Memorable New Year!

All the animals in Champakvan were really excited. It was the last day of the year and they had planned to have a great show of fireworks that night to bring in the New Year.

Gholu Goat’s shop was literally bursting with fireworks. This year, he had added sweets, fruits, and even balloons. The shop was crowded with last-minute shoppers. Lima Lion was inspecting some flowerpots when crafty Hippo approached him. Hippo said, “These flower pots are great, aren’t they?” Lima nodded. “I think I’ll get a box of these.”

“What?” shouted Hippo. “A person of your stature buying these flowerpots. Those are meant for kids. Now, a lion should be buying the barrage.”

“What’s Barrage? Actually, I’m buying the flowerpots for my nephew,” said Lima. Making an excuse.

“No animal has so far dared to buy barrage,” said Hippo, pointing to a box that everyone was avoiding.

Lima was doubtful so asked Keera Wolf about these atom bombs. Keera knew what they were and was terrified of them. But he wasn’t going to admit that! So he said: “Oh, those are nothing. You just have to light this end of the wire and stand away. It’s child’s play!”

Lima decided to buy a box. As he paid for the barrage bombs, he spotted Bholu Bear trying to balance four pots of fresh honey. “What’s a New Year party without fresh honey,” said Bholu with a grin. Then he saw the box of barrage bombs Lima was carrying. “You’re quite the brave one, Lima. It’s going to be a resounding New Year with that lot!”

Lima blinked. He understood nothing. Why had he allowed that crafty Hippo to persuade him to buy something he knew nothing about?

But he couldn’t back off now and return the box. After all, he was a lion, known for his bravery! He decided to take the box of bombs to the grand celebrations and set them off there.

The animals had lit a huge bonfire by the riverside and were waiting for midnight. Excitement was high, and they all counted down together. “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2…1 Happy New Year!” Balloons were let off into the night sky, sweets were distributed and everyone was eating and wishing each other.

Bholu’s shirt was sticky with honey, and he was busy mixing honey with the nuts Squeaky Squirrel had given him. Chinchoo Monkey was gorging on guavas someone had given him, and he was thumping his tail on the ground in excitement.

“Everyone, it’s time for fireworks!” shouted Lima. Everyone cheered and began pulling out boxes.

Squeaky took out a pencil cracker and lit it causing it to glow. “Pooh, that is
kid’s stuff. I am going to go for flower pots,” said Bholu and lit them all one by one. Soon the place was illuminated by different kinds of crackers. Rockets soared and chakras spun on the ground making the animals squeal with delight.

Chinchoo settled for safe sparklers.

Suddenly, a clap rang out. It was Hippo. Everyone quietened down.

Hippo asked, “Aren’t you going to burst your bombs, Lima?”

Lima’s heart skipped a beat and he gulped. He cursed Hippo in his mind and grudgingly took out the box. He opened it nervously and glanced inside at the small green coloured balls with wires wrapped around them.

“Has anyone burst these before?” asked Lima.

All of them shook their heads and Squeaky started shivering in fear. He knew there was going to be a loud noise and he hated loud noises.

Lima with trembling hands and fear were written all over his face placed one down.

Hippo instructed, “Now ignite the end of the wire with a sparkler. That’s all.”

Lima glared and shot back, “Why don’t you show me first and then I will follow?”

Hippo hadn’t expected this.

Keera handed Hippo an ignited sparkler and asked everyone to step back.

Hippo started quivering like jelly. He slowly went near the bomb, lit the wire, and ran back.

They all closed their ears and some dared to peek but alas, nothing happened!

They all peered at the bomb but it looked like it was dormant.

Hippo didn’t have the nerve to light it again. He handed over the sparkler to Lima, who went cautiously near the bomb. He lit the wire and ran back, but still, nothing happened.

Relieved, Lima said happily, “Looks as though the bombs are a complete dud.”

Saying this, he picked it up and put it back in the box with the unlit bombs.

From the dark, Gholu screamed: “LIMA. Throw the box away. This is dangerous!”

Frightened, Lima flung the box and it landed on the bonfire! In a second or so, there was a huge explosion, as all the bombs went off at once.

The animals froze in terror for a second and then ran away screaming. Hippo led the pack, with Chinchoo clutching for dear life.

It was a New Year party Champakvan would never forget! and Lima promised never to be swayed by others and buy things he did not know about.

New Year’s Magic

It was a lousy morning. The sunrays were slowly scattering in all the directions. Cheeku, the Rabbit woke up when his room was entirely brightened by the glistening rays of the sun.

Cheeku’s parents entered his room and wished him a Happy New Year. He had forgotten that it was the first of January. His friends had told him that the year 2019 will be a magical year. They had said that every act done on the first day of the year 2019 would be multiplied throughout the year.

Cheeku was an eighth standard student. He woke up late because he had a holiday from school. He took a bath and had his breakfast. His mother was planting a sapling in their garden. He asked his mother about the same and learnt that she had resolved to plant a sapling every year.

Cheeku was impressed by his mother and he too wanted to take a resolution for the New Year. He started thinking about what resolution he should make. Mother suggested that Cheeku should resolve to inculcate some good habits, like getting up early in the morning and studying, doing his homework on time, eating healthy food, etc.

Cheeku liked mother’s suggestions and resolved to do all his work on time. He was lazy and also ate junk food in plenty. Thus he also decided to eat healthy food and always be active.

It was not easy for Cheeku to live up to the resolutions. The next day he managed to wake up early since he had school in the morning, but he felt lazy to study in the morning. He started doing some reading after his mother encouraged him to study.

Cheeku also found it difficult to shake off his fondness for junk food. Mother helped him this time too. Whenever he asked for junk food like pizza, burger, chopsuey, etc, she gave him carrots, cucumber, spinach and other nutritious fresh vegetables. This made Cheeku feel that his stomach was full and then he couldn’t gorge on junk food.

Mother was impressed by Cheeku’s resolutions and helped him to devote appropriate time to study as well as play. Cheeku and his friends initially created a lot of nuisance in the house, but now Cheeku had become much disciplined.

It is said that it takes 21 days to form a habit. This means that if one practices an activity for 21 days at a stretch, it automatically becomes his habit.

It was more than 21 days that Cheeku was practicing good habits. All his friends were surprised at his disciplined behavior. Cheeku too observed that by doing everything on time, he got sufficient time to play. He started excelling in his studies. Subjects like algebra and geometry which were a scare for him previously were now very interesting.

new-year's-magic

One day, Cheeku recited his self-composed poem in front of his school teacher. His teacher liked the poem and praised Cheeku. All the students also congratulated him. Everything was going well with Cheeku ever since the New Year started. He secured a rank amongst the top students in his class. He also started to enjoy studying. Cheeku was now considered as one of the clever students of the school.

Cheeku’s parents were very happy with his progress in studies. His friends started inculcating good habits as Cheeku had done. They studied and played at pre-decided timings. In the remaining time, they nurtured the plants that Cheeku’s mother had planted.

Cheeku and his friends also excelled in sports. They won medals and secured places in big tournaments. Their parents were proud of their success and showered praises on them.

new-year's-magic

Cheeku’s mother had planted saplings some time ago which had now grown into plants. In the same way, Cheeku’s resolutions had also grown into a good habit that gave him a happy life. He was now a source of inspiration for all his friends, he was a hero! It was indeed a magical year for Cheeku!

A New Year’s Resolution

Rahul had returned from the market carrying some bags. As soon as he came home he called out to his younger sister, “Ruhi, come and take a look at what I’ve got from the market.”

Hearing her brother, Ruhi came running towards him and took the bags from his hands. She went to her room and emptied the bags on her bed.

The mother too came in. Decorative items like stars, ribbons, pearls, flowers, balloons etc were scattered on the bed. Looking at them, mom asked, “Are we celebrating someone’s birthday?”

“Yes mother, we are celebrating a birthday! The birth of a new year! January 1 marks the first day of the New Year. I will decorate our house. On New Year’s Eve, I’ll fill the whole house with balloons, and flowers,” said Rahul.

“Mother, I want to help blowing the balloons,” said little Ruhi. Hearing little Ruhi speak so, mother let out a smile.

Seeing their enthusiasm, mother was very happy. She said, “Yes, so this sounds like fun. I will also make some sweets, chocolates and bake a cake. We can invite some of our friends and relatives to celebrate the New Year’s Eve together.”

“Wonderful! That would be fantastic! Then we will have a bustling preparation,” said Rahul happily.

new-year-resolutions

“What preparations are you talking about, guys? Let me know about them too!” said their father as he stepped into the room.

Rahul and Ruhi showed the decorative items to their father and told him that their mother was baking a cake and making sweets and chocolates for them to celebrate the New Year.

Father nodded and said, “Fine. But something is still missing!”

“And what would that be?” mother asked. Then she pondered that maybe he was saying so because the kids forgot to buy a few boxes of candles.

“Look, celebrating a festival does not mean just decorating your house or spreading happiness and eating sweetmeats. We should also make certain resolutions.”

“Resolutions? What is the meaning of a resolution, father?” asked six-year-old Ruhi.

“A resolution means taking a decision or an oath or a promise,” said father.

Rahul, who was older to Ruhi, said, “That’s a good idea. I will think of a resolution.”

Ruhi felt lost listening to this conversation because she could not understand a word of it. She said, “But what do I do? I don’t know how to make a resolution!”

“I will help you,” said Rahul. “Both of us can together think of a resolution for the New Year.” On New Year’s Eve, Rahul really changed the entire look of the house. The house looked lovely, decked up with colourful balloons, buntings, candles and lanterns.

Mother and father wished Rahul and Ruhi a very happy new year. Both the kids took their parents’ blessings.

Both the kids gifted handmade drawings to their parents. Father noticed a line of colourful words written on Rahul’s sheet: I take a resolution that from this day on, I will not fuss about food and will also finish my work on time”.

Their parents took a glance at Ruhi’s drawing sheet. There were a few drawings made on the sheet with the words: Fruits – to be eaten more. Chocolates to be eaten less’.

“Father, I can’t write like brother, so I drew these pictures,” Ruhi answered coyly. The parents gifted their children gifts and a paper. Father resolved to be more successful at work and Mother, to take up a new hobby.

new-year-resolutions

Both mother and father smiled at the drawings made by Ruhi. They gave a big hug to both the kids and said, “Let’s celebrate and promise to keep our new year resolutions.”