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Published by , 2015-08-05 02:43:27

The Muse

The Muse

THE MUSE

OAKRIDGE
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

2015-16
LITERARY MAGAZINE

“Literature is the art of discovering
something extraordinary about
ordinary people, and saying with
ordinary words something
extraordinary”

Boris Pasternak

STUDENT EDITOR FACULTY ADVISOR

RENUKA NANDAKUMAR

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Short Story

The Law of Attraction Priya Anepla
The Forget Me Not Flower Aaheli Jana
Mother Nature’s True Character Vineetha Pachava

Poetry Vaishnavi Ambatipudi
Meghana Padullaparthi
The Clod
Night
I Am His Creation

The Law of Attraction

- Priya Anepla

Ryan who is 15 years old is a very talented to the law of attraction whatever we focus on it
gymnast who also participated in many national might be negative or positive thoughts or
and international competitions. But he was positive thoughts by thinking about it the
usually very doleful. “Ryan wake up” screamed person brings positive or negative experiences
Ryan’s mom, who was really agitated because into their life. The best part is it actually worked
of the sleeping habits of Ryan. So Ryan for me. I wanted to get into the School
reluctantly woke up and hurried up to reach basketball team and I desperately thought
school on time. He always started his day in the about it and after a few weeks sir asked me to
wrong way so his whole day would go bad and play for the school team. So, Basically Law of
he always came home quite depressed. His attraction works.”
mother tried a lot many new things, so that
Ryan could kick start his day in a better manner Ryan replied, “I don’t believe because if a
but all her efforts were unsuccessful. person meets with an accident does it mean
that he attracted it?” Casper told, “Ryan you
So as usual he had a bad start and as he went to are wrong. There are some incidents which
school he was quite surprised to see the class occur because we attract it unknowingly. Also
was so silent and found all his friends Law of attraction is scientifically proven and it
surrounding Casper who was Ryan’s close friend has worked for a number of people around the
and they all were listening with at most globe.” Ryan was still not convinced about this.
attention to Casper. Ryan was surprised So for the next few weeks this was the
because his class was a very noisy class and frequently debated topic and Ryan had no faith
suddenly they all had been listening to Casper, in the Law of attraction.
he wondered what is so interesting that they
were captivated by him. He did not go near the After 2 months Ryan was taken for diagnosis as
group because he wanted to talk separately he was suffering from extensive Breathing
with Casper. So during the Lunch Break Ryan problems from a few weeks. After diagnosing
asked Casper, “Casper what were you telling him the doctor spoke with his mother and told
everyone in the morning?” He replied, “Ryan I her that Ryan was suffering from tuberculosis.
was telling them about the Law of Attraction!” The mother was taken aback when she heard
Ryan was puzzled for a moment and he asked, this. The doctor mentioned that for Ryan’s
“What on earth is Law of attraction? I have treatment they had to pay 3 lakhs.
never heard of it” Casper enthusiastically told
that, “Ryan wait, I’ll explain the whole thing to Ryan’s family was not that rich. 3 Lakhs was a
you and then you will be dumbstruck after very big amount for them. His family was
listening to it”. Casper started explaining, “So, helpless because they did not know how to pay
Ryan first of all law of attraction is the most this huge amount also his family’s income was
powerful law in the entire universe. According minimal. Ryan gradually came to know about all
this and he knew the family’ situation. So the

family came up with some ideas to arrange was sent by one of the sponsors who had
money for his surgery. But they could manage witnessed Ryan’s talent in Gymnasium. From
to get only 2.5 Lakhs they required 50,000 this incident Ryan was totally convinced that
more. So they had sold most of the precious the Law of attraction works. They family made
items in their house to arrange 2.5 Lakhs but all the payments and Ryan underwent an
hey could not arrange 50000. So Ryan started to operation and then he was absolutely fine.
think about the situation and he remembered
the Law of attraction. Even though he did not After that incident Ryan’s life changed every
believe in it he wanted to give it a try because day was a bright day for him he returned home
he had no choice. So he tried it. with lot cheerfulness. All this change in his Life
was brought due to the Law of attraction.
After a few day Ryan’s family received a post Because
which had a cheque of amount 50,000 which
“You are what you believe yourself to be”

The Forget Me Not Flowers

- Aaheli Jana

It was a misty Sunday morning. The sun and She was wearing a blue laced frock; her long
clouds were busy playing hide and seek. Mrs. thick hair was tied neatly in a plait which was
Biswas, an independent old woman, got out of swaying left and right as she ran. She came and
her car and went inside a nursery. She was met her friend better known as Kaveri (Mrs.
looking for some flowering saplings she could Biswas). Herself a young pretty girl with curly
plant during the spring time. Gardening had hair, but not as beautiful as her friend Anjum.
become one of her hobbies and pastime now. It
had been a long time since her husband passed A train of memories started running through
away. Her only daughter was settled in London. her mind. She recalled the sweet taste of
Mrs. Biswas spent her lonely time in gardening, mangoes they plucked from trees, the cold
reading and relaxing. She bought some daisies, stream they crossed, the taste of salted peanuts
marigolds and roses and was about to leave they had on their way to school, everything just
when she saw something which made her stop. played in her mind like a movie. Their childhood
She saw a flower, pearly white in color; it had a was no different from fantasy, but alas! Life’s
honey like smell. But it was not the smell or the bitter reality separated these two inseparable
color that attracted her. She found that flower friends. The partition of 1947 parted the lives of
familiar but could not remember where she had these two friends. After the partition, Kaveri
seen it. Out of curiosity, she bought that plant and her family had to go away from Bangladesh,
too. She did a lot of brain storming but could away from the mango trees, away from the cold
not remember the identity of the fllower.She stream, away from Anjum – her friend.
came back home and started planting all the
saplings. When she was planting the white ‘Trrrring’ the shrill sound of the telephone
flowered sapling, something just clicked in her broke the silence and jostled her back into the
mind, she saw an image of two girls planting present. She picked up the phone. ‘Hi didun
that very flower. She saw a garden full those (grandma)! How’re you do’ in?’ It was her
trees. In order to remember something more, granddaughter, Mishti from London. She
she quickly went inside and brought a very old sounded excited ‘I’ve something important to
album. She opened the album and on the first tell you. My friend, Isha has gone to Kolkata and
page, she saw a picture of two friends and I’ve sent a small gift for you with her Please
under that it was written: Dhaka 1940 collect it from her house. Her address is…….’
She went on. Mrs. Biswas noted down the
Suddenly a picture came in her mind. She address on a piece of paper and before she
remembered standing in front of a bungalow could say anything. She put down the receiver
and cupping her hands on her mouth to call out and carefully put the paper in her address book.
‘Anji…… Anji…..’ Yes, she was the only one who ‘Maybe I can go tomorrow’ she said to herself.
called her friend by that name. And in no time She had her dinner and went to bed, still heavy
came a young girl, running as fast as she could. with her childhood memories.

The next day, she got ready and instructed her hope; here you are, standing in front of me. I…’
driver about her destination. On the way she She could not say anymore, she was chocked.
stopped at a book store and bought a translated The two old friends hugged each other. They
version of Satyajit Ray’s detective series for had tears in their eyes, tears of happiness.
Mishti and a classic for her friend. She picked up
a ‘thank you’ card before leaving the store. She Isha, who had come down to meet her friend’s
reached Isha’s home and rang the doorbell. An granny by then, was surprised and moved by
old lady opened the door. ‘Hello, I’m Mrs. the scene, she too had tears in her eyes. Mrs.
Biswas, Mishti’s grandma’. ‘Oh! Please come in’ Biswas called her and said ‘This is for you.’ She
welcomed the lady. As Mrs. Biswas entered the gave the gift and blessed her. Then she quickly
room, something surprising caught her eyes – took a pen from the pen stand and wrote on
On the side table in a flower vase were the the card: “Dear Mishti, you have given me the
same pearly white flowers! ‘Lovely flowers!’ she best gift of my life today. Thank You!” ‘That’s
exclaimed ‘where did you get these from?’ ‘I for your friend.’ She handed over the book and
have a tree in my garden’ said the lady, ‘I had the card to Isha. Before Isha could even thank
brought the sapling from Dhaka when we her, the old ladies got lost in their own world,
shifted here after my marriage. ‘I’m very fond of revisiting their past and picking up the missing
these flowers.’ she added ‘as they remind me of links of their lives.
my long lost friend.’ Mrs. Biswas almost missed
a heartbeat! ‘May I know your name?’ she Isha smiled quietly, she visualized Mishti and
asked. ‘Mrs. Anjum Sheikh’. ‘Anji!’ Screamed herself in their place and thought – ‘will our
Mrs. Biswas ‘I’m Kaveri.’ friendship too be like theirs – ageless, timeless
and beyond the boundaries. The pearly white
‘K……Ka…..Kaveri. Oh dear! I can’t believe it’s flowers on the side table swayed in gentle
you. After coming to Kolkata, I searched for you breeze, applauding this everlasting friendship.
wherever I could think of and when I had lost all

Mother Nature’s True Character

-Vineetha Pachava

The harsh winter wind swirled and raged on togetherness. Families gather around blazing
around me, continuing with its constant war fire, crackling as the timber succumbs into its
against the faint rays of sunshine shining hands. Important holidays are celebrated all
through the angry clouds. The snow was across the world, bringing each individual closer
merciless, falling down in sheets as it drowned to one another. From the bundles of joy
the feeble cars along with it. My hands were underneath. Christmas tree, latkes frying in
burning, so cold that the heat seared my pans during Hanukah all the way to the colorful
fingertips as I trudged down my knee-high and enriching traditional wear of people in India
driveway. Although winter, when I was little, during Sankranti, each holiday is an essential
was described to be a wonderland of dreams, I part of our lives- leaving no exception to the
have known better. Being a New York native, I season who hosts it all -winter.
know that winter is as nice as a walk through
hell. The little beauty of winter, such as the Every December, the animals of the
beautiful and intricate snowflakes dancing in wild often scuttle around hunting for last
the air, were often crushed by the relentless minute homes, as humans lock themselves in
anger of winter. The trees are huddled in the comfort of their own homes before the
groups, searching for a little warmth to treacherous weather comes storming in, ready
continue their survival. Winter was relentless, to hold the skies hostage for the next couple of
merciless and as fierce as a warrior in battle- - long- months. Trees are stripped bare of the
and it is. The only thing to look forward to was little protection they had, and are made to
the opening of brightly wrapped bundles of joy- shiver relentlessly in the frosty air. Most
presents at Christmas- but that was probably animals have it easy, snoring soundly in a small
all. place in the wilderness in order to wait out the
winter. In contrast, we are made to go numb,
In spite of the horrible fate that winter obtain blackish-bluish fingers searing with pain
brings upon, it exists for a reason just like and muscles aching from shivering
everything else on our planet. As Earth starts its continuously. But the most dangerous task of all
journey farther from the sun, intricate - the daunting task of shoveling out the
snowflakes begin to cascade in sheets until the driveway- was a classic feature of New York
sky is as blurred as a soaked painting. Little did I winters. During the hard times, most citizens
know that this snow is later a useful source of are warned to pile in with blankets, itchy
fresh water, essential for the growth of crops in woolen clothing, heavy parkas and an
spring. In addition, winter marks the end of emergency kit with plenty of food, as power
another year, setting the conditions up for a shortages become more frequent as the
lively and colorful spring ahead with plenty of months pass on. Unfortunately, the measures
new life to cover our planet. But most are pitiful and futile against the weapons he
importantly, winter is also a time of winter uses as it parades into town.

As the snow swirls furiously in the angry her sleeve, and winter just happens to be one of
skies, it indicates he arrival of the worst of all- a these tricks.
full out blizzard. Hundreds of cars buried under
feet of snow, citizens forced to huddle in their
feeble homes with little to no warmth or
electricity at all, as well as the mournful and
howling whistling of the wind through the night
sky. The thick blanket of snow chokes us until
the merciful spring comes around just o bring
treacherous floods to the neighborhood.
However, and most surprisingly, I've also
realized that underneath all the harsh and bitter
cold, winter brings a strange type of beauty to
the table. The careful transformation from
bright leaves littering the soft ground to a
barren wasteland is quite sudden and
fascinating to witness. The fury mother nature
releases in its own way is unique. Watching life
retreat behind the barracks as snow blankets
the planet we call home is both mesmerizing as
well as astonishing. There is a sullen kindness
behind winter, hard to explain, but present like
an invisible shield protecting us.

Although winter brings upon both a
sullen kindness and harshness upon us, my
despise for the season fails to disappear. During
those endless three months, my body often
aches for glimpses of the warm sun, or a trace
of warmth from the sun's rays to bring my being
back to life. The months are often miserable,
the best part being the tinkle of the bells on
Christmas day, or a few more days given off
from school. Unfortunately, even those are
spent inside the home huddled at the window,
praying for a pause in the blizzard for a chance
of some actual fun and merriment. But winter,
in its own essence is beautiful to witness during
its transformation. One thing I guarantee for
sure is that the beautiful and picturesque
winter depicted in storybooks fails to exist.
Trust me, mother nature has plenty of tricks up


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