On The Sea: A Story Of Seven Days
The First Story
Asha’s Desire
Asha, an ageing woman, strong body, curly hair,
eyes that might have once been black but now had prominent yellowing,
teeth that were red from eating paan,
free of the worries of the world
was seen confidently roaming around on the coastline of Chota Kinara (Little Beach).
Even though women were often seen having fun with their families here,
Asha was always strolling on the beach alone; happy and without pretence.
when we saw her reappear on the same spot of wet shore for several days.
I asked Asha,
“Do you come here every day?”
“I never leave this place."
"I live here.”
“And your house? Your family?” I asked.
“I’ve left everything behind for the sake of my love,”
she said calmly, a smile on her face.
“Love? With whom?”
She looked over towards the dancing waves and said, “with it.”
Looking around in surprise, I asked “with whom?”
A smile on her face, Asha said, “with the sea. I’ve fallen in love with the sea.”
Baffled, I said,
“you can always be fond of a scene or a place, and even admire its beauty,
but to fall in love with it...?"
Asha responded with confidence,
"I know my own heart. That’s why I say he is indeed my love”
Seeing the surprise dawning on our faces, she said,
“the first time, when I saw the sea,
I had come to this place with my family,
and he descended into my spirit at first glance.
When I went back home,
I felt as if the sea had also understood the state of my heart,
and it was calling me to come closer.
Every day in my dreams,
the sea told me 'Asha, come to me. Asha, come to me',
but how would I have come?
I had responsibilities at home.”
After a pause, she smiled again and said, “but then my husband passed away,
and then I was free.
First, however, I had to have my daughter married off.
Then I left my house and world behind. I came here.”
“Where do you live?” I asked. She pointed her finger and told us,
“that’s my hut over there.
From dawn to nightfall, I sit by the sea
and quietly gaze at it
and stroll on the wet sand.”
“But the sea looks the same every day,” we asked,
“don’t you get tired of watching it?
Don’t you feel fed-up with it?"
“I never get tired”
Asha responded.
With a calm smile, she asked us,
“does anyone ever get tired of seeing their beloved’s face?”
And then, suddenly, she remembered something and a slight sadness fell over her face.
“Yes, I did get angry with the sea at one time
and stopped coming here to
lay in my hut all day.”
“Really? Why were you upset with the sea?”
Asha’s eyes seemed to fill up with waves of sorrow.
“Six people drowned and died in front of me,” she said.
“When they were drowning in the deep sea,
I stood praying for them.
I screamed repeatedly at the sea,
'don’t kill them! Send them back alive!'
But he didn’t listen to me.
Killed all of them and sent their bodies back to shore.”
For a moment she went silent.
I asked
“Then how did you become friends with the sea again?”
Asha responded, “my heart became restless after a few days,
and I was pulled back here again.
I forgave the sea all six murders and returned to it.”