The Boy and The Boat
.*.
I laid my head on her lap, staring deep into the stars above. Shiny and vivid, almost magical. "Tell me that story again Dadi," I nagged my grandmother.
"The one with The Boy and The Boat?" I nodded. She took her hand, gently ruffling my hair. "There was once a river called Nivaran. At its dock was an abandoned boat. They say, the boat only sailed on the will of the guardians of the river."
"MERMAIDS!" I cut her in between with my excitement. I knew this tale inside and out yet, I nagged her every night for a retelling.
She chuckled. "Yes, the mermaids. They guarded the river and the boat. It was their desire which enable the boat to move. So one day, an orphan boy spotted the empty boat. Curiosity got the best of him as he decided to sail to the other side of the river."
"But only the mermaids can move the boat," I frowned.
"You're right, only the mermaids were capable of moving this boat. But what can the poor boy do? He didn't know. So, he tried everything. Pushing the boat with all of his strength and even kicking it once in a while. But luck seemed to look away thus, nothing worked. He was on the edge of giving up."
"Did he give up?" I was well aware of the answer nonetheless asked away.
"Not entirely," she smiled. "It was getting dark and not a single house was nearby. The boy decided to stay the night on the boat. He threw his ragged bag on the boat and made himself comfortable. He looked up at the sky full of stars, wishing to touch them with his bare hand. Shutting his eyes, subtle movements of the wind danced around him. Taking a peek through one of his eyes, the boy was baffled. The boat was sailing!"
I jolted up from the floor, folding my legs and looking at her with nothing but eagerness. My favorite part was coming up.
"He could not for the life of him make up as to how the boat was sailing so smoothly. Better yet, where it was heading! He tried to look for a paddle to row the boat to a shore but there was none. The boy began panicking until it stopped moving. It was in middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but water and fireflies. Once again, he looked around with disappointment. "Lost?" a sudden voice pitched out. Startled, the boy almost fell off the boat."
"Woah..." my jaws must have been hanging since Dadi chuckled loudly. "What happened next?!"
"Prajna, wake up" said Dadi.
"But I am awake," I replied. Dadi's hand found its way to my shoulders and began shaking me. I rocked back and forth whilst she kept muttering something. Trying to make sense of her slightly faded face, I tried to argue but I seemed to have lost my voice. I screamed at the top of my lungs so my voice could be heard.
"PRAJNA SHUT UP!" My eyes immediately flew open.
"You're not Dadi," I murmured. There sat a woman beside me, in her mid-forties, hair so curly and eyelashes long enough for one to fly away.
"That's because I am your mother," she sighed heavily.
My eyes widened at the sudden realization. I had forgotten my own mother!
With a sly smile I wrap my hands around her, putting my head on one of her shoulder. "Good morning, mother."
"Dreams of Dadi again?" I nodded.
Recently, I have been thinking about my childhood. The times I have spent here in India with my grandmother. The fairytales she would recite every night to my childish demands. Couldn't help but smile at the thought of those good old days where everything was simple.
"The car's waiting Meena," my dad walked towards us. We stood up taking our luggage and headed out of the airport with my dad.
.*.
Author's Note:
This is going to be different. If you trust my writing skills, give this a go and I promise you this will take you on a journey you will never forget. I guarantee you. Trust my words. Like I said before, this is 21st century girl meets magical realm. Just wait till she gets there, it will leave you in awe and wow. This chapter is important as it's the beginning. Don't neglect it.
Like & Comment.
-Sanaya
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Hindi TV Shows
