Jamun 'has her ish

Written by Vibha Batra

Illustrated by Madhuvanti Anantharajan

Original Story (English) by Sujatha Padmanabhan Illustrations: Madhuvanti Anantharajan

Original publication by the Namgyal Institute for People with Disabilities.

Remixed Story: 'Jamun has her wish' by Vibha Batra

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Written by Vibha Batra

Jamun has her wish

III ustrations Madhuvanti Anantharajan

This story was remixed by Vibha Batra as part of the 'Retell, Remix and Rejoice with Chuskit Contest' conducted by Pratham Books.

Jamun lived in a pretty little house perched at the top of a hill.

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One fine morning, she looked out of the window and felt unbearably sad. The day had dawned nice and bright and here she was, stuck at home. You see, Jamun was recovering from a recent illness, a particularly nasty bout offever.

Her doctor, a stern looking man with an unruly mop of hair, had given her clear instructions: no mischief, lots of rest.

So what if she couldn't go outside?

Her oughts certainly could!

She closed her ~ and imagined herself out in the open,

SUIT ded by lovely pink flowers,

irds chirping away merrily.

Just thinking about them made her smile.

Oh, how she wished she could be out too!

He got her a sturdy little wheelchair.

Firmly secured into it, she could go out into the open, without so much as straining herself!

Jamun wasn't so sure about it.

What would her friends say, she wondered.

Would they find it strange?

Or worse, make fun of her?

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Grandpa being grandpa, had an idea ready!

He wheeled Jamun out and headed straight to school. On the way, they met Chinkoo.

He was rather taken aback at the sight.

What was Jamun doing in that strange looking thing?

Reading his thoughts, grandpa sounded the prayer-wheel.

Clinnngggg!

Chinkoo looked at it with great interest.

"Lucky me, I got this prayer wheel for one whole day.

And alii had to do was ferry Jamun around," said grandpa with glee.

A gleam came into Chinkoo's eyes.

The prayer wheel could be his for a day!

He just had to wheel Jamun around!

That wouldn't be so hard, he thought excitedly.

He happily took over the prayer wheel and the wheelCllair and away they went.

Down the glistening meadows, up the narrow trails.

Jarnun had never had so much fun!

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Soon, word spread ofthe prayer wheel that came free with Jamun's wheelchair. Her friends could barely conceal their excitement.

The moment school was over, they flocked to her house. There was Bhola and Monkoo and Gehna and Pia and many many more kids from school!

Everyone wanted to take Jamun out!

After much discussion, it was finally decided: they would draw lots every day and one lucky boy or girl would

wheel Jamun around!

lihanks to grandpa and his prayer wheel, Jamun had her wish!

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Vibha Batra is a copywriter by profession. Chennai-based Vibha's first book 'Ishaavaasya Upanishad', a translation of the late scholar Vishnu Kant Shastri's book, was published by Rupa and Co. Her poetry collection titled Tongue-in-cheek was published by Writers Workshop in 2008. Her collection of short stories 'A Twist of Lime' was published last year by Think Big Publishers. Her short stories and poems have appeared in various literary magazines and anthologies . She is an avid blogger and is currently working on a novel.

Madhuvanti Anantharajan likes reading and drawing and her work as a freelance illustrator and designer lets her do both. She studied Art History for her Master's degree from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, and is very interested in education. She also likes watching movies and travelling.

/, (f'" -,

lamun had been ordered rest, but she wished to be outdoors.

Grandpa had a brilliant idea as usual ...

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