Workshop # 16  
A Year Since the Tsunami
by Kanchan Mahesh

Much has happened since that day, as time incessantly passes by. Some things  lie unchanged and some things change for ever.

A beautiful morning, I woke up when it was still dark and before the temple bells rang. Slipped into my jogging clothes and kissed the husband goodbye as he was still in his slumberous haven.

A quick fifteen minute drive brought me to the beaches where the saline waters gulped the golden rays. I took a deep breath in the pristine environment and started my routine jog. Mr Sounder and Prabha were as usual picking on each others slowness as they walked and mellowed down, embarrassed as I went past them with my usual hello. Prabha reminded me to give her the Opticians phone number as she adjusted her spectacles over her wrinkled eyes.

Swamy stopped by asking me to buy his newspaper with a bunch more to sell in his bag. Soon as I brought one he smiled and ran away promising his friends he would be back to play cricket with them after he sold the papers.

I continued my morning jog thinking if Shanta would be home for work today. Shanta and Murugan lived in a small hut on the beach, Murugan earned his livelihood by fishing with a group of other men in the ocean and Shanta worked at home. Swami, now a ten year old helped his parents out by doing odd jobs like selling the morning newspapers. I did not see Shanta since 3 days since her daughter was sick. I was shaken back to reality from my thoughts as Lingam offered me a cup of Tea. Though I wanted to refuse, I could not because of the cold December morning.

I sat down on a chair and was enjoying the little boys play cricket, Swamy joined them by now. He was enjoying himself thoroughly. He has a beautiful smile I thought to myself. I was worried that he was losing his childhood by increasing his responsibilities towards his family. I always told Shanta that she should be proud of her son and she was. She would never stop bragging about her son and how intelligent he was and how much he wanted to be a Doctor.

I paid Lingam and was heading back to my car. It was almost seven and I had to get back home on time. Mornings are such a mess, I mused. Swamy ran towards me and asked if he could come by home and pick up the books I promised to buy him. As soon as I replied in the affirmative, he hopped in the car and we sped off.

Soon as I went home, Ranjan was standing at the door. Pale faced as though he had seen a ghost. I asked if everything was okay. He did not say a word and took me and Swamy indoors. The TV was on and I slumped on the sofa. This was the place I was fifteen minutes ago. Ranjan held me and said that a Tsunami had struck. The words echoed through me as it took over all my senses. I looked at Swamy, aware of what had happened teary eyed and shaking like a paper in a tornado.

Then began the phone calls, visits to the police Stations and hospitals hoping that I would find Swamy his family. Innumerable visits to identify people. Hoping against hope that Swamy would not be orphaned. The child clung on to me everyday asking if I had good news. I saw him sob silently as the news finally came in. Ranjan and I visited the morgue and had Swamy take one last look at his family. We took him back and filed the papers the very next day. He filled our only void as he accepted fate.

Today, after a year, I walked hand in hand with Swamy, I picked up the round broken spectacles that no one bothered to loot, that I recognized. I picked up a chipped white porcelain Tea cup that no one thought was worth. We sat down on the wet sands between the fish nets which Swamy once called his home. He filled his shorts with the sand as I saw a silent tear flow down his cheek. I walk towards the ocean and promised Shanta that I would fulfill her dreams and that I would make her proud.

I heard Swamy call out "Amma" I wondered if he was calling out to Shanta. As he came running towards me. I knew it was me. He held on to me and said, "Lets go home Amma". I promised to visit Shanta with her dream fulfilled as we walked back slowly to the car. 

January 16, 2006

Workshop # 16  
Articles  
Amma by Bhaskar Kolluri 
Any Good News? by Shyamala Sathiaseelan 
Childhood Innocence by Arya Bhushan 
Knowledge: The Role of an Initiator by Mahesh Sharma 
Mother – An Object of Reverence by Naira Yaqoob  - Winner # 1
Mommy and Me by Rajameena 
My Flesh and Blood by Pavalamani Pragasam 
Perspectives by Manjula Waldron 
That Singular Moment by Dr. Vidur Jyoti 
The Embrace of the Sea Goddess by Michael Levy  - Winner # 2

Stories   
A Year Since the Tsunami by Kanchan Mahesh  
Only for You by Mehru Jaffer 

Poetry 
A Mother's Joy by Michael Levy
A Son... by Rina Basu 
A Timeless Tale by Mahesh Jambunathan
Agony Of a Lonely Son by Jyothi Lakshmi. B
Boy! by NS Murty 
By The Sea by Dr. Uma Asopa 
Come by Frances Schiavina
Come On Hug Honey! by T.A. Ramesh 
Each Day is a Lifeline by Shane Taylor 
Eternity's Moments by Sudipta Chatterjee  
From Me to You by Ramendra Kumar 
How I Wish I Had My Childhood Back! by NS Murty 
Into the Arms of Mother Nature by Kanchan Mahesh 
Joy Meets Its Maker by Sugandha Indulkar 
Let's Run Together by Miryam Masih Nahar
Little Bird by Prashant Bhushan 
Mind's Window by Seema Banerjee-Ray 
Missing You by Kerry Lowe 
Mother by Anisa Chaudhary
Mother and Sea by AJ Rao  
Mother Calling by Rajeshwari Hemmadi 
Mother Embrace Child by Jayati Gupta 
Mother to her Child by Gaurang Bhatt, MD
My Child by Dr. Sirisha Dabiru
My Refuge by Vasanta Athilat 
My Sonny Boy by Ramendra Kumar 
Now and Then by Dr. Amitabh Mitra 
Ocean of Love by Shernaz Wadia  - Winner # 3
Sea of Love by Bibhudatta Dash  
Silent Expression! by Bollimuntha Venkata Ramana Rao
Someone by Naira Yaqoob 
Soul's Canvas by Seema Banerjee-Ray 
The Arrival by Sudipta Chatterjee 
The Child Within by Charlene Howard
The Gift of Bliss... by Joy A Burki-Watson 
The Sea is Calling by Smita Agrawal
The Theft by Saptarshi Das 
The Way You Make Me Feel... by Neha Girotra 
To Strangers! by Seema Banerjee-Ray
Tsunami by Frances Schiavina
Unconditional Love by Christine Redman-Waldeyer 
Untitled by Maneesha 
Water Polo by Seema Banerjee-Ray 
Where All Duality Ends ... by Sugandha Indulkar 
With Open Arms, I Welcome The Future by Sugandha Indulkar
Your Open Wide Arms by Rajender Krishan
 

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