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A Journey to home
I received a telephone call from my wife, Helen saying that she gave birth to a beautiful baby daughter. I was so excited to see her that I decided to take off the next morning. But, Oh lord!, God had a change of plans. 'My old friend', well actually my old car stopped working. I had to take it to a repair shop immediately. The mechanic said that it would take the car at least one week to be repaired.
It was so unfortunate that I had to wait at least a week to see my daughter's face for the first time. I had been waiting for that moment for a long time, and when it finally arrived I could not be there with her. At that point, every minute felt like a day. I was becoming so restless, and impatient to see my daughter. Being resentful and displeased about that, I sat down on a bench across the street.
I saw a newspaper lying on the bench. The first headlines were about the railway. Then I speculated about travelling by train. Well, I haven't actually travelled by train before. Precisely, because I always felt a bit scared of trains. I mean, who would trust a moving cart with just an engine to keep it accelerated and back then no one travelled by train. Only people with suit and tie with suitcases and ladies with gowns, riches and jewellery could afford the journey of railways.
I was a rich businessman and I lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I had to go to New York City for some urgent business meeting and I was staying there at an inn(hotel). But I wanted to desperately go home to see that little creature and the railway was the only way to go home early.
So I took a taxi and went to the railway station. I had to buy a ticket at the counter, the person sitting at the counter booth looked like an old school principal with his spectacles on the tip of his nose.He asked me my name, and questioned me in a deep and fearsome voice, "So Where do you want to go Mr Thomas Williams?" I said Philadelphia. He replied that the next train to Philadelphia doesn't leave for another hour. I sighed because I was in agony, despite that, I bought the ticket. So I went outside the railway station instead of waiting there.
As I was walking out of the railway station, I saw several marts. But a specific toy shop caught my eye. I smiled looking at the store and said to myself that I shall be the first person to give my little princess her first gift.
As I walked into the store, I was surprised to see many different toys because in my time there used to be just one or two knick-knacks and doodads to play with.
I giggled by remembering that my sister once said that dads pick out the worst gifts in the world. Yet I still decided to purchase a gift for her. The store worker displayed a lot of toys in front of me, but my eyes directly went to an old looking vintage rustic doll. Feeling delighted about the gift, I walked out of the store. I walked further down the street and I found a fruit shop. The shop had exhibited fresh, juicy and plump strawberries. I bought them hoping my little daughter would love them. Just across the fruit shop, there was a clothes boutique for young children. I went inside got a white angel dress for her. All these were the things that I ever wanted to do after I had a baby girl.
I looked at the time, and it was almost the time for my train. I rushed back to the railway station. I boarded the train and sat on the train seat. It was a 3-hour journey at that time.
I started dreaming about how my daughter would eat the strawberries that I bought her, how she would look in that little fairy dress, how she would play with that little doll. I was so joyous, I was smiling the whole time on the train and everyone kept staring at me. But I didn't care. I was so happy I just couldn't keep it in.
And at last, I reached my destination. I went home running. I reached my house and rang the doorbell. At that point, my heartbeat was playing the drums. I was so nervous to meet her. My mom opened the door. I rushed into the house and to see my daughter. I took a glance at the baby. She was the most heavenly thing I had ever seen, she was so cute. I went near her but my wife taunted me, "Go! First, freshen up yourself and then only touch her."
After bathing, I held my daughter for the first time. Oh my God! I was almost about to cry. I gave her the doll and she loved it! She loved it! It was so comforting.
Helen asked me, what should we call her. She was as sweet and as red as a rose, hence we named her Rose. I told them the whole railway story. I also showed them the dress and strawberries. My mom and Helen started laughing. At first, I was annoyed at their laughter. Then my mom said, "Thomas, You are a fool, my son! Can a baby girl eat strawberries? And that dress of yours, it is ten times bigger than her!!" I was embarrassed and I started laughing with them. I realized that what my sister said about dads picking out the worst gifts is true.
Before and after that incident, I travelled all over the world, regardless of that, the journey from New York City to Philadelphia was the biggest journey of my life.
© All Rights Reserved
© Priyal Badgujar
It was so unfortunate that I had to wait at least a week to see my daughter's face for the first time. I had been waiting for that moment for a long time, and when it finally arrived I could not be there with her. At that point, every minute felt like a day. I was becoming so restless, and impatient to see my daughter. Being resentful and displeased about that, I sat down on a bench across the street.
I saw a newspaper lying on the bench. The first headlines were about the railway. Then I speculated about travelling by train. Well, I haven't actually travelled by train before. Precisely, because I always felt a bit scared of trains. I mean, who would trust a moving cart with just an engine to keep it accelerated and back then no one travelled by train. Only people with suit and tie with suitcases and ladies with gowns, riches and jewellery could afford the journey of railways.
I was a rich businessman and I lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I had to go to New York City for some urgent business meeting and I was staying there at an inn(hotel). But I wanted to desperately go home to see that little creature and the railway was the only way to go home early.
So I took a taxi and went to the railway station. I had to buy a ticket at the counter, the person sitting at the counter booth looked like an old school principal with his spectacles on the tip of his nose.He asked me my name, and questioned me in a deep and fearsome voice, "So Where do you want to go Mr Thomas Williams?" I said Philadelphia. He replied that the next train to Philadelphia doesn't leave for another hour. I sighed because I was in agony, despite that, I bought the ticket. So I went outside the railway station instead of waiting there.
As I was walking out of the railway station, I saw several marts. But a specific toy shop caught my eye. I smiled looking at the store and said to myself that I shall be the first person to give my little princess her first gift.
As I walked into the store, I was surprised to see many different toys because in my time there used to be just one or two knick-knacks and doodads to play with.
I giggled by remembering that my sister once said that dads pick out the worst gifts in the world. Yet I still decided to purchase a gift for her. The store worker displayed a lot of toys in front of me, but my eyes directly went to an old looking vintage rustic doll. Feeling delighted about the gift, I walked out of the store. I walked further down the street and I found a fruit shop. The shop had exhibited fresh, juicy and plump strawberries. I bought them hoping my little daughter would love them. Just across the fruit shop, there was a clothes boutique for young children. I went inside got a white angel dress for her. All these were the things that I ever wanted to do after I had a baby girl.
I looked at the time, and it was almost the time for my train. I rushed back to the railway station. I boarded the train and sat on the train seat. It was a 3-hour journey at that time.
I started dreaming about how my daughter would eat the strawberries that I bought her, how she would look in that little fairy dress, how she would play with that little doll. I was so joyous, I was smiling the whole time on the train and everyone kept staring at me. But I didn't care. I was so happy I just couldn't keep it in.
And at last, I reached my destination. I went home running. I reached my house and rang the doorbell. At that point, my heartbeat was playing the drums. I was so nervous to meet her. My mom opened the door. I rushed into the house and to see my daughter. I took a glance at the baby. She was the most heavenly thing I had ever seen, she was so cute. I went near her but my wife taunted me, "Go! First, freshen up yourself and then only touch her."
After bathing, I held my daughter for the first time. Oh my God! I was almost about to cry. I gave her the doll and she loved it! She loved it! It was so comforting.
Helen asked me, what should we call her. She was as sweet and as red as a rose, hence we named her Rose. I told them the whole railway story. I also showed them the dress and strawberries. My mom and Helen started laughing. At first, I was annoyed at their laughter. Then my mom said, "Thomas, You are a fool, my son! Can a baby girl eat strawberries? And that dress of yours, it is ten times bigger than her!!" I was embarrassed and I started laughing with them. I realized that what my sister said about dads picking out the worst gifts is true.
Before and after that incident, I travelled all over the world, regardless of that, the journey from New York City to Philadelphia was the biggest journey of my life.
© All Rights Reserved
© Priyal Badgujar
