Some stories that have touched my heart
Some stories simply touch your heart and permeate your soul, stories that are literally immortal to your memory. Some of these may be real life anecdotes, that over many many passing years grow into legends. Others may be some famous folk lore, carved into your heart because of the very special way in which this aunt or that uncle used to tell it. Some stories are much like remnants of a tattered rag, fragments of which adhere to your memory, never to be washed away. Still others are parts of some obscure story, that come back to haunt you over and over, over and over..... You grow restless to know the full story, but never quite manage to recollect the title or the author.
Here are a list of some such stories, those have been etched into my being, reinforced by each passing year, growing enormously in proportions and appearing inseparable as far as my existence is concerned.....
(1) Pip and the convict
My father's a doctor and has had a transferable job ever since I've known him. As a result, I've been fortunate to go places with my family, and make friends in new schools, almost once in every two years. This has been a formative part of my childhood, letting me get the kind of exposure that's very much needed for every child. When my father joined the Indian Railways back in 1992, also the year my brother was born; I was admitted to Kendriya Vidyalaya, or more colloquially 'Central School'. We used to have a separate Textbook for English language and another beautiful book, called 'Read for Pleasure', that evidently as the name suggests was meant to enhance the reading skills in students. One of the stories in the book was called 'Pip and the convict'. It was about a boy who grew up with his sister and brother-in-law, and who steals a piece of cake and some brandy to feed a hungry convict who had recently escaped, who otherwise threatened to tear out his heart.
Having been a very imaginative child since my early years, this story secured a special position in my heart, and kept on haunting me. I always imagined that the actual story out of which this excerpt was taken out might be like this or that....One day, when I was enjoying my holidays after my tenth board exams, I suddenly remembered this story. My mother suggested that I send a letter to the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) asking them to kindly provide me the complete information regarding this story. So, my father and I began drafting this letter, which was completed in a day and posted the next day.
Subsequently, the board results came out, and we were now high school students. Life got busier, studies got serious, and the episode and the story were forgotten. Two years later, when I was very busy appearing for Joint Entrance Examinations, a letter came addressed to me.....
Lo and behold! it was the answer from the Director, NECRT, who had congratulated me for being so interested in my pursuit. I was informed that the story was actually an excerpt out of 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens. I had finally got my answer more than eight years later, but the novel was an excellent read......
(2) A secret for two
A beautiful short story by Quentin Reynolds, this time appearing again in 'Read for Pleasure' for Standard VI. The story is about the unique and emotional relationship between a horse named Joseph drawing a milk cart and the delivery man named Pierre Dupin, and an enormous secret shared only by the two. The story culminates into such a heart-touching ending, that I would prefer not to tell anything more. Read and find for yourselves.
(3) Vanka
Penned by none other than the great Anton Chekov, this is the touching story of a little boy, Vanka, who has been sent off to work as a servant in some rich household in the city. The entire story is the description of his day to day activities and obvious sadness that he's no longer able to enjoy in the village with his only living relative, his grandpa. The end is yet another soul-stirring revelation, and I won't spoil it for you.
(4) God is near
A deep and penetrating story about a vet who visits an old lady, literally awaiting for her end, when she would be reunited with her long-gone brothers and parents..... The story is basically part of a semi-biographical memoir by legendary vet, Dr. James Herriot and one of his patients. It provides the answer to one of the most basic, yet unanswered questions... Do souls exist? If yes, then do our beloved pets go to the same place we go to? To find the answer, just delve into the beautiful book, "God made them all".
(5) The Christmas Gift
The Telegraph used to have a thursday kids supplement called Telekids, which back in the 90s used to have a section called 'Talespin'. During the Christmas of 1999, I believe, a story by an author named Rachel Macbean was published under this section, called something akin to 'The Christmas Gift'. It's the beautiful story of love and the spirit of gifting during the festive season, even in the face of the great wars. The snag here is that as much as I've searched through the internet, I've not been able to get this story anywhere. This task is for you. Find it and happy reading!!!!
(6) The Last Leaf
O. Henry has been incomparable as far as short story writing goes....This story about a very ill girl, her friend and a drunkard painter, who appears to be a no-gooder, but emerges to be a real hero, is one good read indeed.
(7) God sees the truth but waits
A masterpiece and all time classic by Leo Tolstoy, this is a must read for the sake of humanity and hope and life and love and.......Well, the list may be expanded as you catch up with it.
(8) My Uncle Jules
Guy De Maupassant, another unprecedented writer, who has created brilliant characters and given us unbelievable gems, comes up with yet another story, written in the form of an anecdote by a boy, who has never seen his titular uncle, but wonders if it actually is so...... Happy guessing, until you read it!
(9) Mahesh
A classic tale of love, bonding, compassion and finally disillusion inspired within the depths of the human psyche amid pangs of extreme destitution, this story by the legendary Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, is about the relationship between a ox named Mahesh and his Muslim master, Gafur. Written about the time when Bengal experienced the great famine, the story stirs the very core of human existence as the various characters come to life, finally concluding into a tragedy, that's unthought of.
(10) Kshudito Pashaan
Among innumerable great works by the world famous Rabindranath Tagore, this short story evokes such unique emotions like palpable fear, anticipation, the little threads of hope that cling on despite knowing there is little reason for them, and the ultimate horror of realization that comes upon realization of age-old tragedies.
(11) Dada
A very short story by Sanjib Chattopadhyay, this is one story that will remind many a adults about the relationship they have shared with their older siblings, who seamlessly took on the roles of parents, especially in the absence of their real parents. One can easily remember the sacrifices their own older brother or sister did without a hint of regret. The end of this story reminds us of the great void left behind in one's life when that person is no longer.
(12) The Midnight Express
A classic gothic tale of horror, that paralyses an imaginary mind, so that the story keeps on haunting and causing recurring dreams that always seem to follow the deadly pattern. Unforgettable classic by Alfred Noyes, known for yet another masterpiece, a poem by the name 'The Highwayman'.
(13) The three sisters
Another gripping tale of terror, anticipation and nail-biting drama; this tale by William Wymark Jacob brings the shady characters alive in a reader's mind and almost makes him feel that he himself is in their very house.
(14) Hearts
This is a classic horror story I've read many many years ago, about an orphan who is informed that he is the sole heir to a hitherto unknown uncle's estate. So, he arrives there to find the man living an almost solitary life, tended upon by only a sole housekeeper. The boy encounters some strange sounds during the nights, and is severely cautioned not to venture into a specific room. As the reader gets to understand that the uncle has probably been earlier associated with some Hispanic cult, a chilling revelation comes to one's mind. The story concludes in a fantastic and unimaginable manner, where justice is meted out the way it should be, but impossibly.....I won't say anymore. Readers are asked to perform this little exercise of searching through the internet for the details of this story.
(15) Duburi
A Bengali short story by an unknown author, this is a tale about a boy, known around the whole village for his swimming and diving skills. Hailing from the only Christian family in a fully Hindu dominated village, he performs tasks requiring diving into the depths of ponds and rivers to retrieve valuables lost by the villagers. The boy Jacob develops an unlikely friendship akin to brotherly love with a young bride named Kamala, who suddenly falls terminally ill, having lost her protective charm bracelet, while bathing in the pond. An unlikely ending that culminates in extreme heart wrenching tragedy, this is one story to remember and cherish.
