Parineeti stared at the moon. The gentle breeze caressed her hair as she held the chubby hands of her three year old, Parikshit.
“Do you like being on the boat, darling?”
When Parikshit nodded an enthusiastic yes and held out his arms for her to pick him up, she whispered holding back tears -“Wave to the moon, tomorrow, sweetie. Mummy is going there with her friends from ISRO. Mummy will watch you from there.”
“Are you visiting Gramma there, Mummy? Can I wave to her too?”
“No, sweetie, Gramma has gone to heaven.”
Her husband squeezed her hands offering silent comfort.
Written for Rochelle Wisoff-Field’s Friday Fictioneers. Linking up here. Thanks to Ted Strutz for the photo prompt.
Author’s note: India’s space research agency, ISRO, is working on Chandrayaan mission which aims to put astronauts on moon again. Waiting to see another success like the mars mission, Mangalyaan.
thelavmuse.wordpress.com 
Dear Lavanya,
Your story gives new meaning to the phrase “I love you to the moon and back.” I take it mummy’s an astronaut? Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Indeed she is an astronaut. Thanks for writing in, Rochelle.
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Thanks for the explanatory note, which made the story fall into place 🙂
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Thanks, hope you liked it.
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I would be incredible if we returned to the moon, I can’t understand why other countries have given up on it. Here’s hoping it is a success. Sweet story.
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Thanks Iain for the kind comments.
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I had to Google “ISRO.” I’d let the child wave to Grandma in Heaven anyway. You never know.
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🌞I’ll have him wave in the next write. Thanks James for visiting.
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That’s a lovely story!
You were very clever to use a three year old child as the focus of the mother’s love, because the whole thing is then like a magical adventure. We know it’s real, but because of the child’s naivety we don’t need to feel the jingoistic emotions like ‘It will be India who gets back to the moon first’. Space travel should be international if anything is. That said, ISRO deserves great credit, both for its technical competence and for its daring.
Great write, Lavanya!
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Thanks Penny. What a delightful feedback. Appreciate it!
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A delightful snippet of dialogue twixt mother and child.
Click to read my FriFic!
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Thanks Keith for writing in
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Parineeti will be back. I have enormous hope and trust on Chandraayan. That being said, beautiful selection of names. Good one, Lavanya
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Thanks Varad
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I totally love that it is the mother who is the astronaut. Adds a whole ‘nother level to the story…
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Thanks Dale. Sometimes it’s the mom who does the cool things 😎.appreciate you writing in
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Lovely to have a mother and astronaut.. that gives such lovely possibilities
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Yes, sometimes it’s the moms who are the cool adults in the family 😎 thanks for stopping by Bjorn.
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Indian Space Research Organisation, you forced me to look it up and I learned something new today. 🙂
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😁 nice. Hope u liked it.
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Beautiful.
Also,Parikshit is a great name.🙂
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Thanks Moon. Glad you liked it
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That was a lovely one Lav, makes me think of my trip- not to the moon but Zurich! 🙂
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Zurich 😍😍😍
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What a cool Mum. How many kids can boast that their mother went to the moon and came back? 🙂
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😎 exactly. Just wanted this piece to reflect a cool mom who can also be a good one. Thanks for writing in
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An astronaut with ISRO. The little boy must be proud of his mom and misses his gramma.
https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/10/stardust.html
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Thanks Kalpana
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There is an unwritten feeling that the moon is seen as hades…. Maybe it’s just my sleep deprived mind. Good story, and I wish ISRO all success in it’s mission to the moon! Always wondered what was seen there that we never went back….
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Wow, Jelli. I never quite thought of it that way. “What was seen there that we never went back”. Cheers
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I keep thinking that there was a scientist from India on the last major shuttle launch (Columbia). It would be great if that nation (along with America) could reach the moon again. Well done in inspiring!
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Thanks Miles. As someone mentioned earlier, beginning a new era in 🚀 should be an international effort. Thanks for writing in and sharing your views.
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I smiled at the science, the family connection, and the emotion you gave us. well done. 🙂
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Thanks prior. Keep the beautiful smile on 😁
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Oh so touchy! Loved this space fiction with earthy tones and emotional hues!
– Anagha From Team MocktailMommies
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Thanks Anagha
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Good one. Heartfelt
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Thanks Ravi
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