Vimali's Day Out

Children, Children's fiction - By kannal on Thursday, April 15, 2010 - 18:46

Vimali was one of the many water drops on lotus leaves. But she wanted to see the world. So PLOP she went to have an adventure of a life time. Read on as Kannal Achuthan tells you her story.

Vimali, the water drop, was bored to tears. She stared glassily at the sky as she lay on a lotus leaf. The only excitement around here was when the fat green frog on a nearby rock jumped into the pond and crawled back to sun himself.

“Hmmph,” she said aloud, “This is no fun. I’d really like to see the world.” So although her water drop friends had told her not to venture to the edge of the lotus leaf, Vimali did.

PLOP!

And, Vimali fell into the pond. It gave her a strange, squashed feeling. She hazily wondered if she was herself or had become the pond. It was quiet but a sort of deafening quiet. Just as she was getting all drowsy, there was a pop and a gloop in her ears and Vimali was hoisted into the bright sunshine.

“Hey, be careful you don’t spill any water,” a high-pitched voice cautioned.

“I’m careful, alright. Watch where you are going,” retorted another.

Vimali peered around to see who was talking. She found herself clinging to the rim of a pot that a little boy was carrying. A girl, slightly taller than the boy, was leading the way and carrying another pot.

“Oho,” thought Vimali, “My adventures have begun.” 

When she peered out from her vantage point, Vimali saw a room with a lot of shiny spoons and pans. She ducked into the pot when a shadow came over her. The shadow scooped out some water with a glass and poured it into a vessel full of white grains. 

“Amma, I have set the rice to boil on the stove,” a voice said. Vimali looked around the vessel with interest. “So this is rice,” she thought, “Ought I to make friends with the rice?” 

But before Vimali could decide, she started getting warm and then hot and then hotter. “Ow, ow, ow, ow,” she cried, clutching her scalded bottom. And just when she thought she would be fried, the stove was turned off and the bubbling pot set on the floor.

Someone tilted the pot and strained the rice. Vimali was poured out into another vessel, which was mercifully cool. SPLAT!!! After the straining, the water was flung out of the window into the garden. Vimali landed headfirst on a patch of grass. She rubbed her head, curled up and fell fast asleep as it was a hot day. Then she was dreaming. Dreaming of floating and flying. Up, up and away.

Vimali opened one eye groggily to look around. “Whoops,” she said, “I am really flying”. She opened both her eyes wide. Everything seemed tiny below as she kept moving up. And then all went white. Vimali found herself perched on the tip of a puff of lots of water drops floating in the air just like her. She wondered where she was. Another water drop, wearing a self-important expression, told her, “We are a part of a cloud.” 

“Oh,” said Vimali politely. She wanted to ask what a cloud was but felt the other drop was a bit too smug. The cloud was getting uncomfortable as more and more water drops joined them. There was hardly any space to breathe. Vimali felt she was growing fatter. Just when she thought she would suffocate, she felt herself falling, falling. Other water drops drizzled down beside her.

PLOP! 

She landed on a lotus leaf. A green frog was stuffing himself with flies. Vimali happily stretched herself out on the leaf. Other water drops looked round-eyed at her. “Where have you been?” they shouted. And Vimali began to tell them her story.

Kannal Achuthan is a journalist and children's writer. She writes on sustainable development. She is also interested in contemporary literature for young people.