My Brother’s Great Invention
“Who put that water bag here?” roared my father from the
front doorstep. “Your burglar alarm,” I hissed to my brother
Anand, who was getting ready to disappear from the house.
Ma rushed in to see what the racket was all about and found
Papa standing there, sopping wet and scowling.
“I want to know who is behind this nonsense,” Papa said
grimly.
“I think it’s supposed to be a burglar alarm,” Ma said, in a
soothing voice.
“I don’t care what it’s supposed to be,” Papa said.
“Where’s that boy? I’m sure he rigged this up.”
Anand had vanished by this time and reappeared only after
dinner when Papa had cooled down.
Before this story, let me put you in the picture. I am Anita,
fourteen years old. My brother Anand, one year younger
than me, caused all that hoo-ha with his burglar alarm.
And this is not the first time he’s got on Papa’s
nerves or frightened someone half to death in
the house. The trouble with him is that he
thinks he is a scientist. He loves tinkering with
all sorts of electrical gadgets, tools, dynamos,
planks of wood, and things like that. And he
keeps creating ‘inventions’ that never work
out as they are supposed to.
Recently there had been a rush of thefts in
the colony and Anand had got it into his
head that what was needed was a burglar
alarm. So, the minute Papa left for the
ofÏce and Ma for the market, he started
on his latest scheme. As usual I had to
be involved, though I’d have preferred
to finish my novel. “If you get a shelling,
don’t bring me in,” I warned Anand.
“Nothing will go wrong this time. I’ve
racket: a loud
and disturbing
noise
scowling: having
an angry or
frowning
expression
rigged up:
assembled
something
temporarily
tinkering:
experimenting
or fiddling
dynamos:
electric
generator
sopping: soaking
my own doubts about the alarm’s guessing powers, but kept
them to myself because when Anand is in one of his inventive
moods, nothing stops him.
“You see,” Anand explained smugly, “A thief tries to open the
door stealthily. I’ve rigged it up so that the alarm works only
when the door is opened gently.”
I was sceptical. “Remember, if Papa asks, I’m not involved,” I
warned. “Now clean up this mess before anyone gets home.”
As you already know, my doubts about the alarm were
quite justified. Papa, who always opens the door softly, was
thoroughly soaked and angry as angry could be. Anyway, for
a week after this, Anand did not dare try out anything new.
Then we saw this film ‘Back to the Future’. I don’t know if you
have seen it, but it’s all about a time machine. Well, that was
stealthily:
quietly or
carefully so that
one is not seen
or heard
sceptical:
doubtful
smugly: proudly
clanging: a loud
ringing sound
like that of a
metal being hit
elaborate:
detailed
Anand loves words like blueprint—it makes
him feel professional! Anyway, I looked at the
elaborate drawing of doors, wires, and bells
and asked, “How does this thing work?”
“It’s quite simple. The moment the door opens,
this alarm is tripped off and makes a clanging
sound. Then this water bag here is loosened
and falls on the thief’s head. By then we call
the police—simple!”
“But how does the alarm know that a burglar is
opening the door?”
“I’ve taken care of that,” Anand said loftily. I had
the end of peace and quiet in
the house.
My brother decided that he
had to make a time machine
too. Papa locked up his tool
box and hid the key while Ma
kept a wary eye on her oven
and mixer. Because, as I told
you, when Anand is on one
of his inventing binges, he
takes apart all the gadgets in
the house to collect parts. You
was going on—hammering and sawing and clattering. Anand’s
room, next to our room, was transformed into a network of
wires, springs, levers, and bulbs. There was an enormous
panel which was to be control switchboard. As for Anand, he
went around looking like a savage. When Ma didn’t notice, the
fellow didn’t even comb his hair.
Anand just wouldn’t let anyone into his room. Finally, after a
fortnight of frantic activity, the time machine was ready. “We
can try it out tonight,” Anand announced to everyone at home
at lunch time.
“I don’t know what you’ve been up to in that room, but you’re
not trying out anything new,” Papa said firmly.
“But it’s a time machine! I’ve invented it,” Anand protested.
“When I say NO, I mean NO,” Papa said, glaring.
“Poor boy,” Ma said noticing Anand’s crestfallen look.
“At least let’s take a look at it.”
Papa sighed. “All right, but if the house falls, it’s your fault.”
As it turned out, we could not try out the time machine that
day at all. The next day, Papa and Ma were going to Kharagpur,
a few hours away from Calcutta (now Kolkata), for a wedding.
Ma was worried about leaving us alone, but we reassured her.
“We’re old enough to look after ourselves, Ma,” I said. “And we
can go next door to Sharma Aunty if we need anything.”
“And it’s only one night,” Anand added.
“All right. But promise me you won’t do anything with that
time machine till we come back,” Ma said sternly, looking at
Anand. He promised half-heartedly, offended at this lack of
respect for his creation. I breathed a sigh of relief.
frantic:
hurried and
disorganised
crestfallen
look: sad and
disappointed
appearance
offended: felt
upset or hurt
Paper Boats
Day by day I float my paper boats one by one down the running stream. In big black letters I write my name on them and the name of the village where I live. I hope that someone in some strange land will find them and know who I am. I load my little boats with shiuli flower from our garden, and hope that these blooms of the dawn will be carried safely to land in the night. I launch my paper boats and look up into the sky and see the little clouds setting the white bulging sails. I know not what playmate of mine in the sky sends them down the air to race with my boats! When night comes I bury my face in my arms and dream that my paper boats float on and on under the midnight stars. The fairies of sleep are sailing in them, and the lading is their baskets full of dreams.
Rabindranath Tagore
North, South, East, West
30 April 20XX
Hi everyone,
You won’t believe where I am!
I’m way up north, at the Thajiwas glacier in Kashmir. The
glaciers are white and blue and we have to wear four layers of
clothes. Appa and Amma love it here, and they like throwing
snowballs at each other. But they say there was much more
snow last year.
I also like the snow, but my hands are shaking from not
wearing gloves, so I don’t think I can write any more.
Send my love to PT Miss and Library Ma’am.
Love,
Shaana
Shaana, who lives in Rameswaram island, is travelling the length
and breadth of the country with her parents, exploring the many
landscapes, people and cultures of India. She shares her travel
experiences through postcards that she writes to her friends
back at school. Let us read these postcards.
17 May 20XX
Hi everyone,
Did you know that Arunachal Pradesh is far away
from Himachal Pradesh? Himachal is in the north
but Arunachal is all the way in the east. I thought
all the Pradesh states sat next to each other.
We took two trains and drove a long time to get here.
This morning, we walked through a forest to reach our
treehouse. The forest here is so thick that if you blink or
stop to tie your shoelaces, you will get lost.
I love Arunachal the best so far and am beginning to enjoy
myself. I hope we get to see red pandas.
With love,
Shaana
10 May 20XX
Dear class,
We took another train yesterday and reached Himachal
Pradesh. It is very quiet, and we can see so many
mountains from our cabin. Colourful birds wake me
with their chirping when the Sun rises in the east.
chirping: short,
sharp sound
made by birds
snoring:
making a loud
noise as one
breathes while
sleeping
I also think I hear bears
growling in the west when it
gets dark. But Amma says that’s
just Appa snoring. I would love
to meet a bear and give it a hug.
With love from your best friend,
Shaana
24 May 20XX
Dear classmates,
It did not take any time at all to travel south west and get
to the Sundarbans in West Bengal. Today, Amma and Appa
took me out onto the river in a small boat. Amma tells
me that places like the Sundarbans are called wetlands.
I never knew such a place existed, and that it was possible
for trees called mangroves to grow in seawater! But Amma
is sad about how much this place floods today.
We also saw crocodiles and a lonely snake while boating.
I hope they don’t follow us home.
How is everyone? Are you missing me yet?
Love,
Shaana
30 May 20XX
Hi everyone,
We travelled across the country, all the way from
east to west, from West Bengal to Gujarat, and it
took us two-and-a-half days!
I don’t know why my Amma and Appa brought me to
the middle of the desert. It’s hot, dry, and there’s sand
everywhere. It’s like a beach without the sea! But I do really
love the clothes here. They’re so pretty and colourful.
I am sure you’re all busy with your holiday
homework. Amma gave me a surprise test
today, and I passed with 88 per cent.
Love,
Shaana
7 June 20XX
Dear class,
Today was the best day ever! We drove east from the
desert to the Narmada river, which flows all the way to
the centre of India, and it only took us six hours. In the
afternoon, Amma, Appa, and I went rafting in the river
and you won’t believe how wild and scary it was. I always
thought rivers were calm, but up close they’re really fast.
Appa says that there used to be a lot more water, and
rafting was much scarier then.
I was fully wet by the time I was done, and Appa was
so scared that he decided never to go rafting ever again.
I love the water so much and can’t wait to go back.
Your best friend,
Shaana
rafting:
the sport of
travelling down
a river in an
air-filled rubber
boat
12 June 20XX
Dear classmates,
Amma and Appa are fast asleep, and I should be sleeping
too, but I just love looking out of the window. I think we’re
in the southwest part of the country, in Goa, and you won’t
believe how nice the plateaus look. There are so many hills
here, and beaches too.
There are also a lot of tunnels that the
train goes through. I used to be afraid of
tunnels, but I’m not any more. Someday,
I wish we could all go on a tour of the
plateaus. Maybe when we’re in Class 11.
Love,
Shaana
surf: (here)
a water sport
that involves
standing on a
long lightweight
board and
riding a wave to
the seashore
22 June 20XX
Hi everyone,
I just crossed the Pamban bridge.
I could see the ocean on both sides. How amazing
that a train can travel across the sea like this!
I’m almost home, and I can’t wait to give you my
final letter in person.
Love,
Shaana
17 June 20XX
Dear friends,
I can’t believe we’re in the same state again! We travelled
south, and I will be home soon.
We reached Chennai yesterday, and on the way to
Puducherry, we decided to learn how to surf. I think I’m
good at it now because I only fell down twice. Amma and
Appa splashed water on each other and behaved like
children. It’s a good thing I was there to control them.
The beaches here are not like the ones we have
on our island. The waves are a lot rougher and
the water is browner, but I still like it here.
Your best friend,
Shaana
24 June 20XX
Dear classmates,
I thought Amma and Appa would be tired from all our
travelling, but we made one last stop at the Olaikaadu
beach before we reached home. And I’m so happy we
did.
Amma wanted to teach me how to dive, but they did not
have diving suits my size, so I spent the day floating and
looking at the fish while my parents dove below me.
We found all sorts of pebbles on the beach, and I can’t
wait to give them to you in person tomorrow.
Your best friend,
Shaana
dive: (here)
swim
underwater
with special
breathing
equipment;
(past tense:
dove)
pebbles: small,
smooth stones
C.G. Salamander
(Excerpts from North, South, East, West)
25 June 20XX
Dear Amma and Appa,
I can’t believe we travelled across the whole country!
I know we’re going to miss visiting the forests, glaciers,
deserts, wetlands, plateaus, and mountains. And we are
going to miss hearing all those new languages and meeting
all those different people. But we’re finally home now, and
we can join our friends again.
I hope we get to travel like this again, and maybe next time
we can take our friends with us.
With love,
Shaana