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20| Beyond the Battlefields
Masood War knows no victors, only devastating losses. And among the greatest losers are the children, robbed of their innocence and carefree joy, forced to grow up too soon in a world torn apart by conflict. Their love for nature has a soothing effect on our lives.
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Striding Spirits 22| A Great Lesson of Life
Vicky's eyes widened in frustration as the precious water spilt onto the dry earth. He glared at Akira, who landed beside him, her eyes gleaming with a knowing intensity. 'Why, Akira? Why?' Vicky asked, exasperated with some anger.Akira cocked her head as if to say, 'You know I'm trying to protect you, Vicky.' Vicky's thirst-addled brain slowly couldn't grasp the truth - Akira was trying to save him from something. He looked at the cliff, the moist patch, and the cup lying on the ground.Vicky's face darkened with anger as he glared at Akira. 'Why did you stop me from drinking?' he demanded, his voice low and a great menacing.Akira, sensing Vicky's fury, took a step back, her feathers ruffled. She let out a soft, placating cry, but Vicky was beyond reason. 'You always do this, Akira!' he shouted, his fists clenched. "You always try to control me! I'm the master, not you!"Akira's eyes flashed with a fierce inner light, and she spread her wings, as if ready to take flight. Vicky's ang
Striding Spirits 23| On Death of a Dear One
A public announcement to all inhabitants and citizens: "Mr. Brown passed away last night, and his funeral service will be held at 2 P.M." The words barely noticed by Vicky at first; he took it casually and walked to the house to teach, but when he heard the announcement again, he was taken aback. "How could this be? How could this be?" he repeated, stunned and disbelieving.Vicky walked towards the gathering, his curiosity piqued by the news he had just heard. "Was it really Mr. Brown whose funeral was announced?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief. His mind reeled as he struggled to comprehend the news, and he couldn't help but feel appalled. The revelation was too much to take in, and he found himself grappling helplessly to come to terms with it.The entire scene unfolded something else before his eyes like a vivid flashback with heartfelt voices. Just a few days ago, Vicky's face had gone slack, and he stumbled backwards as if the ground had been yanked out from under his fee
Striding Spirits 24| The Simple Thrill
Fishing:The group erupted into cheers, hugs, and high-fives, their whoops echoing across the seasonal pond. Vicky beamed with special pride, his eyes shining with excitement. They had done it! Their crazy idea had worked!As they carefully collected their achievement, Vicky's friend, Tim, turned to him with a grin. "This is just the beginning, Vicky! We're going to be the best fishermen in the town!" Vicky chuckled, feeling a sense of camaraderie wash over him.The group's cheers and laughter echoed across the pond, giving a mellow smell of mudy water , attracting the attention of other visitors. Soon, a small crowd gathered to witness their remarkable achievement. Vicky's friends, Jim and Jeary , began to dance and sing, holding up their fishing satchels like trophies."This is the best day ever!" Jim exclaimed with joy. Vicky grinned, feeling proud of their ingenuity. The elderly man from earlier approached them, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You boys have indeed created somet
Striding Spirits 25| When Fate Reunites
As Julia's life quite slowly drained from her eyes, turning them motionless and blank, she gave Vicky a faint glance and a longer one as she was suggesting him to take care of her baby, lingering look at the baby in her arms, her little girl, before her gaze fell out. Vicky, holding her waist in his lab, tried to console her, reassuring her that everything would be fine and smooth and that the fiat aid was on its way to take her to emergency room....Ten Year AgoJulia and Vicky had been inseparable best intimate friends during their studies at the Art and Science Communal College in Glasgow, where they reasoned natural sciences together with all devotion and future dreams in their fifth semester, nearly ten years ago, unbeknownst about their fate. However, their friendship was put to the test and ultimately cut short when Julia's stepfather arranged for her to marry his cousin, a wealthy car dealership owner in the West Indies, near the coastal line. It was feared that this sudden t
Striding Spirits 26| A Love Unvoiced
"'Hurrah! I've got my first bike!' Vicky exclaimed, beaming with determinationa joy. His joy knew no bounds. Ashley, her close loving friend, congratulated her with a grin. "My treat?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.On a whim, Ashley hopped onto the back seat in no time, sending Vicky into a thrilled frenzy. The moments were very fleeting. He pedaled furiously, racing down the winding road towards KFC, where they planned to indulge in some crispy snacks and drinks.As they rode, their bodies touched, sending sparks wild flying. When Vicky applied the brakes, Ashley's arms instinctively wrapped around his waist firmly though shyly, sending his heart racing.'What am I doing?' he wondered, trying to shake off the unfamiliar flutter in his chest. He couldn't justify the strange emotions swirling inside him – raising the emotions he'd never experienced before. Only hums of horns made him drive alert on the way.Ashley and Vicky sat in a long undeniable, basking in the warmth
Striding Spirits 27 | Beneath the Scary Sky
Vicky's passion for nature inspired him to continually explore and express his creativity through drawing and writing. As he delved deeper into the natural world, he gained a deeper understanding of its complexities and realities.With his wooden box of Marie's vibrant colour tubes and an array of brushes in various sizes, he revelled in the familiar ritual of creating art. But it was the pungent aroma of Turpentine oil that brought him the most joy, its distinctive scent always transporting him to a state of serenity and inspiration.The box contained some pieces of cloth and thumb pins. It was tightly with a flexible sling on the carrier of his cycle. As he used to set off early to select a spot near the bank of the river that was ten to fifteen miles away from his home.Upon reaching the riverbank at about 10 am, Vicky was struck by the vast expanse of water stretching out before him, its source tracing back to the distant snow-capped mountains.The rising sun, now a burning orange-
Striding Spirits 28| Ophelia's Escape - Part I
Ophelia emerged from her shower, enveloping herself in a plush sky-blue towel as her long blonde hair dripped and clung to her skin. She wrapped a second towel around her hair in a turban-style knot before completing her morning routine, and dressed up. Her workdays blended in a predictable pattern: from 8 pm to 4 pm, she was confined to the office, enduring Andrew's monotonous and frivolous directives despite her complete failure to avoid Andrew. Andrew, a 21-year-old still dependent on his fussy mother, struggled to find his place in the world. His morning ritual was a chaotic scramble: waking up at 10 am, grabbing his briefcase and cell phone with dying battery and rushing out the door, only to realize he'd left his charger behind. Upon arriving at the office, he'd inevitably call Ophelia, asking to charge his mobile. Sometimes he asked for a charger to show her that he had got a new mobile, to which she'd patiently reply, "No," accompanied by a silent eye-roll. "How can I funk
Striding Spirits 29| Ophelia's Challenges at New Job
Ophelia finally found a new job at Master's Builder construction company, and she could be happier to leave Andrew's Skyline Agency behind. However, her aunt was furious when she found out about Ophelia's resignation and moving elsewhere. Little did Ophelia know, her new boss, Mrs. Brown Dick, had her agenda. Mrs Dick planned to use Ophelia as a pawn to secure government tenders, exploiting her innocence and charm.Unbeknownst to Ophelia, Mrs Dick was setting her up for a challenging situation. She arranged a champagne party at her home, inviting the influential Alpha builders for a night of revelry. The party's true purpose remained hidden, but it seemed to be linked to Ophelia's virtue. As the day of the party approached, Ophelia remained oblivious to the danger lurking ahead, enjoying her new work environment and the sense of freedom that came with it. Mrs Dick's intentions were far from pure, and Ophelia was about to face another test of her resilience and determination. Would s
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