Short Story 30 : Into The Royal Household

Into The Royal Household

                                     - T ABRAHAM

    The day was a pleasant one, with soft falling showers to cool down anyone affected by the start of the hot summer month. Liddy was waiting to enter into a royal household, and finally her prayers were heard.

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    Both the man and the woman who had bought the white and black teddy bear came to the shop. ‘We have come to buy a birthday gift for our younger daughter who has turned six months old today. As a token of celebration I would like to get the red teddy bear you have in your shop’, said the man to the shop owner. The man and the woman being their regular customers were given a discount of fifty percent and Liddy was finally purchased.
    It was already evening when Liddy was taken home. She was waiting to be unwrapped and unboxed to be placed inside the playhouse. The little girl was very much surprised to have got Liddy. Liddy realised that she is inside the household, where she was longing to enter for a long time. Yes, it was none other than the house of the royal family which lived near the shop.
    ‘I got three teddy bears and this one is the most loveliest of the three’, said the elder girl looking at Liddy.
    The days went by and it has turned into years. Liddy and the two other teddy bears were well maintained and even the next generation have entered the household. All the three teddy bears were passed on from one generation to the next as they look like new ones. The love, care and affection which is being given towards the maintenance of these stuffed animals is the only thing which is keeping them alive for a longer duration of time.
    Even though Liddy was the last to leave the shop, she got into one of the best families which lived in their town.

Short Story 29 : Black And White! That’s Right

Black And White! That’s Right

                                          - T ABRAHAM

    It has been two years now since Liddy came to the shop. Liddy was left all alone and the last teddy bear who was being her companion had also left. She wondered where the white teddy bear has gone and also, does the woman have any children.

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    ‘It is good to know, that madam liked the white teddy bear’, said one of the employees to the owner of the shop. The woman who had bought the white teddy bear had posted the picture of her daughter holding the teddy bear in the space provided for giving the customer reviews after their purchase. She had also mentioned that her daughter liked the teddy bear and it perfectly fits into her daughter’s playhouse.
    Another employee said to the owner, ‘Great! Sir too had liked the black teddy bear as well. Their daughter is very happy with both the teddy bears. One from her father and the other from her mother’. The man who had bought the black teddy bear had also posted his review regarding his purchase.
    Liddy wanted to know whether it was one among her companions who were recently sold as Christmas gifts. The employees were scrolling past the reviews and Liddy managed to see both the images. ‘Black and white! That’s right. They both have went into the same household. It was the father and mother of the same girl who had made the purchase on different days’, said Liddy.
    Liddy also wanted to enter into the same household but it was still a mystery revolving around her purchase. She was conquered by boredom each day and once she is bought by anyone, she would become a complete teddy bear with her exceptional qualities diminished forever.

Short Story 28 : The Last Night In The Shop

The Last Night In The Shop

                                         - T ABRAHAM

    It was only Liddy and the white teddy bear who were left in the shop. The month of December has already arrived and Christmas was coming shortly. The store had begun to take orders through the e-commerce stores. It was on the day before Christmas the store had received an order for the white teddy bear. The employee who needs to pack the teddy bear was on leave and the teddy bear was taken away from the table where it was kept for sale. They need to deliver the order to an agent by tomorrow afternoon. It was the last day for the teddy bear with Liddy.

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    ‘Finally, you are not going to be left all alone in the shop. Someone has bought you and we will be bidding our goodbyes tomorrow’, said Liddy to the white teddy bear. Liddy did not feel worried about parting ways and neither did the white teddy bear.
    Liddy narrated their two years of existence inside this shop and how they were able to see the human race who came in and went everyday. And this was the first time they did not see the customer but would be packed and sent directly to their residence.
    The white teddy bear was very joyous as it was not the last one to leave the store in idleness. Liddy was not worried about being the last one left all alone without any companion but she knew that soon she will lose the autonomy over herself once a loving family is willing to buy her. Only Liddy was desirous to enter a royal family as she was one among the costliest teddy bears found in the town. Even though the region is not being ruled by any king, the family of the royal lineage was residing near the house next to the shop.
    ‘Soon a baby girl will be born to them and they would need a teddy bear’, said Liddy to herself. Then morning came, but an unexpected thing had happened. The order for the white teddy bear was suddenly cancelled and a customer came to the store that afternoon with a bill from an online shopping website. It was the customer who had placed the order and had cancelled it abruptly.
    ‘Can I get the teddy bear?’, asked a middle-aged woman. Immediately the package was handed over to her and she paid the price of the white teddy bear in cash and went home happily.
    Liddy had heard the words of the woman. It was something to do with the quality of the teddy bear. She asked the shop’s owner whether there was an option to return the teddy bear and she had also mentioned that, the online merchant did not have the return and replace window for the teddy bear. The shop owner immediately agreed and she took the white teddy bear with her.
    Liddy knew that the teddy bear would not be returned as it was flawless and also a beautiful one.

Short Story 27 : The Children’s Playhouse

The Children’s Playhouse

                                      - T ABRAHAM

    By the time the spring descended and the autumn was peeping out the teddy bears were becoming dusty in their appearance. It was a pleasant Sunday morning when a few customers came inside to buy a teddy bear. The two other teddy bears who were with Liddy were one black teddy bear and a white teddy bear.

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    ‘Papa, I want that black colour teddy bear. It would perfectly fit inside my playhouse. I want it papa. Please…’, said a little girl who came to buy a teddy bear with her father. The man looked at the teddy bear for a while but dragged his daughter out of the shop and they went straight into the supermarket to buy the day’s grocery. ‘Please papa…’, cried the little girl but her father forced her into the car and they went home.
    Liddy was excited by the idea of being a teddy bear living inside a playhouse and started off with her story about a playhouse, ‘There was once a playhouse maintained by the royal family for their little prince. It was made out of wood with only a tiny door and one small window. This little prince had many plastic toys and one teddy bear.
    The little prince disliked the teddy bear and always used it as a punching bag to vent out his anger. This little boy had a notion that only girls like to play with teddy bears and he considers himself to be a strong man who only likes cars and boyish toys. The queen always takes care of the teddy bear by dusting it every day and would take it to her bedroom during the monsoon to avoid it from getting wet.
    One day the little prince was angry with the king and the queen and went hiding inside the playhouse. The playhouse was not in a good condition after the rains, which was there the previous night. It was in a condition where no one could tell when it would collapse and being inside the playhouse was not a very good idea.
    The teddy bear was inside the playhouse but the little prince threw it away. But the teddy bear fell down near the door of the playhouse. It was already getting darker and the queen was worried about her son. The king and the queen knew that their son was inside the playhouse. Suddenly it started to rain heavily and there was a crash sound heard from the garden. The king and the queen knew that the playhouse might have collapsed and they rushed to see it.
    Suddenly they remembered about the little prince and they were panicking and took away all the pieces of wood with which the playhouse was made. There they found their son lying with minor injuries with the teddy laid over him. The teddy bear which was there inside the playhouse was used by the little prince as a cover to protect himself from the wooden planks which had suddenly collapsed due to the rain. Since the wooden planks used were quite lightweighted and harmless he did not have any serious injury. The teddy bear was made with good quality stuffing and it had withstood the crash and protected the little prince. From then on the little prince’s favourite toy was this teddy bear which had protected him from injuries’.
    Then the man who came to the shop with her daughter, came all alone by himself to the shop once again. He asked one of the employees of the store to pack the black teddy bear inside a little box and wrap it with a gift wrapper. Liddy felt happy for this teddy bear as he is going to live with a family which has a playhouse.

Short Story 26 : In Memory of Grandmother

In Memory of Grandmother

                                           - T ABRAHAM

    It was already the start of spring. Liddy was happy to see many customers coming and buying many things for their children. The summer vacation was about to set in. All the three teddy bears were worried as they were the last ones left in the store. They were all well maintained, but the two teddy bears were not ready to accept Liddy leaving before them. Even though Liddy was the most liked teddy bear by the all customers, seeing the huge value for her beauty many go with the affordable ones.

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    Liddy the storyteller started off once again, ‘During the earlier days many people were engaged with arts and humanities. But nowadays these disciplines of study are facing their decline. There lived a girl with her grandmother and mother who was known for winning prizes for creative writing and recitation contests. She was interested in pursuing humanities for her under-graduation and asked both her mother and grandmother. Her grandmother had completed her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and was a housewife, as grandfather did not like the idea of her going for work. The girl’s mother completed her Master’s degree in Mathematics but found it very difficult to get a job. These days engineering graduates were outnumbering everywhere and the preference was given to them in almost every sector.
    Her mother immediately rejected the idea of pursuing a degree in humanities. But her grandmother wanted her to take up humanities. Grandmother somehow convinced the girl’s mother and she started off with her college in Bachelor of Arts in History. When the girl has reached her final year, her grandmother had passed away. After a few months the girl was not ready to continue her Master’s degree as she had to face many challenges amidst her classmates and also in her college.
    The girl’s mother accepted her decision, when grandmother was alive she was the only soul who was able to comfort the girl during her times of hardship and now she is gone forever. The girl had joined a school as a history teacher.
    Whenever she turns back in time she can feel her grandmother walking along with her during the times of her hardship and insults. Even though she had the desire to do her Masters she had to knock it down.
    Her grandmother lives in her heart forever. The choice of her study makes her feel she is carrying on with her, the legacy supported by her grandmother and turning back she can visualise the support rendered by her own blood who did not give up on her even when the worst of insults were hurled upon her’.
    Both the teddy bears went to sleep during halfway of the narration. Liddy also joined them and no one was ready to purchase her. She was eagerly waiting for a day when the royal family would take her to their palace. But it was testing her patience and hope.

Short Story 25 : Under The Cupboard

Under The Cupboard

                                - T ABRAHAM

    Days were passing by and only five teddy bears including Liddy were still remaining in the shop. All five of them were eagerly waiting to be purchased by someone who would take good care of them.

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    One of the employee who cleans all the five teddy bears have gone on a vacation for a week. The teddy bears were being kept away from the window to avoid them from becoming dusty. All the five of them were kept on the counter table. While they were being dusted one among the five teddy bears fell down near a cupboard. Then Liddy also fell nearby and she was able to see shreds of papers under the cupboard. These were nothing but the bills of the shop, which were no longer needed.
    Liddy started to weave her tale, ‘Long time back many things were written down in papers using pen. But nowadays everything is being stored in computers and mobile phones for easy retrieval of information. There lived a boy with his grandparents and he is known to write everyday. But his grandparents did not want him to write anything out of his academics and will never allow him to waste the papers available in their house. The boy wanted to have a diary but they did not give him one. So, one fine day he started to practice his mathematics using pencil and erased it during the night time and penned down everything which happened everyday. This was a process continuing until his grandfather died, when he had joined the college.
    One day his grandmother noticed a few papers kept hidden under the cupboard. The place was dusty and it was the responsibility of the boy to clean his room. She took those papers and started to read them. Then suddenly the boy came home a little earlier than usual. Grandmother had taken the papers with her as she felt eager to read about the past which was recorded by the boy.
    The boy left the day’s report under the cupboard, and the next day once he had left for the college she took those papers and started to read them. It had both the good and the worst times of his life. The boy had described his urge to buy a diary, once when he starts to earn his living.
    One thing which had shocked the grandmother was some of the worst things that has happened to him recently. Even though she was feeling joyous after reading that their grandson was living happily with them. The bullying and abuse he has to endure in certain places was bringing out tears from her eyes.
    The very next day grandmother had asked the boy to discontinue from the course he was currently pursuing and made him take a break from his academics for the next two months. Afterwards she was searching for a good place to send her grandson for studying and also bought him a diary during this time.
    Grandmother realised that how important it was for him to note down all the intricacies of his life. The boy had also realised that, grandmother had read his diary entries left under the cupboard. He found this out when she had asked him to discontinue and gifted him a beautiful diary’.
    Liddy was about to fall asleep when she has completed with her tale. But suddenly one customer came into the shop and bought two teddy bears for his daughters. Now only three teddy bears were left in the shop with Liddy being one among them.

Short Story 24 : The Capturing Camera

The Capturing Camera

                                   - T ABRAHAM

    A year has passed and all the teddy bears have got accustomed to the shop. The positions and places where they are being placed have become their comfort. But still they are longing to be purchased by the human families. Every teddy bear wanted Liddy to leave them only after all of them have been purchased, because her tales have kept them away from their numbness and boredom.

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    Liddy started off with her tale about the camera which captured everything, ‘Photographs kindled the memories of anybody who looked at it after a few years have passed. It was the time when anyone can own a camera and can also capture anything and everything which was pleasing to their sight. The human world was filled with photographs which were maintained in both forms, namely the hardcopies and the softcopies.
    There came a time when there was a newly invented camera named ‘Captured’. People were suspicious about the name and it was known to capture even the finest of details. Many people started to buy this new camera. After a month many people were reported to be went missing all over the world and not even a trace can be found to track their path.
    Many people noticed that the newly invented camera was having some superpower. The news came and it was said that the ones using the camera to capture a person’s photograph and also the one who is posing for the photograph taken by this camera are the ones who have went missing.
    The man who invented this camera was immediately arrested by the police and was interrogated regarding his invention. The man said, ‘The camera which I have invented has a superpower to deliver the people to an unknown territory and the flash light which is attached in the camera is known for this. I have invented this to reduce the size of the fast-growing population and wanted to bring the population under control’. The inspectors knew that he is a psychopath who was misusing the domain of science to overpower the human race. He was sentenced to imprisonment at first and then after all the cameras were destroyed he was guillotined.
    The whole of the human race started to develop a hatred towards camera and photography. Finally it was decided that no new inventions are supposed to be used without scrutinizing it. Gradually the years went by and the human race was finally able to move on by forgetting this great tragedy caused by their love to create memories to cherish their past.
    Many regions have started to maintain photo studios rather than allowing its people to have their own cameras. Once again people started to cherish their memories, but have also prioritized only certain important events of their life to be maintained as a photograph’.
    Liddy noticed a camera placed in the shop. It was a toy camera and immediately after the story was told, some of the teddy bears got afraid of it. One of the customers had bought it for her son and he was focussing the camera towards Liddy. When he clicked the button every teddy bear present in the shop was panicking. But Liddy knew that it was just a toy, and nothing happened when the button was released. All the teddy bears felt relieved as they could not think about the absence of Liddy before they are being purchased by any human family.

Short Story 23 : The Speechless Speeches

 The Speechless Speeches

                                             - T ABRAHAM

    The days were turning into months and every teddy bear inside the shop are eagerly waiting to be taken up by a loving and caring household. There was a river near the shop and sometimes there was a gurgling sound coming from it and most of the times it flows without any noise.

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    Liddy started with her story about the river, ’The newly formed water droplets were entering the fast flowing river in which the flowing water is always unheard. No new noises and sounds are accepted by the already existing water droplets which formed the river. When these newly formed droplets were trying to enter the stream there was a gurgling sound made by them. All the existing water droplets asked, ‘Who are you? Why are you making the most irritable noise?’. The newly formed water droplets did not answer them but continued to flow. Suddenly there were a few bubbles formed when they had started to get into the river. Bubbles were forbidden by the river and it started to threaten the new water droplets, ’If you are going to form bubbles in the stream I will change my direction and would eject all of you towards the river affected by the factory effluents’. The newly formed water droplets replied, ‘We didn’t do anything, it was the rocks and sand which were clinging on us while we seeped underground’.
    The river did not accept their words and was planning to silence them forever. ‘I only want silence to be maintained in my stream. There should be no speech made and no noise as well. The communication is always speechless and such water droplets are trying to change these things. I am going to change my direction and land them straight into the factory effluents’, thought the river.
    On the very next day there was a change in the course of flow. The speed and direction of flow was suddenly changed. The new water droplets were panicking. The old water droplets thought that defiling the new ones will only harm them and not the older ones. It was in the middle of the night when the stream of water reached the river affected by the factory effluents. They reached the place with full of gurgling sounds and more bubbles were formed when the river had started to flow into the contaminated water. The newly formed water droplets were contaminated with the deadly chemicals and it did not stop with that. The older water droplets also started to fall into these chemicals and the river was unable to control its flow and the whole of the river went straight into the contaminated water body. ‘Finally we too are dead’, cried the river as all its water flowed straight into the affected stream.
    The reaction of the river towards the speeches of the new water droplets and its evil actions resulted in the fall of the whole community. Finally the river was bubbling and gurgling forever with the irreversible contamination’.
    By the time Liddy completed her story, there was a crazy kid nagging his father to buy him some toys. His father looked at the teddy bears but he knew that his son would tear them into pieces in a few days. So, he did not purchase any teddy bears and left the shop. All of them were relieved because they did not want to live and die in the hands of a monster.

Short Story 22 : The Rain And The Rainbow

The Rain And The Rainbow

                                       - T ABRAHAM

    It was the months of monsoon where the raindrops were splashing into the shop through the open window. Little Fluffy got wet and also some other teddy bears got wet because of the heavy rain. Liddy started to think about the rainbow and started to weave her story in the midst of the wetness prevailing all around them.

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    Liddy started off with her imagination, ‘There was a time when the rain and rainbow were mutually existing. But on one fine day the rains were continuously pouring out causing the earth to flood all over. The sun who was taking rest behind the moon did not show up even after a week had passed. The rainbow was waiting patiently to take its turn but the rain was dominating and disturbing the humans. ‘When will you let me come rain? I am waiting for my turn’, said the rainbow to the rain. ‘Wait for one more day and I will make way for you’, said the rain in a villainous tone. The rainbow was quite disturbed and had some thoughts of perishing away soon. It was afraid that the rain might do something against it as the tone of the rain was very clear that it did not like the rainbow asking for its turn. But the rain kept upon its word and descended away the very next day. According to the mutual understanding the rain will hide itself when the rainbow comes out and the sun will shine brightly. But this time the rain became insane and did the most dreaded and terrible thing to the rainbow. It rained when the rainbow came out.
    The rainbow came out immediately after the rains have descended and also the sun came out as well. All the beautiful colours of the rainbow was blossoming out after a long time and the sun and clouds enjoyed this sight of beauty. But suddenly the rain came out. ‘What are you doing rain?’ asked the rainbow. Without any response there was a spontaneous reaction from the rain. It immediately began to rain and the rainbow was getting drained out with all its colours getting lost into the air. There was a painful cry from the rainbow before it was lost forever.
    Witnessing this cruelty by the rain towards the humble and faithful rainbow, the sun and the clouds began to chase the rains away. The sun started to shine brightly and it had rapidly started to increase its intensity. The clouds started to crash against the rains and they started to spin round and round and the rain was caught inside a whirl. The intensity of the sun became very high and the flood waters descended into the ground and some ascended as vapours, going back into the sky. The whirl formed in the sky was received as a gentle breeze by the humans.
    The rains were diminished forever into tiny droplets which were filled with cycles of motions and emotions. The rainbow was killed by the rain and the rain received a deserving treatment from the other elements of nature which were living in a mutual understanding with one another’.
    Once the story was ended, two teddy bears were bought by a gentleman who has a small baby girl. The teddy bears wished good luck to both of them who are journeying towards this household to live in happiness and comfort.

Short Story 21 : The Candy Man

The Candy Man

                            - T ABRAHAM

    The teddy bears of the stuffed animals world were evacuated. All the teddy bears are now being kept for sale in the human world. But there lived one exception amidst the teddy bears who was none other than Liddy. When the teddy bears reach the human world it was inevitable and sadly all the teddy bears lose their ability to talk and walk voluntarily. The autonomy which they have over themselves are lost once they enter the human world and they are under the hands of the human beings.

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    Liddy was known to have entered the human world without losing her ability to talk. But she immediately turned mute whenever a human passes by her side. This quality of Liddy made her into a storyteller and this kept the other teddy bears away from boredom. Her tales are being woven from her vivid imagination, and her easy to comprehend vocabulary and language makes her into what every calls her to be, ‘The Magical Storyteller Liddy’.
    Liddy caught the sight of a candy being chewed by a little child who has come to the shop with his mother. Liddy started off with her tale, ‘So, today’s tale is about the candy which travelled in the human world and was destroying the human race. There was a candy named Gummy who was living away from the human Tummy. Gummy was the sweetest sugar candy who would crawl straight into the mouth of every human being but would never crawl into their stomach. The sweetest sugar candy always stayed inside the mouth of every individual and he was an omnipresent being. Once there was a time when the children of the human beings were struggling with toothaches. Gummy was ever present over their tooth and many children became lazy to remove the residue poured out by Gummy by his sweet existence. When the days went by, Gummy’s existence was getting affected because many of the parents have started to buy toothpaste, toothbrush and mouthwash for their children to get rid of the sweet which was causing all the pain to them. Even after that the children were getting frequent toothaches.
    Suddenly one day all the children were having terrible pain all over their oral cavity. When the parents examined them, they found out that most of their tooth have already got decayed and they immediately rushed towards the nearby dentist. This was the weirdest days ever seen. All the parents of the town were crowding in their nearby dental clinics to remove the decayed and deformed tooth of their little ones. Then, they all have realised what was the causative for all this misery. It was none other than the sweetest sugar candy. Yes, it was Gummy who does not get into the tummy and was always hated by every mummy. To end this cycle of decay and pain all the parents have decided to ban the sweetest sugar candy from their town and also to destroy all the Gummy chocolates available in the supermarket. So, here ends the tale of the sweetest sugar candy which had met with its fate. It did not go into the tummy and angered every mummy and so was Gummy destroyed forever ’.
    Once the story of the day ended one among the teddy bear was sold and they all bid goodbye to it. They all hoped that it would become a part of a loving and caring household.

Short Story 20 : Fallen Into The Clutches Of The Humans

Fallen Into The Clutches Of The Humans
                                                          - T ABRAHAM

    It was the last day of the spring and the start of autumn. Pinky was cleaning the Blossom cottage. To her surprise Pinky found a dusty door near their entrance which was locked with five chains. ‘Mama…. Where does this door lead to?’, asked Pinky to Mrs. Cephal. ‘Pinky… don’t try to enter that door’, said Mrs. Cephal to Pinky and went to sleep. It was around nine o’clock when Pinky had started to clean the cottage. But Pinky had a burning desire to open the door.

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    Pinky checked with her mother and father. ‘They are in deep sleep’, Pinky said to herself and started to search for the keys. Pinky found out three keys which were kept hidden under the potted plant near the entrance. ‘Almost opened the door. I need two more to enter into this mysterious door’, said Pinky to herself and went about searching for the remaining keys. Pinky had managed to find out one key buried near the rose plant which was there in their garden. The other key was found under the carpet which was in their living room.
    By the time Pinky had managed to unlock the door and open it, Mrs. Cephal came to the living room to have some water. ‘I have sore throat. I need some water’, said Mrs. Cephal to herself and got the water bottle kept on the table. Pinky went hiding behind the sofa and Mrs. Cephal noticed that the door which was kept unlocked. ‘Pinky…’, called Mrs. Cephal. But Pinky did not respond. ‘The portal to the human world is unlocked and it can pull in anybody who goes near it’, said Mrs. Cephal.
    Mrs. Cephal tried to close the door but unfortunately the door had suddenly opened and pulled her inside. ‘Help! Help!’, cried Mrs. Cephal and before Pinky could come for her rescue the door forcibly pulled in Pinky as well.
    Mr. Cephal was in a deep sleep and he woke up once it was morning. He was quite confused with the nightmare he got during the night when Pinky and her mother were transported into the human world. ‘Pinky and her mother were placed in a shop. No one bought them for months and suddenly I woke up‘, said Mr. Cephal to himself and went straight to the kitchen to have some water. Then while he was going to the living room he had noticed the door which was kept locked for years was now kept open. Suddenly he realised the absence of Mrs. Cephal and also his daughter.
    ‘Pinky… why did you do like this?’, sobbed Mr. Cephal. ‘If they have went to the human world. Even I would go there along with them’, said Mr. Cephal and went straight into the door and landed on the shop where his wife and daughter were kept for sale.
    One of the supervisors of the shop asked the customers, ‘Madam, would you like to purchase all these three teddy bears for your granddaughter? It is a combo pack and we are offering a fifty percentage discount if you are going to purchase in bulk. We have received these three teddy bears this morning and they have been manufactured recently. So please do consider’. ‘Okay, then I will buy all of them’, said the old lady and took all the three of them to her home.
    ‘Thank you grandma’, said Little Raphel and took all the three teddy bears to her bedroom. Every night she slept with these three teddy bears whom she cuddled and also received comfort from them.
    Even though the Cephals came into the human world by mistake they were being comforted by little Raphel and they were also received by her unconditionally, and were also being treated with utmost love and care.

Short Story 19 : The Sun Burn

The Sun Burn

                           - T ABRAHAM

    It was a busy weekend for Pinky. The day was hotter than the other days. Pinky felt that the sun is penetrating directly upon her. ‘Why is the day hotter than usual?’, Pinky questioned and went to sleep a little early than the other days. There was a power cut during the night time and Pinky was sweating profusely. Pinky had a dream which was influenced by the sun.

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    Pinky was standing on a podium and was addressing the audience who have come to participate in the storytelling contest. Pinky began her story, ‘It was the time when the sun started to play hide and seek. Some days it does not give its light upon the earth and would be in hiding during the day time. The favourite hiding spot of the sun is behind the moon. One day the moon asked the sun, ‘Why are you playing with the earth? It harbours a variety of lifeforms which requires the light and sunshine from you. If you are going to stay hiding behind me for a longer duration of time there would be many deaths in the earth. If that happens you are solely responsible for all the loss that happens’. The sun said, ‘Stop advising me moon! I know what to do and what not to do. These humans are the most insane of all beings. They can even produce the light of their own. Nothing productive is going on but all sorts of non-sense is progressing on earth. The earth is only seen to be going towards its regression and no improvements have been witnessed till this day’. ‘But think about the plants and animals who doesn’t have anything to do with what you are telling me. Don’t take the blame of killing the poor animals’, said the moon. The sun did not reply back but thought about this for some days.
    After this conversation the sun has decided to remain in its place. One day it was caught by insanity and decided to burn down the planet earth. Then the sun slowly started its journey towards the earth. When the moon had noticed this, it was trying to intervene and intercede and stop the destruction. But as a result the moon was burned down by the sun. ‘You cannot stop me moon. I am going to burn down the earth’, the sun screamed and landed over the earth. The earth was burning down to ashes and everything and everyone were panicking. Many voices amidst the crowd were heard telling each other, ‘It is because of the global warming! The hole in the ozone layer! Ozone has been completely depleted’. The sun was joyously seated over the planet earth and when half of the planet was destroyed suddenly the stars have started to shoot the sun. Suddenly there was a black hole approaching the sun and it tried to engulf the sun. ‘The devil is trying to engulf me’, cried the sun. Suddenly the stars shouted, ‘Stop your insane actions and return back to your position. The black hole will burst into pieces if you return to your position’. The sun moved away from the earth and went straight towards its dwelling place. As the stars have told, the black hole was burning down. But before the sun realised its mistake and had returned to its initial position, almost half of the earth was damaged. These places became the deserts and there was some water remaining on the earth. Majority of the places remained unaffected as the waters protected the earth’.
    Suddenly Pinky woke up from her dream. Then the power came amidst the darkness and Pinky got terrified and started to cry out ‘The sun has come to burn me down’, and realised after a moment that it was the light bulb which she had left switched on to know whether the power has come or not. Then she calmed down and turned off all the lights and went back to sleep.

Short Story 18 : The Ignored Scars

The Ignored Scars

                                           - T ABRAHAM

    Times flies off as soon as the autumn steps in. The day was cold and the night was darker than usual. Pinky was left all alone in the Blossom cottage as Mr. and Mrs. Cephal have went to the hospital to console one of their relatives who is at the verge of losing one of the older member of their family.

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    ‘Pinky… go to bed early and don’t be awake till the midnight’, said Mrs. Cephal to Pinky before they both have left. Pinky was scrolling through her mobile phone and did not give ear to what her mother told her. It was already ten o’clock in the night and when her parents were with her, Pinky would be forced to go to sleep by this time. Pinky was getting tired after sometime but did not go to sleep.
    Pinky had suddenly started to think about random stuffs and it was already midnight. By the time when she had started to think, her thoughts had started to shuttle from present to the past and also the hard times of her life came in front of her in the middle of the night. Suddenly she fell asleep and it was already four o’clock in the morning. ‘I feel nauseated and unwell. I have important tasks and an interview today’, said Pinky to herself and started to get ready for college.
    Again the scars which were inflicted upon her in the past and present, were hindering her phase and energy in getting ready for the day. Then, she had received a call from her mother, ‘Pinky… come to the hospital immediately. Your grandfather had passed away’, said Mrs. Cephal to Pinky. ‘But mama… I have an interview at the college today’, said Pinky to her mother. ‘I am not asking you to be with us for the whole day. Just pay a visit and then you may leave’, said Mrs. Cephal. Her memories were disturbing her for the whole of the time until Pinky reached the hospital.
    The reason for asking Pinky to go to bed early was just because she was not in good health and because of her physical conditions her mental health was also not in good form. Since, she did not listen to her mother she is suffering now.
    Finally, Pinky had reached the hospital and was received by one of her aunt whose father had passed away. ‘How are you Pinky?’, asked the aunt to Pinky. ‘I am fine aunty. How are you?’, asked Pinky. ‘I am fine. Thank you for coming and you can leave once it’s time for you. Your mom told us that you are having an interview today. All the best and do well’, said aunt to Pinky.
    Pinky was quite surprised to see her family members in a calm and composed manner even amidst the air of sadness which was surrounding them. ‘You may leave now Pinky. Do well in your interview’, said Mrs. Cephal to Pinky and Pinky left the place immediately as she was getting late for her college.
    On her way to college Pinky was thinking about the mannerism of her family members and relatives and also felt her sorrow about her past was vanishing away. ‘I would let go of the scars. Let me just ignore them and move on my path’, said Pinky to herself.
    It was almost time for her interview and her sickness had vanished away forever. Pinky outperformed in the interview and she was the only person who got selected. The moment she had started to ignore her painful scars infested upon her by her painful past she became an individual who was able to utilise her full potential towards her journey of success.

Short Story 17 : The Dearest Friend Of All

The Dearest Friend Of All

                                      - T ABRAHAM

    That was the day when Pinky found her peace. The time of spring is descending towards its closure but still the flowers are in their place. She received a beautiful notebook from one of her friends whom she met during her schooldays. It was none other than Liddy with whom she has been well acquainted with for the past seventeen years of her life. ‘Thank you Liddy’, said Pinky.

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    By the time she had reached home she unwrapped the other gifts received from her classmates as it was the day when they have reached the final semester of their degree programme. ‘Finally I have reached the last step of my academic journey’, said Pinky to herself and went to refresh herself by having some chocolates and honey which she had bought from the supermarket the day before.
    Pinky did not feel like reading during the weekdays but she felt that she can improve her command over her language by honing her writing skills. ‘I am going to start writing from today onwards. Can I type or write?’, said Pinky in a tone of confusion. Pinky started to write in the notebook which she has got from Liddy. But after a few days felt disoriented and stopped writing. Pinky started to write a novel in her notebook but felt tired after a hectic schedule at her college. Even though it might be a hectic schedule Pinky usually does not feel tired but she also faced many other problems as well.
    After a few days, she wanted to write but this time no more using a pen. ‘I am going to type on my computer’, said Pinky and started to type out small lines which were tuning with themselves. ‘Finally, I have started to write poems!’, said Pinky in a mood of celebration. Pinky wrote a poem everyday and also she did not give up on writing her novel. Finally a day came when she has completed writing one hundred poems.
    ‘Liddy, I have written one hundred poems on my blog’, said Pinky to Liddy and Liddy immediately went and told it to her friends. This became the talk of the day in their college and the news had fallen into the ears of one of her teacher. Ms. Maple asked Pinky to meet her during the lunch break.
    Pinky went straight to Ms. Maple’s classroom during the lunch break and she congratulated Pinky. ‘Well done! You have written one hundred poems and it is a great achievement. Would you like to publish them?’, said Ms. Maple. Pinky did not know what to say but immediately nodded her head approvingly.
    Pinky had to follow up with all the procedure given by Ms. Maple regarding the publishing process and had successfully published her first book. One of her friends had asked her how did she get so well acquainted with writing even though it was really a very tough time at college even to have some peace of mind. Pinky’s answer had shocked everyone.
    Pinky said, ‘Even amidst such a dark phase during the final semester. I am able to do this because this has become my hobby. I don’t think this as something which would provide me with an academic credit but I feel happy after writing everyday. Writing brings out the unheard and unpresentable voices inside me on this very sheet of paper. This notebook is my best friend with whom I can share everything in a language which is comprehensible only between two of us.’

Short Story 16 : The Strawberry Cake

The Strawberry Cake

                                  - T ABRAHAM

    The spring was slowly coming to an end. It was witnessed with the early darkness found during the evening. There was a bakery opened at the Bakers Colony. It was known that the baker makes all his cakes during the middle of the night and his sleepwalking problem has become a boon to him as it makes him bake around fifty cakes and one hundred pastries during this time when the whole town is being drowned in deep sleep. Pinky loves strawberry cakes and decided to go to this newly opened bakery one day.

 

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    ‘Mama, I am going to the Nightmare Bakers. I will get a strawberry cake for myself’, said Pinky to her mother. ‘Get me a butterscotch pastry as well’, told Mrs. Cephal to Pinky and went for washing the dishes used for the lunch. Pinky took a short route to the bakery which was a pathway near an eerie slum. The children of the slum were running everywhere around with their playmates. One little teddy bear bumped over Pinky and did not even turn back to look, but it ran away as fast as it could. ‘What’s wrong with this little one?’, Pinky said to herself and suddenly she felt a little lighter than before.
    When she had reached the bakery and got her favourite strawberry cake and also the butterscotch pastry she was unable to find her wallet. ‘My wallet is missing,’ said Pinky and was panicking. Then suddenly she realised the little teddy bear whom she came across in the slum. ‘Oh! That little ragged thief. She has stolen my wallet’, thought Pinky and checked her pockets and found her debit card still with her and made the purchase.
    ‘Did you go to the Nightmare Bakers through the slum Pinky?’, asked Mrs. Cephal to Pinky and hesitantly she nodded as it was the third time she is using the path even after her mother had warned her about the thefts which were usually taking place near the slum. Mrs. Cephal after knowing that Pinky has lost her wallet asked her what was there inside the wallet. ‘Only some cash mama’, replied Pinky and she went to have her cake.
    During the dinner Mrs. Cephal warned Pinky not to go to the Nightmare Bakers again because she came to know that the person making the cakes is known to be a psychopath and it is not a good idea to buy cakes from them. ‘I didn’t eat the butterscotch pastry Pinky. I have thrown it away. There was a weird smell coming out of the package’, said Mrs. Cephal to Pinky. ‘People also tell that the baker of the shop is not from a very good lineage and it is not safe to go there all alone’, said Mrs. Cephal to her daughter. ‘You are not supposed to go there again Pinky’, told Mrs. Cephal and went to sleep after the dinner.
    Pinky also went to bed that night. But she got the most darkest nightmares of her life. The little teddy who had stolen her wallet was found loitering near the Blossom cottage and Pinky started to follow her. Then she had finally reached the slum where the little thief was living. From a small tattered hut it went straight into the Nightmare Bakers and it was during the middle of the night. A beast-like figure was baking the cakes and Pinky peeped inside through the window. The little thief who had noticed Pinky suddenly let out a scream and then the beast started to move towards the window. Pinky started to run and had crossed the slums. But since the surroundings were pitch dark she suddenly felt herself falling into a stream which was carrying her and left her ashore.
    It was around nine o’clock in the morning. ‘Are you alright Pinky?’, asked Mrs. Cephal to Pinky when she had woken up. ‘Last night you went to the bath tub and suddenly started to drown yourself. It was just on-time your papa rescued you and took you to the doctor. Doctor Nosy told us that you have sleepwalked and went and drowned yourself’, said Mrs. Cephal.
    Mr. Cephal came home rushing in a hurry and told his wife and daughter not to eat anything which they have bought from the Nightmare Bakers. There was a news circulating in and around the neighbourhood that all the people who ate the delicacies from this bakery were drowning themselves to death. ‘The shop is possessed by a demon!’, said Mr. Cephal.

    Pinky was terrified after hearing the news and understood the mystery which encircled behind the theft, the strawberry cake and also about her nightmare.

Short Story 15 : The World Of Books

The World Of Books

                                 - T ABRAHAM

    The season of spring was never coming to an end. The time was moving like a gentle breeze bringing in comfort. There was a pleasant sunshine to keep anyone awake. But not everyone likes to be outdoors and one such person is Pinky. Pinky is a bookworm who likes to read anything given to her and especially if it would be useful for her in terms of her academic pursuit. Since the summer vacation seems to be like years for her and she had a lots of leisure time she had started to read a novel.

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    ‘I have only been reading short stories and poems all these years. Now I am starting off with my first novel’, said Pinky to herself and began reading the novel. Initially she felt hard to keep up with the pages which she has left for reading and felt some discontinuity. But during the course of time she was able to catch up with the method to maintain breaks in her reading to make it into an effective one.
    It was about a week and Pinky has completed reading her first novel. ‘I am going to read one novel every week’, she said to herself and continued with her journey of reading. Now Pinky has read around four novels and already June has come. During the holidays Pinky was able to reduce her screen time. Her eyesight was gradually recovering and she also felt energetic as the days went by with a lowered usage of the mobile phone. Pinky went to sleep early and was also able to rise up early in the morning.
    Gradually her lifestyle was getting upgraded which brought in a progression to her life. ‘I feel energetic till the end of a day and I can do all tasks assigned to me with interest and also I am able to work using my full potential’, said Pinky to herself. The frequency of her falling ill to any kind of sickness has also gone down. Pinky had also started to read her religious texts and tried to inculcate a habit of reading it every day. All these new habits started to make her more healthy in terms of all the three spheres, that is, physically, mentally and also spiritually.
    Then the holidays came to an end. ‘Tomorrow I will be going to college. The cycle of routine begins’, thought Pinky. Mr. Cephal came home that evening to meet Pinky before leaving for Lycra Hills to attend one of their family functions which has been planned for that week. Even though Pinky, Mrs. Cephal and Mr. Cephal were under the same roof he did not notice the transformation seen in his daughter. ‘Goodbye Pinky and best of luck for the new academic year’, said Mr. Cephal to Pinky and went on his way. Pinky bid goodbye to him and went to bed early to have a fresh start on the very first day of her college.
    The very next day at her college Pinky’s transformation was noticed. She told her change in lifestyle and habits to Liddy and she was really amazed to know this. Liddy asked Pinky, ‘Then you will also be able to analyse the character or nature of anyone I guess. Since, you have got exposed to a variety of characters in the novels, you would also have been able to find out a new way of life. You have also become a fast reader and also your oral and written communication has also become of higher standards’.
    Hearing Liddy’s words shocked Pinky as she had only thought her hobby was just used to spend time productively and for her own self-recreation but did not know that it would also be useful in her professional life as well.

Short Story 14 : The Birthday Gift

The Birthday Gift

                               - T ABRAHAM

    Pinky has turned nineteen years old now. Time has passed like a stream of river going at its own phase with rocks and obstacles in between. The Blossom cottage has been renovated into a bungalow and it looks like a palace of the royal family. Mr. Cephal has retired recently and has moved to his brother’s house in the valley to have some change from his static life. It was during the beginning of the month of May. Mrs. Cephal and Pinky were the ones who were there in the cottage.

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    Pinky had her birthday in the month of April and it is now almost a month since she had received the birthday gifts. She did not unwrap some of the gifts she had received from her friends as it was the time when she was having her exams.
    ‘When are you going to open the presents Pinky? It’s almost a month now’, said Mrs. Cephal to Pinky. ‘Once the exams gets over mama’, said Pinky and went to her room.
    All her exams got over. ‘Pinky…. your birthday gifts!’, said Mrs. Cephal to Pinky. ‘I will open them mama’, said Pinky to her mother. It was almost afternoon when Pinky had started to unwrap all her gifts. The gifts ranged from small keychains to a laptop. Mrs. Cephal was with her daughter all the while, ‘Aren’t you going to open that last gift which you have received from papa?’ asked Mrs. Cephal to her daughter.
    Suddenly Pinky noticed that she had forgotten to unwrap one of the gifts and began to remove its wrapper. ‘Who is this mama?’, asked Pinky. The last gift which she had received from her father was a portrait of a young teddy bear. ‘Give it to me!’, demanded Mrs. Cephal and forcibly grabbed the portrait from Pinky’s hands and went into her room.
    Pinky was clueless and she heard her mom crying from her room. Pinky went near the door and asked loudly, ’Why are you crying mama? Who’s that in the portrait? Tell me mama! Tell me!’. It was almost night and there was no sound from the bedroom. Pinky tried to unlock the door but it was locked from the other side.
    ‘Who’s portrait was that? And why did mama get angry and also started to cry?’, thought Pinky. ‘I should find out who it is’, then Pinky made a call to her father, ‘Hello Papa! Mama is crying continuously’, said Pinky to her father. ‘Why my child? What happened?’, asked Mr. Cephal to Pinky. ‘It was after seeing the portrait which you have presented to me as my birthday gift papa. Who’s that papa? Does mama know the teddy bear before?’, asked Pinky to Mr. Cephal. The call ended abruptly and Pinky was unable to find out the answer about this mysterious portrait being presented to her by her father.
    Pinky went to her room and had fallen asleep. It was during the middle of the night when she heard her mother talking to someone. ‘Why did you gift her this portrait? She should not know who he is. Pinky has to complete her studies and we shouldn’t reveal this to her now’, said Mrs. Cephal to Mr. Cephal over the phone.
    All the while Pinky was overhearing this conversation and was still clueless about what was going on. ‘Is there any mystery prevailing in our family history?’, she said to herself and went to sleep. Pinky had a nightmare where she was seated in a park with a little teddy bear and it was suddenly shot dead by someone who was holding a pistol in his hands. Then suddenly she woke up from her dream and she was drenched with sweat and was also shivering. Mrs. Cephal was already there inside Pinky’s room as she had also let out a scream while witnessing the gory sight in her dream.
    ‘What happened Pinky?’, asked Mrs. Cephal and hugged her daughter. ‘I saw someone being shot dead in my dream mama. A little teddy bear…’, said Pinky to her mother. Mrs. Cephal started to cry upon hearing this and revealed all that was behind the portrait. The mystery behind the portrait was revealed. It was none other than Pinky’s younger brother who was shot dead by a psychopath when Pinky was a little child. This incident had happened when they went to the park. The nightmare which Pinky got after seeing the portrait was a real incident which had happened seventeen years back in time.
    Pinky was shocked after hearing this but Mrs. Cephal consoled her and asked her not to worry about this. The birthday gift was something which was an eye opener for Pinky. The family history was presented to her by letting her know about the mysterious death of her little brother. Her memories were kindled by her father to make her into a strong woman. And he had succeeded in it as she was behaving more mature and responsible after this incident. Her father’s gift was forever a life changing one for Pinky.

Short Story 13 : The Last Call

The Last Call

                          - T ABRAHAM

    The cherry blossom trees were harbouring their pink leaves. It was the mid of April. The season of flowers and fruits with their energetic growth. Little Pinky was staying indoors with her new mobile phone. All her friends had invited her for the tea party hosted at Liddy’s house, but she was too busy with her mobile phone and she had totally forgotten about the lovely little tea party which was going to happen that very same day.

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    ‘Pinky… stop scrolling with your mobile phone and help me with some gardening work this evening’, said Mrs. Cephal to little Pinky. ‘Mama I have a tea party this evening at Liddy’s house. I am going there and would be back home by six o’clock’, said Little Pinky to her mother. Mrs. Cephal was happy to know that her daughter will be away from her mobile phone for some time if she is going to spend her time with her friends. ‘Get ready once it is three o’clock and reach the Lydan’s residence by four o’clock. And also, come home before it gets took dark’, said Mrs. Cephal to little Pinky who responded with a nod but her eyes were still glued to her mobile phone.
    It was two o’clock when Mrs. Cephal started to get ready and go to her sister’s house which was located in the Platter City. ‘Pinky… I will be back only by tomorrow evening. After the tea party water all the plants and keep all the lights on until tomorrow morning. You can get some honey and bread from the Talton Supermarket on your way back home’, said Mrs. Cephal to her daughter before going. Little Pinky was still scrolling and was absent-minded at this point of time. She did not even realise it was nearing three o’clock and suddenly she received a call from Little Liddy. ‘Hello Pinky! Are you coming for the tea party?’, asked Little Liddy. ‘Hello! I will come to your house by four o’clock Liddy’, said Little Pinky and ended the conversation with a good bye.
    Little Pinky started to get ready. It was almost half-past three and she had started to walk towards the Lydan’s residence. She has left her mobile phone at the Blossom Cottage and was unable to attend the call from her mother who wanted to remind her daughter about the dinner. Little Pinky reached little Liddy’s home on time. At the tea party all of them were having a good time. It was almost half-past five and little Pinky bid good bye to little Liddy and to all her friends. On her way back home she started to feel hungry and was thinking about the dinner. Suddenly she started to feel words ringing inside her ears.
    ‘Get some honey and bread……. I will be back only by tomorrow……. I called you. This is my last call….. and there is no signal here’, she heard a feeble voice of a woman from within her ears. Little Pinky did not hesitate to do the things mentioned by this voice.
    Finally, after the shopping she reached the Blossom Cottage and noticed the call from her mother. She tried calling Mrs. Cephal but there was no signal from her mother’s side. Little Pinky just followed the instructions given to her by the feeble, but a firm voice. Little Pinky completed all the chores and went to bed.
    The next morning little Pinky did not scroll through her mobile but started to read a book. Little Pinky started to forget about her mobile phone and was totally engrossed with reading. By afternoon she received a call from her mother.
    ‘Did you eat honey and bread for the dinner? Have you watered the plants and also kept the lights on?’, asked Mrs. Cephal to her daughter. ‘Yes mama, I did everything you had asked me to do’, said little Pinky. And she finally remembered the tasks given by the voice. ‘It was mama who had told everything to me before her journey. I was absent-minded, but managed to get those words into my brain unknowingly. Anyways, I have completed all the tasks’, little Pinky said to herself.
    It was the last words spoken by her mother before she had left for the Platter City. Last words are no more considered to be lost words, but they remain forever until the task is accomplished. Little Pinky managed to get her mother’s words and it was her last call for little Pinky to get away from the mobile addiction. Finally the addiction left little Pinky once she had completed all the tasks and also she had realised the power of her mind.