The World from the Eye of a Child

By Dwija Vashisht

Meet Nitya, a seven year old with big dreams. She feels, like any other child that her life is on a roller coaster. Her `perfect elder sister, Neha, seemingly has everything. Neha is beautiful, has amazing friends, excels in every exam and does everything she possibly can to make Nityas life desolate. Things arent so great in school either. When Nitya clears the selection test for a quiz, her classmates are shocked. They suspect her of cheating and make her life, which was already a living hell, even worse. Would she succumb to peer pressure and give up the only chance of proving that even she has some intelligent DNA?

One night, Nitya makes a fascinating discovery that gives her a fillip. Would her parents abandon all their apprehensions, or would Nitya be shooed away? In this turmoil would her sister, the only friend she has, support her or rat her out to her parents to earn some brownie points? Would Nitya be able to cope with school, friends, parents, sibling rivalry, accusations, lies, betrayals and still emerge triumphant?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Jul 9, 2013
• ISBN: 9781482800630

Book preview

THE WORLD

from the

EYE OF A CHILD

WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY

DWIJA VASHISHT

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Copyright © 2013 by Dwija Vashisht.

Illustrations by Dwija Vashisht

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Partridge books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

Partridge India

Penguin Books India Pvt.Ltd

11, Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi 110017

India

Phone: [phone]

Contents

Chapter-1

The Discovery

Chapter-2

The New Normal

Chapter-3

A Determined Thought

Chapter-4

An Unexpected Treat

Chapter-5

The Empty Plate

Chapter-6

The Selection Test

Chapter-7

Sisterland

Chapter-8

Sweet As Cake

Chapter-9

A Failed Plan

Chapter-10

A Thrill

Chapter-11

Another Disappointment

Chapter-12

An Incorrect Accusation

Chapter-13

A Dull Night

Chapter-14

Finally We Meet

Chapter-15

Guilty Conscience

Chapter-16

Mathswhiz Wonder

Chapter-17

Suspense

Chapter-18

A New Friend

Chapter-19

Busted!

Chapter-20

Chubbi

Chapter-21

Family Meeting

Chapter-22

Ginger

CHAPTER-1

THE DISCOVERY

T hump

Thump

I opened my eyes and looked around. Where was this sound coming from? I looked around my pink-walled room. My elder sister, Neha, was sleeping peacefully in her side of the bed. She doesn’t seem very dangerous when she is sleeping. She looks pretty. But trust me, when she is awake she seems nothing less than a monster to me.

Thump

I decide to get up and see what this is. I looked at the hello-kitty clock on my bedside table, it was 3am at night. It’s probably mummy or papa up for a glass of water. But what if… what if it’s a thief? I decided to go and look. I cautiously got out of my bed. The floor was freezing cold. But then, what else do you expect on a cold December night? I bundled up even tighter in my pink, furry blanket. Wrapping it around me like a shawl, I made up my mind. With one last look at my sister, I took small, nervous steps to the kitchen. My feet started to tremble. Maybe I should just wake up mummy or papa. After all, they are stronger and fearless too.

On the dim yet brighter side, if I really do catch the thief or whatever that source of sound is, I will be the heroine. Just for once, I will be the center of attention, not my Perfect Sister. Who is, like always, the centre of attention. Her good marks and good life make her the perfect role model for me. How many times I had wished I was like her. Naturally, she was the apple of my parent’s eyes. What do you want for dinner, Neha? or Neha, I am proud of you. No one ever asks me. It is all about Neha, all the time. No one ever says, Nitya, which restaurant will we eat in today? or Nitya, we are so proud of you. These details may seem insignificant and make me seem like a problematic child but in a 7 year old’s life, getting to choose the restaurant or being able to order from the menu is the most important thing in our lives at the moment.

Thump

The sound was definitely louder this time. It was surely coming from the kitchen. I started to walk faster. I was standing just outside the kitchen door now. Should I open the door? But for once, my thoughts overwhelmed me. I wasn’t thinking rationally. I was not thinking about the thief, but about how I would be the favourite child. I didn’t care about how dangerous this task was, I wanted to do it. Maybe it really wasn’t a thief; it was just a rat or something but I wanted to prove myself anyway. My sister would be just sitting there, all jealous. I opened the door and peered inside. My heart was beating so fast I thought it’s going to pop out any second. But luckily, it didn’t.

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The first thing I saw in the dark, wood-paneled kitchen were two magical green eyes glowing back at me. Oh My God! There is Voldemort¹ in my kitchen, stealing some chocolate-chip cookies and milk. Before I could stop and think about what was going on, I let out a scream just like in the horror films my sister watches. Then the world blacked out. Voldemort had done it again.

I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t dead, I had just fainted. Looks like Voldemort felt some pity for the person from whose kitchen he stole his cookies from. I had woken up when I felt something cold being sprinkled on my face. I opened my eyes to see Didi staring at me. Her brown hair was sprawled across her face. I would have laughed and made fun of her appearance, but I don’t know why I let the chance slip. Good, now I had woken her up. Way to be a heroine Nitya. But she wasn’t laughing at me. She looked… worried. Worried about me, I suppose. Or maybe wishing she had taken Voldemort’s autograph first. She looked so scared that I got even more scared than I already was.

Elder Sibling Rule #45: Elder siblings are mysterious creatures. They are the most vulnerable and defenseless when they have just woken up. Use this to your advantage.

The Elder Sibling Rulebook, conceptualized by me, contains many tips and tricks on how to live, and survive, with an elder sibling. I keep referring to these rules once in a while, whenever needed.

I looked at her. I sat up and looked around. Everything was normal. The glass dining table, the dark mahogany wood chairs, the white walls, the lavender curtains and my ‘DIDI’.

What happened here? I asked. I decided to give time for Voldemort to run away.

I was sleeping when I heard a scream, I came to see who that was and I saw you lying flat outside the kitchen, she explained.

I screamed? But was anybody there? Like a thief or someone? I didn’t explain more, Didi was already giving me quizzical looks.

I was sleeping too and heard a noise. I thought it was a thief. So I got up and looked in the kitchen.

There was no thief in the kitchen, silly! It must have been the cat or something! Don’t get too worked up.

A Cat? Professor McGonagall²?

Anyways, you were pretty brave! I wouldn’t have gone out and looked if I ever heard such a noise. I would probably just tell mom about it. You deserve a treat!

Oh! Ok. Well to tell you the truth, I wasn’t pretty brave myself. Didi, promise me something first?

What? she said, irritated.

That you wouldn’t tell anybody about what happened today. Not even to any of your friends, not even mom or dad. I want you to keep it a secret.

Of course I wouldn’t tell anyone. It was real bravery though, what you did. But I think we should go to sleep now. It’s pretty late else we’ll wake mom or dad up. They’ll put both of us in real trouble if they get to know what we are doing, up so late.

Elder Sibling Rule #89: They never mean what they say. Never trust them if you value your life.

Umm I guess. Let’s go, I replied, I was feeling tired, now that the excitement is over.

Of course, my sister would never break any rules. Rules are meant to be broken. That’s how the world goes. However, I didn’t want to bother explaining that to her. I wasn’t in a mood for a moral lecture.

Wow! My Didi actually cared. My sister did have a heart. And that heart loved and cared for me, deep inside. I always thought she didn’t actually possess that vital organ.

I got to my bed and pulled the sheets up to my chin. Staring up at the glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling, I closed my eyes. I wasn’t sleepy though. I was thinking about what had happened a few minutes ago. It wasn’t Voldemort. Harry had killed him in the last movie. I remember how I had