100

Dhruv and Keya hopped with excitement as the train drew into the station. They couldn’t wait to get to their grandparents' house near the beach. Moti Uncle, their mother’s brother, was at home too. With Moti Uncle around, the potential for adventure doubled. Last year, he had them travel into the past!

They got off the train and scanned the crowd for familiar faces.

“Well let’s walk to the gate,” said Dhruv.

They tottered to the exit, dodging trolleys, carts and vendors. When they got out of the station, Dhruv said, “Ooof! I can’t walk any more. Let’s wait till someone comes!”

“Okay, we’ll wait here,” said Keya.

They were about to sit on the step, when a boy jumped up, grabbed Dhruv’s backpack and ran off through the crowd. Quick as pie, Dhruv and Keya gave chase tugging their suitcases behind them.

“Oye! Oye!” they yelled above the din of honking taxis, autos, and shouting people. They soldiered on, managing to keep the boy in sight. So keen were they in keeping the boy in sight that they did not see where they were going. And, before they knew it they found themselves on a lonely, tree lined road with just a ramshackle building in sight. The boy was nowhere in sight.

They stood outside the ramshackle house wondering what to do.

“Shall we walk back to the railway station...file a police complaint?” asked Dhruv.

They took a few steps and realised they had no clue which way to go.

“It’s no use. We have no idea where we are or where we are heading,” said Dhruv.

“Can I help you?” asked a querulous voice.

They turned around to see an old man, dressed in rags, a dirty bundle over his shoulder. His hair was long and matted and his beard was encrusted with mud and twigs.

Keya shuddered. “Thanks. We are fine...”

The man continued to stand there. He said, “I think you are lost!”

“Yes, genius!” said Dhruv, in irritation. “And, if you must know, someone stole my backpack too!”

“And... this is the beginning of our holiday...a holiday we were looking forward to...” continued Keya.

The man smiled. “Well, what are you going to do now?”

“I don’t know...” said Keya.

“Whatever...” said Dhruv.

“Okay, come with me..." With no other options available, they followed him.

He led them to the ramshackle house. The front door had long since disappeared. He led them into what was once a grand drawing room, with a blackened fireplace and ash in it. Of the French window only the frames remained, and the wooden flooring had been prised out. He led them upstairs. It was in as bad a state as the ground floor. A large chimney dominated the room.

“Hey!” shouted Dhruv excitedly gesturing wildly towards the chimney. And then, Keya saw it too. It was his backpack! Quickly he ran to it, opened it and rummaged inside. The old man watched.

Dhruv looked up at him and said, “You are part of this, aren’t you? Why did you bring us here?”

The man smiled, then put his hand into his pocket, brought out a blue packet and taking some powder from it, threw it on them. They coughed, spluttered, sneezed and floated up to the ceiling and then spiralled into the chimney, which sucked them up and spat them out into the bright, clear day. They looked down and saw the old man squinting up at them.

“Hey! Get us down!” they shouted, but their voices were carried off. The old man waved as they floated by.

A light breeze struck up and they floated away. They flew over houses, high rise buildings, a river, trees, trains... It was a great feeling. They forgot all else as they were swept along, enjoying the feeling of weightlessness. Suddenly up ahead, they glimpsed a sheet of bright blue...it rippled and sparkled , almost blinding them.

The blue was closer now, they could see the sands. It was rising up fast to meet them. They saw people milling about... joggers, people doing Tai chi, a little away another group doing yoga, a man on a cycle selling something — presumably a health drink. The sound of loud laughter floated up..it was the Laughter Club. And, standing just behind the group was Moti Uncle.

The minute their feet touched ground they ran to him saying, “Moti Uncle, you won’t believe what happened...backpack stolen...old man...house...chimney...powder...” words tumbled out in a rush.

Moti Uncle smiled and then putting his hand in his pocket pulled out a blue packet and asked, “Was the packet like this?”

Illustration: Sonal and Sumit