We got up early on our departure day. Suitcases were well packed. We had a quick breakfast remembering to trash them as well. We got ready in clothes that were comfortable for the journey. We put the suitacases outside of our door and waited and waited but no van came to pick us up. So Dad rushed to the university to find out.
Russian men were going to the office and said, “Do Svidaniya” (Good bye) to us while we waited for Dad to return. We replied back, “Do Svidaniya”. There was sweet sadness in the air. It seemed in the span of six months we stayed, we definitely made strong bonds that were going to be memorable for years ahead.
Dad came with the van and the driver put suitcases inside. Two or three women with little non-school going children appeared and we said, “Do Svidaniya” to all of them. They replied back the same. Soon we were all seated and the van started driving away. Dad was saying that all the men had embraced him while he was going to fetch the van, and they were waiting to get on their office bus. We came up to the front by now.
It was a beautiful scene. Children were flocking with school bags ready to be taken to school by their mothers. It was their first day at school after a long vacation. No wonder the mothers were busy and couldn’t bade us farewell as they promised. Children screamed and shouted, “Do Svidaniya” calling our names. We shouted the same back to them calling their names. It was lovely. Our van passed them and out of the gates and soon we saw the men still waiting to go on the bus, probably waiting for something or someone to get settled on the bus. They spotted Dad inside the van and shouted, “Do Svidaniya”. Dad replied back and we all waved back and turned our heads at them still waving until they were out of sight.
Such was a befitting stay near the sea, memories of which stay indelible in my mind till today.