The journey was long. They had to change ships once along the way. Whatever they were served for food or snacks during the journey, they didn't know the names of those items, but they understood well enough that all the snacks and meals they were given were incredibly delicious and nutritious. They enjoyed eating it with great enthusiasm.
They also tasted various beverages and fruit juices for the first time.
Kabir faced only one discomfort: he did not feel comfortable in the washroom on the ship. He felt an unfamiliar fear there. However, Rohan quickly got accustomed to all the methods and, when necessary, helped his companion Kabir.
For some reason, Kabir felt a bit shy about mingling with the little sir here. Perhaps he was aware that Rohan knew everything about their relationship.
Having two members together also meant that he had to maintain the respect and decorum of the coach.
The next evening, when they arrived at their destination, the capital of Venezuela, the world seemed changed for them.
Until now, they had seen foreigners roaming around as tourists in India, but here, they were far outnumbered by the locals, with only a few guests from India in their group.
However, one thing was clear: everything here seemed organized and disciplined. It felt as though every person here would help them if needed.
There was no crowd, chaos, or commotion like in India. The cleanliness was such that if someone accidentally dropped a chocolate wrapper, it would be visible from several meters away. Someone would immediately pick it up and throw it in the dustbin. In such a case, it was natural for the person who littered to feel embarrassed.
It took them some time to collect their belongings and come out of the airport.
A car was already stationed there to pick them up, and they had to travel for about three hours to reach the small town where the international competition was being held.
Everywhere in the traffic, they noticed a highly disciplined environment. There was no litter, chaos, or hawkers anywhere.
There were so few people that it seemed like a public holiday. In the car, or anywhere else, not even half the capacity of people was visible.
The three hours passed very comfortably, and finally, they reached their accommodations.
This place was also a stadium, accompanied by a residential area. There were clean guesthouses and flats where they would be staying. The group quickly became familiar with the local environment.
A glance around revealed that the area resembled a rural or small-town setting, but all kinds of amenities were available. The market looked like a carnival of necessary items set up in a college or university campus. The atmosphere suggested that the sea shore was nearby. The cool breezes made the environment exhilarating.
There was only a day and a half left before the competition was set to begin. On the first evening, there was an inauguration ceremony and an introduction session, and the competition was to start the following morning.
Kabir and Rohan got a room to share, while the little sir was in a separate wing with some other people.
They had their dinner very comfortably and with great delight. On one hand, there was the allure of tasting new dishes, while on the other, there was the challenge of avoiding laziness and sluggishness from overeating.
Despite the fatigue of the journey and jet lag, Kabir and Rohan talked late into the night. In their eyes, there was more curiosity than sleepiness.
Both had fulfilled a dream of stepping onto foreign soil for the first time outside their homeland, but the main challenge still loomed ahead like a mountain.
