To the Moon and Back

By Srilatha Dharmavaram

This book relates the adventures of three young boys who accidentally take a trip to the moon in a spaceship designed by a scientist in a small village in North India. The book is educational as it tells the readers a lot about the moon, space travel, and phenomena such as gravity. For readers from other countries, this storybook is also an introduction to Indian religious festivals and Hindu mythology.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Apr 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781482845891

Srilatha Dharmavaram

The author is a long time science editor and IT journalist who likes to read science fiction. The current book is a science fiction manuscript aimed at teen readers. The book draws inspiration from the times she was a science teacher in Delhi in the 1990s. The author is interested in the environment and caring for the earth. She is currently in Bangalore and is interested in animal welfare.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Srilatha Dharmavaram.

ISBN: Softcover     978-1-4828-4591-4

ISBN: eBook           978-1-4828-4589-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Partridge India

000 800 10062 62

www.partridgepublishing.com/india

CONTENTS

Chapter 1  Going to Rampur

Chapter 2  Ramlila

Chapter 3  Lal Kothi

Chapter 4  Going to the Lal Kothi

Chapter 5  The Lal Kothi at Night

Chapter 6  Inside the Ball

Chapter 7  To the Moon

Chapter 8  The Moon at Last

Chapter 9  Walk on the Moon

Chapter 10  Tracking the Spaceship

Chapter 11  Back to Earth

Glossary

CHAPTER 1

Going to Rampur

Rajeev and Manoj were thrilled. They were going to visit their uncle who lived in a small sleepy village called Rampur. They had been there earlier too, the previous year, during their summer holidays. This time they were going during their Dussehra vacations.

Remember the mango tree in the garden? Rajeev said, And how we used to pluck the green mangoes and eat them?

Oh yes! And remember how we used to swing from its branches? Manoj, the 10-year old, replied.

"And chachi used to scold us for that! Rajeev chuckled. He was two years older. We are only going for two weeks now. But it will be fun, just the same, I bet!"

Manoj! Rajeev! their mother called, come here. Get ready or we will be late.

Coming, ma! they shouted and ran to her.

By five o’clock, they were both ready. They were wearing clean clothes, their hair was combed and their bags were packed. Their mother was busy packing food for the journey and giving their father last-minute instructions. He was not going with them.

Come on, Sita, relax! I can manage very well when I am alone, he said, don’t worry unnecessarily.

Yes, I know, but I can’t keep from thinking about it, just the same, she replied. Where are Rajeev and Manoj? They were here just now! Rajeev! Manoj!

At that, both the children came running into the room.

Got you, 007! Manoj, the 10-year old shouted, You can’t escape from Dr. X. Ha! Ha! Ha!

That’s what you think, Rajeev said, and hit him. Manoj hit back; and a fight was on in earnest.

Stop it, you two, their father ordered.

He started it, Rajeev said.

No, he did, Manoj replied, and began hitting him.

If 007 and Dr. X don’t stop fighting right now, they won’t go with Mummy to Rampur, their father said.

Definitely!!… And I think it will be a nice idea to go by myself, their mother added.

On hearing that, Rajeev and Manoj stopped fighting.

See, Mummy, Manoj said, we aren’t fighting any more, at all… you won’t leave us behind, will you?

Let me think about it. … What do you say, Pratap? she asked her husband with a smile.

Pratap was about to answer, when Rajeev saw the smile. They were going after all!

"We are going! We’re