Chapter- 5(2)

The sky started drum rolling the thunders and in a few seconds, it started a big rain. The tides raised higher, and the ship unstably moved forward in the reckless waves. Rathi walked gripping the wall, she went to her room and sat on her bed. The sound of rumbles echoed loudly inside her room.

She closed her ears to stop getting scared of seeing the other side of nature, she prayed the almighty but no specific god's figure came to her mind. She has already seen how the ocean engulfed Shankari and the fact that she doesn't know swimming greatly made her question the possibility of her survival. She stayed there shuddering in panic and the minutes passed like hours. After some time, she couldn't sit on that bed because it's shaking like crazy, opening her eyes she saw water coming from the gap of that closed door. She watched the titanic movie last year on the Television and realizing it's not dangerous to stay in the room she got down from the bed only to fall on the floor in a thud. She partly soaked in the water and also hurt her elbow in the process.

She couldn't keep a hold; it has turned into a hurricane as Aadhiyan said. It will sink this small ship any second. She got up with much difficulty and in fear, she dashes out to find Aadhiyan coming to her room as well. Her fear faded slightly to see the life jacket in his hand.

"You okay?" he asked worriedly and held her hand.

"You need to get out of this ship," he urged and handed the life jacket. He helped her in wearing that and they both headed to the deck. All people were jumping one after another carrying some impotent boxes, they don't put on any life jackets. In fact, she's the only person wearing it.

The clouds showering the rain, when they were standing without knowing what to do a huge wave soaked them entirely, and all of them lost their balance for a moment. Aadhiyan held Rathi firmly against him but she couldn't stop being feared. Aadhiyan shouted to everyone to get off the ship soon.

"Das, you take her safely with you, I will stay on the ship. I won't let it sink," he said senselessly. Das didn't speak back and just nodded his head.

Some of them stayed by his side, and Rathi looked at him stunned. Aadhiyan observed the sky and then Rathi, "Look at there, it's our home," he told pointing to the opposite side and Rathi saw the small lights in that dark.

"The water will be cold and don't frighten you won't die," He smiled.

Rathi had a strong urge to request him to come with her since she felt it's too dangerous to stay on the ship but she didn't.

"Now go, I will come," he said.

Rathi felt uncomfortable to leave Aadhi, her heart couldn't accept it. From where this sudden affection come from? She thought, looking at him.

"GO," his rough voice ordered her before another huge wave could hit the ship. Rathi bewildered by his care on her.

Aadhiyan didn't expect the hurricane will hit so suddenly. He thought it will be in the night but for the first time, he failed in his assumptions. Rathi moved to the iron railing and looked at the water. It's so massive, thick and dark, she's a tiny piece compared to that endless ocean. For the first time in her life, she's going to do something that she never thought of doing it in the first place.

Shankari's words ringed in her ears that second, your life is not what you think. Her life is like this ocean so dangerous hiding many secrets in its depth. Till now she hadn't lived the real-life that's inscribed for her and now she made her mind to dive inside the danger that haunting ever since she was born in this world.

"Jump! Rathi," he shouted, and taking a deep breath she fell on the ice-cold water. After that everything moved in a slow-motion for Rathi.

The salty water filled in her ears and she saw nothing but darkness there. She struggled to go up for air and that time a hand held her arm and guided her to the upper surface of the water. She opened her eyes and gasped for the air.

Das and another man held her safely and Rathi saw Aadhiyan watching her from standing in the ship. Abruptly another wave hit the ship that swept away Aadhiyan from that place and pushed Rathi inside the water. When she again came up she couldn't find him there. They didn't wait for Aadhiyan and swam to the shore taking Rathi.

Das and the other man was equally fast, she was surprised to see how strong he is even at this age. They carefully took her to the shore and the waves helped them to reach there easily.

She puked the saltwater that she swallowed and her scar irritated like it is burning. Taking a moment to calm her agitated adrenaline she felt dizzy. From there she couldn't see the ship and worried whether Aadhiyan will survive.

"We have to go inside. It's still raining," Das told to her.

She nodded her head and removing that life jacket Rathi walked into the dense forest looking at the sea. She felt very cold and started shivering before they could reach the shelter. They stopped before a giant door for that huge citadel. A small fire lamp is hanging at the top.

Das hit the bell a few times, then a man much older than Das opened the small door in the same gate. He looked at Rathi like one of the world's wonders.

"Is everything okay?" Das asked that man.

"Yes," he replied.

The bright lightning gave the full view of that huge fort. Rathi's fear raised too extreme and reminded the castle that comes in horror stories. She couldn't observe much since she's jumbled and shivering in the cold.

They stepped in the façade, the door was open for them in the other end and the dim candlelight glowing inside. Das was walking before her and she doesn't know where the other person went. She has not even said thanks to him for saving her life.

Her heart throbbed getting near to the door, she never saw anything like this. So many thoughts started running in her head. How many people will be there? How they will see her and what's going to happen.

She gazed around the space once stepping and surprisingly there's no one, only the silence resides in that big room. "Maara," Das called and Rathi can't take her eyes off the ancient type interior in that living area. But her eyes widened when she found a familiarity, it felt like she has seen this place somewhere.

Her anxiety took over her senses, her legs started shaking, and find it difficult to stand in that place because in her last nightmare she was here in this room, all covered in her cold blood.

Again a middle-aged man came from inside, Rathi's eyes couldn't see him properly and the world started spinning around her. She gave up and fell down on the floor. A slight conscious came back when someone carried her in their arms, she saw till Aadhiyan's beard and nose, again she closed since it felt too difficult to be in this world.

"She needs to change her dress,"

"Ask Masumi to come here," Rathi heard Aadhiyan's voice in that unconscious state, and then it completed blacked out and took her to somewhere. In her dream she saw Aadhiyan, he kissed her under the moonlight, sitting on the shore. She was so intimate with him and they looked so happy with each other.

Rathi watched that sight, intently. It looked so real and he smiled brightly than even. She wanted to go near to them but then she stopped. She doesn't want to stop this happiness. She had so many dreams and nightmares. Some she still remembers and some were not in her memory. But strangely she wanted this wonderful thing to happen in her life and she needs to remember this.

The cracking thunders disturbed the entire thing and inhaling deeply Rathi woke up from her dream. She breathed to get into this world.

"You okay?" Rathi heard a woman's voice.

Rathi was startled to hear it and moved away. That woman looked older and intimidating.

"Where I am?" Rathi asked.

"You're in your home, dear," she smiled.

"I will bring something to eat," she told and walked slowly to the door. Rathi can't stop this lonely feeling seeing these new people. The room was lighted up using the oil lamp but it is still dark. There is a huge window beside her bed from where the cool breeze is coming in.

She opened the door and there Aadhiyan was waiting. "How is she?" he enquired and looked wide-awake Rathi.

He dashed in and sat on the bed beside her, Rathi was taken aback by their proximity. He took her wrist to check her pulse and also pressed his cold fingers under her chin.

"You know how to make people worry about you," he commented looking at her face. Rathi couldn't speak even a word and watched him in an unbelievable way.

"Take rest, we will talk tomorrow," he stood up and left mystifying her completely.