THE SAILS…
[ Part -1 ]
The ocean was vast enough to consume the world. Clouds overcast adding much to the gloom.
The waves and ripples on the surface were making disrupting patterns, some seeming beautiful and some uninteresting. The sound of waves hitting the shore was the real music and the skylarks’ song wasn’t a melody anymore. Dusk gave golden glow to the holy waters. For some, the yacht was just a speck in the universe but for her, the yacht itself was the whole universe. Its nozzle pierced the gentle waters augmenting much to the disturbance. Wind, the sails’ only companion was breezing its way through the untied edges.
Tina was sitting in her usual place — on the rock which was pitch black. Face resting on her folded arms laid over her knees. Legs half bent, depicting inverted V from a distance. Her spine was a bent bow as she leaned on no support. While this was her usual posture, gazing at the infinities of waters almost without a blink of an eye was her usual gesture. Her eyes were moist without her own knowledge. Melancholy was the new Melody.
“You’ve been spending seasons in this tireless wait. Father won’t return. All the fortunes drowned along with him. If he were to return after this sail, the trafficker would have showered him with enough wealth, well enough to add decency to our filthy lives. He cheated on his dealer as well as on us… “ then he stopped for a sob before he continued, “The merchandise slipped off everybody’s lives. Struggle for survival is what remains… “, Tapan sighed.
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Tina was cognitively deaf towards him. “ I can see the yellow sails brother. It’s definitely him this time. Can you see resemblance of that symbol at its peak? Can’t you see the flag with Swastika over it? “ she said pretending excitement. Tapan smiled an unhappy smile, put his muscular arms around her shoulder warmly. Yet Tina felt it was as cold as what it conveyed. For a while they sat staring at the waves, the yellow sails and the sun which drowned with their hopes.
Tapan headed towards their shelter (though it hardly served the purpose) for setting the broken door straight. They dwelt in utter dilapidation close enough for the vigorous ocean to wipe them off someday. Hut with thin spread of hay on the top, a layer weak enough to allow rain and sun inside. Tapan had incisions on his brawny biceps due to over-work during the day.
Little did he regret because it promised them a meal at least the next day. He gestured his sister to get inside before she could catch cold and went on to sleep. The yacht with yellow sails turned towards the farther shore. Tina later unwillingly walked home. The sounds of the wind sweeps quashed her silent weeps. Tina pushed herself inside the house and did not bother to close the door.
She sat in a corner to incessantly look at the wall. She could see her world getting nullified and darkness- swallowed. Every night she felt exactly like the day they had been newly orphaned.
She couldn’t suppress but cry. She tried but failed to remember anything of her past which seemed to be less pathetic. On the gray walls she found voids that would remain unfilled forever, more like her own life. Life had been adverse.
Sails of their lives puffed and shrank owing to the lashing winds. Dusk came in for the day but not to dawn upon them a hopeful tomorrow.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — END OF PART 1 — — — — — — — — — — —
