The Code of the Silver Thistle - Zara Mujawar - Std 8 - 12

The attic air was thick with the scent of dust and forgotten things. Elara, armed with a flashlight and a sense of morbid curiosity, navigated the labyrinth of cobweb draped furniture. Her grandmother’s house, a sprawling Victorian relic, was a treasure trove of the past, and Elara, a budding historian, was determined to unearth its secrets. She’d been drawn to a battered wooden chest tucked beneath a pile of faded velvet drapes. Its lock, rusted and yielding, snapped open with a brittle click. Inside, amidst yellowed letters and tarnished silver trinkets, lay a leather-bound diary. Its pages, brittle and foxed, whispered of a life long gone. Thediary belonged to her great-great-aunt, Clara, a woman spoken of in hushed tones, a whisper of scandal clinging to her name. Elara’s grandmother had always dismissed her as “eccentric,” a euphemism, Elara suspected, for something far more intriguing. Clara’s elegant, looping script filled the pages, revealing a world hidden beneath the veneer of polite society. The first entry, dated 1888, spoke of a stifling existence, of corsets and chaperones, of a life dictated by rigid societal expectations. But as Elara turned the pages, a different Clara emerged. Shewrote of secret meetings in the moonlit gardens, of stolen glances and whispered conversations with a man named Julian, a painter with “eyes that held the storm.”

Their forbidden love blossomed amidst the rigid confines of their world, a delicate flower pushing through cracked concrete. Then cametheentries that madeElara’s breath catch in her throat. Clara wrote of a hidden society, a clandestine group of women who defied the conventions of their time. They called themselves the ‘Sisters of the Silver Thistle,’ and they were artists, writers, and thinkers, bound by a shared desire for independence and intellectual freedom. Clara described their secret gatherings in a hidden chamber beneath the old oak tree in the garden, a space where they debated philosophy, shared their art, and plotted their escape from the gilded cage of their lives. She spoke of coded messages hidden in paintings, of secret rendezvous in bustling marketplaces, of a network that stretched across the city, providing shelter and support to women seeking a different path. The diary revealed the true story behind Clara’s “eccentricity.” She was not merely a rebellious spirit; she was a pioneer, a woman who dared to challenge the status quo. She was a member of a secret society that had existed right beneath the noses of the very people who sought to control them. But the diary held darker secrets too.

As Julian’s paintings began to gain notoriety, and the Sisters' influence grew, a shadow fell over their world. Clara wrote of a powerful man, a figure known only as “The Collector,” who sought to possess their art, their knowledge, and their very freedom. His entries became increasingly ominous, filled with fear and a sense of impending doom. The final entry, dated 1892, was a frantic scrawl. “They know. Julian is gone. I must hide the cipher. The Thistle must survive.” A pressed, dried silver thistle fell from between the pages, its delicate petals brittle with age. Elara’s heart pounded. The cipher. What cipher? And what had happened to Julian? What had become of the sisters of the Silver Thistle? The diary was a puzzle, a cryptic map leading to a hidden world. She looked around the dusty attic, the shadows seeming to deepen, the whispers of the past growing louder. The forgotten diary had opened a door, revealing a secret history, a story that was not just about her great-great-aunt, but about the resilience of women, the power of art, and the fight for freedom. Elara knew then that she couldn't let Clara's story be forgotten. She would decipher the cipher, find the hidden chamber, and bring the Sisters of the Silver Thistle back into the light. The attic, once a place of dust and forgotten things, had become the starting point of an extraordinary adventure.

About the Author:

Meet Zara Sabir Mujawar:

Zara — a vibrant 14-year-old student of St. Arnold's Central School, brimming with imagination and talent. Whether it’s story writing, sketching dream worlds, or singing her heart out, Zara pours passion into everything she does. Her melodious voice recently earned her 1st place in a singing competition and an A grade in her intermediate exam — a testament to her dedication and talent.

Inspired by her favorite characters like Nancy Drew, Venom, and Wednesday, Zara dreams of becoming a doctor someday, blending compassion with curiosity. At the heart of her journey are her biggest inspirations — her supportive parents, who encourage her to chase her dreams.

Zara’s stories come from a place of wonder and thoughtfulness, and this one in particular was shared to stir hearts and spark imaginations — just like she does with every note she sings and every line she writes.

About the Story:

This story was submitted by the author as an entry for the BhashaLab Ultimate Story Writing Competition, 2025. We appreciate their creativity, thoughtful expression, and the courage to share their voice with a wider audience. Thank you!

End

About BhashaLab

BhashaLab is a dynamic platform dedicated to the exploration and mastery of languages - operating both online and offline. Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Credit Framework (NCrF), we offer language education that emphasizes measurable learning outcomes and recognized, transferable credits.

We offer:

1. NEP alligned offline Indian language courses for degree colleges - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi

2. NEP alligned offline language courses for schools - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi

3. Std VIII, IX and X - English and Sanskrit Curriculum Tuitions - All boards

4. International English Olympiad Tuitions - All classes

5. Basic and Advanced English Grammar - Offline and Online - Class 3 and above

6. English Communication Skills for working professionals, adults and students - Offline and Online

Contact: +91 86577 20901, +91 97021 12044

Mail: info@bhashalab.com

Website: www.bhashalab.com