The Beach Adventure - Stay Safe, Stay Smart!

Summer vacation would end in a few days. Aparna was extremely happy as her aunt had come home. Her cousins Santhini and Saravanan had also come along with her. The last leg of the summer holidays would indeed be exciting.

Yummy and tasty eateries like vada, bonda, and poori were marching to the dining table. Along with the children, the elders also played carrom, dice, snakes & ladders, and hide-and-seek. Word power games and song relays also found a significant place in the entertainment activities. The entire household was bustling with noise and excitement with fun-loaded activities. Of course, a few angry shouts and fights also found a place in the hullabaloo.

Especially Santhini and Aparna were at loggerheads very often. The elders pacified them every now and then.

"Hello kids, shall we go for a jolly outing?" asked Aparna’s dad, who came back from office.

"Mm, sure, uncle. Shall we go to Joel Play Area?" said Santhini.

"I will take the children to indoor play area places tomorrow. Why don’t we go to the beach today?" asked Aparna’s mom.

Aparna showed a face to Santhini. "Play Area? Hey hey!" Aparna irritated Santhini by her looks and sly smiles.

"No problem, your mom has promised to take us to the play area tomorrow. Ok? Don’t be proud," spat out Santhini harshly.

"Oh, no! Children, don’t fight. No time to waste. Run, run. Get ready," the strong voice of aunt controlled them.

While they were travelling in the car, both girls joined together to make fun of the little boy Saravanan. At the beach, Santhini and Aparna played chasing games.

Saravanan was busy collecting sand in a small bucket that they had brought from home.

Then they went to play on the merry-go-round. Santhini had to sit along with Saravanan as he was unable to sit alone on the seat.

"Hold the link chains tightly," said aunty to the children. There was such excitement in the air.

Happy young kids shouted loudly, "Hey… Hurray… ooh ooh…!" as the merry-go-round picked up speed.

The shrill happy cries were continuing as long as the wheels were moving.

"Well, children, get down… get down… it is over."

Aparna’s dad helped Saravanan to get down. Santhini did not get down from the seat. She was crying. She must have been crying through the whole ride too. Her face was red.

"What happened, Santhu? Why are you crying? Got hurt?" asked Aparna’s dad.

"No, uncle. I… I did not enjoy this ride… hh… at all, uncle. I had to just take care of… mm… this little one… One hand on the chain and the other on him…"

"Santhini, you do one thing. You ride again. This time freely and happily," said Aparna’s dad.

Aparna realised that Santhini was going for another round of the joy ride. She became angry.

"How is this allowed? For her two times and for me…?" shouted Aparna and ran towards the merry-go-round.

But the wheel had already started moving. So, Aparna could not ride for a second time. She could not bear Santhini going for a second time.

In a fit of anger, she started moving fast towards the shore.

In the meanwhile, Saravanan was continuously crying.

He was too terrified. The wheel ride made him cry madly. Aparna’s dad and her aunt were pacifying him. Aparna’s mom was near the wheel taking care of Santhini.

only a little later did they realise that Aparna was walking towards the waves. Aunty started running towards Aparna. Aunty observed that two men were approaching Aparna from another side. She felt that Aparna was in danger.

"Aparna! Just turn back. About turn! Rush back. Don’t get into trouble." The loud and determined voice of her aunt alarmed Aparna.

She also felt that the two men were coming menacingly towards her.

She turned back and darted towards aunty. Those two suspicious men tried to catch hold of Aparna. But on seeing Aparna’s dad and aunt, they moved away.

Aparna’s face turned pale. She was utterly shocked.

Aunty consoled her. "No need to get panicked. Be brave. You know, Aparna, when we come out to places like this, you have to be alert."

Dad also joined, "Yes, if we are a little bit calm and a little bit alert, we can be safer and happier."

Santhini had completed her second round of the ride and came towards them along with Aparna’s mom.

"Kids! Can we have ice-cream?"

"Sure!" shouted the kids.