The splashing ended and the laughter quieted down.
People were returning home.
"What happens now?" Mandy asked Rishi.
"We wash," said Rishi. "And life continues."
Vinnie and Mandy looked around.
They still did not know where they were.
"Rishi, we're new here," said Vinnie.
"What is this place?"
"The city of Patna," Rishi said.
He noticed Vinnie and Mandy still looked confused.
"India!" he shouted.
"Wow!" cried Vinnie and Mandy.
Rishi stared at them curiously.
"Where are you from?" he asked.
"America," said Mandy.
"America?" repeated Rishi. "I've never heard of it."
Suddenly, a young girl ran up.
"Rishi! Mother says to come and wash," said the girl.
"This is Rima, my sister," Rishi said.
He introduced Vinnie and Mandy.
"Would you like to meet my parents?" he asked.
"We'd love to," said Mandy.
Rishi and Rima's house was made of mud and bamboo.
The roof was made of palm leaves.
A small clay stove was in a porch area.
Rishi's mother was stirring rice in a pot.
His father was standing next to her wearing a white turban.
Rishi introduced the children to his parents.
"Hello," Vinnie and Mandy said, putting their hands together and bowing.
Rishi's father did the same and smiled.
"The boys will wash first," said his father.
Vinnie followed Rishi outside to a large jug of water.
With a cup, Rishi scooped up some water.
He handed it to Vinnie.
"You wash first," said Rishi.
"Thanks," replied Vinnie.
He emptied the cup over his head.
Shocked, Rishi stared at him.
Then he said: "Do not waste water."
"I'm sorry," said Vinnie, his face turning red.
"We have a short rainy season," explained Rishi.
"So we collect rainwater in a well outside the village."
Rishi filled the cup again.
He dipped his fingers in the cup and rubbed water on his arms.
"Water is very valuable," Rishi continued.
"We must not waste one drop."
Embarrassed, Vinnie looked at the puddle at his feet.
Inside the house, Mandy was looking at a row of statues on a low table.
"What's this?" Mandy asked.
She pointed to a statue of a four-headed person with four arms.
"Brahma," explained Rima.
"He is the creator of the universe.
Brahma is one of our three main gods."
"Who are the others?" asked Mandy.
There was a dark blue statue with four arms.
Each of its arms held an object.
"That is Vishnu, the preserver of the universe," said Rima.
"And this is Shiva."
The statue of Shiva sat with its legs crossed and eyes closed.
"The destroyer of the universe."
Mandy looked at the smaller statues on the table.
"Are all of these gods?" she asked.
Rima nodded. "We worship many gods."
Vinnie and Rishi returned.
They looked cleaner.
"It's your turn," Vinnie said to Mandy.
"Oh, and don't waste water."
Mandy gave him a puzzled look and headed outside with Rima.