THE MAGIC POTION OF THE WITCH

WRITTEN, ILLUSTRATED AND PUBLISHED BY: BodhaGuru Learning Private Limited VERSION: 0.8 Copyright 2012 by BodhaGuru Learning Private Limited

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Thank you for downloading this book. This book must not be reproduced, copied or distributed in any form or means, without the prior permission from the author. Your support and respect for the hard work of the author is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons - living or dead, places or events is purely coincidental. We hope you and your child enjoy the story as much as we enjoyed writing it.

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Children Fun and Learn Book Subject: Science Topic: Soil Erosion

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CHAPTER 1 - The witch in the jungle

Long, long ago, there was a beautiful dense rainforest. In this rainforest there were a lot of trees, birds, animals - all lived very happily together. The birds used to sit on the trees and sang with nice chirping sound. The trees used to enjoy the birds songs. The cool wind used to blow in the forest all the time. Nearby a big river was flowing where all the animals of the forest used to drink water.

In this forest, a witch used to live in a small tree house. She never interfered in the plant or animal life. She stayed in her tree house peacefully and enjoyed the beauty of the forest.

One day, the witch, who was now old, was sitting inside her tree house. A beautiful photo of the witch was hanging on the wall. She looked herself in the mirror and the photo hanging on wall. She thought, Oh I am getting older my beauty is getting lesser day-by-day. What can I do about it?

She went to the basement in her house. She opened a box and took out a thick book titled How to be Beautiful.

She took the book to her desk and started reading. While reading, she got an idea from the book.

The witch whispered with sparkle in her eyes, Wow - this is an interesting idea. All I need to do is to collect roots of 1000 trees every day, put them in my magic vessel and just cast a magic spell on them. This will give me a potion that will make me young and beautiful again. The witch read the book again. She exclaimed, Wait, Wait. But, why does it gives a warning The magic potion should be used only for few days otherwise you have to face adverse consequences? I think it is written just for the heck of it. She kept the book down and thought smiling, Let me try this idea from today. CHAPTER 2 - Witchs cruel idea

The witch came out of her tree house and started flying using her magic broom. She was laughing crookedly, Haa Haa Haa soon I will be young and beautiful. Let me start gathering roots of the trees.

The witch reached near the trees and pointed her axe towards the trees. She chanted a magic spell, Hulla Laa, Hulla Le, Hulla Li - Get me the roots of all these trees.

The magic axe went with a spark towards trees and soon a lot of trees fell down causing panic in the nearby animals.

The witch collected the roots of the trees and took them home. There, she put a large closed vessel on the fire and in the vessel she put the roots. She was very happy and murmured, Aha my magic potion is getting ready. Soon I will be beautiful. CHAPTER 3 - The friends leave the jungle

The trees at nearby distance looked at her sadly. One tree said sobbing, Tomorrow is going to be our turn as no tree can survive without the roots.

A bird was sitting on the tree. It listened to the trees cry and said, My friend tree if you are not there, where will we live what will we eat? I will ask all my bird friends to leave this place and go to another land. A deer was sitting below the tree. It heard the conversation and said, I agree with birds if you are not there what will we eat? We will also leave this forest and search place somewhere else. So the birds and the animals left the rain forest and went elsewhere.

The witch continued to cut the roots of the trees and make the potion. After few days, she started looking little beautiful. But a large portion of trees near her area was cut. CHAPTER 4 - The devastation

One day as she was getting ready to fly with her axe to the forest, she smiled crookedly and thought, Wow this magic potion is making its effect. I have started to look young and beautiful. I dont know why that warning was given to use the magic potion for few days only. This is so good. Let me make more of the magic potion. I need to go to a far distance as there are no more trees near by let me use my magic broom. Suddenly dry air started blowing with lot of soil in the air.

The witch didnt like that. She asked angrily, Hey Air, why are you so hot and dirty today? Air sadly replied, Trees kept me cool and free from dust. Now there are no trees, so how can I be cool - you mean witch!

Soil also shouted angrily, I used to be so nicely attached to the ground because of trees. Now the wind is blowing and taking me away to distant places. Thanks to you selfish witch!

Witch also replied angrily, You are jealous of my beauty and thats why you are complaining. Forget it let me go to my work. The witch sat on her magic broom and flew to another area full of trees.

The witch reached near the trees and points her axe towards the trees. She chanted, Hulla Laa, Hulla Le, Hulla Li -get me the roots of all these trees. The magic axe rushed with a spark towards trees and cut lot of trees.

The witch reached her tree house and made potion with the roots of the trees. Then she said, I am too tired today. Let me go to sleep.

That night, the witch was sleeping in her bedroom. Suddenly the house started shaking and there was a loud water current sound.

She woke up scared and came out of the house.

Witch shouted, What happened here? She saw a large amount of water everywhere. She asked water angrily, Hey you water what happened? How dare you come out of river with so much force and destroy everything?

Water replied angrily, You selfish witch this happened all because of you. You cut the roots, so trees fell. The trees were holding the soil. Without trees the soil got washed away by me and wind. Only soil can stop me and it is not there. You go and enjoy your beauty now. CHAPTER 5 - The realization

The witch now realized her mistake. She thought, Oh!! Now I understand. This is the reason, why there was a strict warning not to use this magic potion for many days. What should I do now? Yes, I should ask the Forest God for his forgiveness. Let me go and meet him. The witch was terrified. She took her broom and flew away to meet the Forest God.

Soon she reached an area with lot of trees. She went near the Forest God. Witch said to Forest God sadly, Hello Forest God please help me. I know you are angry with me. I realize my mistake please tell me how can I get all the trees back.

Forest God said, Oh Witch I wish you realized this before. Now the only solution is this You have to sacrifice your beauty you sprinkle the magic potion that you made from roots of my fellow trees in all the barren land. And then all the trees will grow again. Witch thought, I dont want to lose my beauty. But, what is the use of this beauty when I wont be able to live properly. This external beauty is of no use to me. She then said, Ok, Ok I realize my mistake. I am ready to do this. I am sorry. The witch flew back.

The next morning, the witch sprinkled her magic potion on all the land and said, Sorry my friends I will not do this ever again.

She flew in the entire area and sprinkled her magic potion on the barren land below.

The witch became same as earlier (old and not so beautiful) again.

With time, everything became back to normal as earlier. The birds came back on the trees and started singing with nice chirping sound. The trees became happy and the cool wind started blowing. The flow of the river became normal again.

One day, the witch was watering the plants. She smiled and said, I now have wisdom of age and beauty of a good heart. Everyone became her friend and they lived happily ever after. Moral of the story: One should not harm others for own selfish motive. CHAPTER 6 - Food for thought 1. Why did the trees die as witch was collecting the roots? 2. What would have happened if the witch had used trunk of the trees instead of the roots of trees? 3. All the birds and the animals were leaving the jungle when the witch was destroying the trees. Do you think the animals that lived underground would also leave the jungle? 4. The air said that trees keep it cool and clean. How does it work? 5. What was the reason behind the warning that the Witch read in the book at the start of the story? 6. Why the area around the Witchs tree house got flooded with water? 7. Can beauty of heart make you look beautiful? 8. Why did the Witch agreed to sacrifice the beauty which she longed for? 9. The Witch said she got the wisdom of age. What did she mean by this?

Feel free to imagine, generate new questions, think and discuss the answer to all the questions with your friends, teachers and parents. Have Fun! ***** THE END *****