Page 65 - English Class 06

The next morning, a pleasant breeze welcomed Kaku as he walked to school. He went

past the green paddy fields, the village lake and the old Ramlila ground. Kaku walked slowly.
He was sad. Today was the last time he would wave to Lal Hawa. As he walked, he heard the
distant sound of Lal hawa chuk-chuk-chuk ................ Kaku started walking faster, and started
whistling chuk chuk just like Lal Hawa whistled.

He could see big and mighty Lal Hawa approaching as he reached the small Hill. It was
fast and red. Kaku closed his eyes and started praying that Lal Hawa, his dear friend, would

stop. The powerful breeze that blew every time Lal
paddy : rice plants
Hawa came, stopped startled , he opened his eyes. startled : upset
There, right in front of him, Lal Hawa, tracks : Path
so red and so big, had

stopped. Kaku could not
Have you ever travelled on a train?
believe it. He closed his
eyes shut and opened
them, quickly. That’s

when he heard the
noise coming from
the village. Everyone
was running towards
Lal Hawa, shouting and

cheering. He could see
his school teacher,
Amma, Tachi, Jhunjhun,

Pinaki and the old retired
railway clerk hurrying
towards Lal Hawa. Lal Hawa
had stoped at Chotti Dadi and
it was waiting for Kaku to meet

her.

Lal Hawa whistled aloud, Kaku laughed and whistled back, he picked up his tiffin box
with the idlis and coconut chutney and climbed on to Lal Hawa. And just then, as if it had
beed waiting just for Kaku, Lal Hawa chuk-chuked again. The slow chuk-chuk became faster
and by the time Amma reached the train tracks , Lal Hawa was flying on magic wheels with
Kaku inside it. Amma smiled she had tears in her eyes seeing Kaku happy. From a window,

Kaku waved to everyone, Lal Hawa was flying and so was Kaku.

— Khushwant Singh

English-6 65