Why has it become increasingly diffiicult to run even during early mornings? Suddu was anxious. He tightly grabbed Papa’s hand to avoid getting lost in the crowd. This was the third medical store they had visited since morning to buy a mask. The first two in their locality had already run out. “Papa, when will we go home? I am hungry,” said a visibly irritable Suddu. More than hunger it was the urge to get out of the crowded medical store. “As soon as we buy the mask, beta,” his father assured him. “But why is there such a long queue?”...

The girl would remember that winter fondly as the one when they made their last snowperson. Her elder brother and sister and two girls and another boy from the neighbourhood had developed a ritual over the years. Every time it snowed substantially, they would leave all but one of their kãgers at home, put on their Duckback boots and homemade woollen gloves and head for the clearing between the walnut trees behind their mohalla.

As usual, I woke up in the morning thinking about what I would do that day. It wasn't a special day, my routine was all planned-up like other days. It was a holiday, I didn’t have to go to school. I was determined to do something new, see something different. I was thinking about going with my family to watch a movie or something like that. I don’t watch movies often but my exams had just ended the day before. Many ideas came to my mind, but that day I don’t know why...

Junk lovers, welcome a new addition to the group—the bees. Pollen is the only natural source of protein for bees, but every day it is becoming starchier—thanks to the increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is sapping the nutritional quality of pollen. Bees need adequate proteins to feed their larvae and maintain their immune systems; some bees store pollen to tide through winters.

One summer afternoon when Aman was sitting in a corner looking lost, Parth went up to him and said, “Hi, why are you sitting alone during recess?" Aman got up from his desk and walked out of the classroom. The recess ended and all the boys entered the class and made themselves comfortable in their respective seats. After the school got over, Parth walked up to Javed and asked him as to what is the matter with Aman, why does he stay gloomy and aloof.