The Time When We Were At Sea

 Dear Koko, 

Sometimes when we speak about one thing, another distant memory nudges you. Something like that happened to me when I was writing the last note to you. 

If we are talking football, we cannot deny the indomitable affection that we bear in our hearts for Brazil. Your Dadan and his entire fraternity are big Brazil fans. So even while they cheer for Argentina this year, we know who they started out supporting. I wanted to recount this tryst with the Brazilian flag that you had in your younger days (your younger days, imagine!).

That's where the football references end. 

Let me walk you back a couple of years when we travelled to Krabi. We had Mojo and his parents with us as well. Krabi is a beautiful island in Thailand, whose pretty picturesque beaches and clear waters are a sight to behold. We were completely enthralled with the breathtaking scenes and were enjoying a laid back and relaxed holiday. The beautiful AirBnB which we got was a perfect getaway especially for you kids. 

On one of our tour days we had booked a island tour where we were to take a ferry around a group of islands. Unfortunately Mojo could not join us that day. Given we were to hop around multiple islands they chose to sit back on the mainland.

After a good brunch, you, Baba and I got picked up by the car and headed towards the jetty. The ferry was filled with people around the globe. There was an enthusiastic German family of four who wanted to dive into the ocean from the beginning. There was a Bangaldeshi couple who befriended us and clicked some great pictures of us. There was the group of friends who were out to have fun on this great trip. When the trip began you were the only kid of your age there, so there were some annoyed stares and some affectionate ones. But you are the dream baby to travel with - no hassles at all. 

When the trip began everyone was excited and talking amongst themselves, discussing the trip ahead. We were going to make stops at a coral reef where you could dive into the water, but be careful of the sea urchins. We would go to some Instagrammable islands where you could soak up the sun. We would go to one pair of islands which was connected by a slim walkway which disappeared during high tide. Eventually we would have a dinner in a cave which would be lit up but would also have water in it, so we were all looking forward to this Jack Sparrow experience. 

The weather was charming and the group was going crazy clicking beautiful pictures. Since you were really small and I am not really too keen to go dipping in mid-ocean, we stayed back on the ferry while most people dived straight into the water (including your Baba) at the first opportune moment. I took a lot of photos of other people in water. I was amazed and impressed at the spirit of adventure that most of these people had. After that first splash, the entire group who were earlier limited to to talking amongst their own cliques magically became friends and were talking about their experience. Me and a couple of others who had stayed back sulked at each other for not being able to participate. 

Anyhow, next we reached a beautiful island with white sand and clicked only about a hundred pictures. You ate so many fruits! next we were heading to the twin islands which were connected by this very narrow creek you could walk on one at a time. This would disappear during the high tide. Again you and I stayed on the boat and looked on as people braved hitting their bare feet on the sharp corals and went on to the islands. 

We were on the deck overlooking the happy bunch as they pranced about the islands. Baba (of course!) and a couple of others had ventured on the creek. Suddenly there was a low rumble and our guides started whistling to the group who had walked off to the other island. Before we could understand what was going on, I turned around to the other side where we had our backs till now. The open horizon of blue which was looking like an empty canvas just a while back, was now filled with billowing clouds. The darkest grey ever. The gathering clouds were ashen and heavy, like the fumes from an angry monster. Never have I ever seen such an unsettling picture in my life. It seemed like some spell had been cast and in an instant a fairytale was to turn into a nightmare. 

The guides continued calling the group on the other island to get back pronto. The water was rising and the creek would disappear soon, a storm was brewing and it was rising upon us, fast. The people of the island closer to the ferry had started swimming back already understanding the emergency at hand. It was almost pathetic to look at the farther group, who were still enjoying the happy moment - they knew not what was to befall us. Our shouts flew away with the winds. Our heart was in our mouth as your Baba was oblivious to the danger and was frolicking away. After much hue and cry they waded through knee deep water and swam back. 

Once everyone was back that tiny ferry swung up and down, it was as if the ocean was playing with us. Only this child was angry and wild. The guides tried to cheer us up with some fruits - we had not eaten in the longest time and all the swimming in the ocean had left us quite drained indeed.  The little cliques had broken into one large group of people trying to figure out what was the best way to get out of this. Our next stop was supposed to be the cave where the grand feast was arranged, but we were told that going there would be a dangerous proposition in this weather.

After a while the dark grey clouds which had gathered across the sky started pouring upon us. The insignificant coverings did nothing to stop the lashing rain from whipping us black and blue. I have never experienced rain in such a ruthless and punishing way before. You were exhausted and fast asleep. Seeing you getting drenched a good samaritan held his flag above you like a tent and that is how you were perhaps the least rain soaked boy on that ferry. 

The fact that I am sitting here on dry ground and writing this proves that we are safe and sound, but that was a close one. If you say inclement weather that's what comes to mind. I love the ocean from the beach - not in the middle of the ocean definitely. That's an angry person you do not want to confront. 

Love,

Ma