The children made merry. It was a fine dinner, even for their surprise. The villages on the other side of mountain have so many different type of food. The boys were gulping it down while Lata was polite, respectful of their hosts. Narendra's wife Sita was a good lady, friendly with motherly aura. They laughed and chatted for a while.
Dhanush and Sambhu were talking with Narendra, asking him of possible places for visiting around the village. Lata went with Sitaa to the kitchen, asking about some recipes. Lochan went outside of the house, to look around and attend nature call. Parvati, though invisible to their hosts, was following Lata, wherever she went. Lata was discrete with her silent communications with Parvati, so as to not raise alarm or doubts in the mind of her host Sita.
" Aunty, can you tell me the recipe of this sabzi and halwa. The taste were wonderful." Lata asked Sita.
" Ask about the Achar (pickles) too..." Parvati, our spirit girl, whispered to Lata.
"Yes, yes, Aunty...also tell me how to make the Aam a achar(mango pickles) too. " Lata added.
"Ohh, you are such a sweet young girl." Sita was flattered by the praises and also liked Lata, " if only, you were my girl."
"You are like mom, although I don't remeber much about her." Lata said with a smile.
" Ohh, poor girl, you can call me mom too." Sita said while hugging her.
She told her the recipes while the boys chatted. Lochan too had joined the boys, sharing their laughter.
" Now kids, its time for bed. I have put bedsheet on the floor. Come with me Dhanush, Sambhu and Lochan,' Narendra added, ' and Lata, go to the bed with Sita."
"Yes, Lata, come with me." Sita took Lata with her, followed by Parvati.
It was early morning, with a few birds chirruping, when Dhanush wake up. He went outside, to see Narendra was doing Yoga and exercise.
" Do you always do these vyayams (exercise)," Dhanush asked as he went near him.
" You need to do these to remain healthy as you get old." Narendra said in a strained voice.
"Uncle, as I was asking earlier,' Dhanush continued, ' What places I could visit near these villages. We want to do some sightseeing before we go."
"Hmm.. There is a Shiva temple towards the northern path., and a small waterfall towards the east path, it's the path you came from. Narendra replied.
" I would like to visit the waterfall!" Dhanush said, ' that way we can return earlier.
"Be alert, there might be wild animals too.' Narendra warned, ' there have been incidences of strange sounds in the evening just a few day ago. "
" Is it dangerous, anyone attacked?" Dhanush was concerned.
" No, no, it's safe during the day. You might find some villagers there now, but make sure to return by the evening." Narendra assured him.
"Then don't worry, we would be out by afternoon as we have to walk through the mountain pass too today." Dhanush replied.
As the sun came out, Dhanush went to wake Sambhu and Lochan. Lata was already awake and sitting with Parvati. Sita aunty was making the tea and packing the food for them.
" I will miss you Lata, come anytime." Sita said with a tearful eye as Lata was ready for the departure.
" I will come again aunty," Lata hugged her and then joined the boys.
" Thank you uncle and aunty for your hospitality. We would come again." Dhanush gave his farewell along with the children.
" Be safe," Narendra shouted as the children were near the gates waving their hands.
...... To be continued......
Dhanush and Sambhu were talking with Narendra, asking him of possible places for visiting around the village. Lata went with Sitaa to the kitchen, asking about some recipes. Lochan went outside of the house, to look around and attend nature call. Parvati, though invisible to their hosts, was following Lata, wherever she went. Lata was discrete with her silent communications with Parvati, so as to not raise alarm or doubts in the mind of her host Sita.
" Aunty, can you tell me the recipe of this sabzi and halwa. The taste were wonderful." Lata asked Sita.
" Ask about the Achar (pickles) too..." Parvati, our spirit girl, whispered to Lata.
"Yes, yes, Aunty...also tell me how to make the Aam a achar(mango pickles) too. " Lata added.
"Ohh, you are such a sweet young girl." Sita was flattered by the praises and also liked Lata, " if only, you were my girl."
"You are like mom, although I don't remeber much about her." Lata said with a smile.
" Ohh, poor girl, you can call me mom too." Sita said while hugging her.
She told her the recipes while the boys chatted. Lochan too had joined the boys, sharing their laughter.
" Now kids, its time for bed. I have put bedsheet on the floor. Come with me Dhanush, Sambhu and Lochan,' Narendra added, ' and Lata, go to the bed with Sita."
"Yes, Lata, come with me." Sita took Lata with her, followed by Parvati.
It was early morning, with a few birds chirruping, when Dhanush wake up. He went outside, to see Narendra was doing Yoga and exercise.
" Do you always do these vyayams (exercise)," Dhanush asked as he went near him.
" You need to do these to remain healthy as you get old." Narendra said in a strained voice.
"Uncle, as I was asking earlier,' Dhanush continued, ' What places I could visit near these villages. We want to do some sightseeing before we go."
"Hmm.. There is a Shiva temple towards the northern path., and a small waterfall towards the east path, it's the path you came from. Narendra replied.
" I would like to visit the waterfall!" Dhanush said, ' that way we can return earlier.
"Be alert, there might be wild animals too.' Narendra warned, ' there have been incidences of strange sounds in the evening just a few day ago. "
" Is it dangerous, anyone attacked?" Dhanush was concerned.
" No, no, it's safe during the day. You might find some villagers there now, but make sure to return by the evening." Narendra assured him.
"Then don't worry, we would be out by afternoon as we have to walk through the mountain pass too today." Dhanush replied.
As the sun came out, Dhanush went to wake Sambhu and Lochan. Lata was already awake and sitting with Parvati. Sita aunty was making the tea and packing the food for them.
" I will miss you Lata, come anytime." Sita said with a tearful eye as Lata was ready for the departure.
" I will come again aunty," Lata hugged her and then joined the boys.
" Thank you uncle and aunty for your hospitality. We would come again." Dhanush gave his farewell along with the children.
" Be safe," Narendra shouted as the children were near the gates waving their hands.
...... To be continued......
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