Rita and the Magic River - Part 3

Rita and her family were done packing, and Rita waved goodbye to all her friends. 'My grandmother stays in the country and I visit her during the summer. It's amazing there!' One of her friends said. 'You're so lucky! I wish I lived in the country' another told. 'Did you know, the country....' her friends kept on telling her how amazing the country was, but Rita was so used to the city that she found it very uncomfortable to leave her friends and her lovely home. But that wasn't the only thing that bothered her. She woke up early that morning and went to see Miss Bina, but there was no 'come in, dear' at all. What did she mean by 'you will discover the truth?' It was all so puzzling. Of course, Rita had read many books about magic, but she never actually believed in it. She consoled herself that Miss Bina was just trying to make her go to the country, but she was so strange that Rita actually began to wonder if something magical would happen.

After some last goodbyes, Rita and her parents took a bus till they were near the country, and then walked the rest of the way since the lanes were rocky and small for the bus to enter. It was a long walk. They took some breaks in between and had some food. 'Why should we walk all the way? Isn't there any other mode of transport?' Rita asked. 'No, Rita. The country is very deserted. We should have thought through this situation more patiently before leaving'. 'Anyway, we've run out of water now. What should we do? I'm very thirsty' her father said, shaking the empty bottle. 'I see a small pond nearby. Let's drink from there' her mother said. 'But ma, how can we drink from a random pond? Won't it be muddy and dirty? You always tell me not to drink the water from the pond in the park' Rita said, astonished. 'Well, that was in the city. In the country, the water is pure, natural and litter-free'.

Rita went ahead nervously and drank some water from the pond. It was fresh and better compared to the city water. She felt better at once. 'Wow, this is very nice! Maybe the country won't be so bad after all.......'