Meena Mangalathil:

It was a treasure house, full of interesting articrafts. All were connected to magic. Both Antsy and Roby heard with a start the wail from inside and they moved quickly towards the sound and there lay an old man with closed eyes and   parched lips with a parrot on a perch.           Antsy suddenly felt very sympathetic towards the man. She knew immediately, who it was because she had seen this room yesterday in Rufus’ mapadometer. She hesitantly started moving towards Ramo but she felt the pull of Roby in her hand but she just continued to go towards Ramo. As she neared, she called Ramo by   name and he opened his eyes with fright.           “Who the hell are you? And how did you come inside?”, asked Ramo angrily. Roby cringed at the ferocity of the question, but Antsy replied boldly. I’m sorry sir, we didn’t know, we had disturbed you. We heard you cry and we came to help. Roby nodded. But if you don’t need any help, then we’ll leave. Have a nice day and Antsy immediately turned aroun

          It was so beautiful that Antsy couldn’t contain her excitement in seeing such rainbow beauty in a single tree. She started singing so beautifully that Roby just gaped at the beauty of the sound and the uniqueness of the sound. Antsy started picking up flowers from the tree but all of a sudden the tree started transforming into a house with chimney.           Both Roby and Antsy were startled (shocked) to see a transformation taking place in front of their eyes and they immediately moved back. The tree was completely transformed and then they heard a cry from inside the house. Both Antsy and Roby looked at each other. Rambo started barking violently. Roby took hold of Rambo’s collar and slowly started moving towards the house and knocked at the door. Antsy in her sweet little voice called out, “Helloooooo is anybody home?” The wailing stopped and Antsy repeated, “Helloooo”. Then a weak sound replied, “Yes, Please Help Me!” Antsy, tried to pry open the door, but it was no use.

“Hey Aunty, do you like this place?” Yes. this is my first experience to see the world from above. Its really beautiful. I usually see only the things nearest to earth. And I’m really happy to be a human being.           “Aunty, what would you like to play?” Well, that you have to teach me because, I haven’t played, we only work and work and sleep. “But That’s terrible. Its so boring.” Now I understand, why human beings have so much waste everywhere. They always like to sit and enjoy. I cannot imagine how much food you prepare and how much you waste. For us, we always store it for future use. But now I’m no different, look I’m enjoying with you Roby by just walking. Roby smiled and threw the ball for Rambo to catch.           They walked for a while talking, this and that and suddenly, there in front of them a tree filled with flowers of different colours rose. Take care until tomorrow. Bye. Meena

          Sun rose with its usual majesticity (royally). Antsy woke up with a start as she was not used to lying on a mattress. It was luxury that man doesn’t know the value about. She got up humming to herself some very good tune, unaware. She completed her morning rituals and took a shower, changed and walked out of her room with music in her step. She didn’t know why, but she knew that she was happy. She walked to the garden, smelling fresh blossoms and suddenly, someone spoke from behind, “Aunt Antsy”, Antsy wide eyed turned around to see little Roby standing there shyly, with his ball. He had a baseball cap on his head and wore a Red Jersey and black shorts. Seeing her visitor, Antsy was surprised, but she didn’t show it. “Oh Hello Roby, it’s really good to see you so early. I was really thinking of you.” Reaaaaaallly? You’re not joking, are you? I really wanted to ask some help from you Aunt Antsy. I hope you don’t mind me calling Aunt. “Oh its OK, Roby, to tell you the truth, y

          Your life as a human would be complete in all sense by drinking this potion. You would now be a normal person. You won’t have any problem in   following human custom. But this should be a secret. You should not by any means tell it to anyone that you have been transformed by magic even if it costs your life or else it would have a lot of consequences (problems).           “I promise”, Antsy replied with a bit of surprise but didn't question it. Rufus extended his green liquid and Antsy drank it. It had a soft and mellow taste. She was asked to sit and all waited for her reaction. But nothing happened. Then Rufus turned back to his room and brought another two beakers of red and green potions and it was repeated on Spidey too. He too had the same experience. Both sat there for another five more minutes and then Rufus spoke. So now we’ll have to make plans to help Ramo.          First thing tomorrow morning Antsy has to go with Roby   and collect some flowers    from the

Rufus, got up and went to another room and others could hear noises of glass knocking glass and some swishings and chantings. They all waited patiently and Rufus arrived with two small beakers of green and red liquid. So who’s going to be first? “Well ladies naturally”, John interjected (said) jokingly. “But Rufus, they would learn language, but what about manners and behaviours and all? how would they learn it?” That’s why I selected language books, they explain everything, how to sit, how to talk, how to say, etc.. isn’t it? Both Lisa and John nodded.   All these information get into the person’s brain and it would help them act accordingly. “That’s real cool.” Lisa exclaimed. Rufus placed his beakers on the table and started keeping the books face up and looked at Antsy. She got up and came  towards the table. Rufus extended the red liquid and asked to swallow the potion and immediately afterwards look at the books by touching each book on the cover. By the time you would have swal

That’s good Antsy, I think you are the right person to help Ramo, Rufus spoke with excitement. “Really? I can do something for Ramo?” Yes, but we need a kid too. “ Oh!, that’s easy, we can get the help of Roby. He would do anything for us. He is a very intelligent boy.” John replied. OK. that’s settled continued Rufus. Now Antsy, I know you don’t know to speak properly human language as you were an ant, so by tomorrow, I want both Spidey and Antsy to learn the language completely. “But that’s impossible!” Lisa exclaimed. Yes I know, but I have already prepared the memory potion and language potion while I was hiding here, it won’t be difficult for you two to learn the language and memorise it. But the only difficulty is it, you will have to drink the language potion   in front of the language book you want to learn and I don't have any language books. “ Is it only one language, they can memorize or multiple languages”, John asked. Well they can learn any number of languages but th

That’s strange. How come my legs are unable to move? Ramo thought. He tried to get up, but crashed on to the floor with the bag, scattering all the things. Seeing the tragic scene the ladies, both Lisa and Antsy were shocked. He was trying to get up but no use. Ramo started dragging himself across the floor to his bedroom. He was heartbroken. He hadn’t anybody to help him and no one knew about his problem. Tears started rolling from his eyes. He was crying loudly, “What am I going to do? There are no friends for me, only foes (enemies). I was thinking of only myself. Now look where it has ended. Please God send someone to help me.” Hearing someone crying Spidey looked around to see the ladies crying much more harder than Ramo. “Well! Well! Ladies have started their weeping” Come on Lisa, you know, its his own fault. Don’t think about it, just leave it.” John spoke consolingly. But Rufus replied, if no one is going to help him he is going to die of starvation (hunger). As I told you I c

                      I’m going to check where our enemy Ramo is.   Lisa felt very cosy in her anthill and she was trying to stay wide awake in her nook. She really felt like being there in her anthill forever and ever, transforming to a lady was not a very nice thought but circumstances forced her to go along with the plans of others.                 Rufus took his mapadometer and started chanting magic words over it and touched his wand on a location and immediately as if in a big screen on the wall, came to life a forest with birds chirping as it was time for their sleep. And in the middle of this activity, in a small chimney house Ramo was training a rainbow parrot to pick only the leaf from an assortment (variety) of things spread on a table. All looked surprised. But for Rufus, he   felt very sad about it. He was thinking of the hardships Ramo has to overcome to train this parrot from scratch (the very beginning) and he was also wonderstruck to see how much Ramo was focused on hi

          I can foresee all events that is going to happen before hand. I only have to press my wand on the place on the mapadometer to get the events of the place in sequential order. “What is mapadometer?” enquired Spidey. Its a drawing or a picture of a place with lines and colours. We have drawings of all the places of this world and even the smallest detail like forests, streams, churches, dams, etc. are shown clearly in mapadometer.           “Then how did you solve our great grandpa’s problem?” enquired John. Oh yes. After drinking the potion, I looked at my Magicopaedia, within seconds I found the part I was looking, at that time I didn’t feel anything odd. I knew the curse couldn’t be nullified (cancelled out). I had to find a way to regain the transformed person back to normal person. Spidey and Antsy looked at each other. Yes I know, you both might be wondering what will happen of you. I’m sorry I won’t be able to reverse you back to your former shapes, as you were directly

I’m unable to travel during day time. Hearing it, they all looked at each other. Sensing the tension in the air, he asked, “ Are you all O.K?” We.....llll not exactly, replied John. “Why? What’s the matter?” When we were transformed, exactly at that moment, a house got sprouted in the forest and a wizard flew out from it. “Are you sure?” We are not exactly sure because my little friend Roby was playing there and he saw all these and informed us. He got frightened, seeing us as very big creatures. He might have been confused after all these happenings. Rufus nodded and went into deep thought. All looked worried at each other. Rufus looked smilingly, then I think we have company. Evil Ramo has arrived back in business. “Ramo?” all chorused together. Yes, Ramo. He might have hibernated with your steeple and when it got activated he too came alive. He was a genius in the art of magic. It took me nearly 2 centuries. But he... Oh wait a minute. He is indeed a genius. I think he had been hib

The Magicopaedia is a book where you can find everything and anything about magic. It  has also the recipes of potion making and also the route map of each and every magic. We cannot get it from any book stores, we get it when we complete our magic studies and if we complete the final test without damage. “Damage?” John asked. Yes we have some very dangerous magic tricks to perform, sometimes we are put in a cage of wild animal or sometimes we have to find a precious stone from a jungle infested with snakes or we will have to close an erupted(exploded) mountain mouth. Its not very easy. “And you did all these?” Yes quite easily. I was one of the favourites in the school.                  I was a very hardworking person and I wanted to become one of the best magicians. I was a normal person just like everybody else, played, joked, ate, studied, etc.. but I didn’t waste any time. When I sat to study, I studied. When I went for play I played completely, no fighting or cheating. When in

There in front of them were two arm chairs, a web and an anthill. The sight was a relief for John as he hadn’t found any comfortable place to sit. He was still in his human abode (home) and no furniture was designed for a spider or an ant. Lisa with her lady like gait (walk) quickly moved to her anthill and walked into the hole and sat in it with her head jutting (stick out) out. John climbed a little unsteadily on his web and sat on it. He felt elated (happy) a free feeling against gravitation. He couldn’t believe that he was really in a web. “Hey Rufus, this is indeed a very comfortable place. Thankyou. I think we need your help in building some webs and anthills. What do you think Spidey?” You are a lucky guy John – the very first spider and ant who has no role in creating their homes. Now you are a spider with a human touch. All laughed. Its a very good idea. I do not want you both uncomfortable. John nodded and smiled.   Then Spidey and Antsy sat on their seats and Rufus continued

            I think, there’s some mistake Spidey, John spoke. “I’m very sure it is night” Spidey replied.  Immediately the central key turned, bringing relief to all. Well that was forgetful of us. The door opened and to their surprise, a man with a pointed cap, long flowing hair and black robe stood there smiling. “Welcome to my abode.” They looked at each other, surprised. Yes, your forefather, Sir. Bradley Richard asked my help to relieve this family from this curse. It wasn’t very easy because it was cursed by a powerful evil wizard. But you know evil has its perks(gifts) in the beginning but the end would be fatal (deadly).           How come you are still alive? John enquired and what’s your name? The man smiled and replied, “My name is Rufus and I’m a wizard. Do you remember the parrot your forefather killed? The parrot was actually returning with the leaf of the eternal tree, which gives the person who consumes it everlasting (unending) life. When the bird was shot, the leaf fe

They walked through the hidden passage for some time and reached a door. The door was huge and decorated with a picture of four petalled lotus with some drawings on each petal. There was a key on one petal and John asked Spidey to touch on the key. Spidey did as he was told. Immediately they heard a creek and everybody stepped back.   The key started to turn and it came out just like a small drawer with a paper in it. Spidey took it and opened it and he saw there were some writings in it. Spidey showed it to John and he read it aloud, “Name the day when the golden saucer darkens.” They all looked at each other. Then Lisa spoke, “John, we don’t have any gold saucers here and do you really think that gold darkens?” Well now we’ll have to get the answer or else we won’t be able to open the other locks I feel”, John replied. “Spidey, why don’t you try to touch on another petal? We’ll look whether it would work with your touch again”. Spidey did as he was asked, but nothing happen

They were stunned by the revelation. Spidey woke up from his trance(spell) and spoke, “that’s indeed good news. Now we have company.” They all looked at Spidey, and John asked, “For What?” Well our stepping into the steeple has activated lots of things around and I feel the cursed magician has arrived. “Oh My God!” exclaimed Lisa. “What will happen now John?” Spidey replied, “It’s better we don’t conclude anything for now. John, you told about some magic potion, which we have to drink. Why don’t we first complete our dinner and we proceed to look into it?” All nodded and trooped back to the dining table and everybody finished their dinner immersed in their own thoughts.                    After dinner John directed to follow him. They were brought to his room. It was very spacious room with a connected study room too. He went to his bedroom and opened a closet where he kept his dresses. He slowly moved his dresses to one side and a small lever (handle) was protruding (sticking out) fr

It was Robin, the little neighbour friend of John and Lisa. Spidey, looked up to see the white faced 8 year old boy. John stood up and walked towards Roby. Seeing a huge spider coming towards him, Rob fell down unconscious. Spidey immediately took the little boy in his hands and laid him on the nearest couch. John asked Antsy to bring some water and Spidey sprinkled on Roby’s face as instructed. Clear little blue eyes looked straight into the very black concerned eyes of Spidey. “Hello little friend, how do you feel now? Roby jumped out from the couch seeing all the four around him. He, in a small voice called out, “Uncle John, Where are you?” I’m here Roby. Hearing the familiar sound from the mouth of the huge spider, he couldn’t control his shock. He cried out, No! this can’t happen. Uncle John, Uncle John, what happened? Tears started rolling down the little face and he slowly went near John and touched his leg.     Uncle John put one of his legs on Roby’s head and spoke. “Don’t cr