The boat-race picnic

Tripayar lake, which was actually a lagoon of the vast river that flowed through Thrissur district, had a noisy, cheerful and festive spirit about it. Just like the past few years, the annual Tripayan boat race, in celebration of the yearly Onam festival was to be held there again. Just so you get the picture right, boats on the race were to be rowed by about 6 per boat, and mission was to reach the finishing point, the other side of the lagoon fastest, rowing your boat ferociously. Everyone knew what a mega event that turned out to be every year. Everyone had something to make merry about on that day! The florists made big bucks, boatsmen bought huge masses of flowers in decoration for their boats. The toddy sellers nearly earned their year's profit on that day as they sold toddy to all the participants if not for which they would not be able to row much beyond their capacity, like they did. The participants made big and small heroes of themselves, rowing the way they do is not a small task, mind you! The usual crowd often bet against each other on the boats from their villages! Teenage boys just dreamt of a day when they'd be one of the boatsmen, testing their strength against each other and bringing victory and pride to their families and villages. Teenage girls shyly whispered to each other about their crushes on their chosen boatsmen! And the little ones raced their paper boats against each other. So it was a gala time for everyone!
'Dubai lakshmi', as silly as it sounds, that was the name of our boat. We could think of a million more majestic names, but the owner insisted on this one, apparently in worship of his source of all wealth and prosperity! Griz and me were at the first pair of oars. The duck and Goldskin, were at the second pair and Keda and Beats were on the final one. The ones on the final one had to have the maximum strength, so we trusted it to male physical strength! Though I personally believed I was stronger than Beats the beatle and Keda the snake put together. But I left my personal beliefs aside, team work and ultimate co-ordination is what we required today. Anything to bring that victorious trophy and pride to the jungle back! Failure would be painful, what with owing the boat owner a huge lumpsum. I heard my heart racing real fast and after sometime i couldn't hear it anymore, I suppose it was going faster that sound or one of those science mysteries! Soon it was time to begin and the whistle was heard!
We drew in deep breaths, screamed out the customary 'Ehiy lhasa' and steered to steam ahead. From the very beginning we brought up the rear. Griz and me got our navigation all wrong. Duck had never had time to practise rowing with us, roaming the world about on her chariot the way she does, Goldskin always overconfident about her skills. Too much toddy never did Beats any good, he was his usual farting self and Keda mostly sat mystified by the scenery about. 'Ehiy lhasa', 'Ehiy lhasa' we went, but to no where close to the finishing line. From where I sat, the fastest boat was almost onto the finishing line. Bitter failure after all that tension seemed almost soothing. Man, we ought to have realised much earlier, we were no humans to enter that rat race!
Suddenly the duck had this brilliant spark, and we lost no time in changing our direction. We were now heading towards this secret cove that formed close to where the river joined the sea. It was the most amazing spot for a picnic! yippie! Totally unlike what I thought of how the day would go... The boat owners' due, awh, the duck's daddy is a king right? Well, he owns these oil fields and all that. Its a pleasure to know duck especially if you are in a financial lurch, like the one we were in! Anyways, everyone's welcome to join us at the picnic...