Two Little Sparrows: “Cheap-cheap!” The shrill cries woke Nandita up. She switched on her bedside lamp. There was a fluttering. Wings whizzed past above her head. “Oh, it is you!” Nandita called out to the two sparrows perched above the window curtain. “It is too early to chirp. Let me sleep!” One of the sparrows blinked a mischievous eye. Then …

The new tenant who had come to Flat 4C was a smuggler. Ratan was sure of that. The man had straight, black brows and when he smiled, which was seldom, he showed teeth that were crooked. ‘Just like the villain in the film Moti Moti,’ thought Ratan. And was this all his furniture? One cot, a table, two chairs and …

Country Name: Tunisia System of government: Republic Capital: Tunis Location: In northern Africa on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The country is bordered by Libya to the south-east and Algeria to the west Area: 164,150 sq km National composition: Arabs (96%), Berbers (1%), Europeans Religion: Islamic Official language: Arabic Currency: Tunisian dinar = 1,000 millim Administrative Divisions: Tunisia is …

The Pram That Walked: “Ma! Ma! Give me something to eat, quick, then I am off,” I said breathlessly as I rushed home from school. I stopped at mother’s bedroom door. I could see her in the mirror, coiling her hair into a bun. She was wearing a cream-colored sari with a dark purple border. “That is a going-out sari, …

Guns On The Hillside: A shot rang out in the clear winter morning. Another and another. The sound echoed among the surrounding hills and sent a clamour of rooks flying into the air, cawing like crazy as they circled the deodar trees. Ten-year-old Bishnu stopped dead in his tracks. The hunters were back again! What were they after this time? …

Pecky The Woodpecker: A tall, wide, spreading, wild mango tree stood in a forest clearing. On one of its upper branches a pair of golden-backed woodpeckers dug a hole and raised a brood of their young. Pecky was the youngest of the brood. As he was the smallest and weakest of the young woodpeckers, his parents fussed over him a …

China has more than one fifth of the world population. This country is the third largest in the world. More than billion people live in China, which makes it the most populated country in the world. The demographics of China are identified by a large population with a relatively small youth division, which was partially a result of China’s one-child …

People say that if a Tiger has the heart of a Mouse beating in his breast, he had better avoid Cats. Little Mouse That Was a Cat, a Dog and a Tiger – Once upon a time a Raven was flying over a forest, carrying a little Mouse in his beak. Suddenly he dropped his prey. In that forest there …

Life is only froth and bubble Two things stand like stone Kindness in another’s trouble Courage in your own. Courage Conquers All: “Have you heard the latest news? A new boy is to join our class!” Tikkoo Kapoor called out as his friends entered the assembly hall morning prayers. “Rot!” Suresh declared immediately. Courage Conquers All: Neela Subramaniam “Are you …

Danilo and Katya – her that got her man out of the Mistress’ mountain – had a big family of children. Eight of the, and all lads. Their mother used to complain, times – why couldn’t there be just one girl among them all to please your eye? But their father would just laugh. “Looks like we don’t know how …