Three stories from a teenage notebook.

Simplicity of Max Enough pain he bore, enough miseries he got, for he was tired of living life like that, what he wanted now -was magic. Max lived a miserable life; although he had his own small grocery shop he was always lost in his thick fog of wishes. He wasn't a day dreamer but kept thinking how happy the world would be if there were no troubles, or if the word "Poor" had no existence, or if every small child in this world could sleep happily. But his thoughts were interrupted when the post man handed him some dusty envelope. He slowly opened the envelope with fright. "Oh my, 2000 rupees for the telephone bill, I hardly used it this month "exclaimed Max in shock. "Sir your bill is supposed to be One thousand five hundred rupees only, the remaining 500 is of taxes" replied the post man. "Only? Do you mean to say that 1500 rupees are only, why do you all people along the entire bank staff write the word "Only" after such huge amount of sums" troubled Max shouted. "Well it has become a habit sir" replied the troubled Post man for he had never seen Max in so frustration. And it was true too, Max had lost all his money in gambling, but the fact was that he used to get much money from gambling, so it was a pay back time for him. And these days his shop also was running out of customers as big mega malls came into existence and people preferred shopping there all at once. One morning Max spotted a job on the newspaper, the job was of a helper in a mall. Max thought of applying there, and decided to rent his shop as it hardly made enough money. Well, that particular morning Max's stars were shining bright as he immediately got the job and to add more joy to his life he even got his first tenant of the shop who readily gave some amount in advance too. Now in order to celebrate his achievements, he patted himself and said "I'm proud of you my son". The day was ending and he had to get his clothes ready for his first day in office, well for us, mall. So he just darted towards his best friend Kelvin who had a well know laundry shop and handed him the clothes saying "This is the beginning of my promotion". And soon went to Clark and handed him his shoes to be polished. Finishing all his so called important works he arrived straight to his home. Now, while he was on his bed, new thoughts arose in his imaginary mind. He was trying hard to find a profitable and reliable way to spend his gotten money until sleep ness stroke him. Now he woke early in the morning and made himself dressed as if he was going to attend an important business deal, and decided to travel in taxi rather than some bus as he thought that a rumor might spread of a fine Helper of a mall was found to be traveling on bus. Arriving at the mall he glanced at the never ending roof which seemed to touch the sky. As he entered the mall, he imagined that all the staff would greet him and congratulate him on his new job. But to his disappointment he saw no one standing for his welcome. So he made an excuse that they might be not informed that a new Helper would be arriving soon. He asked the cashier that where he could find the manager. On hearing this cashier replied "Of course in his room to the right". Asking this Max felt a bit stupid of himself on asking such a question as he stood at the door of the Manager room. He entered the office with a proud face and stood before his manager and excitedly said "I'm here at your service, now where would I find my cabin", this made manager a bit troubled and confirmed his name and his job and replied "Sorry there's no cabin for you" he called Tyson to show where Max would be performing his duty. Now Max thought that they were trying to test him before handing him such a delicate job. So he stood amidst all the different household provisions, he was amazed seeing all the different varieties available. Now the real problem was yet to come. A lady went to him and asked for the Diapers section, now instead of showing her the way he decided to take her himself to that portion and help her out. Now to his amazement he didn't found the helper available of that particular section and secretly said to himself "Now surely Max you would promote". Now the lady asked him to bring her some baby diapers with double protection. Well Max have heard the word Diapers before but never heard of "Double Protection", so he just brought her ordinary diapers, due to which lady again said "I need the one with protection", now Max got frustrated and argued her long that these were better than those and why she needed the protection and all. This act of his made the lady filled with anger and she rushed to the manager to complain. Now Max figured it out that he was in great trouble so he hid beside a box awaiting his fate. Soon he saw that same lady along with the manager coming towards him. Now as he looked here and there with fright he found "Double Protection" written on some packet, he quickly grabbed it and ran towards the lady handing her the packet. Now with rage and anger she said that she wanted Double Protected Diapers not Washing Detergent. Now in order to show some respect of himself in front of his manager he confidently said "Yes Maim, this is double protected washing detergent for washing the diapers which would definitely become double protected too". This foolish behavior of Max made the manager deduct his 40% salary and sent him out to take rest. Sad and frustrated Max not knowing where to go decided to take a walk through the hills and release his tensions. While going through the way he wished for some miracle to happen, or just for once he could get enough happiness which would be enough for his entire life. Suddenly he stepped on a shining lamp, he was sure enough that it would have some magical powers, and started rubbing it. And suddenly a smoky, blue colored Genie appeared before him. This event didn't made Max any nervous as he had imagined these things before. Well, the genie said "Ah! Thousand years trapped in a small lamp, can you believe it? Okay, so what is your one wish? Just one wish would be granted and after that I would be free, yes I would be free!" Max thought for the moment and wished "Every man in this world should be rich, no hunger should exist, all should live in harmony and peace", "As you wish my master" replying this, the genie disappeared. It seemed as if Max was in a dream, but this was found wrong as Max was awoken by his new maid and was offered his breakfast. Max knew that his wish was granted. Although Max had enough money, he decided to go to his job as he considered it greater than all his riches. So he got dressed up quickly and rushed to Clark, to get his shoes polished. But he was surprised to see that on the place of Clarks shop stood a huge, gigantic building. He went inside the building and saw Clark excitedly standing there. Max went straight to him and asked to polish his shoes, "Polish! Now I don't to it anymore. I own this big shoe factory" Frustrated Max decided to go to his job without polishing his shoes. Now another problem he faced was getting a Taxi. It seemed everyone had gotten rich. And now only Max understood what he had done wrong. And silently prayed for making everything back to normal, now suddenly the same genie appeared before Max and pledged "My master please take back your wish as I am no worth of these days. All have become rich and no one needs my free help" Max happily uttered "I take back my wish, make everything how it used to be" And Woosh! All was back to normal, now astonished genie asked "Master why did you gave your wish?, you were very rich, you could have lived happily ever after", "No my friend, what I really wanted, was to do my job, and before it all riches fail" replied Max with proud ness. He felt his job was everything. Now the genie vanished in the thin air, but on next morning Max found another surprise, a letter from his manager, which read "Sir, we are pleased to announce that you have been promoted to cashier's post as your idea of making Double protected Diapers was a great success and this idea had been sold at a huge rate" and with the letter he received 5000$.

Game of Life!!! As the shining sun swept down, welcoming moon, I along my younger brother Faheel and with my Cousin Adi, of my same age decided to have a trip to Sinone's Castle, to discover the undiscovered truth. Centuries passed and none tried to enter in this forbidden castle to explore the hidden-truth and then we did, to unearth the question, "Did the creatures of dark exist?" It was black evil night, and we were stunned by the gigantic view of the silent castle, awaiting its prey. But we knew that ghosts, vampires and witches never existed and all these were tales of old. And then we were, yet again astounded as our first step in the gloomy dungeon made us realize that the castle was much larger from inside then it looked from outer. The silent castle was separated by two narrow paths leading to the place never envisioned by any mortal man, and we decided to take the right passage. Great golden wooden gates were filled along the pathway, but there was one gate that fumed purple pink gas of strange scent. Adi tried to sneak pass the gate but, a wild enraged voice frightened us all directing us, "Come in young souls to my table!" That feminine harsh voice had an unnatural affect on our legs forcing them to enter that strange room. This lady seemed to be living since the age of dinosaurs, I doubt people like these were named witches. My brother, Faheel, grasped my hand as he feared the evil looking witch. I didn't really figured out why Adi mutely sat on one of the surrounding three tables just beside the horrible faced witch. And at that time I was yet again confused for there were only three chairs and we were three too. Did she knew that we were arriving was the question struck in my mind. "Let's play the game of life! One who gets the lowest number on the dice will be the loser, and his body shall be snatched from his soul" howled the witch. Still then, Adi was lost in his world of thoughts being mute and giving one dice to each of us. Faheel feared that something wasn't right here and urged me to return home. But at that time my hands had already rolled the dice getting No.5, and then suddenly I realized some external force made me roll them. And I believe this too happened to Faheel getting him No.3 and as he got conscious of the surrounding he cried to me fearing of getting the lowest number. But the witch rolled the dice getting No.6, now it was the turn of Adi, still being lost-somewhere. "1" was my anxious frightened eyes glanced on the rolled dice. At that time Adi woke up from his dream, he glanced here and there with tensed looking eyes and yelled me to run out. All of us dashed out of the room and managed to escape that deadly witch and to my astonishment she didn't try to stop us. But as we rushed to the way out, the whole map of the castle seemed to be changed. And to inject more fear upon us, someone cursed upon us a hungry pack of wild ferocious dogs chasing us to death. As we rushed, we passed series of gates on our way, but mostly all were opened, and we even tried to lock one door, but those creatures of dark seemed to get through the door as if they were made from darkish evil shadow and kept hunting us till our last breath was not taken out. "They are after me; I'm what they want, I lost that game, and now it is only me who could stop them" Adi said this in a serious and deep tone. Then as I glanced back yet running with Faheel, I saw Adi locking himself in past one of the doors with tears rolling down as waved us good bye. And, in the next few seconds, all I could listen was, the slashing sound of his flesh being ripped and sighted the dark reddish blood overflowing the room from beneath the closed door. I did see some tears of sorrow and fear upon my brother's eyes. And I was shocked too that he didn't scream being brave. Adi, my cousin, my best friend forfeited his life for our safety and that I could have never forgotten even if I died. Faheel again grasped my hand and made me promise him that I will safely lead him home, and that I willingly did, no matter what it took. And then we kept moving further and further, until I saw that huge metal door, the door from which we came in, far beyond that strange thin fog. At that time I could see the happiness on Faheel's face being delighted. It was like a dream for him to come true as he beyond any doubt had once lost all his hope. But as we moved further, I observed that there was an enormous pit before the door as if the earth had set itself apart. And below that pit were the unimaginable long venomous snakes waiting for our fall. There was nothing I could do at that moment to get past that pit towards the freedom gate. All my hopes of returning were falling down. But Faheel didn't get bothered as he knew that I would find a way out as I promised him for I never betrayed his trust. At that time I wanted to cry all out but I couldn't, and suddenly I felt a cold hand upon my shoulder from behind. I got shocked and Faheel did scream as a short hunched back man was standing beside me having red flaming evil eyes. He didn't speak much, but handed me there a note which I secretly read. After reading, I glanced upon my brother rolling a silent tear, which I fear he did see, and then I readily signed the paper. I had to sell my body, to that man for the freedom of my brother. My brother did force me to show him the paper, but I didn't, for I feared that I had lost all my courage before his painful tears that I could no more witness. I tightened my handkerchief upon his eyes and told him that all would be back to normal. Then I was quite ready, the evil man sucked my soul out and all I could feel was a thundering whack upon my head and after few seconds all normal to me. As I focused back, I saw my body thrown down the pit and becoming a delicious feast for the black snakes. Then I heard my brother beside me weeping and asking, "What was that sound brother?" yet being blindfolded. I, in a weak tone reasoned that it was the evil man who fell in the pit. As I spoke those words, I could see the evil grin on the man's face getting broader and wider as if he was enjoying every bit of it. I silently grasped my brother and flew past the pit and out the gate leaving the man behind and my dead bones too. My brother unfolded his eyes and stared me as if he understood every single thing. He pledged me to come back home, but I couldn't. I was bounded to be in this castle. Soon he realized that I was dead. He cried and sobbed and wept as long as he could, but neither his cries nor his tears could do any good. Now at that particular time, I made him promise that he would take great care of mother and home and he readily did. As he didn't decide to leave, I did, and slowly vanished amid the air to the castle, my dungeon, sighting his last drops of tears that rolled down upon the silent earth. Today I along with Adi, wonder if this castle is a link between the peaceful earth and the dark evil hell and if we could ever be free, yet still playing with the evil witch as we have nothing more to loose now, silently, awaiting-You!

UNSOLVED MYSTERY What if I didn't had the desire to love animals, or if I didn't met that dazzling blue wolf with green eyes, or if I didn't brought it here in my office feeling guilty, I wouldn't have suffered like this or remained unanswered forever…. It was 7 o'clock in morning while I was busy in patrolling the Forest of Black Island. It was tough job as being a Forest Officer to patrol through that thick forest. Because one can expect anything at anytime to appear, especially this particular jungle was not properly described in any of the guides or maps. No one knew what types of creatures reside there. And here me and my teammates were to discover the undiscovered. At sharp 10 o'clock while I was near the lake, I saw a wolf with majestic green eyes, eyes so magical as if it was trying to attract me towards itself. I just stood there as if I was stuck staring at its magical eyes knowing that creature was coming towards me to attack me. As soon as it got hold of my left arm with its long, sharp fangs I some how regained my consciousness and struggled towards my gun. I threw the wolf away with all the might I had and fired in the air as to make that wolf frightened, but something strange happened. That wolf ran about a foot away from me and then – stared at me. I knew something was wrong, somehow my senses said it would again attack me. I didn't want to fire at that beautiful strange creature, but I had to. Instead I attacked its legs so that at least it could survive. After firing, I again saw its green eyes piercing into mine; doing some magic and making myself feel guilty for what I had done. I could hear my inner sole blaming me for what I had done, that wolf was somehow protecting itself. Feeling pity on it I brought that wolf into my office for treatment and to learn more about these new creature's of wolves. My team mates whole heartedly loved that creature and took good care of it. One of my teammate interrogated me of the injury I had on my arm. I just completely forgot of that. How was that possible? I rushed towards our medicine room to get an antidote before it was too late. But it was already too late. I should have figured that out, but I didn't. After that night, I woke up and suddenly saw my teammate rushing towards me looking worried and fearful. Without letting me to speak he quickly summoned that Johnny was found dead. I couldn't believe his words, how could that happen? He was one of the youngest officers we had. I quickly got up and went where he was lying. I saw all other teammates with fearful eyes. Johnny's body was full of scratches as if some big wild cat had attacked him to death. Someone among the officers said it would be that wolf we brought, "But how could that be?" I asked, "That poor creature has injured legs and is locked up in the cage, he couldn't possibly come out of it all by himself." This made all speechless over there. And this case was handed over to the police and Dr. Richard. This poor doctor knew everything about cats and their types, so he wanted all the officers to call him Dr. Wolverine. But no one did as they didn't like his attitude. At the very next morning one policeman was found to be dead with the same scratches found on his body as on Johnny's. This made Doctor somehow suspicious on the wolf which I brought. While he was interrogating me on the wolf, he kept staring at my injured palm. Before he could ask me anything about it I said him that it was caused by the wolf who attacked me in the forest. I still couldn't figure out why he was now getting suspicious on me. Maybe his face was like that and that's the reason that being a doctor he acted as if he was a detective. I went straight to my bed and stared at my palm. What made him so suspicious about my palm? Soon Dr. Richard came in and said that after all the research on the wolf he had come to know who the killer was. "Who," I asked amazed. He replied, "It is YOU, all this killings are because of YOU" I stood there dazzled, he continued, "You see that scratch on your palm, that's no ordinary scratch, its caused by a magical cursed creature from hell to YOU. Every night, at midnight you change into a wolf like creature and attack people or you could say you become – werewolf." "What rubbish is that. How could I change into a werewolf? These are all the saying of past. And even if I kill all the people around here how could I not remember all this. Do I get BRAIN WASHED every time?" I shouted back at him. "Don't worry we would go to one great expert tomorrow, he may cure you." He went away saying this in fright and terror as I shouted to him in anger. I stood there puzzled. How could I attack anyone and then suddenly forget all, no that's not possible and doesn't even make any sense to me. I quickly grabbed my Movie Camera, placed it on the shelf pointing towards me, so that I could see tomorrow morning what was really happening to me. But I didn't knew even If I could see tomorrow's sun. I tried to make myself awake the whole night, but somehow sleepiness got hold of me …… Next thing I remember is that I woke up with extreme pain in my chest …and that pain was leading me to death. I felt a bullet in me somewhere. Slowly I opened my eyes and saw myself somehow lying outside our office. And slowly recognized Dr. Richard with two policemen holding guns in their hand and some of my teammates standing with fearful, pity and sorrowful eyes staring at me. I could hardly speak, but got enough courage to ask my last question, "Why…why did ya all….. do this to meh?" hearing this one of my best pal started sobbing and hugged me hard and said, "This bad… BAD doctor told that there was no cure for ya- except death, forgive me my friend I couldn't do anything…forgive me..…" Soon Dr. Richard replied, "Sorry my friend, I called Mr. Thomson yesterday and told all about you, but he said that there was no cure for you. We had to kill you as you were going to attack me here, DON'T ya remember anything?" I slightly nodded and slowly felt all fading away from me and found my eyes getting weaker …and weaker….and weaker Now I sit here at this dim graveyard with my green eyes blue wolf and patting him, still wondering why they killed me and this little poor creature as I never attacked them. What wrong had I or even this creature done to them? How could they do this to me- to their best friend?