My Nice Thriya

by Pravi
(Kerla, India)

Thriya lived in a small village in India called Neelikkad.

The small village had a small school.

Everyday Thriya had to walk from her little hut at one end of the village to the primary school near the village well.

On her way to school, she passed through green paddy fields, the village lake and the old Ram Lila ground.

All her friends, be it dreamy Jhunjhunu, colorful Pinaki or talkative Tachi, did not like walking to school.

But Thriya loved the long walk to school. She had made a new friend on her way.

Sun or rain, Thriya would walk to school.

Thriya’s mother was very happy that Thriya loved school so much. She did not know about her daughter's BIG new friend.

Thriya had told no one. No one knew why she loved walking past the green paddy fields, the village lake and the old Ram Lila ground to reach school.

No one knew Thriya’s little BIG secret on the way to school.

Thriya wanted to keep this friend a secret.

She thought her friends might make fun of her.

Every morning Thriya got up before the neighbour’s cock could bellow its loud and shrill cuck-a-doo-coo.

Thriya would be ready in her neatly ironed blue and mustard-coloured school uniform, eagerly waiting for her tiffin box.

As soon as she got her favorite rice idlis and coconut chutney, she would run out of the house.

Thriya left home as early as 6:30 in the morning to meet her friend, whom she called Lal Hawa.

As she crossed the paddy fields, the soft chuk-chuk sound greeted Thriya. Thriya was happiest when she heard Lal Hawa coming.

Thriya knew that she got the best view of Lal Hawa from a small mud hill near the village lake.

As the chuk-chuk sound got louder Thriya walked faster. She knew the trick. She timed her running with the chuk-chuk sound of Lal Hawa.

On every chuk-chuk of Lal Hawa, Thriya took a swift step forward through the paddy fields towards the lake.

Thriya knew the exact point when the red, speeding Lal Hawa would whistle. Now, with practice, she could match her whistle with the loud whistle of Lal Hawa.

Thriya knew, Lal Hawa said, “Hello”, in her language when he whistled. Thriya whistled back, welcoming Lal Hawa.

She ran through the paddy field doing chuk-chuk-chuk-chuk-koooooooooooooo... As she reached the lake, in a moment, the huge engine came towards her.

As Lal Hawa approached, a powerful wind started blowing. Thriya's hair flew from her forehead into her eyes. Her blue and mustard school dress fluttered, like a kite flying in the morning sky.

Standing on the small hill, Thriya saw Lal Hawa become bigger and bigger. In seconds, Lal Hawa covered the whole blue sky as it chugged towards Thriya.

Thriya was jumping with joy.

She clapped and waved as Lal Hawa chuk-chuk-ed past her. She waved till the very end.

Small-unknown hands waved back from the windows of Lal Hawa.

As Thriya eyes followed the red train, she saw small hands waving to her. She ran along with Lal Hawa waving back at the small hands.

Thriya could not believe how fast Lal Hawa could run. She was sure Lal Hawa had magic wheels. In seconds Lal Hawa could cross her AND her big village.

Thriya loved meeting Lal Hawa everyday.

She liked the red color, the fast moving wheels, the waving hands from the windows and the chuk-chuk sound, as it moved.

Thriya prayed every night for Lal Hawa to stop at her village just once.

One day she asked her schoolteacher if Lal Hawa could stop at Chotti Dadi.

Thriya schoolteacher laughed loudly and told her that their village was too small for big and mighty Lal Hawa.

Disheartened Thriya decided to ask Amma, her mother, the same question.

In the evening, Amma said, "Thriya, just as you want to meet Lal Hawa, even Lala Hawa will want to stop here one day and meet you."

Thriya put her arms around Amma and kissed her.

Thriya had made big plans for the day when Lal Hawa would stop at Chotti Dadi.

Thriya dreamt of flying on the fast wheels of Lal Hawa.

She imagined she was waving to Amma, Jhunjhunu, Pinaki, Tachi and her schoolteacher. She also saved three idlis everyday for the small hands that waved at her from Lal Hawa.

But Lal Hawa never stopped.

Every day, Lal Hawa raced past the village lake, leaving Thriya on the small mud hill.

She had to sit and finish the idlis alone.

Seeing Thriya unhappy, one day Thriya’s mother told her friends Jhunjhunu, Pinaki and Tachi to walk to school with Thriya.

Thriya knew she would miss seeing Lal Hawa because her friends walked to school through a shorter way.

Thriya asked Amma if she could walk to school alone for just one more day, and see Lal Hawa one last time.

Amma agreed, and explained to Thriya that when she was older she could go to the big station in town to meet Lal Hawa.

The next morning, a pleasant breeze welcomed Thriya as she walked to school.

She went past the green paddy fields, the village lake and the old Ram Lila ground.

Thriya walked slowly.

She was sad.

Today was the last time she would wave to Lal Hawa.

As she walked, she heard the distant sound of Lal Hawa ….chuk-chuk-chuk.

Thriya started walking faster. Like always, she started running to the beat of Lal Hawa's chuck-chuk and started whistling "cooooo: just like Lal hawa whistled.

She could see big and mighty Lal Hawa approaching as she reached the small Hill. It was fast and red.

Thriya closed her eyes and started praying that Lal Hawa, her dear friend, would stop.

The powerful breeze that blew every time Lal Hawa came, stopped.

Thriya’s eyes were still closed but her ears could not hear the chuk-chuk of Lal Hawa.

Startled, she opened her eyes.

There, right in front of her, Lal Hawa, so red and so big, had stopped.

Thriya could not believe it.

She closed her eyes shut and opened them, quickly. That's when she heard the noise coming from the village.

Everyone was running towards Lal Hawa, shouting and cheering.

She could see her schoolteacher, Amma, Tachi, Jhunjhunu, Pinaki and the old retired railway guard hurrying towards Lal Hawa.

Lal Hawa had stopped at Neelikkad and was waiting for Thriya to meet him.

Lal Hawa whistled aloud, Thriya laughed and whistled back.

Quickly, she picked up her tiffin box with the idlis and coconut chutney and climbed onto Lal Hawa.

And, just then, as if it had been waiting just for Thriya, Lal Hawa chuk-chuked again.

The slow chuk-chuk sound became faster and by the time Amma reached the train tracks, Lal Hawa was flying on magic wheels with Thriya inside it.

Amma smiled.

She had tears in her eyes seeing Thriya so happy.

From a window, Thriya waved to everyone.

Lal Hawa was flying and so was Thriya!