CHAPTER 1

Ria and her little sister Choti tiptoed stealthily into the room. They watched as Dadu snored silently.

“Gnoor! Unfhh! Gnoor!Unfhh!” went Dadu as he breathed heavily. A soft giggle escaped Choti’s lips and she quickly held her little hand over her mouth. It would be disastrous if Dadu woke up now!

“Sshh!” said Ria as she crept quietly under the bed. As she found a comfortable spot where her head wouldn’t bang against the top, she signaled Choti to keep a watch on Dadu.

Rummaging quickly through a pile of old clothes which were kept in a carton, Ria at last found what she was looking for. She exclaimed in wonder as she held up a silver grey suit! Clutching the suit close to her, she crept out slowly. Choti followed her to the garden and within a few minutes both were running as fast as they could to Kilitop.

Now, Kilitop was a small hilltop in the Khaniya Range of Ranikhet  where Ria and Choti spent their vacations in their grandfather’s heritage house. They loved coming here because they were free  to roam around without having to worry about anything and most importantly, because Dadu always told them interesting tales about Kilitop.

“It’s not an ordinary hill my dears,” he had once said when Ria and Choti had come visiting.

“It’s a magical hill and no one has ever dared to climb to the top except…..”

“Except who, Dadu?” asked Ria excitedly.

“Except your Dadu of course”, said Grandfather twirling his moustache with pride.

“How did you do that?” Ria and Choti asked as they gazed at him in amazement.

“Well, I have a very special suit, a silver grey one, which I wear whenever I have to go to Kilitop.”

“But what’s so magical about Kilitop and why would you want to go there?” asked Ria.

“It’s a launching pad from where you can be transported to any place on Earth or in Space. It could be to the depths of oceans, inside mountains, to tropical rainforests, cold deserts…..anywhere and everywhere……”trailed off Dadu wistfully.

“Can we also go to Kilitop, Dadu, please?” Ria pleaded.

“No, no, no, not now. Only……. only on full moon nights……and provided you are snug inside the silver grey suit.” Dadu whispered softly.

That was six months back and today, Ria and Choti had made plans to go to Kilitop without Dadu’s help. After all, you had to just get into the silver grey suit and ……..whoosh…….you would be on Kilitop, isn’t it?

It was not as simple as Ria and Choti had thought. Their adventure had just begun!

CHAPTER 2

Didi! Wait for me”, panted Choti as she struggled to keep pace with her sister. It was almost an hour since Ria and Choti had left home. Ria stopped in her tracks and took a few moments to catch her breath. She looked quite comical in her grandfather’s silver grey suit, the one he always wore to climb the magical Kilitop. Ria was anxious to get to Kilitop before the sun sank into the horizon but Choti was unable to match her steps. Moreover, Choti was not wearing the suit, so how could she reach Kilitop?

“Maybe I should cuddle Choti inside this suit with me. It’s so big, I’m sure two of us can get into it”, thought Ria as she watched her little sister panting and climbing uphill.

“Come, let’s share this suit Choti,” said Ria. “We’ve got to move quickly and return home before Dadu comes looking for us.”

The two sisters hugged the suit around them and started trudging uphill. Suddenly, there was a rumble of thunder and a flash of lightening. A fierce wind tugged at them wickedly, making it almost impossible to move. They felt they were being carried away by the raging wind when suddenly, they found themselves on Kilitop!

Oh, what a beautiful sight lay ahead. The ground felt soft and cool beneath their feet, almost as if they were walking on clouds! A million twinkling stars winked at them as they gazed around in wonder. Their feet left the ground as they were slowly lifted up from Kilitop.

Choti clung on tightly to her sister as they were carried higher and higher away. They looked down cautiously and were shocked to see Dadu’s house like a tiny speck. Where were they being taken and who was taking them? Whatever was happening?

CHAPTER 3

A tiny sob escaped Choti’s lips. Suddenly she was scared and wanted to be back in her Dadu’s house. Her head felt light and she could barely hear anything. Ria however was not affected. She was enjoying this journey to nowhere! She looked around wide eyed as they soared farther and farther away into space!

Ria nudged her sister and pointed out the planets moving slowly around them. Jupiter the largest, was spinning merrily away looking colourful and majestic, although it was a bit fat and short. Three rings Gossamer, Halo and Main encircled Jupiter like ornaments, making it stand out regally.

“Welcome Ria! Welcome Choti! Come close, I won’t hurt you!” said Jupiter in a booming voice.

“Oh no, no! You spin so fast Jupiter, it’ll be difficult for us to balance ourselves. Moreover, our heads are spinning too, phewh!” Ria answered breathlessly.

They crossed Mercury, the Messenger of the Gods, resplendent in its shining armour. Mercury called out to the girls, waving frantically for attention.

“Hi Ria! Hi Choti! Why don’t you come visit me?” called out Mercury playfully.

“We can’t Mercury, your body is thick and hard and made mainly of iron. We would get injured easily. But tell us Mercury, why are you called the Morning Star?”

“That’s because I shine brightly early in the morning just before the sun rises. I’m also called the Evening Star for the same reason!”said Mercury affectionately.

By now Choti was tired and exhausted and wanted to return home. Her stomach was making funny noises and she was thirsty too. Oh, when would this journey end?

CHAPTER 4

Choti looked sleepily ahead, wondering where they were headed and why they were not returning home. She was angry, very angry with her sister for taking her along. She tried to scream but not a sound escaped! She held on tightly to her sister and made funny faces to show that she was hungry and tired.

“Wait Choti, there’s so much more to see! Look, look, we’re approaching Venus. Isn’t she beautiful?” Ria looked longingly at Venus.

“Just walk into my parlour, you beautiful mortals. What a pleasure to meet you!” Venus called out in an oh-so-sugary voice.

Ria almost stopped to let herself in at Venus’ doorstep when suddenly a loud voice stopped them from going in.

“Beware, you’ll be burned by the wicked fires that rage in Venus’ bosom. If you peek through the thick clouds, you’ll see numerous volcanoes spitting fire and lava. The intense heat will cook you up in minutes – a fine meal you’ll make for Venus’ hungry stomach! Her looks are indeed deceptive, stay away!”

Ria spun around to see where the voice had come from but there was no one. Was someone following them? Who could it be? Ria wondered thoughtfully.

She shuddered to think what might have happened to them if she’d fallen prey to Venus’ sweet invitation. She looked at Choti, now fast asleep and suddenly, Ria wanted to go home. For the first time, Ria was scared. She felt lost and lonely and wondered how to turn back.

“Dadu, please help me! P-l-e-a-s-e!” she cried softly. “I’m sorry, I disobeyed you. I should’ve asked you before taking your suit and attempting to climb Kilitop. Please forgive me!

H-E-L-P    M-E    D-A-D-U!

CHAPTER 5

Ria was also beginning to get tired. She looked around in fear as they glided past other planets, wondering what would happen now. Would they continue to float around in Space like this forever? What about her grandparents and their house in Dhulikhet? Would she ever see them again? She suddenly started missing her parents, her friends back home, her school……Oh, when would she ever go back to them?  As fear gripped her heart, tears of frustration welled up and she started sobbing violently. A few teardrops fell on Choti’s cheeks.

“It’s raining, it’s raining,” murmured Choti sleepily. She woke up with a start when she realized it was Ria weeping and not the rain. It never rains in Space, does it?

“What’s the matter Didi?”, asked Choti softly.

“We’re lost in Space Choti. I think we will perish here.”

Hearing Ria’s ominous words, Choti also started sobbing uncontrollably. Suddenly, Ria saw a bright light in the distance and shouted, “Look, look Choti, the moon! Maybe we could land there. People have landed on the moon in the past too! Come, let’s move towards it.”

“But Didi, it’s only a half moon! We can’t land there. We will fall off!” Choti said, looking accusingly at her sister.

“Ha! Ha! Ha!”, “Ha! Ha! Ha!” “Fall off the half moon!” “Ha! Ha!, Ho! Ho!”

Both the girls spun around to see where this booming laughter had come from. They gasped in horror as they saw a huge bundle with flailing arms gliding towards them. His laughter boomed across Space and made them shiver in fright. As the alien came closer and closer, Ria and Choti clutched each other tightly. Eyes shut, they refused to even look at him. Anytime now the alien would pounce on them and that would be their end!

“Someone please H-E-L-P !” they pleaded softly.

CHAPTER 6

"Hello, you naughty children!” said the alien.

But……..wait!.........The voice somehow sounded familiar!

Ria and Choti slowly opened their eyes and …………..

“DADU!” they screamed together! Yes, there was no mistaking this alien…..It was indeed their Dadu with his twinkling eyes, bushy eyebrows and twirling moustache! But, how was he here?

“I’ve been following you two ever since you ran away to Kilitop…..!”

“But …….how did you know?” asked Ria sheepishly.

“Well, I’ll tell you that later. Right now, we must visit Luna. I think she’s waiting for us impatiently.”

“Who’s Luna?” Choti asked impatiently. “I don’t want to visit Luna aunty. I want to go home! Please, Dadu, I want to go home!”

“Luna is not an aunty, Choti. Luna is a beautiful world which you can see even from your home on Earth every night. It has mountains, valleys and many holes called craters. In fact very recently, water was also found here! Now that we are so close to it, we must visit it before we return home.”

“Are you talking about the Moon, Dadu?” asked Ria.

“Yes, of course, it’s the Moon, my dear! The beautiful Moon which has always been talked about in stories, poems, songs……Luna is another name for the Moon!”

“But I don’t want to go there. It’s a half moon only and we will all fall off!” Choti again lamented.

Dadu laughed loudly again. “Choti, the moon never changes its shape. It’s always round and full.”

“If it’s round and full like the Sun, why doesn’t it shine as brightly Dadu?”, asked Choti in wonder.

“That’s because it does not have its own light. It borrows light from the Sun. If the Sun was not there, we wouldn’t be able to see the moon!”

“Then why do we see different shapes of the moon?” Choti asked

“Well, that’s a very important question Choti.”

“The Sun always lights up one side of the moon. Although the moon appears to change its shape, it is actually that part which is lit up which looks a different shape. That’s why you sometimes see a full moon, a crescent shaped moon and sometimes you don’t see it at all!”, explained Dadu gravely.

“Come on Dadu, let’s not waste any more time. Let’s go quickly!” Ria said impatiently.

CHAPTER 7

They glided across the vast expanse of Space with Dadu holding their hands. This time Ria and Choti were not afraid. After all, their Dadu was familiar with this part of the Universe!

They moved towards the moon and Ria looked excitedly ahead. As they made a smooth landing on the surface, Ria and Choti exclaimed in wonder. It was so beautiful. They wrapped the silver grey suit around themselves and it felt like an astronaut’s suit.

“This is where the American astronaut Neil Armstrong had first stepped on the moon!” Ria told her sister.  

“Did he come alone, Didi? Was he not scared?”

“Oh, no, no!,” laughed Ria.  He was the first human being to land on the moon in 1969. He came along with his fellow astronauts Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins.”

“Did any more astronauts visit the moon after that?”, chirped Choti.

“Yes, of course! In fact, between 1969 and 1972, a total of 12 astronauts had walked on the moon.” Ria said matter-of-factly.

“We are also walking on the moon, look Didi, look!” said Choti excitedly. “Let me walk to the edge and see if I can spot the Earth from there!”

As the trio walked slowly on the moon leaving behind their footsteps, (which would remain intact for the next ten billion years), they looked into the distance and saw a beautiful sphere with some blue and yellow patches dotted in a few places with green vegetation.

“That’s our Earth, our very own Mother Earth. See how beautiful it looks from here!” said Dadu softly. “The Earth is the only planet where life exists. The atmosphere, weather, temperatures are just right to keep us all alive. Although we are always in search of life on other planets, we can never really make any other planet our home. Earth is Life and there is life only on Earth!”

Dadu hugged his two grandchildren close to him and very slowly they found themselves being lifted up, up and away, back into Space on their onward journey back home.

CHAPTER 8

Thud! Thud! The trio landed softly on Kilitop. It was still very dark and the stars were shining brightly in the night sky. Ria and Choti gazed up at the moon – she looked as if she was smiling down at them.

“Did we actually travel that far?” wondered Ria and Choti.

“Dadu, you still haven’t told us how you came after us!” they said together.

“Well, let’s go home first. Your grandmother is waiting impatiently with some hot soup and patties. We’ve got to tell her about your adventure.”

Choti looked mighty pleased at the thought of hot soup and patties at this hour although she would’ve preferred a coke and pizza. But knowing her grandmother who always insisted on nutritious food, she didn’t protest.

They walked hand in hand with Dadu and finally reached home.

Oh, what a relief to finally breathe fresh air, see real trees and hear owls hoot!

Mother Earth with all her warmth was certainly a better place to live in!

CHAPTER 9

Dadu sat on his favourite armchair in the verandah, watching the birds fly back to their nests. The shrill note of a warbler in song caught his attention and he smiled lovingly. While he waited for Ria and Choti to join him, he enjoyed his evening cup of tea watching the sun slowly sink into the horizon. The night before had been long and tiring although adventurous for all. The girls had not woken up till almost 11o’clock the next morning, and it was difficult to keep Choti awake even on the lunch table. It was now time to tell them how he had followed them.

“As soon as you took out the silver grey suit from the carton, I was alerted by a faint alarm bell which went off under my pillow. Without your knowledge, I was able to ‘see’ everything that you were doing. Actually, you were not aware of a second silver grey suit in the carton too. I generally keep a spare one with me for emergencies like this! Anyway, as soon as you rushed out of the house with Choti, I followed you all the way to Kilitop. At Kilitop, I was hidden by the swirls of mist surrounding us and so it was easy for me to follow you,” Dadu said between sips of tea.

“Did you follow us all the way then?” Ria asked, surprised.

“Yes, of course! How could I not follow you? After all, I’m aware of all the dangers since I’ve been there many times before and I didn’t want you to get tricked into the jaws of other hungry planets!”

“So…….was it you then who warned us about Venus?” Ria was dumbfounded! Dadu nodded slowly in agreement.

“Venus is a wicked version of Earth. She resembles Earth in size and density but she is dangerous because her gases are fatal and I had to warn you in time. I shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn’t been just behind you!”

“We’re really sorry Dadu for trying to be so smart! We should’ve waited for you to take us along. We’ll never do things on our own again without your knowledge, we promise!” Ria and Choti indeed looked very ashamed.

“Remember always my dears that your Dadu has eyes at the back of his head too!” winked Dadu wickedly.

“But at least I’ve come to know that even if you go to the moon on a half moon night, you will never fall off!” Choti always had the last word!

And if you ever visit the moon you are sure to find the footprints of Choti, Ria and Dadu!