Ananya's World: Tales from Nellore

The New Beginning

The train pulled into Nellore station with a creak and a groan, marking the end of a long journey from Chennai. Ananya peered out of the window, her eyes wide with curiosity, as the landscape transformed into a bustling town. Her little brother, Arjun, still half-asleep, clung to Amma's sari, while Appa, Mr. Raghavan, gathered their essential belongings.

Ananya's family had always been on the move, following Appa's sales job that took him across South India. This time, they were setting roots in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. It was a new adventure, and eight-year-old Ananya was ready to explore every corner of it.

Amma, Lakshmi, a Mumbai-bred Tamil girl, had packed their home-cooked lunch—chapathi, tomato chutney, and curd rice—for the journey. As the train rattled on, they had eaten together, savoring the familiar taste amidst the unfamiliar surroundings. Now, with the train journey over, they stepped onto the platform, and Ananya could feel the excitement bubbling inside her.

Their new home was a large, individual house surrounded by a garden—a stark contrast to the cramped joint family house they had left behind in Chennai. Ananya and Arjun, who had been used to sharing a two-bedroom hall kitchen with their grandparents, uncle, and two aunts, were thrilled with the space and freedom this new house promised.

The garden was a paradise. The house was flanked by a curry tree, pomegranate tree, lemon tree, and other beautiful decorative plants. There was a guava tree, a henna plant, and tulsi plants. Ananya's eyes sparkled with excitement as she and Arjun ran around, exploring every nook and cranny. Arjun, in his vest and chaddi, waddled after his sister, who wore a long white chemise, her natural inquisitiveness leading them both.

They discovered the ground sump with a net grill on top, through which they could hear the water from the municipality dripping in. There was a small motor room and steps leading to a big terrace. From the terrace, they could see the thatched houses, cowsheds, and beyond them, the large walls of the medical college grounds.

As they explored, Ananya found two cycle tires. She and Arjun took to playing with them, hitting the tires with a branch and chasing after them, laughter echoing through the neighborhood. It was during this playtime that they met the local children. Despite the language barrier—Ananya and Arjun spoke Tamil, while the local children spoke Telugu—they managed to communicate in the universal language of play. Names were exchanged, and new friendships were formed.

Meanwhile, Lakshmi was busy setting up their makeshift beds and organizing dinner with whatever supplies they had at hand. By the time it was six in the evening, she called out for Ananya and Arjun. As the sun began to set, children all around the neighborhood were called back to their homes.

Inside, Ananya and Arjun washed up and changed into their home clothes. They excitedly recounted their adventures to Lakshmi, their eyes shining with the thrill of new discoveries. By 7:30, the familiar sound of Appa's Bajaj Chetak's phut-phut announced his return. Ananya and Arjun rushed to greet him, eager to share their day's tales.

Dinner was a simple affair, shared amidst laughter and stories. The family locked up the house and settled in for the night. As Lakshmi murmured about her day and Raghavan discussed plans for the coming days, Ananya felt her eyes grow heavy. Nestled between her Amma and Appa, with her brother's steady breathing beside her, Ananya drifted off to sleep, comforted by the warmth of her family and the promise of new adventures in their new home.