TaniaInAWinterWonderland

ByKanikaG

Copyright2018byKanikaG

EditedbyPellG

CoverartbyKanikaGandPellG

SnowmanillustrationbyPellG

Allotherillustrationsarepublicdomainimagestakenfromopenclipart.org

Website:

www.kanikag.com

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FunWithSnow

"Mama,lookoutside.Mamalook!Sonialook!"ThesevenyearoldTaniashoutedinexcitement,asshelookedoutofherfirstfloorbedroomwindow.Itwas2:30pm.SheandherfamilyhadonlyjustarrivedatacottageinShimla,thatherparentshadbookedforthewinterholidays.

"What'supTania?"Mamaasked,makingherwaytothewindow.

"ItssnowingMama."Taniasaid,unabletotearherselfawayfromthemesmerisingsight.Itwasthefirsttimeshehadseenthewhiteflakesdescendfromthesky.

MamaputherarmaroundTaniaandsmiled."It'sbeautifulisn'tit?Andeverythingbecomessoquietwhenitsnows."

Threeyearold,babySonia,washelpingPapaunpackinthelivingroomonthegroundfloor.Shecamerunningasfastasherlittlelegscouldcarryher,assoonassheheardhersister,Tania,call.

"Whathappened?"Hereyeswerewidewithexcitement,assheenteredthebedroom.

"LookSonia.It'ssnowing."Taniasaid,helpingSoniaontothewindowledge,soshecouldsee.

"Snow.Snow!"Soniasquealed,tryingtoreachforit.Fortunatelythewindowhadbarsonit.

Mamalaughed."BecarefulSonia,andI'llleavethetwoofyoutoenjoythesnow,whileIgohelpPapaunpack."

Afewminuteslater,Mamareturnedwithatrayloadedwithtwosteamingcupsofhotchocolateandaplateofnaankhatais.Shefoundherdaughtershuddledinablanketonalargechairbythewindow,watchingthesnow.Mamaplacedthetrayonthewindowledgeandleft.

Acoupleofhourslater,afterMamaandPapahadunpackedandsetupthecottagefortheirweeklongstay,theywenttocheckonSoniaandTania.The

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girlshadfinishedtheircocoaandbiscuits,andhadfallenfastasleep,cuddlingeachotheronthechair.

Thesunwassinkingbehindthetrees,andpinklightbathedthecottageanditssurroundings.Mamagentlywokethegirlsup.

"Lookoutofthewindownow,girls."Shewhispered.

TaniaandSoniagroggilylookedoutofthewindow,butwhattheysaw,madetheirjawsdrop.Ithadbeensnowingheavilywhiletheywereasleep.Outsidethetreeswereallcoveredinablanketofsnow,glowingpinkinthetwilight.Neitherofthemhadeverseenanythingsobeautiful,and,indeed,asMamahadsaid,itwasveryquiet.

Theymarvelledatitforafewminutes,andthenTaniaasked."Mama,Papa,canwegoplayinthesnow?"

"Yes.Ofcourse."Mamareplied."Butyouneedtowearyourjackets,caps,scarves,glovesandshoes.

Soonthegirlswereoutside.TaniastartedmakingasnowmanandSoniahelpedher.Theyusedtwigsforarmsandpebblesfortheeyes,smileandbuttons.Theymadehimatinfoilhatandusedacarrotforthenose.

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Justastheyfinished,MamaandPapajoinedthemoutside.

"Ithinkit'stimeforasnowballfight."Papadeclared.Theyallstartedmakingsnowballsandpeltingeachother,astheyranaroundtheyard.Soon,inspiteofthecold,theyweresweatingandpanting.

Mamasatdownonthesnowtorest.Thenshehadanidea."HeyTania,doyouknowwhatsnowangelsare?"

"YesMama.Isawsomeonemaketheminacartoon.Canwemakethem?"

"Sure,letsdothat.Greatidea!"Papajoinedthem.

Theylayflatontheirbacksinthesnowandstartedflappingtheirarmsandlegstopushawaythesnowandmakesnowangels.Soniathoughtitwasahilariousactivity,andsoonshestartedrollingaroundinthesoftsnow.

Afterawhile,thefamilytrudgedbackhome,butassoonastheysteppedintothehouse,thepowerwentout.Mamaboiledwaterinalargepotonthestovetop,andPapacarriedittotheupstairsbathroom,soTaniaandSoniacouldhaveahotbath.MamaandPapahadhotbathstoo.

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Thendressedintheirnightclothesandwarmrobes,theyreturnedtothekitchen.TaniahelpedMamacutupvegetablestomakekhichadi,whilePapaandSoniawenttothesmallshedoutsidetogetsomefirewood.Papabroughtbacklogsforafire,whileSoniacarriedafewdriedtwigsandleaves.

Oncethekhichadiwassettocook,MamaaskedSoniatofetchabrinjal.Mamamadehotbrinjalpakodas,whilePapastartedafireinthefireplace.

Thefamilyenjoyedatastymealofhotkhichadiandpakodasinfirelight.Everythingseemedsopeacefuluntil...

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WinterIsTroublesome

ThenextmorningTaniawokeuptothesoundsoffrustrationandpanic.Shehadalovelyrestunderthewarmblankets,thatPapahadwrappedherandSoniaupin,soshewasmostsurprisedtohearMamashout"Ohno!No,no,no,no.Arrgh!Nowwhat?"

"Whathappened,Honey?"SheheardPapacallout.

"Thereisnowatercomingfromthetap."Mamacomplained.TaniahadneverheardMamasoundsodistraught.

Taniarandowntoseewhatwasgoingon.ItlookedlikePapahadjuststartedtoastingbreadinthefireplace.Wow!Thisisawesome,Taniathoughttoherself,andwentseewhatwasgoingoninthekitchen.

"Hmm.Doyouthinkapipeburstlastnight?"Papaaskedturningthetapthiswayandthat.Butnowatercamerushingout.

"That'sprobablyit.Thetemperaturedroppedtoquiteafewdegreesbelowzerolastnight.Weshouldhaveleftthetapsrunningonatrickle.Butwhatdowedonow?Howdowehavebaths,washutensilsandcook?"

"Umm.Mamathereisalotofcleansnowlyingoutside.Can'twejustbringitinandmeltitinapotonthegas?"

Mamalookedpuzzled."YesIsupposethereisnothingwrongwiththat.Atleastwecouldwashourfaces,haveourbathsandwashafewutensils.Tania,Iwouldn'thavethoughtofit,butitisareallygoodidea."

PapanoddedandsmiledatTania."Icangototheneareststoreandpickupsomebottledwaterfordrinkingandcooking."Heoffered."I'llalsodropbyonthecottageownersdownthestreet,andseeiftheycangetthepipefixedsoon."

Taniawentuptoherbedroomtowearwarmclothes,soshecouldgocollectsnowinbucketsforMama.Soniahadalreadywokenup.

"Whatareyoudoing,Tania?"Sheasked.

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TaniaexplainedthesituationtoSonia."I'llcometoo.Iwanttocollectsnow."Soniajumpedoutofbedandputonherwarmclothes.Thesisterstooktwosmallbucketsandmugsandwenttocollectsnow.Itwashardwork,butitwasfuntoo.

Thefamilymadesgreateam.ThegirlswouldcollectsnowinbucketsandbringthemtoMama.Shewouldemptyitintoalargepotandheatthepotasthegirlscollectedanotherbucketofsnow.Mamawouldputthehotwaterintoalargebucketandwaitforthegirlstoreturnwithanotherbucketofsnow.WhenPapareturnedwith5litresofbottledwater,hehelpedTaniaandSoniacollectthesnowandspeededuptheprocess.SoMamasettwolargepotsonthetwogasburnerstoheatthesnow.Theyallwenton,untiltheyhad3largebuckets,2smallbuckets,and2largepots,fullofhotwater.

Onceeveryonefinishedtheirbathswithhotwaterfromthemeltedsnow,Mamamadeoatsporridge,andPapatoastedmorebreadonthefireandspreadbutterandjamonthem.Justthenthepowerreturned.

"Typical!"Papasighed."ButImustsayitwasfunmakingtoastoverafire,insteadofinatoasterforachange."

Astheyatebreakfast,Taniaasked."Whydidthepipeburst?Yousaidthecoldmadethepipeburst.Howdidithappen?"

"Itisbecausewaterbehavespeculiarlywhenitiscold."Mamareplied."Didyouknow,thatthingsexpandwhentheygethotandcontractwhentheycool?"Sheasked.

"No.Whatdoyoumean?"Taniaasked.

"Ifyouheatsomething,thetinyparticlesinit,getexcitedandbouncearoundalotmoreenergetically,makingthethingbigger.Soifyouheatametalwireitbecomeslongerandifyouheataliquidinacontainer,itrises.Forexample,inathermometer,themercurycolumngoesupwithincreasingtemperature."Papajoinedtheconversation.

"Ohthat'swhyyoulookforhowfarthesilverlinereaches,whenyoutakemytemperature.Thesilverlineisthemercurycolumn,right?Thehighermytemperature,thelongerthemercurycolumnis.Isthatright?"

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"ThatisabsolutelycorrectTania."PapasmiledandruffledTania'shair.

"Okay.Sowhyiswaterpeculiar?"Taniaasked.

"Atmosttemperatureswaterbehavesnormally,meaningthespaceitoccupiesincreases,whenitisheated,anddecreaseswhenitiscooled.Butsomethingstrangehappenswhenwaterreaches4degreeCelsius."Mamasaid.

"Why?Whathappensthen?"Taniawaseagertoknow.

"Ifyoucoolabowlofwaterat4degreeCelsius,thespaceoccupiedbythewaterstartsincreasingslowly,andthenitsuddenlyincreasesalot,whenitformsice."Mamaexplained.

"Oh!"Tanialookedpuzzled."Why?"

"Waterparticlesbehavelikeadisorganisedcrowdhuddlingtogether,whileiceislikeamarchingband,whereeveryparticleknowsitsplaceanddoesn'tbreakformation.Thistendencyofwaterparticlestogetorganisedbelow4degreeCelsius,makesitbehavepeculiarly.Whentheparticlesareinformation,therearelotsofemptyspaces.So,iceoccupiesalotmorespacethanwater.You'lllearnmoreaboutitsomedaybut,fornowitisinterestingtotakealookattheeffectsofthisstrangebehaviourofwater."Mamareplied.

"Likethepipeburstingyoumean?Howdoesthisstrangebehaviourofwatercauseapipetoburst?"

"AsMamasaid,thespaceoccupiedbywaterkeepsincreasingwhenitiscooledbelow4degreeCelsius,whiletheparticlesstartgettingorganised.Iceformsat0degreeCelsius,whentheparticlessuddenlygetinarigidformation.Soice

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occupiesalotmorespace,thanwater.Infact,ifyoustartwithwateratanytemperature,thespaceoccupiedbythewater,islessthanthespaceoccupiedbytheiceformedbycoolingthatwater.Thatiswhyicefloatsonwater.Thisiscalledtheanomalousbehaviourofwater.Anomalousmeansunusualorabnormal."Papachimedin.

"SoTania,canyoufigureoutwhathappenedinthepipeslastnight?"Mamaasked.

Taniathoughtforamoment."Lastnight,sinceitwasveryverycold,thewaterfilledupinthepipeat4degreeCelsius.Then,whenitgotevencolder,thewaterstartedoccupyingmorespace,puttingpressureonthepipe.Sincethetapswereclosedtheincreasedvolumeofwatercouldnotgetout.Oh!Iseethat'swhyyousaidweshouldhaveleftthetapsonatrickle.Okay,so,whenthewaterfroze,theiceneededtooccupyalotmorespace,makingthepressuretoomuchforthepipetocopewith,soitburst.Isthatright?"Taniaasked,hereyesshinning.

"Yes.Quiteright,Tania."Mamanoddedimpressed.

"Butifthepipewallsweretryingtopushontheiceandmakeitsmaller,shoulditnothavebecomewateragain?"Taniawondered.

"ThatisveryastuteTania.Tosomeextentthatwouldhappen,butthenifitwastoocold,itwouldstillfreezeandburstoutofthepipe."Mamasaidthoughtfully.ThenshelookedatPapa."Youknow,thereisanexperimentwecoulddo,toshowTania,thatwhatsheissaying,makesalotofsense."

"Yes."Papaagreed.I'llgoseeifIcanfindsomethread."Papastackedupthebreakfastdishesandwenttolookforthread.EveryonehadfinishedbreakfastandSonia,nottoointerestedinthediscussion,hadstartedplayingwithherblocks.

"AndI'llgogetanicecube."Mamaputthedishestosoakinthesink,withsomewaterleftfromthemeltedsnow,andwenttotherefrigerator.

"What?Whatareyoutwotalkingabout?"Taniaasked,bewildered.

"Justyousee."Papawinkedreturningwitharollofblackthreadfromthesewingkit.

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Water,Ice,AndMagic!

Orisitscience?

Mamaplacedtheice-cubeonaflatcoasteronthetable,andPapaplacedthethreadontopoftheice-cube.Hestretchedthethreadacrossthetopsurfaceoftheice-cubeandappliedadownwardpressurewiththethread.

"WhatareyoudoingPapa?"Taniaasked.

Papawasfocussingontheexperiment,soMamaanswered."Yourememberyouaskedwhytheicedoesnotmeltbackintowaterwhenthepipepushesonitforcingittobesmaller."

"Yes.Andyousaiditdoestosomeextent."

"Yesandthisexperimentwillshowyouthat.Papaispushingdownontheice-cubewiththethread,forcingthatthinstriptobesmaller,andsotheicetherewillmelt.Onceitmelts,thethreadwillgoin.Butoncethethreadgoesunder,thewateraboveitnolongerhasanypressureonitanditwillrefreezeintoice.Thisiscalledregelation."

"Ohsowillthethreadbecaughtinsidetheice-cubeandstickoutofthetwosides?"Taniaasked.

"Yes.That'sexactlyit."Mamareplied.

"Sowillitlooklikeanecklacemadeofthreadwithanicependant?"Taniaasked.

"WhyTania,youdohaveawonderfulimagination.Ihadneverthoughtofitthatway,butthatisexactlywhatitwilllooklike."MamaclappedTaniaonherback.

Asifrightoncue,Papasangout."Taa-daa!"Hewasholdingupanecklaceofblackthreadwithanice-cubependant.EvenSoniawasexcited,andcamerunningtoexamineit.Shebeggedtobeallowedtowearit.MamaandTanialaughedasPapafitthenecklaceonSonia.

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"Ouch!Oooch!Cold,coldcold."Soniadancedaround,andPaparemovedit.Soniafrownedattheicenecklace,andthenwentbacktoplaywithherblocks.

"It'ssadthough,thatwaterisoneofthefewsubstancestobehavethatway.Ifitwerenotforthisstrangebehaviourofwater,pipeswouldnotburstincoldplacesandinconveniencethepeoplelivingthere."Tanialamented.

"True,butthisanomalousbehaviourofwatermakesitpossibleforfishesandotheraquaticanimals,livinginponds,andlakestosurvivethewinterinverycoldplaces."Papapointedout.

"Howso?"Tania'sfrownedtryingtofigureoutthereason.

"Youremember,Itoldyouthaticefloatsonwater,becauseoftheanomalousbehaviourofwater?"Papaasked.

"Yes."Taniarepliedandwaited.

"Sowhenalakeorapondstartsfreezingincoldweather,theicefloatsontop.Oncethelakeiscoveredwithfloatingice,theiceformsabarrierbetweentheairaboveitandthewaterbelowit.Sincethecoldaircan'tcomeincontactwiththewater,itcannotcoolitmuch."Papacontinued.

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"Butisn'ttheicesupercold?"Taniaraisedhereyebrows.

"Yestheiceiscold,butnotascoldastheairaboveit.Sounderthelayerofice,thewaterremainsliquidandthefishesandotheraquaticlifecansurvive,insteadofgettingfrozen.Theiceactslikeyoursweater.Justlikeyoursweaterhelpsyoustaywarm,thelayeroficepreventsthewaterbelowfromfreezing,strangeasthatmaysound."Mamachimedin.

"Ohthat'snice."Taniawasrelieved.Shereallydidloveallanimals."Isn'titamazinghownatureworks,andhowalmosteverythinghasanupsideandadownside,includingtheanomalousbehaviourofwater?"

"Yesnatureisquiteamazing."Mamaagreed.

"Andlearningit'smanysecretsonebyone,isaveryexcitingpartofgrowingup."Papaadded."ButnowIthinkit'stimewewentoutandenjoyedwhatnaturehastoofferinwinter."

"Wherearewegoing?"Taniaasked

"Justyouwaitandsee".Paparefusedtosayanythingelse.

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WinterSports

Anhourlater,warmlydressed,thefamilyarrivedatalargeopenfrozenspace."Whatisthisplace?"Taniaenquired,watchingpeopleslidearoundontheice.

"Thisisaniceskatingrink,Tania"Mamareplied.

"Oh!Ithoughtthosewereindoors."Taniawaspuzzled.

"They,usually,are,butinwinter,Shimlahasalargeoutdoornaturaliceskatingrink.ItisthelargestoneinsouthAsia!Theyputwaterinthisflatcontainedarea,anditfreezesbecauseofthecold."Papaexplained."Loadsofpeoplecomeheretoskateinwinter.Comeon.Let'stryitout."

"Tryitout?How?Wedon'thaveiceskates."Taniaobjected.

"Wecanrentthem."Papasaid,delighted.

PaparentediceskatesforMama,Taniaandhimself,andforSonia,hebroughtalargeplasticsupport,thatshecouldholdonto,andpushalongontheice,whileshewalked.Soniawasthrilled.

MamaandPapahadahardtimestayingvertical.Theykeptfalling,andthatreallyhurtontheice,butTaniapickeditupprettyquickly."It'sbecauseyouknowhowtorollerblade."PapacalledoutandgaveTaniaathumbsup."Itrequiresthesamesenseofbalance,sojustuseyourrollerbladinginstinctsandyou'lldogreat."

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Taniaenjoyedherselfimmensely,andattheendofanhourMamaandPapamanagedtoslidearoundalittlewithoutfalling.Theywerestartingtogettheideatoo.Taniahelpedthemout.Shecouldn'tbelieveshewasteachingherparentshowtodosomething.Itwasastrange,butpleasing,experience.

Soniafellafewtimestoo,butitseemedtoamusemorethanupsether.Shewasshortandhersupportwasquitesteady,soshewasmostlyenjoyingherself,andpeoplewerekindenoughtogiveherawideberth.

Taniasawamanspinningontheice.Hehadhisarmsspreadoutandwasspinningslowly.Thenhepulledinhisarmsin,andstartedspinningfaster.

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TaniarememberedseeingitonTV,butitwassomuchmoreamazingseeingapersondothatrightinfrontofher.IthadsomethingtodowithangularmomentuminPhysics,Mamahadsaidthen,butTaniahadn'treallyunderstood.PerhapsshewouldaskMamaagainlater,butrightnow,shewashavingwaytoomuchfunslidingaroundandteachingherparentsforachange.

Thatevening,MamaandPapawereachingalloverfromtheirmanyfalls.But,atleast,thepipehadbeenfixedbythetimetheyreturned,andwiththeelectricitybacktoo,theyallhadlonghotbathsinthetub.MamaandPapafeltmuchbetterafterthat.Taniatookchargeofdinner,sinceshehadonlyfallenacoupleoftimes.Shemadehotvegetablesoup,withverylittlehelpfromMama.Sheserveditwithbutteredtoasts.Papagrilledsomesausagesonthefire.Itwasagreatmeal.

Overthenextfewdays,thefamilywentforlongwalksonroadslinedwithcedarandpineforestsonbothsides,shoppedontheMallroadforprettywoodenbraceletsandnecklacesandbeautifulshawls.Theytriedskiingandsledding.TaniaandSoniaparticularlyenjoyedtobogganingdownhill.Theyhadamarvelloustime.

Onthewayback,thefamilytooktheKalka-Shimlatrain,whichgoesthrougha102tunnelsandovermorethan800bridges.Chuggingthroughthesnowcoveredlandscapewasamagicalexperience.Taniadeclared,thatitwasherbestholidayever.

Imustagree.Herholidaysarealwayssofulloffunandexcitingadventures,andyet,somehow,theykeepgettingbettertoo.IwonderwhereMamaandPapawilltakehernext.Ihopetheyinvitemetojointhemnexttime.

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