By now you know that Bhanu, Shanu, Kaju and Biju are kids; they are no grown-up people as yet. Bhanu the oldest of them all is just 10 years old. His younger sister Shanu is 8 years, his younger brother Kaju is 6 and the littlest sister Biju is 4.
Yet, despite their being so young, they have travelled considerably. They have also lived in many cities of several countries. How could they do it at such young age? In fact it is because of their parents' jobs. Their mom and dad have to travel a lot and live in different cities of different countries. On most of such occasions, Bhanu, Shanu, Kaju and Biju accompany their parents.
However, in their previous travels except for Bhanu, all the other three were so young that they do not remember much of those. They have some vague impressions of their earlier air, road and rail road travels. Also, they have very vague impressions of the cities they stayed.
Presently they live in Seattle since their mom and dad are posted in Seattle. They love Seattle because they think that it is one of the most beautiful cities among the ones they have visited so far and whose memories they can recall. As per them Seattle is not only the most beautiful city of America but it is perhaps one of the most beautiful cities of the world.
When some of the older people around complain about the perennial rains of Seattle, Biju thinks in her own mind, "How can they complain about Seattle just because it rains here most of the days? They should see Seattle from the top of Space Needle. And then you can appreciate its lakes, the greenery all around, the ups and downs of the roads. Wow, this city is just beautiful."
Bhanu, Shanu and Kaju agree with their sister. Bhanu adds, "I love my school here. It is one of the best schools I have seen." His younger brother and sisters do not understand his sentiments because they have not attended as many schools as Bhanu did; after all he was 10 years of age and acted like a big man.
Any way this story is not about how Bhanu, Shanu, Kaju and Biju live in Seattle and how they love this city but it is about their dreams about the journey they are going to undertake soon. Their parents have some work in India and then after their work in India is over they wish to take a short vacation in India. And Bhanu, Shanu, Kaju and Biju are now at an age where they can enjoy and remember their experiences of travel to another country and the stay there.
So, the day Bhanu, Shanu, Kaju and Biju learnt about this trip to India from their dad, they have already started dreaming about it and talking about it.
First thing they did was to locate India on the world map. They also consulted the globe their parents bought for them to get acquainted with the geography of the earth. Shanu was quite surprised and yelled out, "Hey, India is on the other side of US on this globe. How can we ever reach there? It must be taking months to get there?"
Bhanu said, "Shanu, it does take many days to reach India from USA if you travel by a ship. However, if we fly, we will reach India in around 24 hours. Yes, even 24 hours seem to be a lot of time when it is possible to reach Vancouver in just 2 to 3 hours; that too by a car ."
Kaju and Biju exclaimed in unison,"You two seem to know a lot about all of this. But we do not know anything. we will ask mom and dad to tell us more about journey to India at the dinner time today."
The dinner time came. Everyone sat around the dining table. Kaju asked, "Dad, we are very curious to know more about our journey to India. Can you tell us?"
Their daddy smiled and said, "Hey, you guys have already started talking about our trip to India! We haven't even booked the air tickets."
Biju clapped, "Daddy, does that mean that we are going to travel in an airplane?"
Mom interjected, "Not one air plane but two airplanes. First we will fly within America from our Seattle Tacoma airport to Newark airport of New Jersey. That is our first airplane. Then we will get down from that airplane and board another airplane at Newark airport. That will be our second airplane."
Kaju asked, "Wow! And how much time our flight will take to Newark?"
Shanu knew its answer and before mom or dad could answer she spoke out, "Around 5 hours. But I have no idea about the time it takes to reach India"
Dad said, "Shanu, the journey time between Newark airport to Mumbai airport in India is approximately 15 hours. And there will be some waiting time at Newark airport before we get into the next plane."
Bhanu, Shanu, Kaju and Biju enquired at the same time, "How will we pass our time at Newark airport? Hope we will get some pizzas and hamburgers to eat there and may be some comics to read. Isn't it dad? And perhaps we can use the rest rooms at Newark airport to freshen up."
Mom was very happy to hear that question and came forward to answer it, "I am myself looking forward to eat those wonderful things at the airport. I love eating at various airports while undertaking a journey. We can get yummy things at airport food parlors. And do you know that every international airlines also serves the food and drinks in the airplane while the plane is flying high up in the air?"
Biju was very excited listening to that and almost shouted, "That's so cool. Can I have a soda in the airplane for a change? Mom and dad, can you allow me the soda just once?"
Mom and dad replied almost together, "OK, all of you can have just about one soda in the plane. I am glad that you are asking our permission for this."
Shanu asked, "I heard from one of my friends who recently flew to Paris that they show good movies in the airplane and you can see them on a television that is placed just in front of your seat? Is that true?"
Bhanu who remembered about it from his earlier journey spoke out, "I remember to have seen Tom and Jerry cartoons last time we travelled. It was fun. But it was shown on a big screen and not on the television placed right in front of my seat."
Dad clarified, "In some aircraft where they do not have provision of giving each passenger his own television, they show the movies on big screens which all the passengers can watch even from a distance."
Biju prayed loud enough, "Hope we travel in a plane where they give us each a television."
Dad further clarified, "And on the hand support of your seat in the airplane, you will find the video and music system. It gives you a choice of listening to variety of music channels in addition to watching movies on variety of video channels. The air hostess will give each one of us a head set that we can wear and plug into the audio-video system so that we can hear the music and movie dialogues without disturbing others."
Mom added, "She will also give each one of us a pillow to rest our head on it or to give support to our back. She will give us a blanket too. The airplane has the air-conditioning arrangement and if you feel cold inside you can wrap the blanket around you."
Kaju quipped in all his excitement, "But I am not going to sleep at all. I want to sit near the window and watch outside. Mom, can all of us get the window seats?"
Mom replied, "All of us can request for window seats at the time of booking our tickets and may get them also but then we will not be able to sit together in the plane."
Kaju and Biju spoke at the same time, "We do not want to sit away from our family. What we will do is exchange the window seat turn by turn."
Mom and others agreed, "Yes, that's fair enough."
Shanu had one question lingering in her mind for quite some time. She asked sheepishly, "Please do not laugh at me. But I want to know if I need to go potty, what happens? Or I will not eat much in the plane."
Bhanu knew about it and mentioned, "Don't worry. Eat to your desire and then use the toilets in the plane. They are tiny ones but they are quite good."
Bhanu asked daddy, "Daddy, are we going to land in Mumbai or else where in India?"
Daddy said, "We will deplane at Mumbai airport in India. Mumbai is by far the biggest city in India like New York City in America. It is called the business capital of India and more than 13 million people live there where as around 9 million people live in New York City. Seattle's population is just about 600,000."
Mom looked at the watch and said, "My my, it is pretty late; time to sleep and we have finished our dinner too. Isn't it daddy?"
Daddy nodded in agreement.
Bhanu, Shanu, Kaju and Biju also nodded and they were very happy to know so many things about their journey to India. All of them wished each other good night and headed to their bed rooms to sleep.
Novels and Stories
Novel "Good People" http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/
Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories http://funny-shortstories.blogspot.com/
Stories Children Will Love http://stories-children.blogspot.com/
The novel "Good People", "Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories" and "Stories Children Will Love" are available in the form of eBook and printed book from Amazon online. Hurry up, get your copies.
Yet, despite their being so young, they have travelled considerably. They have also lived in many cities of several countries. How could they do it at such young age? In fact it is because of their parents' jobs. Their mom and dad have to travel a lot and live in different cities of different countries. On most of such occasions, Bhanu, Shanu, Kaju and Biju accompany their parents.
However, in their previous travels except for Bhanu, all the other three were so young that they do not remember much of those. They have some vague impressions of their earlier air, road and rail road travels. Also, they have very vague impressions of the cities they stayed.
Presently they live in Seattle since their mom and dad are posted in Seattle. They love Seattle because they think that it is one of the most beautiful cities among the ones they have visited so far and whose memories they can recall. As per them Seattle is not only the most beautiful city of America but it is perhaps one of the most beautiful cities of the world.
When some of the older people around complain about the perennial rains of Seattle, Biju thinks in her own mind, "How can they complain about Seattle just because it rains here most of the days? They should see Seattle from the top of Space Needle. And then you can appreciate its lakes, the greenery all around, the ups and downs of the roads. Wow, this city is just beautiful."
Bhanu, Shanu and Kaju agree with their sister. Bhanu adds, "I love my school here. It is one of the best schools I have seen." His younger brother and sisters do not understand his sentiments because they have not attended as many schools as Bhanu did; after all he was 10 years of age and acted like a big man.
Any way this story is not about how Bhanu, Shanu, Kaju and Biju live in Seattle and how they love this city but it is about their dreams about the journey they are going to undertake soon. Their parents have some work in India and then after their work in India is over they wish to take a short vacation in India. And Bhanu, Shanu, Kaju and Biju are now at an age where they can enjoy and remember their experiences of travel to another country and the stay there.
So, the day Bhanu, Shanu, Kaju and Biju learnt about this trip to India from their dad, they have already started dreaming about it and talking about it.
First thing they did was to locate India on the world map. They also consulted the globe their parents bought for them to get acquainted with the geography of the earth. Shanu was quite surprised and yelled out, "Hey, India is on the other side of US on this globe. How can we ever reach there? It must be taking months to get there?"
Bhanu said, "Shanu, it does take many days to reach India from USA if you travel by a ship. However, if we fly, we will reach India in around 24 hours. Yes, even 24 hours seem to be a lot of time when it is possible to reach Vancouver in just 2 to 3 hours; that too by a car ."
Kaju and Biju exclaimed in unison,"You two seem to know a lot about all of this. But we do not know anything. we will ask mom and dad to tell us more about journey to India at the dinner time today."
The dinner time came. Everyone sat around the dining table. Kaju asked, "Dad, we are very curious to know more about our journey to India. Can you tell us?"
Their daddy smiled and said, "Hey, you guys have already started talking about our trip to India! We haven't even booked the air tickets."
Biju clapped, "Daddy, does that mean that we are going to travel in an airplane?"
Mom interjected, "Not one air plane but two airplanes. First we will fly within America from our Seattle Tacoma airport to Newark airport of New Jersey. That is our first airplane. Then we will get down from that airplane and board another airplane at Newark airport. That will be our second airplane."
Kaju asked, "Wow! And how much time our flight will take to Newark?"
Shanu knew its answer and before mom or dad could answer she spoke out, "Around 5 hours. But I have no idea about the time it takes to reach India"
Dad said, "Shanu, the journey time between Newark airport to Mumbai airport in India is approximately 15 hours. And there will be some waiting time at Newark airport before we get into the next plane."
Bhanu, Shanu, Kaju and Biju enquired at the same time, "How will we pass our time at Newark airport? Hope we will get some pizzas and hamburgers to eat there and may be some comics to read. Isn't it dad? And perhaps we can use the rest rooms at Newark airport to freshen up."
Mom was very happy to hear that question and came forward to answer it, "I am myself looking forward to eat those wonderful things at the airport. I love eating at various airports while undertaking a journey. We can get yummy things at airport food parlors. And do you know that every international airlines also serves the food and drinks in the airplane while the plane is flying high up in the air?"
Biju was very excited listening to that and almost shouted, "That's so cool. Can I have a soda in the airplane for a change? Mom and dad, can you allow me the soda just once?"
Mom and dad replied almost together, "OK, all of you can have just about one soda in the plane. I am glad that you are asking our permission for this."
Shanu asked, "I heard from one of my friends who recently flew to Paris that they show good movies in the airplane and you can see them on a television that is placed just in front of your seat? Is that true?"
Bhanu who remembered about it from his earlier journey spoke out, "I remember to have seen Tom and Jerry cartoons last time we travelled. It was fun. But it was shown on a big screen and not on the television placed right in front of my seat."
Dad clarified, "In some aircraft where they do not have provision of giving each passenger his own television, they show the movies on big screens which all the passengers can watch even from a distance."
Biju prayed loud enough, "Hope we travel in a plane where they give us each a television."
Dad further clarified, "And on the hand support of your seat in the airplane, you will find the video and music system. It gives you a choice of listening to variety of music channels in addition to watching movies on variety of video channels. The air hostess will give each one of us a head set that we can wear and plug into the audio-video system so that we can hear the music and movie dialogues without disturbing others."
Mom added, "She will also give each one of us a pillow to rest our head on it or to give support to our back. She will give us a blanket too. The airplane has the air-conditioning arrangement and if you feel cold inside you can wrap the blanket around you."
Kaju quipped in all his excitement, "But I am not going to sleep at all. I want to sit near the window and watch outside. Mom, can all of us get the window seats?"
Mom replied, "All of us can request for window seats at the time of booking our tickets and may get them also but then we will not be able to sit together in the plane."
Kaju and Biju spoke at the same time, "We do not want to sit away from our family. What we will do is exchange the window seat turn by turn."
Mom and others agreed, "Yes, that's fair enough."
Shanu had one question lingering in her mind for quite some time. She asked sheepishly, "Please do not laugh at me. But I want to know if I need to go potty, what happens? Or I will not eat much in the plane."
Bhanu knew about it and mentioned, "Don't worry. Eat to your desire and then use the toilets in the plane. They are tiny ones but they are quite good."
Bhanu asked daddy, "Daddy, are we going to land in Mumbai or else where in India?"
Daddy said, "We will deplane at Mumbai airport in India. Mumbai is by far the biggest city in India like New York City in America. It is called the business capital of India and more than 13 million people live there where as around 9 million people live in New York City. Seattle's population is just about 600,000."
Mom looked at the watch and said, "My my, it is pretty late; time to sleep and we have finished our dinner too. Isn't it daddy?"
Daddy nodded in agreement.
Bhanu, Shanu, Kaju and Biju also nodded and they were very happy to know so many things about their journey to India. All of them wished each other good night and headed to their bed rooms to sleep.
Novels and Stories
Novel "Good People" http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/
Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories http://funny-shortstories.blogspot.com/
Stories Children Will Love http://stories-children.blogspot.com/
The novel "Good People", "Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories" and "Stories Children Will Love" are available in the form of eBook and printed book from Amazon online. Hurry up, get your copies.
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