Creative Pen Awards Winning Write ups.
1. Dr. Arwa Saifi
Creative piece-
Lessons from Children about Joy and Simplicity
Not long ago, I was sitting in a park, watching a little boy chase a butterfly. His laughter filled the air as he ran around in circles, trying his best to catch it. For him, that butterfly was pure magic. No toys, no screens, no distractions - just a moment of joy. And as I sat there, I thought to myself: When was the last time I felt that happy about something so small?
Children have a way of reminding us that life doesn’t have to be complicated. Their little actions often hold the biggest lessons. If only we paused to notice, we’d see that they are our best teachers of joy and simplicity.
Living in the Moment
When a child plays, they are completely lost in it. Give them a colouring book, and the world outside disappears. Take them to a swing, and they’ll laugh with every push as if it’s the best day of their life. Unlike us, they don’t worry about the next meeting or tomorrow’s bills. They remind us that the present moment is where happiness truly lives.
Finding Happiness in Small Things
I once saw a little girl squeal with delight just because she found a tiny snail crawling on the ground. To her, it was a treasure. For us, it would probably go unnoticed. Children don’t need grand plans or expensive things. A balloon, a puddle, or a paper boat is enough to make their day. Their joy teaches us that maybe happiness isn’t in having more, but in noticing more.
The Courage to Ask “Why?”
Every parent will tell you how children can ask a hundred questions in a day. “Why is the sky blue?” “Why do birds fly?” “Why can’t I eat ice cream for breakfast?” It can be endless. Yet, behind these questions is a fearless curiosity. As adults, we often stop asking because we are afraid of being judged. Children show us that asking is not a weakness - it’s the start of learning.
Forgiving in a Heartbeat
Have you ever seen two children fight over a toy? For a moment, it feels like the world is ending. Tears, arguments, crossed arms. But give it five minutes, and they’re back to laughing together as if nothing ever happened. Children forgive easily, and because of that, their hearts remain light. How much peace we’d find if we too could let go so quickly.
Being Yourself
Children never try to hide who they are. If they like you, they’ll run up and hug you. If they’re upset, you’ll know it instantly. They don’t play games or wear masks. Something is refreshing about their honesty. As we grow older, we often lose that authenticity, pretending to be what others expect. But children remind us of the beauty of being real.
Imagination without Limits
Hand a child a cardboard box, and suddenly it’s not just a box anymore - it’s a spaceship, a castle, or even a secret house. Their creativity has no boundaries. Watching them play reminds us of the time when we, too, had wild imaginations. Maybe adulthood doesn’t have to silence that spark; maybe we just need to bring it back.
The Joy of Togetherness
Children love being around people they care about. They don’t need fancy dinners or formal plans - just being with family, sharing laughter, is enough. Their hugs are genuine, their smiles contagious. In a world where we’re often glued to our phones, they remind us of the joy that lies in simple human connection.
Final Thought
As I left the park that day, I couldn’t help but smile. That little boy never did catch the butterfly, but he didn’t seem to mind. For him, the chase was enough.
And perhaps, that’s the greatest lesson children give us: joy is not in waiting for big moments, but in embracing the simple, everyday ones.
2. Dr. Romila Chitturi
Creative piece -
Title: A peace treaty with time.
There is a prevalent romanticism attached to the disorganized genius - the individual who thrives on the adrenaline of the eleventh hour, dashing across the finish line just as the clock strikes twelve. I have never been that person. In fact, if life were a dinner party, I would be the guest who arrives ten minutes early to help set the table. My relationship with time is not a battle, nor is it a race; it is a carefully negotiated partnership. By mastering the clock, I have found that structure does not kill spontaneity; rather, it is the very framework that allows it to flourish.
To understand my existence, one must look at how I compartmentalize the chronological landscape: the past, the future, and the elusive present.
I view the past as a library. It is a place of immense value, filled with reference books, case studies, and cautionary tales. I visit it often to consult the records to learn why a specific project failed or how a conversation went awry, but I never bring a sleeping bag. Dwelling in the past is the quickest way to miss the sunlight of today. I carry no heavy luggage of nostalgia, nor do I harbor the ghosts of regret. I treat my history like a "check engine" light; I acknowledge the signal, make the necessary repairs, and keep driving.
Conversely, I view the future not as a distant, hazy dream, but as the very next minute of our existence. This perspective drives my affinity for time management. To many, a strict schedule sounds restrictive, perhaps even robotic. However, I have found that working ahead of deadlines is the ultimate act of self-care. When I finish a task three days before it is due, I am not merely checking a box; I am buying freedom for my future self. I plan relentlessly, not out of anxiety, but out of respect for the uncertainty of life. By organizing the chaos of obligations, I ensure that when the unexpected happens, I have the bandwidth to handle it with grace rather than panic.
This rigorous planning and respect for history serve a single, singular purpose: to protect the sanctity of the present.
This is where I truly live. The goal of being a "pro" at time management is not to do more work; it is to have the mental clarity to stop working. Because I am not worried about yesterday’s errors or tomorrow’s deadlines, I can fully inhabit the moment. I can drink a cup of coffee and actually taste the roast. I can engage in a conversation without mentally drafting an email. I can feel the texture of the wind and the warmth of the sun.
I am acutely aware that being born human is a statistical miracle. To waste this consciousness on anxiety seems like a profound ungratefulness to the universe. There is only life - this breathing, pulsing, immediate experience. My perception of time directly correlates to my daily happiness because I refuse to mortgage my present joy for future worries.
Of course, this doesn't mean I am immune to the pressures of the world. I simply choose to engage with them preemptively. I treat time as a currency. Most people spend it as it comes, often running into debt. I prefer to invest it early, front-loading the effort so that the dividends - peace, relaxation, and genuine presence - pay out daily.
In the end, time is the only resource we cannot renew. We cannot create more of it, but we can change how we inhabit it. I choose to be an architect of my hours rather than a victim of them. I plan for the future so I don't have to worry about it, and I learn from the past so I don't have to repeat it. All of this is done for the simple, profound privilege of standing firmly in the now, grateful for the breath I am taking, and ready for the very next minute that arrives.
3. Priyanka Bhadarkar
Creative Piece -
Title - Song of the Celestial Harp
Their standard virtues echoing Shakespeare, speak to me in ecstasy,
Maybe they dream but know of a complete defeat
Their praises are lavished on newborns, speaking more of being independent
Myself reflecting those rewards to be enchanting, woven with wings ???
Maybe they go there being beautiful, to adjust better and make memories,
With time, they give blessings to a wide-eyed wonder.
These are but thoughts of love to the first cry that is humored by the crowd,
Childhood a certain stage that stretches away from your hands,
These goals of singing and dancing, which were never given but are most in nature,
Perhaps their bearings were always leading them there, not to find work but to get a feeling.
The child who grabs attention is the angel who is granted wishes
Does this mean the calendar where such events get highlighted is marked with love?
Their muses take sprite with loneliness whose fashion flickers in cigarette butts,
Born during the night and marking their name in haste, a means of escape?
But sometimes the celebrations are different, a thing of beauty
Here, men and women are highlighting the entourage of happiness,
Those love drops are going to soothe the scalp and convert into blessings,
You have a strained respect for a trans woman, a hijra with the makings.
I am into Utopia but don't feel it is hostile and speak with a sure tongue,
Their enlightened perseverance with those hands rubbing away the oil,
These objectives are real. eternal, as vast as the idea of taking a bath.
You mixed up. It is not welcoming but taking care.
And this is why nobody would care. What is more family?
What is poetry that does not take the help of a metaphor? That I discovered.
This is salvation. The songs that save people. And all remain silent as the oath is complete.
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