Hello my dear readers! This is little miss A. Misra signing in to tell you my story of Christmas holidays!

My exams ended right on 23rd of December, and the holidays started from then. Simultaneously, we happened to go on our Kashi trip right that day! 

I was jumping up and down in excitement. Me, Rui ( i wont tell his real name, but that’s what I call him) was 9, about to be 10, and Jaya, from our last trip, about to be 9, were all going together, along with my grandma, or Diduni.

We were going to Gour express. We arrived first, Rui a little later. Jaya and diduni would be waiting at Kolkata in the airport. While waiting for the train to arrive, me ad Rui chatted about Christmas, what we had plans, and how excited we were. 

When we finally boarded, me and Rui played some travel games in the upper bunk– Word game, Rock-paper-scissors-drawing etc etc. I think it was about 11.20 pm when father called us saying– ” Kids you need to sleep!” I dont think anyone noticed his call because he forgot about it himself a minute later. After I think another 15 minutes he looked at the time and made us go to sleep.

Next day, we  woke up at – 4 : 30am, I think? Oh right, it was 4:20am. Never mind, Same difference anyways.

So, anyway, Rui was refusing to wake up, and he was told ” Oh well, we might just leave you here and you will be kept in a train shelter .That’s all” I don’t think he believed it, but he got up anyways.

I sat up, yawning while pulling on socks. After wearing my jumper, I waited patiently while staring at a wall for us to arrive. Rui did the opposite. He lay down again! When the train jolted to a stop, my father called for a porter while we strapped on back-packs and bags.

Excited, we all bundled into cars together. Finally when we reached the airport we saw Jaya had not reached yet. We scuttled about to the baggage deposit, and got our security checks done. We went to the food court and had breakfast- buttery bread and maggi with a muffin for me, others wanted dosa. After a cup of tea, we headed out.

 When we just got out, we spied Jaya’s father nearby! We excitedly ran up to him and saw Jaya, her mom, and diduni coming towards us. Finally we were together again!

We chattered excitedly while trying to find good seats. When that was done, we left Jaya and her parents to eat while we browsed W.H.Smiths. The book shop.

 I bought an Agatha Christie ” The Hound of Death” and so did mother,  ” The Spider’s web”. We bought one for Rui, too. ” The Listerdale mystery”. Turns out he did not like thrillers. So he bought another Asterix book. We kept the extra Agatha Christe for ourselves. Hurrah! We bought a book for Aadu. A Geronimo Stilton story. I have forgotten which. There are more that 200 to count from. Anyway, it had a cover of Geronimo racing about. 

Rui was feeling a bit grumpy and sleepy, and we only got, I think, 5 seats in the waiting area for 14 people. Great. I perched on the handle reading, until Jaya came back. She joined me and soon Rui made an attempt at the Asterix comic too.

Unfortunately because of the intense fog and mist, our flight was delayed- by 3  hours. Yeah. Not fun. But we still did pass the time by drawing,reading and– well Rock paper scissors yet again.

Allof us were really grouchy. Finally when the time came for our flight we all cheered up a little. When we got inside , we had to wait,10- 15 mins before take off. When it did, the plane moved really quick and I was very excited. Suddenly, it launched into the sky and above the clouds. Off at last!

I ate the rest of my muffin sleepily and dozed a bit. The pilot announced after I think 40 minutes- “please remain seated we are preparing for landing”. I felt so Happy! When I felt the vibration and thud of landing, I looked out with shining eyes.

Hurray! We were in Varanasi!

We came out of the plane curiously. It was afternoon and too warm to wear coats. Nonetheless, I knew too well that if I tried to carry mine it would only fall, so on it went. At the airport, we patiently collected our luggage before bundling into the big Tempo traveller! 

It was already some 2.30 pm or something. We went quite smoothly, except for bites of horrendous traffic in some areas. That kind of held us up a bit. We had eaten some rolls at the airport so we need not stop for lunch.

It was quite late when we reached the hotel ” Dolphin grand” I was already about to fall asleep, but everyone wanted to go and see the Ganga. After eating a food thali  of rice, dal, naan, sabzi and gajar halwa, we travelled to the ganga ghat. It contained many steps and  narrow winding passages to the  big area. We touched the water and felt its coolness. We even collected some in a bottle.

When we went to the hotel, I changed my dress and plopped on the bed and fell asleep almost in a second.

That was Kashi trip part 1! Watch out for the next one.