Page 56 - English Class 06

Grandmother had taken the precaution of reserving berths in a first-class compartment

and assisted by Bansi and half-a-dozen coolies, we were soon inside with our entire luggage.
A whistle blasted and we were off! Bansi had to jump from the train.

As the engine gathered speed, I ignored Ayah’s advice and put my head out of the
window to look back at the receding platform. Ayah and Bansi were standing on the
platform waving to me and I kept waving to them until the train rushed into the darkness
and the bright lights of Dehra were swallowed up in the night. New lights, dim and flickering,

came into existence as we passed small villages. The stars too were visible and I saw a
shooting star streaking through the heavens.

I remembered something that Ayah had once told me, that stars are the spirits of good
men and I wondered if that shooting star was a sign from my father that he was aware of
our departure and would be with us on our journey. And I remembered something else that
Ayah had said that if one wished on a shooting star, one’s wish would be granted, provided,

of course, that one thrust all five fingers into the mouth at the same time!
‘What are you doing?’ asked Grandmother, staring at
precaution : Something you do in
me as I thrust my fist into my mouth. order to avoid problems in further
receding : moving away and
beginning to disappear
streaking : moving very fast

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