Visit To A Village

Pateek is very happy today. His father is going to his friend’s home and is taking him along with him. His father’s friend Kishore uncle lives in the village. Their family too once lived in the same village but had shifted to the city a long time ago due to his father’s job and his studies. It has been a long time since their family visited the village and so his friend had requested them to come and stay for some time. Prateek’s mother couldn’t join them as his sister is very small to travel.

 Until now Prateek had never seen a village and so he’s very eager to visit one. Father asked his mother last night to pack clothes of them in the bag. In the early morning, they took leave and walked towards the railway station which is just a few minutes away from home. His father purchased two tickets while he stood near him and eagerly looked at the other people moving to and fro in a hurried manner. He was about to ask the reason of their hurrying to his father when he heard an announcement “Rajdhani Express is going to arrive at platform no. Three in two minutes” He looked at his father and said “Papa our train has come” His father smiled at said “That’s not our train dear. The train which just arrived in going to New Delhi and we are going to Gaya. See at that electronic display board. Our train Gaya Passenger will come after fifteen minutes” Prateek turn at the direction pointed by his father and saw the board. It displayed many trains’ name, their arrival time and departure.

After the purchase of a ticket, they climbed up the stairs to go to the platform 1 and from there they will cross the rail lines using over a bridge to go to the next platform from where they will board the train. After placing his foot on the first platform Prateek was much attracted towards the vendors selling various items. There were bookstalls food stalls and what not even toys and gift stalls. He felt of buying a storybook and so asked his father “Papa can I have a book, please?”

His father said “Ok choose one” Prateek was very happy. He quickly moved to the stall to have a good look at the books displayed. After a few minutes, he chose one ‘Amar Chitra Katha’ a children magazine. His father purchased a newspaper and then they made their way to the next platform. After some minutes the train was announced and they boarded the train. The train left the platform after blowing out its whistle and Prateek saw with amusement the moving of the things on the opposite direction of the train. His father bought some snacks too for eating. The train stopped at every station and he enjoyed seeing the passengers boarding and descending from train, vendors with various food items selling their items inside the compartments.

The train reached timely. Prateek descended from the train with his father and made their way out of the station. From there they hired a cab to go to his friend’s house. His father said “When we were small we use to go by horse cart or bullock cart. It was fun to ride in them” Prateek tried to imagine how it would like to ride in a horse cart.

After half an hour they reached uncle’s home. Uncle was standing at the door and they were given a warm welcome. They sat on the charpoy placed on the verandah and every member present at home at the moment came immediately to meet them. Aunty served them sharbaat and the other members conversed with his father. Preetik silently saw them and gave small sips in his glass of sharbaat. The taste was really good! While taking sips Kishore uncle’s sons returned from the school and Prateek was excited seeing them. Both of them ran towards him keeping their bags on the other charpoy. The first one said “Hello, Prateek, I’m Raju and he is Sonu. How are you?”

“I’m fine. Glad to meet you both”

“In which class do you read?”

“Class Five”

“I’m in class Six and he is in class four”

“Come lets’ go to our room,” Sonu said. The elders were busy in talking so the three boys went to their room. Raju asked, “Do you fly kites?”

Prateek replied “I do fly kites though not much; because there aren’t many big fields in our city where you can fly kites. Most of the football matches are held there. So when papa gets the holiday we go to the terrace to fly them”

“Ok we will go flying kites today afternoon”

In the afternoon Prateek joined his new friends to go to the village field to fly kites. He was thrilled to see a sky full of kites in different colours. Raju started flying his red kite and Prateek flew one with help of Sonu. When they returned home Prateek was full of excitement. He ran to his father to share his experience.

Next morning was Saturday and Raju and Sonu were happy to enjoy the weekend holiday. After breakfast, Raju and Sonu took Prateek to the fields where their father was working. It was time for harvesting and Kishore uncle was busy with it. Prateek was quite enthralled viewing his geography chapter live before his eyes. After spending some time in the fields Raju and Sonu took him to have a bath in the pond. Before getting down in the water Raju asked: “Do you know how to swim?”

Prateek nodded “Yes I learn swimming”

“That’s good” and they jumped in the water. After a long swim and play in water, they all got out to change into dry clothes and walk back home. On the way back they met Kishore uncle going back home in his bullock cart. Seeing the boys on the road he asked them to ascend on the cart. Prateek was enchanted. They reached home quickly. Aunty served them with hot delicious food. In the afternoon they played football in the field.

Next morning is Sunday. Today Prateek and his father will return to their home. Prateek has to join classes from Monday and his father has to join his duty. The whole morning the trio heard stories from their grandmother. Later Raju showed him how he sometimes catches fish in the nearby pond. Prateek too tried to catch some. Afterwards, they enjoyed a long bath in the pond. They ate a delicious meal with the whole family sitting together on the mats laid on the floor of the kitchen.

In the afternoon Prateek and his father got ready for departure. Everyone requested them to come again to enjoy a lovely get together. Prateek’s father promised they will come again. Prateek hugged his friends and said “I enjoyed a lot with you. Thank you for all these and this is a small gift from me to you” and he gifted the book he bought from the bookstall on the platform.

Raju and Sonu thanked him. Prateek and his father said goodbye to all and then they left in Kishore uncle’s horse cart.