The Killer Wave

Vannakam! (Hello! in Tamil)

I was going through my archives and I came across something I wrote 2 years back. It is a retelling of events about the sea and how ferocious it can be. It is about the 2004 Tsunami that struck South India. It is about me and my mother land. This is based on a true story.

The Killer Wave

Ammu
26^th December’2004, 7:00 am

I can hear the clatter of dishes as Amma washes vessels inside the hut. The sky is azure with the sun poking it’s tendrils at the horizon as if taking a peek deciding which path to follow today. The sea waves come tumbling down from great heights to break upon the shore and leave nothing but froth, which is also soon washed away. The smell of ‘karwar’* hangs around the salty air as Appa and I set down dead fishes to dry in the fast approaching sun’s rays.

My father unfastens the rope which ties our catamaran while amma and I hurry in and out of the hut to bring the paraphernalia required for his long fishing trip.

Appa sets sail. Amma returns inside while I wave as the well built fisherman reduces to just a dark speck at the horizon. We live in a small hut made up of a thatched roof and mud walls situated on one of the least inhabited islands of Nicobar.  There is lot of work to be done-the fishes have to be sorted, salted, and dried, fruits roots and spices to be collected and stored, clothes to be washed. As I go about these chores I think of my brother studying at Chennai. He said he'll be coming on a short visit soon. I think of what he might bring for me- maybe a dress hmm.. a red one will look good for the New Year. I remember those days when father used to row him to Port Blair everyday so that he could be educated, his studying under a kerosene lantern. All his efforts paid off and now he studies at a well known university.

 Ammu

26^th December’2004, 9:00 am

“Hmm..hmm..hmmm”, I hum as I sat outside sorting the fish. Amma is mending the fishing net. It gives me immense tranquility to see the mighty green sea lapping at my feet. It is a rhythmic pattern, the departure of one wave hails the arrival of another. The coconut tree leaves dance to the tune of the breeze. The sun sheds its protective gaze over us. It is a wonderful morning, calm and serene.

Suddenly, the earth trembled; the waves at my feet receded, leaving nothing but wet sand with fishes helplessly jumping here and there. It was like the sea, an old friend was angry with me therefore sulking in the corner. In all my years I had never seen anything like this though, I’d heard the elders talk about the sea unleashing her wrath when humans were disrespectful towards her.

 I was overjoyed seeing all these fishes splashing about in the puddles. These fish could last us a long time, we could make lots of profit from this. I ran jubilantly barefoot right into the marshy land. I tried to collect as many fishes as I could in my little arms.

The ground roared. I trembled. It was a totally new sound. Did my sea let loose such a terrible sound?

My mother screamed, flailing her arms in an indication for me to run. The sea roared again sending a chill down my spine. I turned to the horizon to see a monstrous grey wave surging towards me. It rushed forth like a humongous wall coming closer by the second.

I was completely numb, my senses had deserted me. The fishes in my arms toppled to the ground. My feet were rooted to the ground. 

Another roar.

“Aaaaaaah….,” I ran forgetting the fish. All hell broke loose.  Amma was waiting for me, she grabbed my thin little hand and we ran and ran and ran, not knowing where to take shelter.

The impact was tremendous, as if an elephant had slammed head first into me. It punched out all the air from my lungs. I filled in a big mouthful of air. I was pushed under water. My once a faithful companion-the sea now tossed and turned me in its polluted waters. Amma was wrenched away from me by this monster. It left me unaided, desolate, solitary in my grief. My lungs were burning. I tried to resurface. I broke the water surface and gasped for air.

Anna

26^th December 2004, 10:00am

“News headlines”

I gasped. Suddenly, I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. I wanted to run but my legs were transfixed to the same spot. My breathing became heavy and labored. I gazed fixedly at the television screen, the images horrifying me more and more as time passed. I slowly sagged into a nearby chair. The reporter’s voice was fading away. Images flooded my mind- Amma, Appa, and Ammu all thrown by the ferocity of the sea. Our hut crushed, the catamaran shattered.Tears welled up in my eyes. I decided. I had to somehow make sure my family was safe, that my tribe be saved. I had to somehow get to my island to help them. “Karthik, Ashok, Jeet,”I called out to my friends. They came running. I discussed the matter with them. At first though frightened they soon started making arrangements for the rescue.

Ammu

Endless time

The unruly sun glares down at me. It’s greedy, hot rays usurping my body’s valuable moisture. I drift slowly into consciousness. My throat is parched and feels like sandpaper. My arms are decorated with marks of black and blue with an occasional cut of red. I can hardly move. Every inch of my body is sore and feels too heavy to lift. Blood cracks on my forehead as I turn to look at the surroundings. The lapping of waves is the only sound I can hear. Grayish muddy water with metallic scrap, planks, human possessions is all I can see around my raft. Sometimes I’ve spotted the carcass of an animal. I wonder what happened to Amma, Appa, and the situation with Anna. The days are steamy while the night is when all hope deserts me. I can hear the howling of distress from the sea. The waves are my only companions 2 cockroaches and a few worms are my co-passengers. I’m distressed, desolate, and melancholy.

Anna

31^st December’2004, 6:45 pm

It’s been 5 days since my friends, a few volunteers and I started the search for my family. We haven’t found anybody yet. Hopelessness, despair, and shock has spread all around the globe following day before yesterday’s tsunami. Thousands have been reported dead and missing. My teammates have been talking of pulling off the search but in my heart I still have a ray of hope and I say, “No, not yet.” As we scan the Indian Ocean we have seen debris of human possession, death and more death. It pains me to think or to hear because all of them are flooded with the same thought, despair. I shall not give up.

The other day we reached my island to see nothing but destruction. Our hut was gone; the whole hamlet was wiped out. My eyes were dry. The wind bellowed past me.  A hole had been punched through my heart which had once been occupied by my family, friends.

Now as we returned to main land I think of how the whole village would have celebrated today and tomorrow for the New Year. I wonder whether my sister would have liked her new dress – it’s still in my closet.

I hear shouts from the front boat – may be they spotted somebody. A spark of hope lightens us as I run to the front. It’s a small girl on a plank. She looked haggard. As we came up close I noticed her face was swollen and puffy. I rushed forward and leaned to pick her up. I was numb. I couldn't speak. My heart was flooding with joy.

 The girl in my arms was my little sister, Ammu.

“Ammu, Ammu,” I cried out. My sister was back. I’d done it! We’d done it! We’d found my little sister! We sped towards the coast. I relaxed. Fate had finally united us. I was at glad to have found her. Thank you god, thank you!

Ammu

1^st January’2005, 7:00am

“Ammu, Ammu,” a voice soothingly called out my name. I did not want to open my eyes for they burned, my head was pounding slightly. The linen was soft and I was warm and smug inside it. Why couldn't they let me sleep?

“Ammu.” I cracked one eye open. White, white everywhere. The walls, the bed spreads, it all felt detached. Tubes went in and out of me carrying different colored liquids.

Both my eyes popped both my eyes open. Anna, my dearest brother was sitting by my side. “Anna, oh Anna!” I cried out.    We hugged and cried in each other’s arms. Happy beyond anything we’d ever been. Happy to have each other.

Love is all that joins the whole world. We sleep easily In the soft arms of clichés- be ready for the worst, hope for the best, don’t waste time thinking about the unthinkable. What happened here in our lives shook the very foundation of these euphemistic assumptions. No amount of planning, No skill, speculations can stop a force that moves the earth and our lives.  

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[1]*karwad – dried salted fish.