Reddy's Cinderella Story

Once upon a time there lived a tall, dark prince(ss). Her name was Harsha Reddy. She had 2 step-sisters, Srajna and Swati, and an evil step-mother, Anjali.

Her stepsisters had everything. But for the poor unhappy girl, there was nothing at all. No dresses, only her stepsisters’ hand-me-downs. No lovely dishes, nothing but scraps. Even when she bought her own meals, others used to eat them up. She had to work hard all day, sitting in COM1 and coding.

Reddy used to spend long hours all alone talking to her laptop. The laptop used to tell her, "Cheer up! You have something neither of your stepsisters has and that is beauty." It was quite true. Reddy, even when dressed in old rags, was a lovely girl.

Her graduation was to be held at the grand Hon Sui Sen auditorium and the stepsisters were getting ready to go. Reddy didn't even dare ask if she could go too. She knew very well what the answer would be: "You? You're staying at home to wash the dishes, scrub the floors and do the projects and lab reports for your stepsisters. They will come home tired and very sleepy."

Suddenly something amazing happened. As Reddy was sitting all alone, there was a burst of light and a fairy appeared. She said "Don't be alarmed Reddy. My name is Saaket. I am your fairy Godmother. I let people take my case so that you will be spared. I know you would love to go to the graduation. And so you shall!" "How can I, dressed in rags?" Reddy asked, "My batchmates will turn me away!"

The fairy smiled. With a flick of her magic wand Reddy found herself wearing the most beautiful WHITE dress she had ever seen. "Now for your coach," said the fairy; "A real lady would never go to a ball on foot! Quick! Get me a pumpkin!" "Oh of course," said Cinderella, and brought back Akshay. The fairy turned him into a carriage and reminded Reddy that she should be back before midnight else she would get lost in the darkness of the night.

As she rode away to the graduation, Reddy thanked her lucky stars for having sent her such a wonderful fairy Godmother in the form of Saaket.

Reddy had a wonderful time at the ball. She met her Prince Charming, a handsome young man with a tendency to go pink every now and then. She didn't even realize when the time flew by. But when she heard the first stroke of midnight, she remembered what the fairy had said, and without a word of goodbye she slipped from the Prince's arms and ran down the steps. As she ran she lost one of her high heeled slippers, but not for a moment did she dream of stopping to pick it up! If the last stroke of midnight were to sound... oh... what a disaster that would be! Out she fled and vanished into the night.

The Prince, who was now madly in love with her, picked up the slipper and said to his batchmates, “Go and search everywhere for the girl whose foot this slipper fits. I will never be content until I find her!”

And since then the hunt for the beautiful dark princess has continued.

[THE END]