Paradise Lost

By Urbi Roychowdhury

Everything was perfect. Sophie believed that her trip to Egypt would be as close to Paradise as possible and that it would impress all her friends and teachers. But things suddenly change when their rental car breaks down. Sophie soon finds herself falling from a sky of anger and grief and things become even worse when she is put into this strange bus with these strange children to reach this even stranger place...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Urbi Roychowdhury
• Release date: Oct 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370653836

Urbi Roychowdhury

Urbi Roychowdhury is a 12 year – old girl who lives in Kolkata, India. She likes to spend her free time reading and writing stories. She also likes to listen to music and draw.

Book preview

Chapter One

So, excited? I opened my eyes to see my mother beaming down at me.

Of course, I laughed, I spent the whole night packing. I couldn’t get a wink sleep at all. My mother smiled.

It makes me wonder what you do have in that big bag of yours. I opened my exploring bag and peered inside once again to check its belongings.

See, I’ve got my binoculars, exploring hat, sunglasses, magnifying glass, history book…

History book? my mother asked curiously. Didn’t you say that you had already finished your homework?

No! Not for that mum. I just want to make sure that I see everything that I have learnt about Egypt in class. Oh! Mrs. Rosie will be awfully pleased when she sees how much I have learnt from this trip.

She sure will! I hugged my bag and looked up to the sky dreamily as I couldn’t help but imagine all the fun-filled days that were ahead of us.

I am going to see the Sphinx, the Pyramids and…

What about the haunted King Tutankhamen’s tomb? my mother added.

Oh! How could I forget that! That’ll be the best part!

"Your father tells me that we’ll have a wonderful hotel. Do you know that it has its own private terrace?

Really? I gasped greedily, This sure is going to be the best trip ever!

Stop here, please. Dad handed the taxi driver the money and took my hand and a suitcase in the other.

Hurry up, now! We have only 2 hours left for the plane to leave! I said anxiously.

We know, darling. Calm down. My father said.

I looked around the busy airport as I watched other families just like us, hurrying along for their plane as we were in ours. I beamed warmly at the billboard and at the third line which read ‘Cairo’ which made my heart do a somersault in joy. It was so exciting to imagine that just the next morning they’d be standing in Cairo.

**********

Chapter Two

Here is your dinner, sir. I looked up to see a young lady in a uniform of blue and white hand us three trays with a hearty smile.

Thank you. My father replied, smiling back at her. You know, junior explorer, this is the best part of any trip, the food.

My mother laughed.

But dad, what kind of food do you find in Egypt? I asked eagerly taking out my travel journal and scribbling down whatever came up my mind.

Both my parents smiled at me.

Well, it is a tropical country, isn’t it? Probably the usual: rice, pasta. Who knows? I’m not sure.

But, dad! We have to be prepared!

Well, it’s a good thing we have an expert with us to guide us along the way. My mother said fondly. You shouldn’t worry about anything, dear. Just enjoy the ride. We’ll be landing before you know it. Get as much rest as you can. We will be awfully busy after we land.

I considered my mother’s suggestion and looked out of the small window, looking out at the view. There was not much to see. Only clouds drifting with us. Soon the motion of the plane nearly dragged my eyelids down and leaned on my seat, to fall asleep.

**********

Chapter Three

Wake up, honey, we’ve landed. I heard the quiet voice of my mothers who was pushing me gently to wake up. But there was no need to call me twice. I flung up from my seat, my eyelids wide open. Could it really be? I looked out of my window and yes, it was.

I ran out of the plane scurrying through the seats and down the stairs, not waiting for my parents as they huffed and puffed behind me, handing me my bag and dragging along the suitcases.

Slow down, Sophie, slow down. My mother said, nearly out of breath as I slipped my arms into my bag.

Oh, mum, I’m just too excited!

We know, honey, my father said, finally catching on to his breath. Just stay with us and don’t run off. I nodded and immediately took a paper out from my bag. I looked around the airport. It wasn’t very different from our airport, back in London. There were people carrying their luggage, following a porter and other people coming out from other planes. But, somehow, it gave me a scent of excitement and accomplishment.

Come, on. I said impatiently. 859BTN. we have to search faster. What if he goes away?

He won’t. Don’t worry, my father assured.

I stared at the line of large cars and started scanning them one by one. Finally, we reached a large blue car with a man standing beside it.

Here it is! 859BTN. this is our car. Mum, dad, its here. My parents hurried along to the car.

Mr. Abdelmalek? the tall man nodded and my father shook his hand.

I shall send you your bill when you are coming back. My father smiled.

Sure. That would be great.

I squealed as I helped my mother lode our luggage in the car.

See, Sophie, here is where the real adventure begins. My mother sat beside my father in the front seat as my father scanned the car steering wheel and smiled. I had the entire back seat to myself and made myself comfortable. Finally, we were off. The adventure had begun.

**********

Chapter Four

The view from the car window was beautiful. It was a peaceful, quiet part of the town with a beautiful view of the houses and the green fields along the beautiful Blue Nile River. I had my camera in my hands, as I clicked as many photos as I could. There was a regular calling out of Look, dad! A camel! Have you ever seen such a beauty? or mum, don’t you love this view. I drew the same scenery in art class. I have to show this picture to Mrs. Brown!

So, my mother began, to get things clear, we are now going to our hotel, ‘the Cairo Paradise’.

My father gave a sturdy nod.

Oh, the name sounds like a magical fortress that shall make you rule into a magical land where animals talk and do not obey any humans and we are sent to make that right…

My parents laughed.

Oh, my mother smiled, you and your imagination can go anywhere! Anyways, as I was saying, we are going to have breakfast from there. Where exactly are we having breakfast?

Oh, there is this place called ‘Cairo specials’. It’s a cuisine and less than a mile away from our hotel. You can get all kinds of food there, even Macaroni Pasta, your favourite Sophie!

But suddenly, I wasn’t listening anymore. I scrutinized my eyes to a sight outside the window. On the other side of the road stood a tall, large bus painted red and blue.

Sophie! Are you listening? Sophie? my mother snapped impatiently.

Mum, is that a school bus? Why is it standing there? I questioned curiously still staring at the bus.

Sophie, please don’t stare at it. I don’t think it’s nice to take pictures of people you don’t know. Now, how many camels did you see?

I said nothing and looked carefully as a tall man in a black uniform marched out of the bus. He was hardly visible, but I looked closely. I was too curious to look away as my mother had instructed me to. The man was holding a gun in his hands. Slowly, as he stretched and looked around, a long line of children followed him. Suddenly a terrible thought struck me.

M…mum you don’t think those are kidnappers do you, taking those poor children away. Could they have somehow hypnotized them with their magical powers to work with them for life?

Sophie, please! my mother frowned and said, How many times do I have to tell you to look away from them.

But, mum! I cried in protest.

"Please move away from this spot. It