We planned to leave at 2 and reach India Gate at about 3. Then we’ll spend 2 hours there and then will return. The planning reveals that I have forgotten the first rule of travel – double the time.

We could start only at 2.30; the taxi came only at that time. We reached within an hour. Piyo started sleeping as we were approaching India Gate. I was telling Rani that we may not be able to carry Piyo and enjoy roaming around. So we may have to leave early. How little I know of kids? Soon after we started walking and as soon as Piyo heard the noise of the crowd he woke up and wanted to walk. We bought a ‘punchu mittai’ (no points even if you guessed correctly who demanded it). We were engrossed with how Piyo was walking around that we completely forgot that Air Force band was playing there; and there was ‘amar joyti’. We were only enjoying Piyo walking around.

Then we started walking on the Raj Path towards Presidential Palace. The lawns were well cut and maintained (can’t discount the fact that Republic day is just a month away and so these lawns may have gotten a face lift). We spent a lot of time playing in the lawns at the far end of Raj Path since there was absolutely no crowd (we were as if it was our back yard). You could see the video and see how much Piyo enjoyed too. By then we realized we crossed the 4 hour timelimit. So we called the driver and increased to 8 hours. After dusk, we wanted to go to ‘Saravana Bawan’ fir dinner, but it was so crowded so we went into McDonalds near-by. As like in KFC, Pito enjoed the food – especially finger chips. We returned home at about 8.30.

If you are still wondering, if we will take future trips, how can I answer that?