Short story
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DREAM
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Vanya and Sheeba were childhood friends, now studying in class 3.
Vanya was very excited today. She and her friend, Sheeba were going to make beautiful paper garlands for Diwali decoration. She went to Sheeba’s home. She carried a good number of multi-colored papers.
“Listen Sheeba, first of all, we have to cut stripes of paper”, said Vanya.
Sheeba – I don’t have scissors. I have to take it from my mom.
“Mom, where are you? I need scissors.”
“I am busy in the kitchen, you can take it from the drawer of the sewing machine”, mom replied.
“Vanya, I got the scissors. You hold the paper from one side and I will cut it from another side. We have to make many stripes from these papers.”
Sheeba started cutting the paper and made 20 small stripes. Vanya somehow did not like the stripes.
“Sheeba you are not cutting straight stripes. I think you are tired. Let me try it”.
Sheeba gave all the sheets and scissors to Vanya. Vanya held the sheet and started cutting the stripes carefully.
Sheeba was observing the process but was not satisfied with Vanya’s cutting.
“Vanya, you can’t cut properly. See, you have wasted so much paper. None of the stripes is straight. Let me do this. I will cut much better stripes than you".
“No! Sheeba, you are a careless girl and I have purchased all the material with my money; therefore it is my right to cut it. You have not spent a single penny to by all this material. How can you stop me?” She became adamant. Her ego was not allowing Sheeba to cut the stripes.
Sheeba could not tolerate Vanya’s unruly behavior. Her anger was increasing very rapidly. She became furious and told Vanya: “Ok! I had not come to your house. It's you only who had come to my house. It is my house. You pick up your entire material and leave immediately. I will not allow you to do this job at my house”.
Sheeba’s mom overheard their conversation and asked: “What is going on here? Why are you fighting?”
“Aunty! Sheeba is asking me to leave. She is not letting me cut the paper stripes. She is saying that it's her house and I can not make paper garlands here".
“No Mumma, Vanya is showing attitude and says that because she has purchased the papers, she wants to cut it herself. She is so proudy girl".
“Don’t fight, dear children. You should do the job together with a great love. Both of you are so wise and mature. First of all, have some chocolates, pizza and cold drink. Come and sit with me”. Both the girls enjoyed the snacks and the mood was changed.
Sheeba’s mother tried to pacify the situation by offering a helping hand - “I will help you to cut these stripes absolutely straight. You have to draw the lines with 1 inch spacing on the paper with the help of scale . We can cut the stripes straight with the help of these lines”.
She helped them cut the stripes and paste them to make the loops. The first garland started taking a shape. Sheeba and Vanya were very excited. They created another ten garlands.
By the time, they finished the whole job, it was evening and Vanya had to return home. She thanked aunty, hugged Sheeba and started walking towards home, holding all her garlands together very carefully with her index finger and thumb.
During her 10-minute walk home, she was dreaming of how she would decorate her home with these garlands. The larger garland will be put on the Drawing Room entry door. The most colorful one will be hung in Puja Room. One garland will go to Papa - Mummy’s bedroom and another one for Papa’s Study. The other two will be put in her own room. She was completely immersed in this planning. The whole time she was dreaming of decorating her house on Diwali festival. As she was nearing her home, her excitement was on climax.
Entering the gate, she started singing loudly and dancing in a swirling way with joy. She wanted to show the garlands first to her mother.
“Mom, see how beautiful are these paper garlands I and Sheeba have made”! She raised her hand high to show and bring the garlands close to mother.
“Oh, what is this?” she cried with utter shock. She could not believe what she saw. Her eyes were widely open. There was just one paper ring held by her thumb and finger. All the garlands were missing. It was the biggest disappointment of her life. She searched here and there but she could not find the garlands. She started crying inconsolably.
Her mother decided to take her out to search the garlands on the way. But, alas, there was no sign of garlands anywhere. They returned home disappointed.
Vanya did not eat anything that evening and kept thinking till late night about the efforts she had put in the whole day making the garlands. She did not know when she fell asleep in the night.
The next morning, Vanya went to school with a dull look and narrated the whole incident to Sheeba. After school was over, Sheeba called her mother to inform her about what happened with Vanya and that they decided to do the entire job afresh.
Both of them reached Vanya’s house. This time, they completed ten garlands in half the time because they were trained now and felt overjoyed with their progress. They enjoyed tea with Vanya’s parents.
Vanya’s mother gifted a beautiful handbag to Sheeba. Vanya and Sheeba were very happy now. Vanya thanked Sheeba for her support and gave her a big hug.
Sheeba went back home with great satisfaction because she helped her friend and made her happy.
Vanya decorated her home very beautifully with colorful paper chains. Finally, her dream of decorating her sweet home was fulfilled.
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