Anushka and Saya Went to a Farm - Part 2

Anushka and Saya Went to a Farm

Part 2

Anushka, Saya & Friends having unch

Now, when Anushka, Saya, Chick and all their friends were just feeling hungry, Mommy called all of them. “Come on! It is time for lunch. All is ready.”

All were very hungry. Daddy had spread a big mat under a big banyan tree and they all sat for lunch. Mommy had brought many eatables for lunch. They ate sandwiches, patties, cutlets, Chakali, Chiwada, Karanjya, Kadaboli, popcorn, cakes and Fruit. There was corn for chick and corn and carrots for fawn, sheep and calf.

Lunch

Everyone was very happy and soon they all slept under the tree.

After lunch they relaxed under the banyan tree. Everybody was drowsy. It was a very nice and calm afternoon. It was cool in the shade and there was cool breeze. Shadows of leaves were moving slowly on the grass. Saya wanted to catch them but only few bits of grass leaves came in her hands. When Anushka and Saya lied down the shadows were wandering on their bodies. Through the leaves above few sunrays started to play with their eyes. So they closed them. Few birds were chirping on a distant tree. They could hear a soft ‘Jhul-Jhul’ sound of flowing water in the nearby stream. They could also hear a softer sound of flowing wind. They felt relaxed and it was so tranquil that soon the fell asleep.

Afternoon Nap

Chick was also tired. It slept between Anushka and Saya. Soon fawn, calf, gosling, all were sleeping.  

Anushka woke up first after half an hour. Then all woke up one by one. They all felt fresh and enthusiastic after short post lunch nap.

Chick jumped with enthusiasm and said, “Let’s go to see the farm.”

“Yes, Let’s go.” Anushka said.

Going to Farm

All helped Mommy and Aunty to clean and tidy and then they all went to see the farm. Now Mommy, Daddy and John uncle were also with them. 

First they went to see apple farm. They saw apple trees. Anushka and Saya were expecting lots of big, red apples on the tree. But there were none. 

“Oh. There are no apples. Only the trees.” Saya said with disappointment.    

“See, here are they.” Daddy said. “They are very small and green now.”

“Oh, Yes! Very tiny and green like grapes; and so many. So cute.” Anushka said.

“Still 3 months for them to grow big and red. They will be ready in September.” Daddy said.

“Will you come then? We will have lots of fun.” asked Chick.

“Oh! We would like to. But our school will start then.”

“But we can come on weekend, if John uncle gives permission.”

“Yes, of course! You are most welcome.” John uncle said.

“Can we pick apples at that time?”

“Yes. You can pick and eat also.” 

  

Then they came to a large farm-bed with raised rows of earth covered with Black plastic sheets. Many seedlings were coming out of small holes in that plastic covering.

“Oh! Why these plants are covered? Are they feeling cold?” Saya asked.

“No. the sheet is for protection.” John uncle said.

“What are they?”

“Don’t you know? They are strawberry plants.”

Strawberry Seedlings

Strawberry Seedlings

"I am seeing them for the first time.” Anushka said.

“They are very small now. They will grow and then have small white flowers. Then there will be small green strawberries. Then they will turn white and then orange-red.” Chick said.

“Strawberry color!” Saya said.

“When can we see them?”

“In September you may see green strawberries. But for strawberry-picking you will have to come in December.”

“Daddy, can we plant them in our garden?”

“Okay.” Daddy said. “Ask your Mommy.”

“If you are going to do watering the plants and all other things. I have no objection.” Mommy said.  

Now they heard a loud sound ‘Ckluk-Ckluk, Ckluk-Ckluk, Ckluk-Ckluk,’ that was a coop with many hens and many small chicks. It was Chick’s home. Our Chick had grown up now but these chicks were very small. It seemed as if they were born just now, Anushka remembered seeing our Chick in the school, just after it came out of the egg.

“I want one chick. I want to play with it.” Saya said.

But Mommy said, “Saya, it is very small and delicate. Just like a newborn baby. It will get hurt if you touch it. You can see it from distance.”

"Okay.” Saya said.

“This Chick was also that much small when I saw it first in the school.” Anushka said. “You want this one to sit on your palm?”

“Hum-Hum!”

Chick on Saya's Palm

Chick jumped from Anushka’s palm to Saya’s Palm.

“Oh! It’s tingling”

“Don’t be afraid. Touch me.” Chick said.

“But be very gentle.” Anushka said.

“It is so soft!” Saya exclaimed very excitedly.

When they went ahead, they saw a tall and thick green grass in the distance and an empty bed of field. They saw, one uncle was doing something.

“What is that tall grass?” Anushka asked.

"Oh! That’s Sugarcane. It’s a type of grass, anyway. That is not fully grown now. In January you can have sugarcane juice and you can eat it also if your teeth are strong.” John uncle said.

In the Farm

“Why this field is empty? And what’s that uncle doing?”

 “This field is prepared for corn. That uncle is sowing corn seeds.”

“I want to eat corn now.” Saya said.

“It’s not possible.” Mommy said. "The uncle is sowing seeds now. Seedlings will come out after some days, they will grow for few months, then small ears will appear and will grow. We will have to wait for few months.”

“You will have to wait till September.” Uncle in the field said.

“Anushka and Saya, will you come again in September?” John uncle asked. “You will be able to see and eat many things – strawberries, oranges, Apples, corn, …” 

With  expectation, Anushka and Saya saw at Daddy and Mommy.

“Ammm … Okay! Your schools will start in September. But we can come on some weekend. Will it be okay with you, Mr. John?”

“Yes. You are most welcome.”

“Heeeey!” Anushka and Saya Shouted with excitement.

“Heeeey, we will meet again. We will have lot of fun at that time.” Chick and other friends shouted.

"But not only fun. We will help John uncle and aunty in all their daily activities in the farm.” Mommy said.

"That’s fine. You can stay for whole day, see all the activities and help me. There are always lots of things to do in the farm.” John uncle said.  

Anushka and Saya were very happy. Chick and friends were also happy.

“But don’t bring your lunch with you. It will be our pleasure if you have lunch with us.” Aunty said.

So it was decided. All would meet on 2^nd or 3^rd weekend in September; stay for whole day; help John uncle; pick and eat strawberries, oranges and apples; roast corns and eat them and have lunch at the farm with John uncle, his family and Chick and their friends.

Bye Bye

Now it was evening. They were very reluctant but they had to go home. So they bid farewell and went home. They had dinner. Anushka and Saya were so contented, happy and tired that they were drowsy and half asleep. So Mommy had to spoon-feed them.

Next day Anushka made a painting of John uncles farm, chick and all other friends. And Saya spent the day telling stories of farm, chick, calf, fawn and gosling to her friend Pepa Pig.     

End of Part 2

A Story told by Sulu Aaji

Illustrated by Rajan Aaba