1. Adventures in a Banyan Tree 

Adventures in a Banyan Tree  is a beautiful story written by the Indian writer Ruskin Bond. The story depicts the mutual relationship between man and nature.

The boy ( Narrator) in the story experienced lots of funs and adventures in the banyan tree. The tree was  his favourite hideout. He made a platform on the tree where he spent his afternoons by reading books. He also made a close  friendship with a grey squirrel on the tree. His grandfather had bought a white rat from the bazaar. The boy then took the rat  to the banyan tree.  Soon the rat made a close relationship with the squirrel. The boy once discovered  three baby squirrels in a hole of the banyan tree. The strange thing was that all of them white! His grandfather understood that the white rat was  the father!

In an April afternoon. As the was on the banyan tree, he came across a deadly fight between a cobra and a mongoose. It was a thrilling one. Though the cobra was very huge and venomous, the mongoose was a superb fighter, clever and aggressive.

It was a battle of champions! As the cobra began to hiss and spread his hood, the mongoose bushed his tail. Both of them were ready for the fight. As the boy was on the tree, the combatants didn't see him. Soon, a myna and a jungle crow reached there as spectators. At first, the mongoose made a feint to one side. Immediately the cobra struck. But the clever mongoose jumped neatly to one side , biting the snake on the back and darting away again out of its  reach. 

The moment the cobra struck, the crow and the myna flew towards it, only to collide heavily in mid-air. Shrieking at each other, they returned to the cactus.  The same thing repeated twice! But the third time got a  dramatic change. Unfortunately the crow was struck hard by the cobra. Thus the life of the crow had a tragic end. Finally the snake was killed by the mongoose and was dragged into the bushes. The myna left the place by giving a shrill cry of congratulation to the mongoose

2. The Snake And The Mirror

The Snake And The Mirror is a beautiful humorous story written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. The story depicts the ambitious wishes of a young homeopath about his future and his narrow escape from an encounter with a cobra.

 The homeopath lived in a rented room without electrified. He had recently set up his medical practice and his earnings were meagre . One summer night, the doctor couldn't get sleep because it was too hot inside. Then, he tried reading a book named 'The Materia Medica' by sitting on a chair. There was a large mirror on the table. He was a great admirer of beauty and also a bachelor. Soon, he began to comb his hair.  He decided to shave daily and grow a thin moustache to look more handsome .He felt that his smile was very attractive. He got up from the chair and paced to and fro. At that moment, he thought of marrying a woman doctor who had plenty of money and practices.  She should be fat because if he made any mistake, she would not be able to catch him.

With this thoughts, he sat on the chair. Suddenly, a fat snake wriggled over the back of the chair and landed on his shoulder. He sat still like a stone image. He felt the presence of God. The snake coiled his left arm and its hood spread out. If he tried to move slightly, the snake would bite him. He had no medicine with him! So, he called himself that he was a stupid doctor. Fortunately as the snake saw its reflection in the mirror, it left homeopath and moved towards the mirror.

 At that moment, the homeopath managed to escape from the room and reached one of his friends' house. The next day, as the doctor reached his room to remove his belongings from there he found that some thief had stolen all his belongings except his dirty vest!

3. Adventures in a Banyan Tree 

Adventures in a Banyan Tree  is a beautiful story written by the Indian writer Ruskin Bond. The story depicts the mutual relationship between man and nature.

The boy ( Narrator) in the story experienced lots of funs and adventures in the banyan tree. The tree was  his favourite hideout. He made a platform on the tree where he spent his afternoons by reading books. He also made a close  friendship with a grey squirrel on the tree. His grandfather had bought a white rat from the bazaar. The boy then took the rat  to the banyan tree.  Soon the rat made a close relationship with the squirrel. The boy once discovered  three baby squirrels in a hole of the banyan tree. The strange thing was that all of them white! His grandfather understood that the white rat was  the father!

In an April afternoon, the boy witnessed a deadly fight between a cobra and a mongoose. Though the cobra was very huge and venomous, the mongoose was a superb fighter. t was a battle of champions! As the cobra spread his hood, the mongoose bushed his tail. Both of them were ready for the fight. As the boy was on the tree, the combatants didn't see him. Soon, a myna and a jungle crow reached there as spectators. At first, the mongoose made a feint to one side. Immediately the cobra struck. But the clever mongoose jumped neatly to one side , biting the snake on the back and darting away again out of its  reach. 

The moment the cobra struck, the crow and the myna flew towards it, only to collide heavily in mid-air. Shrieking at each other, they returned to the cactus.  The same thing repeated twice! But the third time got a  dramatic change. Unfortunately the crow was struck hard by the cobra. Thus the life of the crow had a tragic end. Finally the snake was killed by the mongoose and was dragged into the bushes. The myna left the place by giving a shrill cry of congratulation to the mongoose

4. The Best Investment I Ever Made

'The Best Investment I Ever Made' is an inspirational story written by the Scottish writer A. J. Cronin. It is a creative outcome from the personal experience of the author’s life as a doctor in London. 

The doctor (author) with the help of a police sergeant, once saved a youth who attempted suicide. His name was John.  After regaining his consciousness, John narrated his unfortunate story to the doctor, the sergeant and the landlady. After the death of his parents, he got employed in a Solicitor’s office.  Due to some bad company, he lost all his money in betting. In order to recoup all his lost money, he stole some money from his office safe and made a final gambling . But unfortunately he lost that money also. Fearing of further trial and punishment , he attempted suicide by turning on the gas.

 After hearing his sad story, All the three of them decided to give the young man a fresh beginning. The doctor gave the young man Seven pounds and ten shillings, to put back in the office safe. The sergeant decided not to report the case and the landlady offered him one month free accommodation.

Later John became a solicitor. As Cronin understood that Mr. John and his wife  had been serving as part of a charitable organization devoted to the care of misguided youths for last 15 years, he felt himself that the small amount he had given to the young man turned out to be the best investment he had ever made in his life.  Though it did not give him any monetary dividends, it gave him immense satisfaction

5. Determination and Hard Work is the Key to Success.

'The Scholarship Jacket' is an inspirational story written by the popular American writer Marta Salinas. The story depicts the final outcome of hardworking, dedication and expectation through the life of a Mexican girl Matha.

Martha is a Mexican girl. She studies in eighth standard and is good at studies. Her school has a tradition of giving a beautiful gold and green Jacket to the class valedictorian.  Martha has straight A grade since the first grade. So she is eagerly awaiting to get the Jacket.

 Her father is a farm labourer who cannot earn enough money to feed eight children. So, Martha was given to her grandparents to raise. She is called ‘bean pole’ and ‘string bean’ because she, is extremely thin. She cannot participate in sports at school because there are registration fees and uniform costs ; so, even though she is athletic, she can never expect school sports Jacket. So, the scholarship Jacket is her only hope.

Through an argument between his teachers, Martha realises that the school board has decided to give the award to another girl named Joann. She also realises that she is discriminated against on account of being a Mexican.  

The principal informes her that school management has decided to charge fifteen dollars for the scholarship jacket. Though She asked the money to her grandfather, he didn't. Martha reports boldly to the principal that her grandfather said that if she paid the money, it  would not be a scholarship Jacket. Then principal changes his decision. Thus Martha's firm belief makes her the winner of scholarship jacket

6.The Castaway

"The Castaway" is an interesting story written by Rabindranath Tagore. The story depicts the love and care experienced by an orphan boy named Nilkanta from a young lady named Kiran.

Kiran, a young house wife who had just recovered from some serious decease and wanted to go back to her native village because she felt boredom by doing nothing there.  But her husband Sharat and his mother wanted her to stay a little longer because the doctor had suggested so. This created a strong verbal battle between them.

Suddenly, their quarrel was interrupted by a loud cry of a boy. It was Nilkanta, a survivor of an upturned boat in the river. He belonged to a drama group. Their boat perished in the river as they were going to a neighbouring village for a show. Nilkanta’s arrival gave Kiran a new birth. Sharat and his mother became very happy as Kiran would stay longer there in the company of Nilkanta.

Nilkanta soon made bad friendship with the naughty village boys and made a street dog as his pet. Soon, Sharat got many complaints from his neighborhood about Nilkanta and his friends. Though Sharat tried to send Nilkanta away , it became in vain by Kiran's strong protest.

Nilkanta performed various theatrical performances to entertain Kiran. Nilkanta was also very happy as he got motherly and sisterly concern from Kiran. But the relationship between Kiran and Nilkanta was broken as Satish, brother of Sarath arrived there. Kiran and Satish were of the same age and they engaged all the time in merry-making. This made Nilkanta  jealous on Satish.  He wanted to take revenge upon Satish, so he took Satish’s favourite inkstand to throw  into the river. 

Finally the family decided to return to their native village. Kiran wanted to take Nilkanta with them, but all others opposed.  Kiran wanted to give him some surprise gifts and opened his box.  She was surprised to see Satish’s missing inkstand in it!  Meanwhile Nilkanta came there and saw Kiran sitting in his room holding the inkstand. He knew that he could not prove his innocence anymore and he left the place.

7. The Never-Never Nest

The Never-Never Nest is a comic one act play written by Cedric Mount. The play portrays the luxurious lifestyle of a middle class couple, Jack and Jill, who entirely use the Buy-now-pay-later marketing system. The couple believes in the luxury life and bought every luxury item in installments in their house. They lead a happy life without being aware of the fact that they would be struggling under the burden of debt in the near future. 

The story is very much relevant today. Buy-now-pay-later marketing systems are used by almost everyone today because most people buy most things in installments. "The Never Never Nest" story title consists of two never, i.e., two negatives, ensuring that the nest would never be built. It indicates the impossibility of realizing a dream home on a buy now, pay later strategy.

At the end of the play we get to know that the couple had their baby on instalments. The family’s income is low as compared to the total instalments which is to be paid every week. It simply shows the insecurity of the couple’s life. 

The title of the play is appropriate since it connotes the theme- the pathetic condition of the couple