"This is just a small outing. We didn't want to start with Bombay Darshan. It will be too much of travelling for a small kid like Anu. Anyways last time, we hadn't been to Elephanta Caves; we thought we can increase our trip timings slowly," Mummy explained.

I looked around to spot a few birds. I opened my mouth to call them but it was instantly filled with food.

"Tell me something, why is it that even if the city is renamed Mumbai, it is still called Bombay Darshan? Shouldn't it be Mumbai Darshan?" Arun Mama asked.

I think it was a few days ago when Arun Mama and Ammamma came to our house. I had a faint memory of them but I was made to hear only these two words than my own name. We had squeezed ourselves in a black and yellow box kind of thing which they were continuously calling it as 'taxi'.

I am in this wobbly thing where I can see the greenish blue liquid around me. I was again being fed something but this time it was by Ammamma and not Mummy. I think similar incident had happened some time ago. I am not sure though.

Daddy said, "Maybe it is difficult for people to change easily. Suppose Arun if Bangalore were to renamed, how much time it would take for you to get accustomed?"

He replied, "Bava, Bangalore is what those Britishers would call. I would happy if they change it soon. Having said that, I will try to take minimum time possible. Suppose if they announce it suddenly, that the name is changed, I would take minimum six months for I'm a Karnataka State Government employee; I'll be using the changed name quite often. In the actual scenarios, it takes around a year, minimum, to take the decision of renaming. I guess by the time it is renamed, I would be accustomed to it."

Mummy joked, "Cut it out, Arun. By the time you explain we would've reached Elephanta Caves."

Everybody started laughing so even I started laughing. Ammamma commented, "Look at my Elizabethi Rani, laughing gracefully."

"Amma! She is just a child; how will she know what it is to laugh gracefully? Anyways, your own daughter hasn't learned to laugh gracefully-"

"Arun! I swear I will drop you at that Elephanta Caves with your monkey friends," Mummy threatened.

These people again started laughing. What's with them? Like how rude are they? Can't they not explain it to me and then we all could laugh together.

A man started screaming on top of his voice, "Everybody be ready! The ferry will dock in five minutes at Elephanta! Make sure reach the same boat in half an hour. We won't have any problems or regrets leaving you behind! You can hop in the next ferry but it will cost you double and they will allow you if only they have extra space. we don't want the ferry to go overboard. The Naval Coast Guards are very strict about everyone's safety here. Know that there is one boat that visits Elephanta in an hour. Beware of the –"

A loud thud sound stopped the man and his speech. He wanted to complete his speech but he wasn't given a chance. Everyone were made to get down and I was Daddy's shoulder, looking at the black, brown things. Some were very tall; some were small while some had faint scribblings on them. We would go inside some dark things which had faint lighting. Reminded me of the room when we went to sleep before Mummy would switch on the light.

But there were some other things that caught my attention. It was those brown things that maybe, looked like us. They were looking at from the top of the trees swaying a rope kind of thing. I saw them looking at Arun Mama and laughing. He had something in his hand which he had opened. I remember it! I would see this thing. It has some crunchy things to eat.

He waved the crunchy things in front of me, "Anu! Here, take chips! I think you will like them."

I was looking at the brown things. Mummy said, "She is looking at the monkeys! My gosh! Look at them! There could be easily fifty of them on that tree alone."

Daddy said as I took them, "She loves them!"

What had happened, happened very quickly. One of those brown things were very close to Arun Mama. It swiftly swooped, grabbed the packet and joined its friends on the tree. We were all silent for a minute. Then Ammamma screamed, "Look at the fearless monkeys. They don't have any fear of humans. Devuda! Life ahead will not be easy!"

Mummy ranted, "Amma! What does this mean? Just because monkeys don't fear humans, life ahead will not be easy! Who even says that!"

She turned to Daddy and asked, "You've come here twice before, haven't you? Why didn't you warn us?"

Arun Mama took the bottle from the bag and opened its cap. He started drinking small mouthfuls. Daddy replied, "That's what the guide is supposed to do. In this case, it's the boat guide. He didn't tell properly."

"Is there anything left for you to warn us?" she asked.

He looked up at me and said, "Monkeys will usually take food and –"

"Our bottle!" Arun Mama screamed as one of the monkeys snatched the bottle. I saw them looking at us and drinking water.

"Water," completed Daddy.

"When were you going to tell us that? After they would've taken our bag?"

Daddy didn't speak and started walking with me towards the ferry. Others followed us; I could hear Mummy grumbling. I ignored them. I could feel fresh air hitting my face. But this air was different and I think I liked it.

We were seated in the ferry when Ammamma fondled my hair and said, "Devuda! Those monkeys didn't do anything to my Elizabethi Rani."

I think Ammamma is trying to convey something because she is uttering this word 'Elizabethi Rani' from the time she has come. Maybe she wants me to tell that name. it doesn't make sense who it is. I am Anu. Who exactly is Elizabethi Rani? Who cares! I will tell it for her.

"Eli-ja-bathi Dani," I said. Phew! That was a tough name.

"Did you hear her? She tried to pronounce Elizabethi Rani!" Arun Mama screamed.

Amma asked, "Anu, will you tell Elizabethi Rani, again?"

"Eli-ja-bathi Dani," I complied.

Then everybody started requesting and I obeyed. Then they started requesting for the second time which is when I got irritated. I made a puffed face when Ammamma took me in her lap and cooed, "Aiyyoo, my Eli-ja-bathi Dani, we all teased you a lot, isn't it? You look too cute when you're angry."

Mummy commented, "Cute! She always has anger on that sharp nose of hers!"

"Hush! Don't talk like that, she's just a child," Ammamma gently rebuked her. I placed my head on her bosom and dozed.

Translations:

Elizabethi Rani: Queen Elizabeth is called so when one converses in Telugu or Kannada

Devuda: God