Visit to my Grand Pa

My Nana ji was a frequent caller to our house.  Upon his visit both me and my sister used to be quite delighted, the reason of this pleasure was that upon his departure he always gave us Rs. 2/- one rupee for me and another for my sister.  He had two aims: one to hit upon a Brahmin bridegroom for my sister and another to teach me math. Unfortunately none of his dreams have been fulfilled. I have never ever learnt math and my sister got married to a Kayastha gentleman. But this note of mine deals with my visit to his place and not about his visit to us.

  Nana ji offered my mother to take me to Simla during the Christmas holidays. At that time I was in class 8^th; older than the age where there is a half ticket for the kids. I was quite happy because I always wanted to see the snow covered mountains and also the snow falling on the trees. Till then I had seen one or two Hindi movies and in one of the movies I noticed the snow fall and trees covered with the snow. It was like a fairytale to me. I told my sister about the conversation between my mother and Nana ji. She became sad not because I was going but for the reason that she will be left alone. As soon as our Christmas break started, Nana ji came to take me to his home town. He brought a small bag and a blanket with him. My mother made my bag ready for me. When Nana ji saw that bag he was highly disappointed and told my mother to make an iron trunk ready for me. My mother was surprised and revealed some resistance but Nana ji won the battle. At 5 PM we started for the bus stand. After reaching there he purchased one and a half ticket. I was a little astonished as we were two people and he bought only one and a half ticket I told him: "Nanaji probably you are mistaken;; we are two". He use to call me Minna to show affection. He called me with the same name and replied "for you I have taken half ticket". "But I do not fall under that category"; I replied. He told me you are not going to occupy the seat you will sit on the steel trunk and I will cover you with the blanket so how will conductor come to know about your age! I wanted to argue with him but by that time the Bus came and hurriedly we entered the bus and Nana ji was successful in applying his tactics. I was sitting on the cold steel trunk totally covered with a blanket. After some time the bus conductor came and asked Nana ji to show the tickets and inquired about the half ticket. Nana ji casually replied "The child is sleeping there with a blanket on" and that was the end of the story. I successfully made the trip to Simla under that blanket on the steel trunk!