In a surprising turn of events that could easily rival a script straight out of Bollywood, four adventurous fifth-grade students from Mudaina Roopshah village in Uttar Pradesh’s Auraiya district left their parents and authorities in a state of shock after embarking on a daring chowmein expedition to Firozabad, situated 150-km away.
The quartet, Arun Rathore, Ashish Prajapati, Pushkar Valmiki, and Dev Kumar, all aged 11, collectively pooled a modest sum of `220 to fund their spicy quest for the renowned Firozabad chowmein.
With the resolve of seasoned travellers, they hitched a ride on a passing truck, setting their sights on the tantalising noodles awaiting them.
It was disclosed that Arun, the brains behind the operation, had previously eaten the famed chowmein during a visit to his aunt’s house in Firozabad in 2020. Recalling it as the best he had ever tasted, Arun seized the chance to introduce his friends to this gastronomic delight.
“Arun’s tales of Firozabad’s legendary chowmein during his previous visit in 2020 proved irresistible to his friends, prompting this escapade,” remarked Rajkumar Singh, SHO of Ajitmal police station.
Over three days, Arun meticulously planned every detail of their escapade, from procuring funds to ensuring a smooth journey. On the decisive day, Arun made a bold move by selling his prized cricket bat to a classmate for a substantial sum of `150, while his companions scraped together an additional `70 from their households.
Armed with their hard-earned cash, the boys boldly solicited a lift from a passing truck on the highway, much to the surprise and amusement of the driver, who generously offered them a free ride.
Upon arriving at their culinary destination, the boys wasted no time and indulged in a hearty chowmein feast at a local park, relishing every bite with the enthusiasm of seasoned food critics.
However, their return journey took an unexpected turn as they found themselves lacking funds for a bus ticket. Undeterred, they opted for a ‘ticketless journey,’ much to the amusement of the bus conductor, who waived the fare with a hearty laugh.
Instead, he informed the police about the tale of four boys believing that their parents must be worried.
This exactly had happened. When the boys did not return home in the afternoon worried parents of these four students rushed to the school to enquire about their wards. When they were told that the quartet did not come to school at all that day, they panicked.
The parents lodged a complaint with the police fearing that all of them have been kidnapped. The worried police launched a manhunt. At night, police got the information about these boys and their joyride was cut short when authorities intercepted them at the Anantram toll plaza, halfway through their journey back home.
Reunited with their relieved parents, the young adventurers returned home, their bellies full of chowmein and hearts brimming with tales of their spicy escapade.
As the dust settles on this extraordinary culinary odyssey, it remains evident that the allure of one’s favourite dish knows no bounds, even if it entails hitching a ride on a truck and risking a ticketless bus ride home.
