"We are now heading towards the outskirts of the city to visit a royal estate that was converted to a museum. Thereafter, if we have time, we will visit a National Park."
"There are some sandwiches and bottles of coke in the back of the car. Nani ji please give to everyone and pass me a sandwich too."
Everyone started munching sandwiches and were enjoying the view. Mamu ji was busy clicking pictures. But Dada ji took very few pictures.
It was about 2 pm when they reached Kolomenskoye, which is a few kilometers outside the city center. Kolomenskoye was once a royal estate and was converted into a museum-reserve. It overlooks the Moskva River. Inside they saw a lot of historical artifacts. They even took a walk in the garden surrounding the museum.
They then headed for the last sightseeing spot on their list, the Losiny Ostrov National Park. The Park has a number of wildlife. The place is huge and grand. It is the first-ever national park of the Russian capital wherein one can witness many species of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. The families could not see much as dusk was falling. Everyone was tired so they headed home.
Everyone had a nice time, but they had to cut short their sightseeing of the park as it was almost dusk and the Park would be closing soon. Within a hour they were on their way back all tired and happy.
"Tania beta! Stop at some place where we can get 'Take Away' as neither your Nani ji nor I have the energy to cook. We are too tired."
Tania smiled and saw a shop that sold pizzas. It was not like Dominos but they made good pizzas.
She asked all of them which type of pizza each one would like to eat. Her Dada ji wanted a farmhouse pizza which is normally huge and he and his wife would share it. Nani ji wanted a Margherita Pizza. Her Mamu ji wanted a Chicken Pizza of medium size and Tania decided to get herself a Cheese Onion capsicum Pizza of medium size.
Dada ji got out of the car and accompanied her to get the pizzas. She looked at him with suspicion.
"It is ok, I am accompanying you to carry all those pizzas," He seemed to have read her thoughts, rather her facial expression.
He was not going to let this child pay for the pizzas. As soon as they entered the pizza shop, he immediately moved to the counter and had paid for all the pizzas as well as five garlic bread. Tania was still looking at the display posters and was not happy that her Dada ji had already paid for the pizzas and he had already given the coupons to the person at the side counter for Take Away.
"Your order will be ready in thirty minutes, the person at the counter informed Dada ji.
"I can't keep standing here for thirty minutes or so!" Dada ji exclaimed.
To put more emphasis he smiled and added, "I am a Senior citizen."
"I will go and wait in the car along with the family and come after thirty minutes. Is that, OK?"
"Sir, I will have the meals delivered to the car," the person at the counter replied.
"OK, please ensure everything listed on the order coupons is handed over to me as I do not want to come back from home to collect the missing items."
"Rest assured Sir, I will personally check everything and tally it with the order coupons, thereafter I will come out of the shop and go to your car to personally deliver the Pizzas to you," the person at the counter replied with a smile.
Tania and her Dada ji headed back to the car and informed everyone that the food was under preparation.
Twenty minutes were over but Dada ji was passing the time looking at his watch to see how long it would take.
Dada ji was having a good laugh.
"Dadi ji, you found something amusing, kindly share the joke, "she asked.
It is nothing beta." Mira replied with laughter.
"Look at your Dada ji, he keeps looking at his watch to check when the pizzas will be delivered."
"He thinks he is in India and if the Pizza is not delivered in thirty minutes, it will be free."
Tania started laughing and so did the others.
No this is a bulk take away order and that too of 4 pizzas. The thirty minutes validity is offered by Dominos. The free pizza is given when there is delay over 30 minutes in the delivery of the pizza. "
"The company here is not Dominos. It is a local shop that makes Take Away Pizzas." Tania replied.
"Hence Dada ji cannot get free pizzas."
Just as 30 minutes were over the pizzas came wrapped up in a huge paper bag.
Dada ji looked at the person at the counter and took the bag from him. Before he could ask, the boy said, " Sir I tallied everything. There are 4 pizzas one farmhouse, one chicken, one Margherita and one cheese onion capsicum. In addition, there are 5 garlic bread with 5 cheese dips."
Dada ji was very happy. He bid the person a good night and soon they were off. Dada ji had all the pizzas on his lap. Igor Uncle asked that they be passed back as he and the ladies would hold it. Dada ji was not happy with the idea.
Nani ji made a speech, "Look everyone, I am too tired to venture into the kitchen to get you all plates and cutlery for the pizzas."
So, Igor here will get us 5 plates and cutlery. We will assemble in Tania's room to have dinner there. Igor was not very happy to be given a task when he was already so tired.
Anyway, he would get the plates and glasses as well as the cutlery and bring these items to Tania's room. After all, he wanted to know how her room looked like from the inside.
Soon they were home. They all got out of the car and made their way upstairs to their rooms.
Dada ji and Dadi ji headed straight to Tania's room with the package containing the Take Away.
Soon the others came and Igor also landed up in her room with the utensils.
They all enjoyed their pizzas.
As all were tired, they left early to catch up on their sleep and also to relax their tired muscles.