Tintin Adventures short - Tintin of the Rising Sun

Tintin stretched sleepily, yawning and grasping Snowy in his arms. "Lazy boy," he heard Cipher say while snickering. Tintin could only shake his head in solemn contempt. It was Yan's birthday, and Tintin, along with Heather, Cipher, Caddy, Alex, Chang, and Captain Haddock, had all planned to take her to India. Yan had always dreamed of visiting India, and Tintin had it all planned out.

"Are you excited for this?" Tintin asked Yan, who was sitting by the window and reading magazine. "Boy am I!" Yan said. "I've been dreaming about this trip my whole life!" "Well, you will be getting your surprise in just a few hours," Heather said from behind them. "That is, until ol' Haddock loses the can!" Alex said from two seats nearby. "True that!" Caddy shouted. "That's it! You lassies asked for it!" Haddock shouted, rising from his seat. "No, Captain. We have to stay seated," Chang said, and the Captain set his bottom down.

Later on, a flight stewardess came out of the cockpit and said over the intercom, "Your attention please. The captain has just informed me that we are now heading into New Delhi, and we will be landing shortly." "Hooray!" Yan exclaimed. "Well, I'm gonna take a nap right now," Tintin said, reclining in his seat. "Wake me when we have landed." "Boy, for a guy your age, you sure are a real lazy homeboy," Cipher taunted. But Tintin pretended to ignore her as he slept.

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Hours later, the plane had just docked at the Hare Krishna Airport in New Delhi. The airport inside was much more bigger than everybody had expected. It was a new yet exhilarating experience for Tintin and his friends.

After grabbing their luggage and heading to the lobby, Tintin was greeted by a smiling woman in a teal-green dress and red ascot. "Guys, I want you to meet Chandra Gaipami," Tintin said, introducing the woman to his friends. "I called her to remind her that we would be arriving in India." "Yes, Mr. Tintin," Chandra remarked. "I have even contacted a van to take you all to the Mayapore Hotel." "Yes!" Alex shouted, raising her hands in the air. "Now I finally have a place to crash for the afternoon!" "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go," Chang said.

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Soon, after the long van ride to the hotel, Tintin and the rest of the gang were able to find their rooms. "All right, we'll be in our rooms resting," Heather said. "Okay," Tintin said, heading into his room. Inside, Alex was play fighting with Snowy while Yan was napping on the bed. "Okay, who's ready for a little adventure in Mumbai?" Tintin asked. "Already? You still don't have that airline jet lag?" Alex asked. "Not really," Tintin said, scooping up snowy in his arms.

"We're already going?" Yan asked, waking up. "Of course. Why else did we even come here?" Tintin said, changing his clothes. "It's your birthday, so we gotta make the best of it while it lasts." Putting his hand on his stomach, Tintin shrugged. "And by the way, sitting in that plane while my butt grew numb really worked up a big appetite." 

Moments later, after Alex and Yan changed into traditional Indian saris, Tintin and the girls went out the door. Outside, they were stopped by Captain Haddock. "And just where do you landlubbers think you're heading?" he said. "You should all be resting right now." "Well sorry, Captain. I still want to make the most of Yan's birthday," Tintin said. "He's right," Caddy shouted from the room next door. "Okay, but make sure you come right back by night," the Captain said.

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In Mumbai, it was unlike anything tintin, Yan, and Alex had ever seen. There was so much to do! "Unbelievable," Alex said. "I never knew that India could be so big." "Me neither," Tintin said. "And I just wish I hadn't refrained from eating the bad airline food on the plane," Tintin said. "Tintin, we're in the best city in the Orient, and you're just worried about your stomach!" Yan said. 

"Sorry," Tintin said. "I'm just really hungry, that's all." "Okay, okay, we get it!" Alex said. "Let's just explore the city right now." Tintin tried to navigate his way into the busy streets, but he was so busy not looking where he was going when WHAM! Tintin accidentally ran into two people and fell backward, knocking over Yan and Alex. "Ouch! My poor foot!" Yan cried out. "Tintin!" Alex growled, regaining her bearings. 

"Gosh, I'm so sorry," Tintin said. "I didn't watch where I was..." He paused and looked, for the people he ran into were a boy and a girl. The boy wore a teal mandarin-collared suit with a red sash. The girl wore a pink halter, orange harem pants, a yellow sari, and a red chakra jewel on her forehead. "No, I am sorry," the girl replied. "My brother here got a little distracted." "Kali, remind me to never get distracted all the time," the boy said. "My apologies, Bhā'ī priya," Kali said. "Gil, we show at least repay them for their apology," Kali said. "Okay, let's take them on a tour of our city," Gil said. "Of course!" Kali exclaimed. "How would you guys like a real tour of India?" "YES!!!" Tintin, Yan, and Alex all shouted at once.

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Kali and Gil made sure that their new friends had the best experience ever while they were on vacation in India. They took the three to visit a traditional Indian bazaar in Mumbai. There, Tintin decided to buy a little red sash for Snowy to wear round his neck. Even Snowy thought he looked like a little royal dog. Alex bought a lot of stuff for souvenirs; she bought a decorated leather bag for her father Antonio, a necklace for her mother Treasure, an embroidered sword pouch for Malina, and a butterfly clip for Hanna. Yan, in turn, bought herself a beautiful gold flower headpiece decorated with red rhinestones.

Next, Kali and Gil went to go treat Tintin and his friends to henna tattoos. They went to their mother's henna tattoo shop, where their mother worked. "Are these foreigners you friends, my children?" she asked. "Yes, Mother," Kali said. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Singh," Tintin said. "We'd like to get henna tattoos," Alex said. "Me too!" Yan said. Soon, Kali's mother went to work.

Hours later, Tintin and his friends all got their henna tattoos done. Yan got a henna tattoo of a red peony surrounded by yellow vines on her neck. Alex's tattoo of a scarlet sword with spiky designs on her shoulder. As for Tintin, his henna tattoo was a golden sun rising in a swirling blue landscape on his hand. "Cool. I guess that makes you 'Tintin of the Rising Sun, eh?" Alex laughed. "I think his henna is splendid," Gil said.

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Then, Kali and Gil took Tintin and his friends to see the Taj Mahal palace. "Wow. So beautiful," Yan said in a breathy voice. "Are you enjoying your brithday present so far?" Tintin asked. "My life is complete," Yan said dreamily. Tintin smiled. He could just kiss Yan right now. But he was still nervous. "I wonder if any royalty lives there," Alex wondered aloud.

"Okay everybody," Gil said, finally standing upright. "So, who's hungry?" "I am!" Tintin said. "But you never said anything to us while we were touring," Kali said. "I know," Tintin said. "I couldn't even think straight because my stomach was growling the whole time." "And I thought it was Snowy snoring," Alex said. "Where are we going for food?" "The Kit Kat Temple," Kali said. "It's the best place for dinner." "Okay, let's go!" Tintin said.

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At the Kit Kat Temple, Kali and the thers all sat down on nice pillowed cushions while a quartet of dancing girls all danced to the rhythm of an Indian singer. Soon, a waiter brought the friends platters of delicious food. The food looked so good. Little Snowy was just dying to get a lick. Then, Tintin and the others started eating. "Gosh, this is so delicious," Alex said, trying the rice and pearl millet. "Have you guys tried the rajma-chawai?" Kali and Gil both asked. "I'm trying it. It's nice," Yan said. Tintin had no idea what to taste first, so he dared himself to et the spicy curry. after the first bite, Tintin screamed. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" he started to scream. "I guess his mouth has not yet adjusted to the pungent flavor of the curry," Gil said, laughing. Even Alex and the others could not help but laugh too.


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After dinner, it was already nightfall. Tintin and the others thanked their new friends and started to head for the hotel. "So, how was your birthday?" Tintin asked Yan. "I loved it," Yan said. "And I'm still giggly over watching you scream from eating the spicy curry." "Yea well, we should be heading back now," Alex said. "Otherwise Captain Haddock's gonna be all over us for staying up this late." "And we'd be so grounded," Tintin said. Hugging Alex and Yan, Tintin and the others made the slow yet huggable walk toward the hotel.

                                             The End!