Kartik Prabhu, LSH, WW

Saturday, April 27, 13

English IGCSE Question

It began as I was walking home, the quiet ending to what had been a memorable day. What had started out as a pleasant summers day had now deteriorated into a sky filled with clouds, their bellies sagging with the water. And then, a crash, the cymbals of the heavens began to ring, as if they were an omen to the downpour that was now imminent. The blanket of clouds rolled on, blocking out whatever patches of sunlight remained. I began to walk faster. The clouds were spreading, darkness slowly conquering the light. Soon, whatever gaps were left had been shut, and the sky had been covered with an impenetrable wall of darkness. I began to walk faster. And then another thundering crash, louder, stronger, closer. And then, when all the sky had been blocked, and the thunder had sounded again, almost as a signal, the barrage began. It was like an orchestra. The thumping baseline of thunder and the light drumming of the rain that was the percussion. And the wind through the trees was an elegant saxophone improvising to the tune of nature. I began to walk slower, forgetting about where I was, or where I was planning to go, instead, just appreciating my role in this epic harmonious symphony that surrounded me. And then, the White Knight arrived. For a sudden moment, the whole landscape was illuminated. I could see the river, normally so calm and gentle had been whipped into a fury, writhing in contorted agony. The meadows, usually so luscious and green were rippling in the wind, like a stormy sea. The rain, which had been daintily pitter-pattering and turned into menacing daggers, stabbing into my back. There were pools beginning to form across the road, How could the White Knight allow this to happen to his kingdom? He began to appear, faster and faster, brighter and brighter, vanquishing the darkness that had enveloped the land. The orchestra grew louder, as if to amplify the battle that was taking place. I could see my house now, but I was fascinated by the mesmerizing beauty and danger of the storm. It was beginning to subside now, but the destruction that this epic battle had left was becoming more and more apparent. And then the clouds slowly began to roll away. The sun, an orb of warm, glowing pleasure, began to shine on my back, healing the wounds that the rain had left, nurturing the landscape. The land, which had been ravished by the great fight between thunder and lightning, was now basking in the suns glory, healing, recovering. I was too the sun was now in the sky, and the clouds were running away fearful of the light. They were like rats being chased away, each dark scrawny creature scuttling away and over the horizon. I was now at home, just waiting outside my door. The storm was over, and peace had been restored to the land. I opened the door, and went inside.