby eagle was hungry more than the usual and kept crying. Mama eagle brought her all sorts of food that she could lay her beak on, but the baby eagle was still hungry. Mama eagle again went for looking food and in the air caught a bee. 

Mama eagle gave that bee to baby eagle. On seeing the bee, baby eagle was very surprised and stopped crying, it wondered in amusement as what was this little creature with tiny wings?. The baby eagle asked mama eagle, “mother what’s this”? Mama eagle replied, “oh! that’s a bee. It collects pollen from flowers to make sweet, luscious honey.” Baby eagle exclaimed, “ah! What a wonderful creature, can I keep it as a friend?

Mama eagle was very surprised but she also understood that the baby eagle was feeling very lonely and needed a company. So, mama eagle agreed and thus, the bee’s life was saved and she became a truthful friend of the baby eagle.