Icy Corner

Tilak and Goutham stood still for a moment. Tilak felt like the whole World stood still. But he recovered pretty soon. "Monaaaaaaaa" he shouted. Instantly Goutham resumed from the shock. He shut Tilak's mouth with his hands and warned "One more word and she will die" 20 minutes back Mona could still not believe what Goutham had told her. He had told about some unknown force taking different forms that could control their thought process, senses, etc. It was all too much for her. She definitely did not sign up for something like this. But there was something else bothering her even more - Tilak's behavioral change. The Tilak she once knew was someone who was always there for her, who would do anything for her happiness, who could be trusted, more than anyone else. Even today morning how much she had compared him with her dad. But now it was like he was infected by some virus, only it could not be cured by medicines. Her mind was overflow...

Goutham tried hard to retrieve himself from Tilak and Mona's grip , but could not. Mona kept saying "Let go...She is gone. Just let go" It took some time for Goutham for the words to sink in him. When he finally understood, he started crying like a small child. Mona threw an angry gaze at Tilak. But if she expected any remorse in his face, she was wrong. Tilak was as calm as ever. "Don’t you feel anything, Tilak? When did you change so much?" Tilak did not care to respond. He was removing the last scraps of wax from the tablet. Mona could not control her anger any more. She lunged towards him and grabbed the tablet when he least expected it. She was about to throw it when she noticed that there was something on the wood . She examined it more closely. At once she realized that it was a map. Tilak eagerly came forward to take a look at it. On the left side was a huge building, more or less like a palace. On the right was a big temple. There...

Goutham was sleeping on the boat , totally exhausted, completely forgetting the danger that surrounded him. Suddenly he heard some one whisper. "Come..." He tried to open his eyes, but could not. He tried very hard, but it was difficult. He thought for a second if it was his imagination. But he heard it again "Come to me..." This time he was sure it was not his imagination. He got scared. Twice he was saved by sheer luck. Will he escape this time too? He did not know. His heart was pounding fast. And then, he heard the voice again. "He has to light it..." He was not sure from which direction he heard the voice. It was like as if the voice came from all directions. Suddenly he heard someone scream. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Goutham woke up with a start. He was heavily breathing. Only after a few seconds did he realize that he had been dreaming. But he could not remember the dream. He was not sure...

Tilak, Mona, Goutham and Jessi had their eyes glued to the video receiver screen. Was Riyaz dead? This was the question deeply disturbing them. Though they knew the answer which was very obvious, no one had the courage to accept it. They were still hoping that camera would turn on again and that Riyaz would come back alive. After what seemed to be hours, Goutham switched off the receiver. Only then did the rest come back to the reality. In any other scenario, they would have cried their hearts out for their dear friend. But now they were still in the zone of the creature that killed Riyaz. If knowing ‘some one is going to kill you’ is scary, ‘not even knowing who the killer is’, is dreadful. It was a question of who will break the ice. Unusually Tilak initiated the conversation. “So guys…ummm…shall we focus for a second here?” No one replied. No one was even in the mood of accusing him. “I…I can understand your pain, but….” “No, you don’t” It was Jessi wh...

Riyaz was very excited with his discovery. If only he could take a video, he would become famous instantly. He started swimming in the direction he thought the creature went. He was hoping his guess was correct. Just when he thought he saw it, he heard Goutham shout on the top of his voice … “Riyaz…I want you to come out NOW? Is it clear?” “Sorry da. I do not work for you. I decide what I want to do. Got it?” “Did you actually hear what I told? There is something in the water. Unless we find out what it is, it is not safe. Please listen to me” Tilak interrupted “Can you at least tell us what you jumped for?” “Well, I will say. But don’t get any ideas that I will share the fame with you people, when I show you what I found” “Cut the crap and tell us what it is” “OK. I believe I saw a type of Coelacanth fish. Do you even know what it means?” “Are you crazy? They were supposed to be extinct millions of years ago” “Yes, but only to be rediscovered in 19...

Goutham desperately tried to open his eyes. He knew he did not have enough time. It was now or never. With the last bit of energy he had, he opened his eyes. It strained a lot. But he did not care. His arms and legs ached so much, but he knew he had to make it. The stroke that he was once so comfortable with suddenly felt hard. He tried to calm down. He needed as much air as possible, and he could not waste it in anxiety. He moved his arms and legs much similar to the breast stroke in perfect co-ordination. He felt something prick his leg but he did not turn to look back. He reached the surface in a few strokes. He saw someone watching the other side of the sea, shouting his name. He wanted to shout he was here. But no voice escaped his mouth. Suddenly someone pulled him from behind. He got scared and tried to resist, but the force was too much for him. He tried hard, but only for a few seconds. He finally gave in and went unconscious. “Goutham...Goutham...Wake up da”...

It was a bright Sunday morning. The sea was as calm as ever. "Papa, can I play in the water" "Not now baby. May be in a couple of years" She tried hard to hide her disappointment. But her dad knew it. He pulled her close in his arms and whispered "Believe me my dear. A day will come, when you will go to depths where no one else has reached" Mona came back to the present when she felt a warm hand touch her shoulders. "Dreaming about me?" "Yes and no" "And what should I take the meaning as?" "I was dreaming, but not about you" "Aah, now who is my new competitor?" Mona smiled at Tilak and turned back to admire the sea. "Look around you Tilak. It is just water, water and water. Though this is nothing new for me, I still feel like the little girl who used to go with my dad to the beach . Whenever these waves come, I feel like it is my dad swinging me high in ...

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity - Albert Einstein Sarala was pleased with Tilak. He never disappointed her. He was audacious and always the first to sign in. “I appreciate your enthusiasm Tilak, but I would like to hear from everyone” All replied at once “We are ready” “Good, hope you all have the same spirit level until the end of the journey” “But what are we going to search for? Are you going to tell us?” asked a quizzical Mona. “Of course, I will”. Sarala gave a dramatic pause and then continued. “What I have to tell you may sound absurd and bizarre. But you can have my word that it is true. There is an urban legend that King Ashoka possessed a stone...

  Prologue 265 BC King Ashoka was seated in his throne. He looked like a fearsome lion ready to lunge on anyone who dared to get any close to him. His minister had something important to tell him. He watched his majesty for sometime revising to himself for the Nth time the news he had to convey to the King. When he thought he got enough courage, he reached the King, knelt down before him and started speaking with his head bowed down “I have news, my majesty” “I am listening” came a calm yet bold voice. “One of Susima's brothers fled to Kalinga this morning for refuge.” The minister expected a sudden outburst from his majesty. But the King remained unusually silent. The King's body twitched for a second indicating he was listening, otherwise which there was no reaction. “Kalinga has become a serious threat, my majesty. Even after innumerable warnings they do not seem to change their attitude” “Then we will teach them a lesson” came a roar. 263 BC Ka...