To the special people in my life...

My family

My grandma tells stories every night,

They make my dreams happy and bright.

My father is strong and kind to me,

He helps me learn and helps me see.

My mother’s smile warms my day,

She hugs my worries all away.

My aunt makes me laugh and play,

She turns dull moments bright and gay.

My baby sister is small and sweet,

With tiny hands and dancing feet.

— Riddhisha Patil, 9, Belagavi, Karnataka

My guiding lights

One of the special people in my life is my mother.

My mother shares my pain, my happiness, my everything.

She loves me and takes care of me, expecting nothing in return,

My mother is everything to me, and her name is Amulya.

Another special person in my life is my brother,

He has brought heaven down for me,

My brother has brought lost happiness back into my life,

He is the one I love the most, and his name is Vedang.

Another special person in my life is my grandfather,

He guides me in everything and shows me the path of life,

He plays with me like a friend and teaches me like a teacher,

He guides me like a father, and his name is Chandramouli.

— Sohan Gowda, 13, Mangaluru, Karnataka

For my parents

My mother is my world,

She is my real gold.

My mother is the best,

She never takes rest.

My mother teaches me at night,

And makes my future bright.

My father is the son of the soil,

He works hard on the farm and toils.

I love my dad,

He makes me glad!

— Bhuvan A, 12, Bengaluru, Karnataka

The special one

We all know you are a star,

But did I mention who guided me this far?

I did this much without any fear,

Because you were always near.

You are the person who built a fort,

Strong and safe, my best support.

Maa, who should I call special, if not you?

Kind, helpful, and always true.

You helped me learn from my mistakes each day,

You helped me know who I am along the way.

The kindest and sweetest cherry on the tree is you,

The most unique person in my life is you.

— Avyakta B R, 11, Bengaluru, Karnataka

To them...

To those who don’t turn away,

When I’m brutally wrong.

To those who fight for me,

When I’m too drained to be strong.

To those who want to listen,

When thoughts burst in my head.

To those who catch my look,

And feel all things unsaid.

To those who are present,

When I need them the most.

And to those who raised me,

When I was hopelessly lost.

— Mehreen M, 15, Bengaluru, Karnataka