TRUE FRIENDS Aayshah Maseerah
True Friends Aayshah Maseerah
Written & Illustrated By: Aayshah Maseerah Produced By: Al Qamar Academy Contact: Al Qamar Academy 14, Kalyani Nagar, Opposite Journalists’ Colony Kottivakkam, Chennai 600041 Ph: 044 24511226/ 9677019226 info@alqamaracademy.in www.alqamaracademy.in An Al Qamar Trust publication Al Qamar Academy is a micro school in Chennai, India. As an alternative school, Al Qamar focusses on inculcating curiosity, enabling real learning and developing a social conscience in children. The school constantly innovates in its pedagogical delivery. The school was founded by IIT’ian Hauroon Jamal and Aneesa Jamal. This book is an outcome of a bookmaking workshop at Al Qamar Academy followed by three oneto-one mentoring sessions for the young authors conducted by renowned conservation educator and nature photographer K. Ramnath Chandrasekhar. The storytelling module used by him during the sessions were designed for Karthavyam, an initiative on public-problem solving.
FOR MY DEAR FAMILY
Tuesday 2nd June “I'm late for my art class,” Divya shouted. She rushed down and took her paint and colours. She reached but class had already started. After two hours of class she came back home. Divya quickly ate dinner and went off to sleep, so that she could wake up for school early the next day.
Wednesday 3rd June Divya was early to school. She reached before everyone. She saw a new girl in class. Divya was surprised. She asked the new girl her name. “I'm Afra. Who are you?” she asked. “I’m Divya.” They both shook hands. The first class started. It was English. They got their exam papers back. Divya had scored the highest marks.
THURSDAY 4TH JUNE
At lunch break, Afra saw she had lemon rice which she had not eaten for breakfast. When she opened it there was a foul smell. Afra knew it was rotten, but she ate it, because she was afraid her mom would scold her if she didn’t finish her lunch. In class Afra felt hot, dizzy and sick. The teachers took her to the doctor. The doctor said she had eaten rotten food and was sick. She’d better go home. Mom was very sad when Afra reached home.
FRIDAY 5TH JUNE The next day Divya saw that Afra hadn’t come to school and she got worried. She called Afra after school and asked, “Afra why didn’t you come to school today?” Afra replied “Oh! it was because I had high fever.” “Are you better now?” “Yeah! I'm fine.” They talked for about half an hour.
SATURDAY 6TH JUNE Divya was bored at school, because all her best friends - Anjali , Rasha and Afra were absent. After going home, she put on her favorite shirt and track pants. Then she went to Afra’s house. Afra was there lying on the bed. Her mom was very worried, because she had high fever and was very sick.
MONDAY 8TH JUNE Afra got sicker. Her family took her to the hospital. The doctor was in a hurry. The hospital put her in the ICU and took many tests. After two hours the Doctor came out “We can’t do any thing.” Afra was unconscious. Her family took her home.
TUESDAY 9TH JUNE Doctors in other hospitals saw Afra. They said the same thing. One doctor finally diagnosed her disease as “Doonfur”. Now Afra’s Mom was very worried wondering if Afra’s life was at risk. Divya said, “Why don’t we ask for help?” “What kind of help?” Suddenly there was a knock at the door. It was Rasha! “Why don’t we get help from the government?” Divya said, “Ok we can do that.” “We will write a letter to the government.”
WEDNESDAY 10TH JUNE To, The Health Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, 1/224, 2nd Main Road, Nungambakam, Chennai 600034 10th June 2016 Dear Sir, Our friend is sick. She has fever and a new disease called ‘DOONFUR.’ Please help in any way you can. Yours sincerely, Divya AFTER A WEEK........
THURSDAY 17TH JUNE There was a reply letter from the Government. Everyone gathered in Afra’s house to look what reply was. Divya read it aloud to everyone. Dear Divya and friends, We will try to help you. Come to this address and then I will tell you something which will be a little bit relief for your friend. Sincerely, Krishna Kumar Health officer
FRIDAY 18TH JUNE Rasha and Divya checked the address and went to the Health Office. They went in and met the officer. He introduced himself to them, “Hi, I'm Krishna Kumar. This is Dr. Rafi. He will help you.”
SATURDAY 19TH JUNE Dr. Rafi said “Please consult my friend, Dr. Shah in Maharashtra. He has the medicine for the disease your friend has. He works in a health clinic. If you need help, call him at this number.”
SATURDAY 20TH JUNE Divya and her friends reached Maharashtra. They went to the health clinic. It was huge. They met Dr. Shah. He had a big can with red liquid medicine. The doctor took a small bottle, poured in the red liquid medicine and gave it to them. He said “This is the medicine for Doonfur. It may take your friend more than a week to get well.�
MONDAY 21ST JUNE Back again in Chennai, Divya and Rasha went straight to Afra’s house to give her the medicine. Afra’s mom felt hopeful and thought her daughter would get well. After a week...
MONDAY 28TH JUNE Afra woke up and blankly asked, “ Why am I not going to school?� Her mom told her everything she had gone through in the past few days. Divya and Rasha told the hospitals and clinics that Afra got well because of they got the new medicine. They gave them the contact number of Dr. Rafi and Mr. Krishna Kumar. Afra went back to school again. She looked as if she had not gone to school for a year. Everyone thanked Dr. Rafi and Mr. Kumar.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank Ram Uncle for helping and inspiring me to write a wonderful story. I thank Mrs. Nazreen Sheriff for helping me correct my errors and guiding me through the whole story. I thank Mrs. Aneesa Jamal for encouraging me to join the class and finish my work in time. I thank my friends ayna and afaa for helpin me finish my story.
NOTES Public problems are everywhere. Observe them and make a note here. Find out how you will solve them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aayshah Maseerah studies in Grade 6 at Al Qamar Academy. She lives in Chennai with her mother, father and brother.
A"a falls sick with an unknown disease. Can her "iends Divya and Rasha ďŹ nd help? Will they succeed? Will A"a get well?