Written by Urvi Shah
Illustrated by Keya Kumar (12 yrs)

Arya is a beautiful, cheerful child in communion and ease with the world of trees, flowers, and animals. On her first day at school, she befriends Indrani. Soon, they become best of friends taking to each other like birds take to the sky.

One day, Indrani brings a crystal elephant to school. As Arya takes it in her hands, it slips and breaks. Indrani is furious. However much Arya tries, her friend refuses to forgive her. A sadness creeps into Arya’s heart. As she searches for a way to rebuild her friendship with Indrani, help comes to her from the Divine keeper of her favourite tree.

HOW TO USE THIS STORY?
Teachers, parents and adults may read aloud this story to children. Alternatively, it may be given to the children to read themselves depending on their abilities. The child, thereafter may be asked to recount or draw their favourite part.

Please feel free to use the story creatively along with art, music, puppets etc., as you are inspired, albeit, without changing or diluting the purity of intent.

HOW THIS BOOK CAME TO BE?
I met Keya when I was training to become a teacher at a Waldorf school in the year 2018 and even then, I was awed by the strength and steadfastness of this young child of 6.  A couple of years later, I had the opportunity to work with her online for a few months when I observed the depth she could convey through her paintings. So, when the impulse to begin work on Arya—The Faithful Friend arrived, I felt like reaching out to Keya. Keya agreed and we spent over eight months creating the paintings for this story. While I would help her imagine parts of the story, Keya worked independently, bringing the images to life. Week after week, I received Keya’s illustrations with joyful anticipation and this is how the book was born!

A deep gratitude to my friend, J.H., for her financial support and faith in this work which made the designing of this book possible!

HOW THIS STORY CAME TO BE?
I wrote this story in the summer of 2020 watching the trees and the skies through the window of my little house dreaming about kindness, love and happier times. I was inspired to name Arya after a child I taught as she too had a heart as pure and loving as Arya in the story. The school in the story is the kind of school that I would wish for all the little children of the world to grow up in—magical, loving, and beautiful—surrounded by trees, streams, flowers, and rocks.

Like Arya and Indrani, I hope we discover the love hidden within our hearts. A pure, harmonious love that mends and heals as it flows through people and all of nature’s creation!

FOR WHOM?
This story is for children (age 7+) and adults.

A SNIPPET (Audio)
https://youtu.be/Pb3vjTPizGU