Neel Takes the Diwali Train

Read-aloud note

Read the child name into the story when it fits, then pause for a giggle or reply.

Story

The train to Nana and Nani's town was long and blue, and it hummed on the platform like a sleepy giant. Neel held Ma's hand tight through the busy crowd. Papa carried the bags. Neel carried the box of kaju katli for Nana and Nani, very, very carefully. "One whole night and one whole day," said Papa. "We'll get there just in time for Diwali."

Their seats were by the window. As the train rolled out, Neel waved at the platform, and then he went quiet. "Ma," he whispered, "I haven't seen Nana and Nani for a whole year. On the phone they're so tiny. What if, up close, I don't know what to say?" Ma thought for a moment. Then she handed him a little green notebook and a pencil. "Why don't you collect things to tell them?"

So Neel began collecting. When it grew dark, the train rushed past little towns, and many were already twinkling with Diwali lights. Lamps on rooftops. Strings of lights on balconies. A glowing star lantern in a window. "Ma, look!" Ma leaned close. "When I was little, your Nani told me that Diwali lamps say welcome home," she said. "Behind every one of those lights, someone is waiting for someone." Neel drew a tiny house with a light in its window.

That night, Neel slept on the lower berth, tucked under a blanket between the window and Ma. Clackety-clack, clackety-clack, sang the train. Each time he woke a little, more tiny lights were sliding past in the dark. Then he slept again, with the green notebook under his pillow.

In the morning, Neel collected everything. The chai seller calling, "Chai, chai, garam chai!" down the aisle. Papa's tea in a little clay cup. A river so wide it took a whole minute to cross the bridge. Ma's puris and potatoes, eaten off a newspaper. A girl named Pari in the next seats, who taught him a clapping game while her grandmother laughed along. By evening, his notebook was full.

At last, an auto-rickshaw dropped them at Nani's gate. It was evening, and Neel's tummy felt full of flutters. He held his notebook tight and stayed behind Ma. Then he saw the doorstep. A row of little diyas was glowing there, already lit, as if they were waiting. In the doorway stood Nani, and right behind her, Nana, with his big grey moustache.

"We lit them early," said Nani softly, "so you could find your way." Neel looked at the lights. They were saying welcome home, and they were saying it to him. He was the someone they had been waiting for. He stepped carefully around the little lamps, and then the words came tumbling out: the chai seller, the giant river, Pari's clapping game. He didn't even need the notebook. That night, Neel fell asleep between Nana and Nani, right in the middle of the story about the clackety-clack train.

Scenes

The Long Blue Train

The train to Nana and Nani's town was long and blue, and it hummed on the platform like a sleepy giant. Neel held Ma's hand tight through the busy crowd. Papa carried the bags. Neel carried the box of kaju katli for Nana and Nani, very, very carefully. "One whole night and one whole day," said Papa. "We'll get there just in time for Diwali."

Things to Tell

Their seats were by the window. As the train rolled out, Neel waved at the platform, and then he went quiet. "Ma," he whispered, "I haven't seen Nana and Nani for a whole year. On the phone they're so tiny. What if, up close, I don't know what to say?" Ma thought for a moment. Then she handed him a little green notebook and a pencil. "Why don't you collect things to tell them?"

Lights in the Dark

So Neel began collecting. When it grew dark, the train rushed past little towns, and many were already twinkling with Diwali lights. Lamps on rooftops. Strings of lights on balconies. A glowing star lantern in a window. "Ma, look!" Ma leaned close. "When I was little, your Nani told me that Diwali lamps say welcome home," she said. "Behind every one of those lights, someone is waiting for someone." Neel drew a tiny house with a light in its window.

Clackety-Clack

That night, Neel slept on the lower berth, tucked under a blanket between the window and Ma. Clackety-clack, clackety-clack, sang the train. Each time he woke a little, more tiny lights were sliding past in the dark. Then he slept again, with the green notebook under his pillow.

Collecting

In the morning, Neel collected everything. The chai seller calling, "Chai, chai, garam chai!" down the aisle. Papa's tea in a little clay cup. A river so wide it took a whole minute to cross the bridge. Ma's puris and potatoes, eaten off a newspaper. A girl named Pari in the next seats, who taught him a clapping game while her grandmother laughed along. By evening, his notebook was full.

Nani's Doorstep

At last, an auto-rickshaw dropped them at Nani's gate. It was evening, and Neel's tummy felt full of flutters. He held his notebook tight and stayed behind Ma. Then he saw the doorstep. A row of little diyas was glowing there, already lit, as if they were waiting. In the doorway stood Nani, and right behind her, Nana, with his big grey moustache.

Welcome Home

"We lit them early," said Nani softly, "so you could find your way." Neel looked at the lights. They were saying welcome home, and they were saying it to him. He was the someone they had been waiting for. He stepped carefully around the little lamps, and then the words came tumbling out: the chai seller, the giant river, Pari's clapping game. He didn't even need the notebook. That night, Neel fell asleep between Nana and Nani, right in the middle of the story about the clackety-clack train.

Read-aloud note

Read the child name into the story when it fits, then pause for a giggle or reply.