There'sALetterFor-28Feb2021

35 ‘Love you lots - you can spare some to appa if you like. Your loving daughter, Archana Sriram

36 Dr Dipima Buragohain Dr Dipima Buragohain is an academician with more than ten years of academic and industrial experience in India as well as abroad. Hailed from Gargaon, Assam, she has earned her PhD in Linguistics from Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2011 and is currently associated with a public university in China. Motivated to explore new domains of learning, she wishes to continue her ardent academic interests of exploring and understanding the missing and fading links of language, culture, and people. She also has her profound inquisitiveness in creative writing which she keeps exploring, learning, and improving. Apart from academic research, she has published her collections of short stories and poems. An inquisitive soul with a learner’s mind, she enjoys exploring new places, meeting new people, and making new friends while making creative memories of it.

37 Dear Jasin Dear Jasin, hope the sky greets you Just like yesterday of those years When we conversed with words in queue And our laughter blasted into tears. I feel grey hair suits you well now With a few strands dancing away In the untamed breeze the roads allow To giggle with silent thoughts and sway. Do you remember throwing alien poems To reply to my serendipitous verses Or how musical rainbow shower that was Which bridged our distance and made it collapse? The island crowd still revel with Laksa bowls But I do miss our voluble evening strolls Calming the restless souls to the core Oh, where are those sunsets we had before? The fading rays would slip through your fingers To slowly touch my palm and rest for a while As the waves roar and recede, the moon lingers Around to welcome the stars for a smile. Those are the very nights I await to relish Wishing to see you again on the beach I cherish. DIPIMA BURAGOHAIN

38 Shwetha Ramachandran lives in Denver, Colorado, United States. She is a Certified Public Accountant(CPA) in the US and is working as an Accountant for a Non- profit company. Her hobbies include dancing and cooking. Her recent interest is in fitness and learning about healthy lifestyle. She has also learnt Carnatic Music and has performed at various events and won many prizes. In her free time, she likes to experiment with cooking different cuisines at home with fresh ingredients. In the past, she has worked as a content writer, editor and proof reader for a small company based in Delhi. She has written onvaried topics requiring SEO content. Shwetha Ramachandran

39 Rocky Mountain High As I drive through the highway, in the distance I see you standing tall, Bemused by your majestic grandeur, Oh Rocky Mountains, you captivate my soul! The charisma you gave to Colorado is beyond compare, Living in this place feels next to heaven, Oh Rocky Mountains you captivate my soul! The sprawling valleys and the sparkling lakes, are not just a part of you, They make their way into my heart, Oh Rocky Mountains you captivate my soul! Plentiful trails and hikes let me explore your inner beauties, The scenic views give me peace and tranquility. Oh Rocky Mountains you captivate my soul! The Elk, the Moose, the Bighorn sheep, they all graze in your greens, And give me an exhilarating experience Oh Rocky Mountains you captivate my soul! As the snow falls and forms a blanket over you, you shine with pride, The snow capped peaks make me yearn for you. Oh Rocky Mountains you captivate my soul!

40 You have the most 14ers that are difficult to climb, Yet you have so many visitors yearning to conquer. Oh Rocky Mountains you captivate my soul! You change your attire as seasons come and go, Autumn is when you shine like gold. Oh Rocky Mountains you captivate my soul! Shwetha Ramachandran

41 Madhuram Prabhakar, is originally from Chennai, now a Canadian citizen, living with her husband and two smart boys, ages 15 and 10. She is a food blogger since 2008. Her passion is egg-free and vegan baking and her website (www.EgglessCooking.com) and recipes have been featured in Fox News, MSN, and many magazines too. She has an awesome sense of humor and it reflects in her writing in Tamil and the memes she creates and has created a following for herself on Facebook. This is her first time trying creative writing in English upon the motivation from her Computer Science teacher from high school, Mrs. Rameswari Kubendran. Madhuram Prabhakar

42 Finally, I have found a way… (My Not So) Dear F**, I'm not going to beat around the bush with lame pleasantries like \"How have you been? It is been ages since we last met. Hope this letter keeps you in good health\" and all such blah..blah..blah...because the reality is - you have never been away from me - for me to ask you all those questions courteously. So, let me dive right into the real purpose of this letter. Why do you love me so much even though I despise you with all my heart? When do you plan to leave me for good? Can't you even try to humor me? Is it difficult for you to find another host as warm, welcoming, and wonderful as me? Or are you confident that you won't find one and have decided to be with me forever? Till death do us part, maybe? If I remember right, you slowly sneaked up on me right after moving to the US after my marriage in May 2003. That's 17 years now! Wow! That's a long-term relationship we share! Occasionally, I've even been away from my husband vacationing in India. However, you never left my side, even during those brief holidays. You grew on me more as my family and friends were stuffing me with their love. No wonder you're deeply attached to me and don't want to leave me!

43 Every year, every season, I would try whatever was in trend at that time to get rid of you. After each attempt, you would let go of me just a tiny bit, giving me the false hope that I was doing something right. However, the moment I let my guard off and reveled in my victory, you would creep back in with even more vigor and persistence. What do I owe you for your unwavering loyalty? Have I told you that you are my Bodhi tree? You have enlightened me in more ways than you can comprehend. The books I have read, the videos I have watched, the classes I have enrolled in, the time, energy, and money I have spent, all searching for the solution to emancipate me from you! Oh my! I have gathered a lot of information and gained more knowledge on this subject than any other. Maybe I should write a book or test the waters by writing an article in an anthology! Are you aware that I have started a crusade against you since Nov 1st? Mission 15 is the name of the operation. I know what you're probably thinking: \"You always come up with cool titles and an action plan, but you'll only follow it for two weeks at the most and then go back to your old habits, and I will emerge stronger than before. So, stop trying.\" Let me warn you that this time around, it's going to be different. I have Yoga

44 and Dinacharya as my tools, along with another secret weapon in my arsenal. I have started doing the following - wake up at 4 am every day. Drink a liter of water before 5 am. Do my workout routine between 5 am, and 6 am. Take a shower and get ready to attend the online yoga class between 6.30 am and 7.30 am. Have a healthy breakfast between 8 am and 9 am. Prepare a healthy lunch and dinner too. Again, in the evening, I try to get in some physical activity for 45 minutes. I wisely use my time while I work out these days. Earlier I was listening to music, but nowadays, I try to do a double whammy by listening to inspiring, motivational podcasts while I exercise. Half the time, they're about how to get rid of you. So, trust me when I say,\"You're in big trouble this time, mister!\" Nothing can stop me now! To quote Russell Peters, \"Somebody gonna get hurt real bad\", and it ain't me! \"Learn to live with Corona\" is the mantra everyone is following these days. Even before that phrase became popular, actually, for years now, I have learned to live with you. I thought I was destined to be stuck with

45 you. I thought there was no recourse. I was convinced that there is no point trying anymore. Out of nowhere, when I was least expecting, there came a tiny ray of hope in the form of intermittent fasting. Finally, I feel like I have found something that works, and I can follow for the rest of my life. Coupled with Yoga, Dinacharya, exercises all put together this time I'm going to rock it! Welcome fasting! So long, my not so dear fat! Happily ever after, Madhuram Prabhakar

46 Yashaswi Sekhar Yashaswi Sekhar lives in the USA. She is twelve years old and is in Grade 7. Some of her interests include painting, drawing, music/playing instruments, swimming, dancing and martial arts. She loves practising Taekwondo, a Korean martial art. She likes painting landscapes. Piano and Viola are her favorite instruments. She knows a little bit of Ukulele, and Guitar as well. She has participated in Robotics and STEM competitions and greatly enjoys them. She has also taken part in Math and spelling competitions and has stood out. Some of her remarkable traits include leadership and teamwork. She loves poetry and creative writing.

47 This poem is written for my little cousin who is in my aunt’s tummy. I’m really excited since he’s the child of my favorite uncle, my mom’s brother. He’s has always been there for me and loved me no matter what and I’m so lucky to have him.

48 Dear Baby Brother, We’re counting down the days for you to come out so, I can teach you all the things I know most about I’ll hug you; I’ll lift you and maybe even squish you I’ll hold you; I’ll love you and when we’re apart, I’ll miss you I can’t wait until you talk, all the stories you will tell. Soon you’ll be able to walk, read and write as well. I’ll play with you when you cry; you’ll be a tiny, sweet baby boy I’ll dress you up and get you toys; you will bring me so much joy I hope you remember everything we do Because time doesn’t pass for me like it does for you Soon enough you’ll be all grown up and your baby self will be gone You’ll be able to tie your shoelaces and zip your jacket on You will pack your bag and get ready for your first day of school But your little monkey self might break some tiny rules As we grow together, I will love you more and more Time will wash away like tiny shells on the shore I know you will grow into a kind and loving boy And when you grow up, I hope you can say that you’ve enjoyed You will spread your wings and fly high like a dove And I just want you to know I’ll give you all my love. Yashaswi

49 The Lone Wolf Dear pups, I will tell you about a wolf so happy in a pack but decided to wander away and couldn’t find his way back On the silent night not even the birds chirp, they’ve gone back to their home The moonlight shines on the single lone wolf that is stranded in the woods alone The pain of the wolf matches no other, it has been separated from its pack And sorrow fills the poor wolf’s heart as it can’t find its way back The wolf never knew this sorrowful pain until it was torn apart And now that pain fills it up draining all the warmth from its heart. The wolf howled for days and nights, greater and greater the pain. But all the cries were lost in the wind and it slowly started to rain It rained for days it rained for nights the winter coming near But still the wolf didn’t give up hope, into the night it peered. Many days passed. The wolf grew hungry and the love in its heart grew deep On the next silent night, it’s life drained away and it went into an eternal sleep You little pups need to know you are safer with your pack Learn to live together and watch each other’s backs Without branches there is no tree Without a queen there are no bees Do not let yourself be gone For you are stronger together than you are alone. Mamma Dog

50 Nisha Tandon Nisha Tandon, a bilingual poetess has marked her name in poetry with her soulful poetry. An entrepreneur by profession, Nisha Tandon has used her life experience in a well-articulated and rhythmic tone in her poetry. Starting her poetic journey with her first collection, \"Footprints; she has come a long way in her credentials as a poetess. She has successfully published her second book, \"Chand Ehsaas\" this time in Hindi. Currently residing in Dubai, she has been an individual with various attributes. Apart from holding a reputed position in an HR & Training Consulting Firm, she has worked in hotels, educational institutions, and corporate entities. She has recently completed her new book of poetry, \"Myriad of Emotions.\" In more recent times she has been featured as a winner in a number of Facebook blogging portals in English and Hindi like, Asian Literary Society, Momspresso, Plethora Blogazine, Penmancy, United by Ink, Ink Dew Publications and Kalamanthan.

51 Age Old Charm of Dubai O Dubai! From a desert city to a mirage of skyscrapers you are such a contrast But it is your old City that holds all the mystical charm I have strolled your narrow lanes and often wondered How familiar the strangers seem, whom I once encountered Their affable glances exchanged are so heart-warming Their way of engaging buyers, is inimitably enthralling I cannot resist but halt to see the artefacts so well sculptured And the intriguing experiences in my lens are well captured The authentic eateries, the gold Souq bling and vendors galore One cannot resist the attraction as they entice you to the core Old Dubai, you are a window into the vibrant daily lives Of the city’s locals who throng the place with their well clad wives Your Old Town is home to age old traditions Right on the bank of the saltwater creek it is well positioned One tends to go back in time to a vibrant neighbourhood That is still full of abras, dhows, and spice souks

52 soak up the scents, sights and sounds of spices at the souk Experiencing the hustle bustle and chaos in every nook I often coat my fingers in the spices and breathe in the yellow of the saffron Each time returning to this mayhem is now an undying passion The ancient, colourfully decorated wooden dhows are loaded It is right here where many success stories were reported The creek is something that encapsulates a bygone era Abra ride across the creek brings in a strange nostalgia Of old architecture and the modern elevations, you are such a perfect blend Loitering around street corners, time one can easily spend You are although an epitome of modernization as times fly But the creek shall forever remain the heart of you, futuristic Dubai. Nisha Tandon

53 Dear Dazzling Dubai !!! Dear Dazzling Dubai, There is a very apt quote for you! “You name it, Dubai has it. And if it does not have it, it is building it!” You indeed are a land of superlatives, Dubai. Complaisant, charismatic, and progressive are words that rightly describe you. I can just say one thing time and again – “You surprise me”. Every time I see, there is something new and exciting about you. From a stranded, deserted stretch of land, to a booming oasis now, you are rightly regarded as “marvellous materialization of a far-sighted vision” - the one crafted under exceptional and exemplary leadership of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Dubai - You are a prosperous nation that not only created a bustling platform of business and trade, but also brought in values of morality, kindness, inclusiveness and peace in a bid to help others in need, keeping the cultural values of the country intact. Dubai - You have not only matched up with the world in terms of technology, infrastructure, and architecture, but have left it far behind in

54 many aspects. A glorious land with magnificent sand dunes, towering skyscrapers, picturesque beaches, you are a dramatic spectacle throughout the city. You run along the coast of the Persian Gulf, situated between the sea and the mountains. You have always been a Shopper’s paradise and of late a thronging tourist destination as well. Lying within the Arabian Desert, luxurious and ultra-new urban architecture combines for a unique experience. You have provided golden opportunities to those who love to work in a multicultural environment and exceeded their expectations. You always revel in a ministry of happiness. You have established a secure, tolerant, cohesive, and ethical society that embraces happiness, a positive lifestyle and high quality of life. Focussing on developing programmes to prepare future generations to serve as the UAE’s goodwill ambassadors, you encourage and promote women’s participation in all sectors, making it one of the best places to live in the world. I recall my first trip here in 2002 with fondness. So much has changed since then. I always found you way ahead in terms of convenience, be it the public facilities, mall visits or the excursion trips. You have ensured that the residents and visitors have the best experiences. We always

55 dreamt of living here and this dream materialized in 2014 when we relocated from India in the hope for better opportunities for the children and you did not disappoint. You not only provided them opportunities in academic excellence but also in other fields to hone their skills. On recommendation of SPJ Sadhana school, my daughter’s school in Mumbai, we relocated here to provide Anoushka a change in the environment and exposure to different culture and lifestyle. Anoushka, diagnosed with Down Syndrome, is now 17 years old. In 2016 HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates introduced the term “People of Determination” to describe people who were formerly called people with special needs. You have announced a policy for empowering people with disabilities to protect their needs and rights to enable them to live their life with dignity. As an effort to create an inclusive environment your government has provided them with the best facilities in the field of medicine, transportation, education, employment, and rehabilitation. It has been seven years and she has got exposure to several extra-curricular activities that enhanced her confidence, self-dependency which overshadowed the shortcomings hindering her growth. She attends Horse Riding classes, Aqua Aerobics, Swimming, Dancing with Shimak Davar

56 Academy, Baseball, and many other outdoor activities with a fully inclusive Talent Academy-Rising Stars. The list is endless. Offering a great sense of security to those who move in with apprehensions about coming into new country with different culture, you make a statement of being the safest place in the Middle East for tourists and residents alike. The laws laid out by you are very stringent and that is why the crime rates are virtually non-existent. When it comes to a choice of cuisines, you offer a wide variety from across the globe along with the exotic flavours and aromas of the authentic Middle Eastern cuisine. Homegrown and Global Brands look forward to seek your platform to enhance their values. You are a perfect blend of the traditional and contemporary feel with elegance. You, being one of the most stylish, luxurious, efficient, multicultural, convenient, and futuristic cities in the world, have come a long way since you were created in 1971, practically from scratch. Yet, that describes your amazing metamorphosis into what is today the epitome of opulence among cities in the world. A trip here and one can experience unparalleled luxury and is left asking for more.

57 Our last 7 years have been wonderful, and I always owe my gratitude to you for making us feel at home. We have seen the ups and downs together in the past few years but have bounced back successfully with optimism to sail through the current one too. I know this would be just another milestone as excellence is a journey for you and you continuously keep surpassing your own expectations, always aspiring to keep increasing the bar of things the Best Cities can do … with a strong belief in: “Do not follow where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and create one for others to follow” My Dubai – Hats Off to all helping you in your journey! Yours, Nisha Tandon

58 Pranesh has been living in the United States roughly over 2 years now. He has a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and is currently a Software Engineer at Microsoft. He’s extremely passionate about aircrafts, cars and computers. Networking is one of his biggest strengths – he loves meeting new people and forming connections. If you ever need advice on vacation getaways or restaurant suggestions, he’s your guy. Pranesh

59 Success Mantra Dear Aspiring friends, I am writing this letter to you to talk about how Georgia Tech helped me groom myself. It helped me achieve some of my exquisite dreams. This is one way of expressing my gratitude to the institution. Since my early teenage days, I’ve always been fascinated about cars and technology. I started dreaming of driving sporty cars, staying at exotic hotels and travelling to different cities across the globe. As time went by, I started becoming more inquisitive about computers and robotics, which is when I realized that Engineering would be the right track for me. Being one of the failed aspirants to get into the prestigious IITs, every single day of my engineering life used to be a constant reminder. I tried not to let it affect me and worked hard to build skills that would help me become a good engineer. I was aspiring to get into a prestigious university to pursue my Masters to get good exposure and make my dreams come true. Subsequently, all my efforts had helped me get into Georgia Institute of Technology. I will always remember how happy I was when I got my admit letter.

60 Life isn’t always sweet, is it? Setbacks are a part of life, that helps make victory taste sweeter. A major setback I had was I lacked clarity in what I wanted to do - I always knew what I liked and disliked but could never connect the dots. During my initial stint at Georgia Tech, I started to see how motivated and confident people were at Georgia Tech. It inspired me to be confident in the path that I take, and also gave me new ideas on what I could pursue. This helped me realize my passion for Distributed Systems. Although, getting into that track was an onerous task, as I was from a core Electrical background. Despite this intractable transition, I was constantly motivated and inspired by people doing marvelous things around me. I was presented with multiple challenging opportunities to build my foundations and concepts. Moreover, I was constantly engaging with professors with a lot of experience in these areas. It is with their support that I was able to dive deeper. As I kept diving into the new area, I still lacked some essential pieces that were pertinent for cracking interviews. As the internship hunt season begun, I saw people around me bagging multiple offers, while I was

61 struggling to clear initial phases of the interviews. This took a toll on me and I kept losing confidence and faith in myself. My peer group helped me regain my confidence and showed me that the most important thing is to keep working hard and filling the gaps that I had to crack those interviews. I managed to get into a small company eventually. Nonetheless, my dream to get into the big tech names was still alive. I kept working really hard like never before. I wanted to achieve my goal and kept focusing on my targets and never gave up. At the start of the job hunt season, I kept failing but kept chugging along. I started getting interviews from all the big names. I took them one at a time and kept focusing on them. I started becoming adept in cracking interviews and ended up getting offers from all of the big names. Ultimately giving me a chance to work on one of the most complex distributed systems that is being used by across the globe – thereby helping me make an impact on a global level. When I took the walk during my convocation, I felt proud and self- confident, and realized that my regrets of failing to get into the IITs were long gone. I could have never asked for a better environment with plenty

62 of challenging opportunities and a wonderful platform to become a seasoned engineer. Soon enough, I was able to visit my dream cities – Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City. Moreover, I was able to do so many other activities that I’ve always dreamt of – Skydiving, driving a sports car in a race track. I could’ve never imagined that within a year of graduating from Georgia Tech, I would have been able to get all of these things that I’ve wanted in life. A word of advice to my friends - never give up your dreams, and always believe in yourself even at your nadir. Keep fighting hard and working hard and you will definitely accomplish your goals. I feel the point of paramount to achieve success in life is to realize your passion. Try doing a juxtaposition between things you love to do and your strengths; find the sweet spot which highlights your interests/strengths and gives you room to work on your weaknesses. Once you find your passion, connect with it and keep working on it till you get there. Life is full of surprises and you will always encounter barricades and hurdles, defeat them with endurance. There’s no joy if there’s no obstacle, is there?

63 I was provided the best platform I could ever ask for and I’m grateful for being given a chance. I would like to end this letter by telling you one cardinal tenet that I understood “All it takes to be a successful engineer is to learn how to learn.” Affectionately, Pranesh

Sneha Gosain 64 Sneha Gosain is an Indian national, who resides in the UAE. A number-cruncher by the day and an avid reader by night, she believes that all it takes to truly discover one’s own self, is a pen and a piece of paper. She has won several accolades in her name. A few tomention are – She is a proud graduate with a first-class B.A (Hons.), an ACCA Affiliate and an All-India rank holder in her higher-secondary education. ‘Make your choices before they are made for you’ is her success mantra which reinforces her outlook that in the face of difficulty, one must make prompt decisions and accept the situation as is. Purposeful travel satisfies the soul and expands the mental horizon, and from her travels abroad, she has gathered insightful experiences which have helped mature her understanding of life. This very submission is her maiden attempt as a contributing writer to the anthology, and the content of the letter comes from her own travel experience. It was her childhood ambition to become a writer and she is grateful to the Impish Lass Publishing House for presenting the opportunity that fulfills her dream.

65 An Unforgettable Trip To, The Journal of Travel Experiences 20/01/2021 Subject: Crowded, mystifying and foreign It had been a rather busy morning for the five of us who were homebound after spending a merry week in the heart of Europe. From exploring the wonderous waterfalls at Plitvice unto sinking in the glorifying beauty of Spodnje Gorge, the hustle and bustle of the busy life back home was not recalled by any of us for a split second. You indeed are a land of superlatives, Dubai. Complaisant, charismatic, and progressive are words that rightly describe you. After being warmly seen off by our host, the cabbie started to tell us how the morning was unpleasantly cold and the weather was expected to worsen through the day. Coming from a warmer region, we were not accustomed to the cold anyway, so we sat close together while pulling our jumpers even closer.

66 The four-hour long rafting stint on the day before had left us tired and the chilly winds were freezing us further. An hour elapsed whilst we admired the beauty that the Bled town of Slovenia was! Having arrived at Ljubljana in time, we headed over to a burger joint where I grabbed a filling meal and gulped it down with a bottle of cold-drink, not realizing that the frigid weather and the icy drink might not be an agreeable blend. After a slightly long wait at the terminal, we hopped into our Flixbus heading over to Zagreb, from where we were to catch the flight back home. The border checks were swiftly completed and we reached our destination without any hassle. The bus to the airport was post half an hour so the girls and I decided to buy confectionary to take back home. The rays of sunshine did make us feel warmer and the busy bus station alerted us that the mountain days would now be pleasant memories until we make our way back again. A couple of porters, people queuing for last minute reservations and the local workers were noticeable apart from the bunch of tourists like us. At the corner exit on the way, donning indistinct spectacles, we saw an aged man who was seated on a wheelchair while we headed over to the famous chocolatier who was shut owing to the public holiday and settled on procuring the supplies from a nearby supermarket instead.

67 We were lucky enough to get the limited-edition variety manufactured by the very same chocolatier and quickly had the packets billed whilst hurriedly placing them in our bags. I cleared the bill by card instead of utilizing the spare cash, just to maintain a safety buffer until we reached the airport. A weighty bag on my back, with a brimming package in one hand and dragging the luggage with the other, I struggled to keep pace with my fellow travelers who were way swifter in steering back to the Zagreb coach terminal for boarding our final bus to the airport. Struggling to manage the multiple bags and packages all at once, I somehow caught up with my travel mates. We boarded the airport shuttle and began to hand over our luggage to the driver. Seated comfortably, I looked out of the window. Not sure of what wave of awareness passed through, I decided to ensure that my belongings were safe and sound. To my utter shock, I realized that the whole pouch with my wallet and travel documents was missing! I instantly hopped off the bus, frantically looking at every corner of the ground in close proximity to the bus until my head started to whirl. The girls sensed that something was extremely wrong and ran after me.

68 Having realized the urgency of the situation, they started searching for my missing belongings as well. In the meanwhile, I made my way back to the supermarket, crossing the porters, tourists, bus drivers and the handicapped old man with dark glasses who responded with a blank stare at my face which portrayed the horrendous situation that I was in. The mystifying surroundings in this foreign land coupled with the crowded locality had begun to make me realize that the true journey might have just begun! To my dismay, I was unable to locate any clue that could lead me to my passport and the cashier at the supermarket gave me a cold-shoulder when I enquired about my missing possessions. Shattered and hopeless, I sat in the waiting room while two of my friends tried to comfort me. The other two were still hopeful and kept looking around. The last bus was to depart to the airport in a few minutes and I asked my friends to return. Screaming and shouting from the other end of the waiting room, my other mates came running over with the pouch which I grabbed without a second thought and enfolded it dearly. All the important documents except the spare cash were present and we all heaved a sigh of relief.

69 Losing the documents altogether felt like losing my entire identity in a foreign land with nowhere to go and reminiscing that half an hour of my travel tale gives me goosebumps. To this day, it puzzles me when I come to think of how the pouch was flicked from my zipped backpack and left off at a random corner, indistinct yet noticeable for my travel mates to bring it back to me. Was it one of the porters, a roadside thief or the sinister old fellow with a network of bandits? Disregarding the similar thousands of thoughts that would have run through my mind when I found my lost stuff, I said to myself, “home is calling, and I must go”! Yours sincerely, Sneha Gosain

70 Chris Hemingway is a Librarian from East Haven, CT, USA and the author of \"The Day the Bull Lived: And Other Poems.\" He is currently working on a sequel, \"The Night the Bull Slept.\" He received his Bachelor Degree in Political Science and History from the University of Connecticut and his Master's Degree in Library Science from Southern Connecticut State University. He is a notary public and holds certification as a medical librarian. Chris Hemingway

71 Dear Wise Owl, The Cry of The Owl By your deep calm side Peacefully, disturbs the strange moon Over seas, hills, and woods The distant sea withdraws your anger Of boundaries drawn from within Descends your cry Over this populous village lies your kingdom This land of struggle, this land of pain Clashes armies of tranquil human misery Full and round above the earth's topiaries The eternal sadness below Knows not your cry Swept not with servitude but with incandescent light Bright-edge pickled hands reach For your dreams not shown Inside tall mountain-tops shown forth fire Irreplaceable of its mighty soul from heavenly acclaim Fears not your cry With admiration, An onlooker below

72 To a Street Sweeper by Night To a Street Sweeper by Night I saw thee once and looked onward in form The ecstatic death of roses enchanted your presence In sorrow and slumber there fell with quietude Upturned souls half-white and veil stricken of light A full July orbed-moon gave fate thy own mistress and save only happy flowers and lust partitions in view The wild lifted soul dances the waltz for thee And sublime illuminations and sanctity As Venus looks down from the languid world sky Glide away! Be gone from your existence The lonely pathway that remains Exists only in the night entombed in your soul My fondest farewells, The Moonlit Sky

73 Anish Jayakrishna Anish Jayakrishna is a 10-year-old kid who is in grade 5. He lives in Canada with his family. He was motivated to contribute seeing the passion rendered by his mom and elder brother to contribute for the anthology. Some of his hobbies include playing the guitar which he has been learning for more than 3 years. He has taught himself to play many songs watching YouTube tutorials. He also likes to draw. He has drawn lots of famous characters ever since he was 4 years old, learning from YouTube videos and creating a couple of comics, including his own characters. Anish is also an excellent Chess player and spends a lot of his time learning new strategies. Some of his favorite subjects include math and social studies. Last year Anish came first in the world out of the 7500 participants (9 and 10-year- olds) in an online Math competition. He likes learning about history, especially World War II. That’s why he has chosen to write about one of the many historical fictions he has read for this anthology series.

74 Dear Eshan, A Book Worth Reading How are you? I hope you are doing well. What are you planning to do during this Christmas break? I happened to read historical fiction book titled Allies, by Alan Gratz. I have read other novels by him such as “Refugee,” “Grenade,” and “PROJEKT-1065”. They are all about World War II. I want to share my thoughts about “Allies,” and maybe you will also read it during the winter break. This book is about the invasion of Normandy, France, on Omaha beach. It takes place on June 6th, 1944 - commonly referred to as D-day. The main characters are Dee, Sid, Henry, Dorothy, Monique, and Samira. Dee and Sid were in the USA military. They both hated the Nazis, and their acts, so they enlisted in the army. Dee though was only 16 years old was allowed to fight. Dee and Sid were best friends, but Dee didn’t want Sid to know that he was a German. Henry was a black medic in the US military; he was supposed to help only black soldiers. He could not resist but help the white soldiers when he

75 heard their cries seeking medical attention. Monique was a 13-year-old French girl who lived in a hut near the beach which was being invaded. She had been hearing many people shout for medical help, but nobody coming to assist the injured soldiers. Meanwhile she ran into Dorothy, a United States reporter who went undercover as a medic. Then, the two started helping soldiers even though they weren’t supposed to because of their gender. Samira was the daughter of a French Resistance fighter. Her parents were captured, so she hid with the other French Resistance fighters. Three main ships were part of the invasion, and they had soldiers from many countries. The landing was a complete disaster because there wasn’t that much backup. Dee and Sid landed in two different places where the Germans had flooded. Dee had heavy weapons to hold on his back, so he took them off and swam to the sand. He couldn’t find Sid. Dee hid with many soldiers behind a boulder, and then they took out the German defenses. He then found Sid and gave him a gun. Dee, Sid, and the other soldiers journeyed through France, and they found a place where German bunkers were; and they shot all the Nazis who were

76 guarding, and then they took out the defenses. Meanwhile, Henry was running around, saving other soldiers’ lives. A person had stepped on a mine that the Germans had planted, and he showed up at Henry’s setup. He teased Henry for being black and said a lot of racial slurs. Henry didn’t care because all he wanted for was the Nazis to lose. Monique and Dorothy got caught by a soldier when helping the soldiers in need. After a lengthy conversation, they were let out. Dorothy and Monique now ran into Dee, who was shot in the leg. They treated him. Later, Dee and the other soldiers took out German defences. Soon after, the Nazis surrendered because their bunkers were destroyed. They went back to Germany. Before the Nazis left, they lit a church filled with people on fire. Dee revealed to Sid that he was a German. Sid had his gun pointed straight at Dee. Sid shot, but it didn’t hit Dee. It hit the barricades on the church’s door. Then Dee, Sid, and all the other soldiers liberated the church and the entire city. Also, Samira was with the French Resistance fighters. They sabotaged railways so that trains holding tanks would explode and so it would go flying.

77 In the end, Dee and Sid were in a truck carrying injured soldiers, and Dee narrated his entire story to him. Dee was told by one of the doctors that he would be sent back to the USA to live a peaceful life. When he got home, he became a US citizen. Sid got sent back to his home country, Canada. From this book, I learned that even though something might start as a disaster, it could end positively if you try your best. Like the start of the invasion, when the soldiers were dropped and landed, it was a disaster. Dee and the soldiers made it, and they pushed the Nazis back to Germany, and the French cities were liberated. My favorite part of this book was when they liberated the cities because it made me feel happy that the French people were freed. They weren’t under the control of the Nazis. My favorite character in the book was Dee because he went through many hardships under various circumstances. Still, in the end, he was happy and safe.

78 I hope I have persuaded you to read this book! Please share your thoughts with me afterreading! Have a great Christmas break! Your friend, Anish

79 Kaushik Selva Dhanush Ravi is a Civil Engineer, who earned his bachelor’s degree from National Institute of Technology, Trichy. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Integrated Building Systems at ETH Zurich, ranked 6th in the world. He is a person who likes to work with latest technology in the construction industry. He is deeply passionate to explore mysteries of nature and philosophy. He loves his bag, camera and pen who are the soul to his hobbies of hiking, photography, and poetry writing. He writes mostly in Tamil and sometimes in English. He likes to empathise objects and abstract things and then personify its perspective. If you enjoyed the work of his pen, do feel free to check out the work of his camera at https://instagram.com/kaushik.sd Kaushik Selva Dhanush ETH Zurich is known for its world class researching Ravi facilities. It is currently ranked as 6th best university in the world and 4th best for architecture.

80 Daughters of Emotion Dear Emotion, Your daughters are a source of mystery, Each of them being a reason for history; Starting from Anger of Kannagi, To the Patience of Gandhi, They rule the history of people! I am grateful to have your daughters in my life, Dating them at every stage as I grow up; In this letter, I would like to thank them, Especially the four of my favourite. It takes significant time in persuading her, Even though I had lots of breakups, She is a true loving one, And she is Patience. She comes at weird times, I always try to overcome her, She is a perfect blackmailer, And she is Fear.

81 The most entrancing yet messy one, I always hesitate to breakup with her, She is truly evil within, And she is Anger. She is eternally beautiful queen, I wish I never breakup with her For she is pure and white at heart, And she is Happiness. -Kaushik Selva Dhanush Ravi

Dhriti Sriram 82 Dhriti Sriram is a grade 8 student (age 13) currently studying in Hong Kong. She was born in Bangalore and moved to Hong Kong when she was just 1. She exhibited a liking for writing stories about 2 years ago. In the rare occasion when Dhriti does not have a book, then she will be playing one of the three instruments: piano, guitar, or ukulele. Apart from these, she loves to grow vegetables and herbs in her mini garden. Dhriti loves to play tennis, go for a swim or hang out with friends around her neighbourhood or spend time with nature on hikes.

83 The Twins Receive a Surprise Letter Characters: Charles (boy), Maddison (girl), Dad (David), Mom (Mary) “There’s a letter for you, Charlie!” Maddie called out to her brother. Charles ran downstairs in enthusiasm and snatched the letter. “Who is it from?” he asked. “I don’t know… it doesn’t say any address or addresser. Well, what are you doing? Open it!” Maddie pushed him playfully. Maddie and Charles are 12 year old twins, and both are a bundle of joy and excitement. Their mother and father went on a 3 days tour for Christmas, leaving the twins the house to themselves. “Who sent it to me?” Charles thought out loud as he opened the envelope. “It’s so old-school. I wonder why this person has sent it to me by actual post, and not by email!”

84 “Read it!” Maddie said, getting pumped up. “Dear Charles and Maddison, I hope all is well. Are your parents around? No? Good, because I would love to go on this journey with you. You might be wondering who I am. I will not tell you who I am at the moment, but I think you would be able to guess after our journey.” What journey?” Charles wondered. “Does it matter? We’re going on an adventure! Okay, my turn to read it. “The journey you are about to go on is quite adventurous, so pluck up your courage and let’s go! Walk to the fireplace and you will find two torn sheets of paper in your stockings. Join the papers together and put it against the fire and a word will show. Say that word three times. The fire would turn off and pave way for you to foray. Now jump into the fireplace.”