The hurt given by the sea

The hurt given by the sea Since it was a school holiday, I woke up from the bed with no hurry. The time might of been passed 8 a.m. I did my morning duties after blessing myself with a shower; that is when I heard an unusual sound down the road. I saw a lot of people running, terrified.

I went to the road to see what is going on. People were running repetitively saying, "sea is coming" "sea is coming". Now, people are crowding up in plow machines, motorcycles, autos, bicycles and the road is blocked. Fear is transparent in all faces.

I ran back into the home. We hurriedly collected all the basic things. Without knowing a clear explanation, we became scared. When we were ready to run, we were relieved that a brother came and said that the sea would not come to our destination. When we were relaxing ourselves, we heard someone crying aloud near us.

I stared at the road. A mother was running, with a baby on her one hand and holding the saree up high in the other hand. This scene melted my heart.

She did not have the energy to take another step, I ran to her rescue before she collapse in front of our Home. I took her child from her hand and brought her into the Home. I let her sit by the wall, and gave her cool water to drink. I told her not to cry and comfort her. Without stop crying, she began:

"When the sea hit our village, I, my husband and the 3 children were inside our home. Hearing people’s noises and tensions I took the two children who came to my hands and ran out. My husband ran to pick up the third child. I could not believe it. The waves went as high as the Palmyra tree. The seawater chased us in a high-speed. We realized that we could not run to sea’s speed. I hugged a tree that appeared in front with my 2 children. Like an arrogant monster, sea came closer to us. I closed my eyes in fear. Sea came and hit, covered and passed us. The sea’s pressure pushed me not allowing me to stand. I was suffocated. I lost all my strength. In the fear of death, I held the tree with all the strength I had left. Sea went back the way it came. This is when I realized I only had one child in my hand. I cried as aloud as I can and searched everywhere. Where do I find my child? The dead bodies were floating in the flood. I couldn’t find my child. I couldn’t move from that place without my child. Again, people started running in fear. They shouted that the waves are coming again. The sound of waves was heard far away. What do I do now? Do I look for my lost child? Do I look for my husband and my other child? Or Do I save the child in my hand? No mother in earth should have to go through this kind of decision-making. This is very tragic. There is no time to stay and think. It is my duty to save the child in my hand. That is why I am running with the strength I have left to save this child."

The people beside me and I were full of tears when she was telling her story in her tired voice. And her baby in her hand was crying out loud.

For some reason, my story is coming to my memory. When the army killed my dad and the older brother (anna) I didn’t forget the way my mom cried hugging me, even after many years. Then, it was ‘war’. Now ‘nature’. For both causes, the value of relations and the hurt after their lost are unknown.

Her baby is crying out loud.

We started to get involved in the preparation to give food to that baby, the mother and the rest of the people who had come to our Home.

- Srikanthan
(Vipulananda Home / Class 9)