Manish’s Dream Come True 🛫

"Listen, class. The school holidays are starting next week," Mrs. Mani, the class teacher of Form 3 Ruby, announced as she looked at her students. "I want all of you to complete your homework before the holidays. This time, I will not accept any excuses," she said firmly.

As soon as the recess bell rang, the classroom came to life with chatter, laughter, and the sound of books being packed away.

Devan, Manish, and Murugan were close friends. They lived in the same neighborhood and took the school bus together every day.

"So, what is the plan for the holidays?" Devan asked as they sat under a shady tree.

Murugan grinned. "We are going to India. My mother made a vow to visit a temple there."

"Wow! You will be flying on a plane!" Manish said, his eyes shining with excitement. He had never been on one before.

Devan nodded. "Yes, it is exciting, especially during takeoff. The plane moves so fast, and suddenly you are in the air. If you sit by the window, you can see the roads and houses getting smaller and smaller."

Manish imagined how it would feel to sit in a plane, looking out at the endless blue sky. Just then, the school bell rang. It was time for Math. He sighed, packed his lunchbox, wiped the table, and threw his tissue into the bin before heading back to class.

After school, they waited under a big tree for their bus. As Manish looked around, he noticed a lady reading a newspaper. A bold advertisement on the back page caught his eye.

"Win a FREE flight to Penang! First Prize – A fully paid holiday for two!"

His heart skipped a beat. If only he could win this, he could fly too.

When he reached home, he saw the same ad in the family newspaper. He picked it up and read the details carefully. His eyes lit up when he saw that it was a slogan-writing contest.

He had won several slogan competitions in school before. He decided to give it a try.

He ran to his room and started thinking of creative slogans about Penang.

Here are some of his ideas:

• "Penang, where every bite is a delight!"
• "Golden beaches and tasty treats. Penang cannot be beat!"
• "Visit Penang, where fun meets the sun!"
• "Fly to Penang and make memories in the sand!"

After choosing his best slogan, he carefully wrote it down and sent his entry. He even asked his neighbors for their newspapers and sent four entries in total.

Days passed, and Manish waited eagerly. Every morning, he checked the newspaper and listened to the radio, hoping to hear the results. His heart pounded with anticipation.

Finally, the big day arrived. As he flipped through the pages of the newspaper, his eyes widened. There it was. His name under Grand Prize Winner.

For a moment, he just stared. Was this real? Did he really win?

Then it sank in. Yesssss....He won the grand prize.

"Amma, I won! I won!" he shouted, jumping up and down. He ran to his mother, waving the newspaper in excitement. She gasped, pulled him into a tight hug, and laughed.

Manish could hardly contain his happiness. He twirled around the living room, imagining himself soaring through the clouds. His dream had come true.

He was finally going to fly on a plane with a free holiday to Penang with his Mom.