Adventures in Revati Valley

By Vaishali Kashyap

Twin sisters Veera and Reeya embark on an exciting Himalayan holiday, befreiding kind people and gentle animals, while finding themselves in riveting adventures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Point Six Technologies Pvt Ltd
• Release date: Feb 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9789354380822

Vaishali Kashyap

Vaishali Kashyap is from Guwahati, Assam. She holds a post-graduate degree from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. This is her debut novella.

Book preview

PREFACE

In the summer of 2016, a thrilling opportunity came my way – to spend some time in a region, packed away in the tranquil Kumaon Himalayas. What was primarily an academic exposure, proved to be an exhilarating experience, owing to the interesting mix of people, events and therefore stories encountered. Writing on about it, the experiences took the form of a story and leaning onto imagination, I could create what would hold the promise of making my fond memories into something timeless. It would not come as a surprise to readers that a good number of characters in the novella are extensions of real people and incidents that were actually experienced.

As tricky as it sounds, finding a publisher and making a foray into book business, took up considerable time, till my novella could see the light of the day after three long years. The idea of presenting my maiden work to the world fills me up with joy. Having always been a reader, it was pleasurable to don the cloak of a writer, for once.

– Vaishali Kashyap

Guwahati

CHAPTER 1

The train came to a halt at Kathgodam railway station. Veera leaned forward to catch a glimpse out of the window. She could see the sparsely filled platform. Tea sellers and newspaper hawkers were busy at their business. Have we reached, papa? she asked her father who was seated next to her. He nodded. She gave a little shout, Reeya, wake up! We’re here. A little girl peeped down from the top berth; she had brown, curly hair, which reached her shoulder, and a stubby nose. Her eyes had the same colour as her hair. She and Veera were identical-twins, who had been sleeping with their mother there. She excitedly climbed down the ladder, with their mother following her. Their mother helped them with their shoes. They then followed their father out, who was walking ahead with two big bags.

They walked out of the small railway station to see an array of auto rickshaws lined across the street. The family of four, however ignored earnest calls and requests from auto rickshaw wallas and walked ahead to a Tata Sumo parked under a tree. A hefty man saw them arriving, and stepped forward. He took their bags and packed them away at the top of the big vehicle.

The twins and their mother climbed in and took their seats. Papa took the seat near the driver’s. The driver was named Saalu Panda, someone whom papa had phoned earlier. The vehicle started moving as Saalu Panda switched on his music device to blaring Kumaoni music. The vehicle took several hairpin bends. Soon they reached a populated area and their dad pointed out to a large and beautiful water body which was Bheemtal. He also told Veera and Reeya that the famous city of Nainital was close by, but did not fall in their route. The young girls were excited to hear about Nainital. Ayushi from our class visited Nainital during her holidays, said Reeya.

Soon they were driving up picturesque hilly range and after a couple of hours reached Almora. Saalu Panda halted his vehicle for a quick meal in a roadside dhaba. The girls tasted the famed raita of the Kumaon hills along with rotisabji. As they looked around the humble eatery they could see the serene green valley around them. After purchasing potato chips packets, they got on their vehicle. Meanwhile their driver Saalu Panda, reached out to the young girls through the window and offered them something. Veera and Reeya could see small reddish berries in his palm. ‘ Kaaphal – Try them’ he said with a twinkle in his eyes. They took it from him and tried popping one with a lot of apprehension. As they resumed their journey Papa pointed towards a parked truck. In its rear side it was written ‘Kahaan laya mera yaar pahado mein, mera lehenga phans gaya kaaphal ki jharon mein’, which papa read aloud. Mummy laughed so did two old women who were seated behind them. The young girl seated next to mummy said that Kaaphal is special to Uttarakhand and they must try it.

After driving a few hours from Almora, they reached the quaint town of Bageshwar. It was the district headquarters. There were a lot of temples the girls could see from the vehicle. Papa told them that Bageshwar derived its name from the legend which says that Lord Shiva who took the form of tiger or bagh here. Mummy immediately expressed her desire to visit the temple. However since they had to reach their destination before nightfall, they thought of making a separate plan to see the temple.

Bageshwar seemed like foothills of even higher mountain ranges, and they were right. Most of their co- passengers got down at Bageshwar. The young lady seated beside Mummy, also got down. She invited them to her place. She is named Kabita Panda, and she happens to run a beauty parlour in Bageshwar. Reeya and Veera both took the window seats of the vehicle now, to enjoy the breath-taking view. Soon they reached Kapkot and there they could see a lot of cramped spaces