Muskan's Paradise

  The Malevolent Wooden Box: Bargains of the Soul It had been a quiet day in the toy shop and Amelia wasn't sorry to be closing up. Time dragged when not many customers came in. It was already dark at four o'clock - and so cold she could see her breath. She'd just got her coat on when she heard the shop bell ring. "I'm afraid we're cl-" "This won't take a moment," said a voice which came from immediately behind her.  Amelia jumped in fright. She hadn't heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw a very small man, no higher than her shoulders, dressed in black robes and an old-fashioned top hat which was battered and tattered and altogether ridiculous-looking. "Do you know what you want to buy?" Amelia asked, still anxious to get home. The man shook his head, with a slight smile. "Nothing, my dear," he said in a voice only just louder than a whisper. "It is you who will want to buy from me." Wit...

    THE LOST HOPE,                               OF THE LOST PRINCESS     -Retelling of Cinderella   A biting gust of wind sliced through her face, jolting her from her slumber. Amanda, a girl with a fiery temperament and a haunting past, awoke abruptly. Abruptly, a blood-curdling scream tore through the tranquility of the night, accompanied by the ear-piercing wail of a police siren and the shattering of glass. Startled, Amanda ripped her headphones off, her gaze darting to the side, though she couldn't bear to witness the harrowing scene where a young child had met a tragic end. With a heavy heart, she muttered, "105th soul ascends to the heavens." Such calamities were an all-too-frequent sight on the Western Express Highway—constantly plagued by the grim specters of traffic, accidents, and de...

  POTRAIT OF MYSELF   "Once again, it's a humid and unusual day today. It seems like I'm getting used to this weather. Thinking about it, coming to Mumbai has changed me a lot. For someone who used to love rain, I now seem to despise it. My favorite season! Note the sarcasm. These large windows in the classroom are my only solace. Such lovely atmosphere to view. The teacher was late today, so I gazed outside through the window and admired the beautiful trees, birds, and the overcast sky. No rain, no sun, just a lovely cloudy day. The classroom is beautifully structured, with its old wooden furniture. “Oh, how much I love it." "Today doesn't seem to be my day, though. On my way to class, it rained. Alas! Why does it have to rain? It's so annoying. The weather gets dreary, the roads get watery, and it's not fair. The gardens are all muddy, and..." "No offense, I love nature, but not the muddy soil. So that's just me, wi...

  THE DOOR The ancient oak door loomed above me, a colossal sentinel of the past. My hand reached out to grasp the rusted handle, and as I swung it open, a welcoming blast of warm air enveloped me. Beyond the door, a breathtaking, evergreen meadow unfolded, bursting with an explosion of colors. A symphony of flowers adorned the landscape, their petals swaying gracefully in harmony with the gentle breeze.   In the heart of this enchanting landscape stood a cherry blossom tree, but it wasn't just any cherry blossom tree; it radiated a mesmerizing golden aura, gleaming like the most exquisite jewelry worn by a newlywed bride on a sun-drenched day.   As I stepped through the door, I couldn't help but glance back at it. It was a door straight out of Renaissance Italy, adorned with intricate carvings depicting a tapestry of activities and ornate letters. The rich, coffee-brown wood gleamed brilliantly when bathed in sunlight, standing proudly in the midst of...