The Past

        Once upon the past, there lived 3 sisters-Alishbah, who was the smallest, Farah, who was the middle one and Sabrina, the oldest sister. Alishbah and Farah didn’t get along very well. All three sisters were very close to each other, probably because they didn’t have many relatives, not that they knew of anyways. Their father, Brian was a busy man. Brian was a reporter and traveled around the world a lot. Whenever Brian could, he would try to spend as much time possible because the three girls’ young mother Shaliny had died because of cancer when the girls were very little. To fulfill their one need (a mother) had hired a loving, generous housekeeper whom they called Teresa. Teresa was very caring and loved the three girls as if they were her own children. Alishbah, Farah and Sabrina were very lucky to have such a lovable family.

   Chapter 1

Horrible news

 

        “DRIING… DRIING!” Teresa was making breakfast. “DRIING!” She ran to get the phone. “Hello? Hi Nanny, why are you crying? …

What? Oh my god!” Teresa dropped the phone and the line disconnected. Teresa started crying her heart out. She had tears all over her face, her face was pink and her eyes were red. Teresa had to leave! She was so disappointed, so horrified, so terribly sad, so confused! Her father had passed away and her mother was in shock of the terrible event. Teresa felt so weak. She started to pack her stuff right away.

         The girls and their father returned home an hour later. Teresa was leaning against a chair weeping, with a bag at her side. She told the family the sad event that had taken place. Everyone’s mouth dropped open and Teresa burst into tears, once again. Brain and the rest were terribly sad. Teresa had to leave the very next morning.

          That night passed by very slowly. The girls couldn’t sleep and neither could Teresa or Brian. Alishbah was the closest to Teresa in relationship. They loved each other. Alishbah wondered when Teresa would return, if she did. She wondered herself with no one at all at her side. Sabrina felt terribly sad. “ Teresa is going to feel so lonely. Her father dead, her mother in shock, no siblings, no one by her side except for her nanny.” thought Sabrina in a moan. Farah had quite an imagination. Which was again, not a very good thing at times. She just couldn’t stop horrid thoughts come into her mind. “Was Teresa going to go in shock like her own mom? What if Teresas’ nanny died? She would have no one on her side. Was Teresa ever going to come back? Would Teresa get married because she needed money? NO! She was too old! But again she had read in books how people would marry anyone if they were in need of money and Teresa still looked a bit stunning. It was a possibility, but no!

All the girls were sad. Brian was so thankful to Teresa. She had taken such good care for the girls, never complained, made the best food and so much more. Teresa was feeling terrible leaving the girls back. Who would take care of the girls when Brian wasn’t home? What would happen to her mom? Would she return? No one could sleep. Everyone felt terrible and sad.

                                   It was 7 in the morning and Teresa was already leaving. Everyone had dark circles around their eyes and Brian had planed not to go to work. The girls were very sad but they were told not to cry infront of Teresa. Their father had said it would make Teresa feel weak. Everyone gave Teresa a big hug and couldn’t stop tears from rolling down their eyes. Teresa was buckling her seatbelt, when Farah walked up to her and asked Teresa when she would return.  Teresa started crying at the question. She her self didn’t know when, where or how she would return. Short of money, her mother sick, her father dead and her nanny weak. This was terrible. Would she return? Not knowing the answer to the question herself, she said she would come… someday.

 

    Chapter two

      Marriage?

 

 

 

The day was very quiet and dull. Brain was very worried that evening. Sabrina was wondering what the worried expression on her fathers’ face meant. “Daddy. Why do you seem so worried?” asked Sabrina. There was a long pause between Sabrina’s question and her fathers reply. “Sabrina. I have to talk to you and the others about something, but I must talk to you alone at this moment. I have to leave in an important business trip for a month in two weeks. If I don’t go all my earnings will go to waste. The only problem is that I don’t dare to leave you, Farah or Alishbah alone. You know I go on many trips through out the year, this is not the only one. I can not leave you alone. If I leave this job, I won’t be able to find any other, for a while and you know how important this job is. I have no choice but to get married again. You three girls will have a step-mother.” Explained Brian in a weak tone. At the end of the conversation Sabrina had tears were rolling down her cheek.

                     Chapter 3

     Next! Never! No!

 

Brian spend 10 days trying to find a perfect or okay step-mom for the girls. Each time he brought a woman home, the girls would refuse telling there father something unpleasant about the woman. “She is to strict, she is too young, too formal, too tall- Daddy… she is taller then you, daddy… she is my height, NEXT! Brain didn’t know what to do. There were only two days left till his trip! Was he to cancel the trip or to marry a woman of his choice?

     The next day the girls had to go to “Jones Foundations” which was their dad’s company. The girls were playing cards in the café, which was located in the office. Their dad came in through the door walking beside a good-looking woman. “Too much make-up!” giggled the girls.“ Girls, this is Edna Wilson. She is my secretary and an extremely hard working woman.” Introduced their dad. Edna was dressed in a long skirt, blue top and fashionable sandals, which looked huge! “Hello girls! I am not working for the rest of the afternoon; I wouldn’t mind some company! What do you say?” questioned Edna. Edna was a charming lady who sounded pretty cheerful. “Sure. Why not?” answered Farah. They send the rest of the day with Edna. Sabrina thought that Edna was a little to mother like. She kept on calling the three girls “sweet daughters,” which Sabrina found odd. The day went by quick and the girls had lots of fun.

Chapter 4

Is she the one?

 

 

The next day, Brian talked to the girls asking them questions about Edna; “Did you like her? Was she nice? Isn’t she the sweetest? So hard working and Fun! Hard to believe!” Their father ended off saying, “wouldn’t she make a perfect mother?” Sabrina knew it! Edna called the girl’s “daughter” because she wanted to be their mother.  The day after the next their dad had to leave, so the girls had to make up their mind fast. “There is no choice but to except her! Father is not going to be able to go if he doesn’t marry her!” explained Sabrina. “But, I don’t like her. She is fun, but suspicious. Sweet but smelly!” Farah and Sabrina laughed at Alishbah’s remark.

Brian and Edna got married the very next day and Brian left for his trip the day after. When the girls got home from the airport. They went to sleep. “ How mean! She didn’t even tuck me in. Father and Teresa always did!” whispered Alishbah.

    

 

Chapter 5

Horrible!

 

The next morning the girls got to know that Edna was very bossy and mean. The girls had to make Edna’s breakfast, do the laundry for Edna’s clothing, clean the house and cook food. The girls had to cook for a party Edna was keeping for her friends. Before the party, Edna told the girls to stay in their room for the whole party or else she woulds spank them. The girls went all into Sabrina’s room and started crying. Alishbah had bruises from Edna slapping her so many times in only one afternoon, but the girls knew they couldn’t complain to their father because if they did Edna would spank them till their face would turn red. The girls heard music and laughter downstairs. Oh how they wished they could join that party!

     Edna treated the girls this way for 2 more weeks! Then, one day their father called from California. “Don’t talk to him about Edna, just say she is okay. We don’t want daddy feeling bad and rushing home. Just act normal.” Sabrina sighed. “ Hello? FATHER! When are you returning home? I miss you so much! We all miss you!” Alishbah was weeping. “Slow down. I miss my three little princesses to. Put the phone on the speaker. I don’t have much more time. I have to leave for a meeting and the phone card is going to run out.” Said Brian. Alishbah put the phone on speaker. Edna was there as well. “Okay everybody. Now listen to what I say carefully. I have good news and a bad news. I’ll tell you the bad news first. The bad news is that…well…I have to stay back for another month.” The three girls groaned, while Edna gave a wicked smile. “Sorry, girls. I have an enormous amount of work and…” their father’s voice trailed on, the card had ran out. “ Farah, go and clean out my closet and do the laundry. Sabrina, iron my clothes, for a party I am planning. Iron ALL my clothes and after that make my bed. Alishbah, go and mop the floor. Mop it properly! There shouldn’t be any spots left like last time. I wouldn’t like to slap you anymore, you already look like a maid!” Edna continued with chores that the girls had to do. That night the girls weren’t weeping. They knew there was no point. Instead they sat around Farah’s bed and wondered what the good news was.

 

Chapter 6

Aunt Henna returns

 

The next morning while everyone was doing their chores, their father called. “Hello. Sorry. The card ran out yesterday. I had to tell you about the good news. Remember aunt Henna? Oh… how stupid of me to ask such a question! You all were very small and Alishbah, you weren’t even born when we met her last time. She is my sister, the one that is 1 year older then me and knows the history of this place. She used to live here and help out Shaliny year’s back.  Then she went back to some city in Switzerland. Remember? I told you all about her. Why won’t you girls say anything? Are you listening?” The girls were listening, but were too weak to answer their dad in a happy tone. “ Yeah. They’re listening. Go on Honey.” answered Edna for the rest of them. “Well. As I was saying. Henna is coming to Switzerland for a year. She will be arriving tomorrow or the day after. I want you all to be nice to her and Edna, give Hannah all the company you can. She has had a harsh time lately.” Edna giggled, “I sure will, the girls have to continue with their work. Bye!” Edna didn’t give their father to say a good bye to her or the girls. Brian didn’t know what Edna really meant by company, but the girls did. Edna was very angry at the arrival of Henna. She had to cancel all her parties and events.

     The very next day, Brian’s sister Henna had moved in with them. Henna was very nice. She had gotten a warm welcome from everyone but the rest of the time wasn’t very welcoming. Edna started bossing around Henna as well and threatened her that if she complained she would regret it. Henna was very sweet, but like the others she was getting angry with Edna. The girls had once made a plan to run away from home, but Henna had over heard and said it was Edna who should leave home. Henna was not as patient as the girls. One day when Henna stood up for her self and argued with Edna. But that Edna! She kicked Henna out of the house to go and live on the street. Brian was on his trip to Calgary when this happened. One evening the girls got to know that their father had died in a plane crash.

 

             

Chapter 7

Why?

 

The girls were shocked! “Why? Why us? What wrong did we do?” The girls thought to themselves. All these terrible events happening- Teresa leaving, Brian getting married, slaving Edna, being bossed around and now the death of their father. The girls felt terrible. They would stay awake the whole night, getting dark circles in the morning. The girls didn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, and wouldn’t talk. It was as if they would never get well.  All they did do was chores, chores and more chores. Sometimes the girls remembered when they would be stubborn or say something mean to their dad and they would start banging their heads on the wall.

 

Chapter 8

 

One Saturday morning, Alishbah was feeling terribly dizzy. Knowing she had to do her chores she got out of bed not taking the time to change and started doing her usual chores.  “Dizzy and still no absence.” she thought. She did the laundry, mopped the floor and then went in the kitchen to make breakfast. Feeling dizzier then before she sat down on a chair and started cutting the apple. She felt a sudden pain in her hand. She looked at her hand and saw blood on her fingers. She had cut her index finger off! She screamed and felt drowsiness and then felt nothing at all!

Sabrina woke at the scream. She ran down the stairs to see Alishbah lying on the floor with a finger at her side. She then looked at Alishbahs’ bloody hand. Sabrina ran up the stairs where into Farah’s room. “Farah! Wake up. Alishbah fainted and has a bloody hand!” Sabrina cried nudging Farah to wake up. “what!” Farah tried to run as fast as she could down the stairs to where the kitchen was. Farah had a fever and a soar throat, so she didn’t have the energy to run that fast. Sabrina followed Farah, but running down the hardwood stairs she tripped on a step and rolled down the stairs into the glass sculpture. The glass broke on top of Sabrina. Sabrina had glass all over and half inside her. She fell unconscious. When Farah saw her two sisters she screamed a terrified yell. Edna woke at the scream and came rushing down the steps.

Edna took Sabrina and Alishbah to the hospital along with Farah who was terribly sick, knowing that if they were hurt or harmed anymore she would be blamed.

             Chapter 9

 

Edna would never visit them; no one would visit them. Farah had started to get better before any of them. She would usually lay down in bed and read a book or sometimes go outside the hospital, in the sun and just look around.

Finally, after 2 months everyone was back home.

 One day they over slept till 11:45. That day Edna woke up, before the girls at 11:30 when she got to know that the girls didn’t wakeup before her to make her breakfast. She was angry! She woke the girls and spanked them with a broomstick. Alishbah couldn’t stand injustice that had been happening to her and her two sisters. Edna hit Alishbah and that was it. Alishbah raised her voice at Edna to tell her to stop for the first time in 2 years. Farah and the rest were tired of Edna bossing them around, slapping them and treating them like maids. Edna was so angry that she started to kick Alishbah out of the house as if the house was her own. Farah started crying and realized there was no point so she went to stop Edna.

Edna got really angry, but by the determined look on the girl’s face, she knew she couldn’t compete against all three. Edna just walked to her room and didn’t tell the girls to do any chores for the rest of the day. That night when the girls were in there room Farah burst out, “I’m tired of this! Getting spanked everyday for no reason, doing chores 24/7, not being allowed to play games and acting as if we are Edna’s slaves. I’m going to run away!” “Hahaha?” exaggerated Alishbah. “We don’t know any one in the whole city! Where would we go, even if we did run away?” asked Alishbah feeling helpless. “I hate that Edna! I wish something so horrible would happen to her that she would die!” said Farah, not being able to keep quiet. The sisters kept on saying mean, but true things about Edna. They were so busy talking that they never noticed Edna, there all along eavesdropping!

 

Chapter 10

The next morning Edna acted nice and took the girls to a mall in another city. While they were there Farah saw Edna suspiciously going somewhere. Farah told Sarah and Alishbah, she’d be right back. Farah followed Edna into the parking lot and hid behind a car. Edna was talking on the phone to someone. “Yes! I finally got rid of those brats!” said Edna while buckling her seatbelt. Why did she say, get rid of thought Farah? Then it came to her. Edna was going to leave the girls behind! “You can’t leave us here! Come back!” cried Farah as the car drove away. Farah ran to her sisters and told them what had happened. The sisters were lucky that they lived in Switzerland

because it didn’t really get cold there. The flowers were blooming all year long.

    

Chapter 11

The girls felt free for once, but also trapped like the other days. The girls gulped.

After a few days the girls were walking around trying to find something to eat, when they saw a rusty house. The house had a sign on it that said keep-out. Sara and Farah continued walking till they noticed they couldn’t hear any footsteps behind themselves. Farah turned around. “Oh no! Alishbah isn’t behind us,” Farah said worried. “There she is! She just went inside that rusty house we passed! It said keep out! It’s probably dangerous! Stop her!” cried Farah. Both sisters ran after Alishbah inside the rusty house.

“Alishbah!” they screamed when they saw the forest behind the house, which was actually a wall. There was no sign of her. Sarah was sure she saw Alishbah go inside the house. Where was she? Suddenly, Alishbah came running to the worried sisters. “Come with me!” She laughed in excitement. The two elder sisters ran behind Alishbah. The stopped in amazement. “Wow!” they said all at once, looking around at the beautiful, almost magical garden!

They noticed a lady sitting in the corner of the garden. They went up to her and the lady looked up to them. “Its you! Oh my gosh!” Farah said excited. They all were so happy to see their aunt, Henna. “We are so happy to see you! We thought you died after all these years!” The girls had loads more questions they wanted answered. Then Henna laughed and asked why the girls were at the beautiful garden. The girls started telling their story and then Henna told her story. Henna ended her story by saying, “Thanks to this magical garden and my determination to live, I’m still alive”. “What’s so cool about this garden? Why do you call it a magical garden?” asked Alishbah? “Oh…well…you might not believe this, but this is a magical garden it

grows fruits everyday, it has trees that bend down to help you grab on to the fruits”. The girls knew their aunt would never tell such a lie and probably that’s how she was still alive. “We believe you” they all told her.

 

Chapter 12

 

The next day, the girls learnt that the tree really was magical. In the morning when the sunrays were keeping Farah from sleeping, the tree bent over to give her shade. She gulped at the sight of it. In the morning, infront of the girls’ eyes the trees would form many diverse fruits and vegetables. The girls ate like they never had before. They enjoyed the thought of being free. Eventhough the girls didn’t get away from doing daily chores they still liked not having to be bossed around by Edna.

 

 

Chapter 13

Months had passed and then one day the Farah and Sabrina woke up to find Alishbah missing. “She probably went in the pond to play,” said Farah. After a few minutes Sabrina came running to Farah and with a worried feeling said, “I checked, but she isn’t even near the pond! Sabrina gulped and thought where Alishbah could be? Everyone was worried sick! “ALISHBAH! Where are you?” yelled the 2 girls. Aunt Henna sat down on the bench and started crying. “No one knows about this garden. Am I right?” asked Sara. “Well, not that I know of.” answered Henna. “I never saw anyone in this garden in all these years.”  “It’s my fault! If I hadn’t fought with Alishbah the night before she wouldn’t have ran away!” Farah buried her head into her arms and started to cry “It isn’t your fault and how do you know that she ran away? She knows we would be worried sick if she would run away! She knows we all love her and…”Henna couldn’t continue on. She was too worried.  “If she didn’t run away on her own then…oh no!” Farah couldn’t hold her tongue. “She’s probably kidnapped, murdered and left somewhere she can’t be found” Farah bit her tongue. “Don’t be foolish! Why would someone kidnap her? Now stop weeping and think!” demanded Henna. They all sat down and there was silence.

 “I got it! It’s probably stepmother Edna who kidnapped her! Let’s go and check!” Henna and Sabrina followed Farah out.

 

Chapter 14

 They knocked on the door. “Who is it?” asked Edna’s dreadful voice.  “It’s me, Henna! Open the door!” Henna was angry. Edna walked away from the door. Sabrina had a key to the house. She opened the door and entered with the others. Edna turned around and started to yell at the girls. “Why are you here? I already threw you all out off my house and your back! How  much more do you want to get insulted? Get out and don’t y” ---“Hand over Alishbah.” Interrupted Sabrina.  “We know you have her. Hand her over!” Farah confidently told Edna. “You are accusing me! Shoo away mice! I am the cat here and why would I want that little mouse that pushed me away from the door?” the three girls giggled the first time in the whole day.“ I have to admit, you are absolutely right about the pushing part, but the amazing news is that she was able to push a human being as fat as a elephant. I must admit she should be in the world book of records for that!” they all giggled except for Edna. “Humph! At least I’m not as skinny as a…” Farah, Sara and Ruby continued on their argument while Henna sneaked inside to look for Alishbah. Henna came out with a frown on her face while she said “nothing’’. “Did you just enter my house while we were arguing?” Farah rolled her eyes and all three left. “Oh…you’ll regret it!” Edna yelled from the house.

 

Chapter 15

Where was Alishbah? Who had kidnapped her and why? Had she been kidnapped? Where is she now? Is she all right?

All of them fell in the grass crying when they reached the garden.

After a while Farah’s face lit up with a smile. “I know! There’s probably some kind of hideout or tunnel where someone came to get Alishbah from.” “You’re right! Let’s go and check!” Sabrina liked the idea. They all had begun their search for some kind of hideout. The garden was a pretty big place after all. They searched for hours and hours. They found nothing. Discouraged they all started to eat.

Farah walked to the fountain washed her hands and came back.

Sabrina washed her hands and came back.

Henna washed her hands and while coming back she tripped over something. She had tripped over a grass patch on the ground that they could lift. The two sisters came running over to Henna. One by one each of them went in the hideout. They later on discovered it as a tunnel and a very long one indeed.

They continued their walk for what felt liked ever!

“Lets go back. There is nothing here!” Farah whined. They turned back and suddenly, Sabrina screamed in horror and jumped back.

“Are you all right?” Henna pushed through Farah and asked. Sabrina gulped and mumbled, “Have a look at this.”  “It’s Alishbah’s shirt and it has blood on it!”  “The person who took Alishbah probably went this way! Let’s go!” Farah exclaimed!

They all continued crawling in the tunnel until they reached a forest. They all walked in single file deeper into the forest. It was night now and it was freezing in the forest. Everyone thought it was odd for it to be so cold in Switzerland. They built a campfire and fell asleep. Early in he morning at about 6:00 Farah awoke to see someone run from one tree to another. Farah woke-up Henna and Sara. She whispered to them about what she saw so the person wouldn’t hear her. They all woke up. They followed the footsteps till they got to a place where there were two ways to go because there were footsteps leading to both directions. They followed the one on the right. They kept on walking that way till they heard a sound of someone gulping and moaning. Farah started to run ahead, but Henna stopped her. “ Maybe it’s a trap. We don’t see anyone.” Sabrina gulped. They looked around. No one. Until Alishbah was seen when she looked back from a tree. Alishbah was tied to the tree and there was tape on her mouth, her eyes as wide as the sun.

 

Chapter 16

All of their eyes lit up to see Alishbah! Alishbah shook her head to tell them to untie her. When they untied her, Alishbah told them that they had to get out of here or else the kidnapper would come back. They all ran as fast as they could and then noticed they were lost. Alishbah tightened her grip on Sabrina and mumbled, “Kidnapper!” Henna pointed at a curve in the mud and motioned them to follow her. The all hid inside the curve. Everyone hid there except for Henna who was too big for the tiny space. Henna ran to a tree and put a finger on her lip. The kidnapper punched a tree and sat down on a log taking out a knife and a bottle, which seemed to look like chloroform.

Oh no! They were trapped! Henna took a branch and hit the back of the kidnapper’s head. He fell to the ground. Henna ran towards a coniferous and motioned the girls to follow. The girls started to run towards their aunt and stopped. “Watch out!” the girls yelled at once.

 

Chapter 17

The kidnapper was about to hit their aunt with a branch. Farah ran to the bottle of chloroform and grabbed a leaf. She spilled the chloroform on the leaf and covered the kidnapper’s mouth with it.

The kidnapper dropped the branch and fell to the ground. He had fainted.

The girls didn’t know what to do next. The kidnapper could come back any time. Would they have to kill him?

“The grass patch is the only way in or out of this place. I heard him saying his whole plan to himself. Lets cover the grass patch with a rock or something and call the police to arrest him.” Alishbah told them. “Good idea!” the others agreed to the plan.  

They all ran back through the forest, inside the tunnel and finally out of the grass patch hideout. They covered the grass patch with a rock and called the police.

The police came out of the forest and told the girl’s they were mistaken. There was no kidnapper. The girls were disappointed the police officer didn’t believe them.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 18

In a twinkle a beautiful young fairy appeared in front of them. “Who are you?” asked Alishbah stunned. “I am the princess of this magical garden. I am a fairy and who you thought was the kidnapper was the evil fire fairy. All fairy’s have 5 lives and this was his fifth one. Now he has vanished forever and that is why the Police officers didn’t find him. He wanted to kidnap me, but instead he ended up kidnapping you. You have taken my harm and that is why you will be rewarded. I will grant your 2 biggest wishes and 1 can be repeated as many times you want.” The fairy stared at the stunned faces of the four.

There was a long silence. Everyone was stunned. “Have you no wish?” asked the fairy.  “Oh...well…I always wanted to see my mother, Shaliny and my

father, Brian the one who died in a plane crash.” Alishbah hoped her wishes would come true. 

 

After a while a big screen came in front of the girls. On the first one it said “Shaliny in heaven’’ at the top and they showed a beautiful woman standing on a white beautiful bridge with a happy smile.

Then in the second screen there was printing on the top of the screen, which read “Brian trying to get home from a very harmful plane crash”.

All of them were so astonished.

“Father is still alive!” Said Farah and Alishbah with a joyful tone!

Chapter 19

 

 They all thanked the fairy and went to the Head Quarters. At first the officers didn’t believe her. “We are here to do serious work. We are not here to go around listening to your imagination. I know you are sad because of what happen to your father, but this is life! Live with it! Do you have any evidence that he is there?” asked the officer thinking it was obvious they didn’t.

“We do have evidence and we will show it to you.” Sabrina said determinedly.

The girls pulled her to a corner and asked her what the evidence was.

“Remember what the fairy said? We can repeat a wish as many times we want!” Sabrina reminded them.

A huge screen flashed up out of nowhere and showed Brian trying to get home from a harmful plane crash.

The officer gulped and fell on his chair.

The girls handed him a glass of water.

“Oh my gosh!” He said surprisingly.

The Head Quarters took them on a helicopter to the place where Brian was. The pilot Sam Fredrik Jones went down to reach for Brian.

 

        He was brought home to his house and Edna was kicked out for threatening the girls and being so cruel to everyone. Brian was very ill when he got home. He had bruises all over himself. The girls really wanted to know about all that happened to their dad, but their dad was too ill to speak. All 3 girls had a question all of them wanted answered- was Brian going to die?