An original story, written by our student Shanaya Chahal.

Shanaya is 11 years old, and a young speaking enthusiast from Gurugram. We are proud to have her as a student of the Online Public Speaking, Speech & Drama, Creative Writing Program through Applied Storytelling & Applied Theatre under the mentorship of Trainer Khusshbo Chokhaani. We congratulate Shanaya for this exemplary true self-expression.

15 Kgs Of Gold

The landscape was a horrid sight. There were hordes of vultures, soaring in the air fluttering their wings, searching for prey. Their paled, bare but shaggy skin blended in the midst of the clouds. The sound of galloping horse hooves resounded in the desert. The only other sound was the bleats of sheep.

The rider of the magnificent horse had his feet astride the horse. Next to him was a grand palanquin carried by sleepless bearers with kegs full of all their wages in gold.

Suddenly the rider stopped his steed. “ Ma.” he said, his voice trembling “ Can you hear that?” In the distance, there was quiet a yelling happening.  Ma looked out from her palanquin.

She had black hair which was graying and brown eyes. She was donned in a quaint pink and red sari and she was wearing a porpoise tooth necklace.

“Are those bandits?” Ma wondered, astounded. Then the realization hit her. “They’re after our gold, Dhruv! We’re being hunted!” She exclaimed. “Don’t worry ma. Don’t let these bandits frighten you. I will fight them till my very last breath!” Dhruv exclaimed.

The shape of the bandits came closer and closer until they were standing face to face with Dhruv and Ma’s palanquin. Terrified, the servants holding Ma’s palanquin ran away as fast as their feet would carry them, leaving an undaunted Ma and 15 kegs of gold.

Dhruv tightened his grip on the reins of his horse. The bandits, with their tattered clothing smeared and soiled with dirt and the sole of their shoes torn, encircled him and the palanquin, their eyes eyeing the tempting kgs of gold.

“Begone,” Ma said, “you wretched bandits are not worthy of our gold!” Dhruv drew his sword. The bandits began to close in, their leader a tall, scarred man with a crooked grin stepped forward. “Hand over the gold, boy,” he sneered, “and we’ll let you and your mother leave with your lives.”

Dhruv squared his shoulders. “You can try to take it, “he said with pride “but you’ll regret it.” The leader chuckled. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone but you leave me no choice.” The first bandit lunged, but Dhruv was quick, blocking the attack and striked the bandit down with a blow. Two more came at him but he blocked, dodged, and countered.

“Impressive but I’ve been scheming this plan for a long time. I won’t let a child snuff it out!” the leader said vainly. He signaled to the rest of his crew, and suddenly, five bandits rushed Dhruv at once. But before they could reach him, a piercing sound split the air.

It was Ma. She had pulled a horn from beneath her sari and blew it with all her might. The sound echoed across the desert, sounding constant, a few moments later, from the horizon, a dust cloud appeared growing larger and larger on the steep ground with each passing second.

The bandits hesitated, dumbfounded. Dhruv smiled, “You see, we were never alone.” A large group of about 20 soldiers, dressed in armor charged towards them.

The bandits, realizing they were outmatched, panicked. Some tried to flee, but the soldiers were too fast. They swept in, capturing the bandits one by one. The leader tried to make a run for the gold, but Dhruv was ready. Dhruv disarmed him and knocked him to the ground.

Ma stepped out of the palanquin, her expression proud. “Well done, my son,” she said pulling him into an embrace, “You fought bravely, just as your father once did. Dhruv smiled, “I couldn’t have done it without you, Ma”. As the soldiers began to escort them back to the safety of the capital, Dhruv glanced over at the captured bandits, who were weeping and now being tied and loaded into wagons. And with that, mother and son rode off into the sunset.

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