Whispers of Realms

By Spondon Ganguli

"Dive into a captivating realm where reality dances with fantasy in an

extraordinary collection of short stories. In this anthology, the human

experience is painted with a vibrant palette of emotions, as love and

friendship intertwine with suspense, hatred, jealousy, and crime. Each

story is a portal into a different face

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ukiyoto Publishing
• Release date: Sep 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9789361729829

Book preview

Bholu’s Journey

A Tale of Love, Loss, and Redemption

O

nce upon a time, in a quaint little town, a young boy named Rohan lived with his parents. He was a happy and cheerful child, and on his fifth birthday celebration, his father gifted him a teddy bear named Bholu. From then on, Bholu became Rohan’s constant companion and most cherished possession.

Bholu was a soft, cuddly bear with twinkling button eyes and a warm smile. Rohan loved playing with Bholu, and they would go on imaginary adventures together, exploring magical lands and facing imaginary foes. The bond between Rohan and Bholu grew stronger with each passing day, and the bear became an integral part of his life. Rohan grew a few years older and a few meters taller in the past five years; now, he is ten.

One fine day, Rohan’s father’s senior, Mr. Amit Verma, visited their home with his family, including his son Rahul, who happened to be Rohan’s classmate in the same school. Rahul was known for his arrogance and selfish nature. When he saw Bholu, he couldn’t resist playing with the adorable bear.

As the evening wore on, it was time for Rahul and his family to leave. But Rahul was not ready to part with Bholu. Despite his parent’s attempts to convince him, Rahul refuses to return the bear to Rohan. Mr. Verma was embarrassed by his son’s behaviour, and to resolve the situation, Rohan’s father decided to let Rahul keep Bholu.

Rohan, being the generous and kind-hearted child that he was, didn’t protest. However, his heart ached for his beloved Bholu, whom he had considered his best friend. He looked up at his mother, silently conveying his feelings, but she couldn’t do anything at that moment.

Rahul’s parents promised that they would talk to him and return the bear the next day. They assured Rohan’s parents that Rahul had plenty of toys and didn’t usually behave this way. Despite their words, Rohan’s parents couldn’t help but worry about their son’s sadness.

That night, as Rohan lay in his bed, he dreamt of Bholu crying in pain. In his dream, Bholu’s hands and legs were cut off, and he was unable to walk. His soft body was scratched and torn with a sharp knife. Rohan woke up in a cold sweat, tears streaming down his cheeks, and a sinking feeling in his heart.

Unbeknownst to Rohan, his dream was a premonition. After returning home, Rahul played with Bholu for a while, but his anger and selfishness got the better of him. He tore the innocent toy apart in a rage, leaving Bholu pitiful. Without a second thought, he flung the tattered remains of Bholu into the garbage from his balcony.

The next morning, Rahul’s parents realised the gravity of their son’s actions and felt deep remorse for what had transpired. They rushed to Rohan’s house to apologise and return Bholu. When they arrived, Rohan’s parents were devastated, and Rohan was heartbroken and crestfallen.

Mr. Verma’s family explained what had happened and handed over the remnants of Bholu to Rohan. Seeing his beloved bear in such a pitiful state crushed Rohan’s heart. However, amid the sadness, his eyes showed a glimmer of hope.

Moved by their son’s genuine remorse, Mr. and Mrs. Verma promised to make things right. They offered to replace Bholu with a brand-new teddy bear, and Rahul was apologetic and regretful for his action. The Verma family vowed to instil better values in Rahul and make him understand the importance of empathy and kindness.

In the following days, Rahul spent time with Rohan, trying to mend their friendship. They talked about the incident, and Rahul realised the gravity of his action and how he had hurt Roan deeply. The two boys eventually reconciled, and Rahul vowed to change his ways.

As time passed, Rahul transformed into a kinder and more compassionate person. He learned the true meaning of friendship and understood the importance of cherishing and respecting others’ feelings. Meanwhile, Bholu’s remains were lovingly kept by Rohan as a symbol of forgiveness and second chances.

With the support of his parents and newfound friends, Rahul embarked on a journey of redemption and self-discovery. He learned to value relationships over possessions and understood that true happiness lies in making others happy.

As for Bholu, his spirit lived on in the hearts of Rohan and Rahul. The incident became a lesson for everyone, reminding them of the fragility of emotions and the power of love and forgiveness. The bond between Rohan and Rahul grew stronger, and they became inseparable friends, united by the shared experience and the journey of transformation.

Bonds of Redemption

Uniting Stepbrothers

I

n a small town nestled amidst rolling hills, lived two stepbrothers named Ram and Balram. Their lives were woven together by a common bond – their father, the late Mr. Mohal Lal. Ram was the legitimate son of Mr. Mohan Lal and was twenty-eight years old. Balram, on the other hand, was the result of an illicit relationship, and he was nineteen years old. Despite sharing a bloodline, their paths had been marred by complexities and misunderstandings.

Ram, the elder of the two, held a deep-seated resentment towards Balram. He believed that Balram’s mother had torn his father away from him and his mother, leaving a void that was impossible to fill. Balram, growing up in poverty and isolation, was often subjected to harsh judgments and was acutely aware of his status as an illegitimate child.

Tragedy struck when Mr. Mohan Lal met with a fatal accident, leaving a legacy of pain and unanswered questions. The void left by his death seemed to widen the chasm between Ram and Balram. However, fate had a different plan in store for them.

One fateful evening, both Ram ad Balram were snatched from their loves and thrown into captivity by an unknown assailant. Bund in chains and subjected to physical torment, they were coerced into signing away their inheritance and property to their captor. To their astonishment, they discovered that the mastermind behind their abduction was Ram’s maternal uncle, Mr. Raghu Raj.

As days turned into weeks, the two brothers found themselves confined in a dimly lit room, their anger and resentment now overshadowed by a shared plight. They unravel the sinister truth behind their father’s untimely demise through their