It was a miracle! Amidst the clouds, the sun broke in the sky showering earth with its blazing light. The flowers bloomed and I could smell the sweet fragrance wafting in the air. A stream broke from somewhere and clear water ran through the forest. The birds started chirping and flew in the sky spreading their wings. Flocks of children ran around playfully along the riverside. Their laughter sounded like the tinkling of bells. Some could be seen playing by the riverside, without a care in the world, moulding sand into a fine sandcastle.

I looked around me and everything looked so warm and beautiful. For the first time, after years of having spent my life in the midst of booms and blasts, I felt this was the day I had waited for all my life. No gunshots, no painful cries and screams. Greedily, I took in deep gulps of the fresh air, drank water from the clear stream and then closed my eyes to get the feel of bliss of solitude and beauty of life.

Suddenly, I heard gunshots followed by scream of women and children. I opened my eyes to the darkness of the room. I could make out silhouette of armed men running here and there. “Come on! Let’s run”, I heard somebody call out to me. But I was too tired to make a move. I closed my eyes in vain hope for the dream to continue. — Indu Tiwari, Class: 12, NIST