Description
HOLIDAYS BEGIN
“We got holidays for a whole month, Akka”, said Maalika as she happily rushed out of the school.
“This time we have got sufficient holidays. What’s your position in class, Nangi?” Manori asked her younger sister.
“Mm… I am 2nd in the class. But I have got the highest marks for mathematics. What about you, akka?”
“I too am 2nd “Manori’s eyes are shining.
“Shaa That’s fine’’’ If Aiyah too has passed well, it would be nice” said Maalika, jumping up.
“Why is that?”
“Oh, you have forgotten. Can’t you remember father’s promise?”
“Not that, shall we run to the hostel as Jaymis must be at the hostel grounds by now..”
“If we don’t get into the cart before Aiyas, we won’t have room for our stuff” said Mallika while running.
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“Oh god! What are you doing?” Saman shouted. Roshan suddenly turned the engine and altered the route.
“Isn’t what you did enough? Saman said in anger.
“Now everything has got muddled. We might not be able to go according to the map.”
“This is what you always do” Maalika blamed Roshan.
“Oh Nangiyo, I feel frightened. I feel as if we might never again see our parents” Manori said with tears in her eyes.
“You can still see those trees. The boat will somehow go to some place” Roashan said as if in regret.
“Roshan baby, have you forgotten that this is the Ocean? Would it suffice if the boat goes somewhere? Do you remember what you parents said? Those two babies are two girls. We two can swim. These two?” Saman told Roshan sternly.
“I should at least make an offering to gods. Thanks to my father for teaching me these things.” The three kids looked on as Saman moved his lips muttering some words.
“We pray to you almighty god of the sea, to forgive the bed deeds which children unknowingly do and let us find our way back without you abandoning us” prayed Saman.
“Those trees cannot be seen now” mentioned Manori in sadness.
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“It’s you who is hungry all the time.”
Maalika who was examining the map, brightened. Looks like as if she has found something new. She came towards them.
“Ok. I am the person who found it!” she shouted with delight.
“Hey it’s like Archimedes discovering things” laughed Roshan.
“What did you find, Nangi?”
There on the left side. Do you see the rock outcropping? That’s where the cave is.”
“If so, where is the Bird Island…..?”
“That’s the island between the trees.”
“Taa… tum…. Tum… I feel like dancing” Roshan jumped up in glee.
Saman picked up the map and looked at it meaningfully. “Yes. I think Maalika baby is right.”
“Then Let’s go to the Bird Island. That’s why we came on this trip.”
“Have we to go back a little and turn to the right?” asked Roshan from Saman.
“Look, look there…. Birds, birds all over!”
“Yes, we hear them, just like a cat, isn’t it?”
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Maalika suddenly saw something moving near the mouth of the bay.
“Akka….. Samaan ….. look that way” Maalika shouted.
To the bewilderment of the children, Roshan’s figure came away towards them from the bay mouth.
“Oh God” cried Saman, running and holding up Roshan.
Roshan was very tired and was in difficulty. The muscles in the legs were strained as he had swum for a long period.
“Qiuckly get the balm, babies” cried Saman.
Roshan came out from near the mouth of the bay and fell down as if he was unconscious. The children started attending to his needs. After a short while Roshan stood up. Blood was flowing from a fairly big wound in his leg.
“Aiyah, your leg is wounded badly, isn’t it?” asked Manori who tore a strip from her skirt and dressed the wound. Roshan started speaking normally after a short time.
“Pardon me Saman. It’s not that I Disregarded you but I liked to go in search of the devil.”
“But Roshan baby, I’ll never ever come on a trip like this” said Saman, slightly annoyed.
“But Saman, now don’t say anything to Aiya.” When Manori said this, Roshan felt happy.
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