Triumph At Tsunami

By Dr. V.K. Jain

What Inspired to write this novel:
This novel is based on certain incidences those went into my heart and occupied my mind. Nature provides everything for life can also be destroyer. Such calamity created by Tsunami left many in different modes of life. One such life corroborated with incidences that, how with firm determination based on intuition could help her survive, is the main theme of this novel.

The present tale unfolds the struggle of an ordinary young girl, who by her fortitude, unwavering mental strength and unflinching faith in her love rises from ordinary to extraordinary.
Malini, the young village belle loves Srikanth and both get engaged even after social dissent. But, as fate may have it, the cruel waves of TSUNAMI swept away everything, everyoneóher father, brother and lover. She was left alone with her semi-comatose mother without any material help and support.
The present saga reveals the human desire to live and conquer. Malini, exhausted, pale and distressed, nevertheless determined to fight the atrocities of fate. She was compelled to accept surrogacy to give life to her ailing mother. Her optimism was immense and the yearning to be re-united with Srikanth, who was swept away by the waves to an unknown island was so great that, it kept her alive and gave her strength to be the 'Triumphant at Tsunami'

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diamond Books
• Release date: Dec 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9788128828416

Book preview

In Between Vellankanni

and Kizhvelure,

District Nagapattinam Tamilnadu

Chapter - I

Srikanth, the boatswain was in the final stage of repairing the motorized boat. He was trying to set it right for the trial and going to fix a few nails in the last. Monsoon weather was a bit humid, but occasional blowing of wind helped to rejuvenate the body for hard work. Mr Hradeyrao, owner of the boat was sitting beside. He was watching and helping him as the young man was working nonstop with such concentration that, he was not bothered about anything around; even he did not take lunch being in hurry to complete the job. He was to board the bus for his home town Kizhvelure as he was assigned for another job next morning. Suddenly his attention got diverted as if something had fallen to his left with a sound of thud on the ground. Being scared he looked around but found a well built, full bloom young girl, playful and vibrant who came running with a speed of whirlwind and obtrusively stood by his side with an impact on the ground holding a teapot in one hand and some eatables in another. Bewildered he lost control on nail and the hammer with the result hammer got stuck on to his left hand crushing his thumb. Gazing at her, he could not cry. His heart got stuck entwined in her chuckling gaze concentrated on him as if she was teasing him with a quivering smile for his absurdity of working so hard in such lovely weather, ignoring the God sent beauty for him. There were fine drops of sweat on her pinkish cheeks; bosoms were thrashing forward moving rapidly up and down with each stroke of breath and the snarling sound with fragrance of her breath merged into the air blowing towards him. Though not very fair, she was of average built but he found her very attractive. She was on her evening round to go playing with her friends and came here to hand over some eatables for evening break to her father on the way. Getting conscious she was ready to move but seeing his thumb bleeding profusely which got stuck with the nail, she screamed….! Getting alarmed and looking at her eyes concentrated on his hand, he got his attention diverted towards and after seeing the blood he cried horribly with pain. Seeing the blood was flowing from the thumb, she immediately sat down beside and holding his hand she wrapped her cotton stroll and pressed it tightly sandwiching between both the hands. She kept his thumb pressed and swayed his hand into her lap to compress and give the warmth of her body for getting the blood coagulated. She did not study this art of first aid in the class room, instead she remembered the incidence when her mother ordered her to chop off the fish and vegetables for cooking and she happened to get the knife slipped, that gone straight in her hand giving a cut on three of her left hand fingers. Her mother taught this art of stopping the blood to flow by compression and warmth of her body. They were still and listless, but something was flowing and being communicated in their silence. It was around five in the evening of Monday, the 23rd of August 2004. Wet and windy air of the monsoon started blowing around giving a shiver in their silence. His pain was masked by the warmth of her body and she could not loosen the grip lest his blood be allowed to flow. They could inhale the breath of each other probably carrying the silent message from their heart amalgamating their wave lengths.

Hradeyrao was staring and watching them as if ‘love birds’ were hibernating in a cell of their compassionate love. Just then becoming conscious, he intervened, drawing attention he told the boy, She is my ‘daughter’ Malini! And smirkingly scolded her to be careful and behave mature. Young boy turned his eyes to her father and with the conscious command of discipline, pulled out his hand with a slight jerk from the cozy comfort in the warmth of her body. Looking at her shyly and turning to her father he tried to justify the incidence and said, I am fine, bleeding is stopped, got relief in pain and feeling better. On the other hand, young nubile got conscious as if she was responsible for the incidence. She pretended to be burdened with a kind of guilt as to help someone unknown. She tried to organize herself by arranging her cotton stroll and grumblingly looked at the stains of blood as if it was spoiled by her own mistake. But she was amazingly happy inside finding his essence entrapped in her stroll and she wanted to preserve the memento secretly.

Hradeyrao asked him to have tea but could not offer because it became cold like water and sweetened by molasses. They meekly smiled at each other and the boy pretending to thank her father for the courtesy, tried to get up from the scene for completing the job. Hradeyrao in a tone of submissive apology requested him to come home for dressing of his wound and to have a fresh hot tea while dinner is ready. Srikanth nodded in affirmation and said, Let me finish my work, will accompany you then after. Malini sensing his consent ran home to inform her mother to prepare dinner for the guest and got herself busy in preparing fresh hot tea for her father and the guest.

Mother could not understand from where a guest had come. Who is he by the way, from where has he come and why for dinner without any prior notice? Looking at her so excited, mother asked her.

Malini could not wait for so many queries to be answered; she was busy preparing the tea and told her in brief that the mechanic got his hand injured.

Mechanics are poor people; belong to labour class! Mother retorted in anguish tone, They are likely to bear such injuries now and then, what is so great about this, just give him a first aid, apply medicine on the wound, give bandage and let him be off……!

No Ma….a…a! He had the big nail gone very deep into his thumb; already I gave him the first aid, as I happened to learn this art from you. Now he is coming for dressing of the wound and as we know you are perfect in medicinal treatments, so please prepare some ointment for bandaging his wound. I will prepare tea in the meantime, they could come any time. Papa promised him dinner because he could not take lunch and he has to leave for home at the earliest. Malini told her in one breath as if she had no time to explain her further.

Mother rebuffed, It was only one hand he got injured, other hand was right in order and the tea is taken by mouth, it is such a waste of money and our labour. No one is bothered how much we are working nonstop since morning. And now as if we are meant to prepare tea and food for the labourers also?

Mother was grumbling and murmuring while Malini was busy making all the preparation. But at the same time mother noticed some change in the behavior of her daughter and felt, she was becoming more responsible and caring. She realized, her daughter has crossed the age of her adolescence and becoming mature. Whereas, Malini felt in her heart a deep concern for the injured person what she never had such a feeling for any one before. She got the tea prepared and arranged pots on the table without being assigned the job by any.

Father entered the hutment with Srikanth behind. Her mother Shrimala was sitting on the floor preparing the medicinal ointment at the insistence of her daughter, but grumbling for an extra load of work for a labour. She was introduced to the guest. He ‘out of curtsey’ bowed down to touch her feet even without having any relation with the family. She could not think of such a decent gesture from anybody in labour community. He was courteous, simple and sober, stout, handsome and disciplined. She was touched by heart and felt a kind of affection for the young man. Suddenly her attitude was changed and she asked him to sit down beside. Showing her sympathy, she asked him about the injury and consoled him instead of scolding him for the negligence. She offered him tea with some snacks and affectionately, took his left hand to apply the medicine and bandage. Father felt ignored as total attention of the ladies was diverted towards the guest. He therefore, poured tea in the tumbler for himself and was looking for some snacks, not been offered to him. Srikanth started feeling better with such an affection bestowed upon him by the family. Some chit-chat was going on between mother and the guest with instructions that, he should have taken lunch in time and not been so careless while working with hammer and nail or travelling. He felt for the first time in life such a caring attitude and motherly love.

Malini was in the kitchen, trying to prepare the dinner but getting confused at points. Therefore she was calling her mother now and then for help in between their talks. Getting disturbed, Shrimala, in her motherly tone pretended to scold her a bit but inside her heart she felt elated for the performance of her daughter. After finishing the outside work, mother went inside for taking command of the kitchen for dressing up the preparations and asked her daughter to arrange the table. It was a sort of formal dinner since the boy was not in their relation and not acquainted with the family. It was obligatory and merely a formality because he got injured while working for them and could not have lunch and tea. Therefore, her father offered him the gesture to invite him home. Time was 6.30 in the evening and dinner was being served to both of them only, because it was customary in their community that in formal dinner ladies do not take part with foreign guests. Mother was in the kitchen preparing food to be served. She was asthmatic, slightly obese with pain in joints. It was difficult for her to go out of the kitchen again and again for serving and helping. Therefore, Malini was asked to serve them dinner and she enjoyed the duty assigned to her.

Srikanth observed that a young boy was sitting on sofa in the corner. He asked hesitantly to Hradeyrao, If he is the brother I mean Sir, is he your son?

He nodded and replied in affirmative. Yes, he is my son Rajan.

Then, let him come and join us for the dinner!

No, he will take his dinner later with them, replied Hradeyrao and told him, because he is not too well, he has some breathing problem.

Srikanth became a bit concerned and asked him, He is very young, why he should be suffering from any such problem?

Hesitantly on his persistent queries Hradeyrao replied and told him that, He is a ‘blue boy’ as it is called in medical term, he has a hole in his heart since birth and because of this the pure blood gets mixed up with the impure blood, as a result there is lack of oxygen supply to the organs in the body. Though, he is mentally alert but slight bulky because of lack of exercise. He becomes blue and breathes very heavily even on slight exertion therefore he is unable to play outdoor games or walk briskly.

Srikanth never saw any young boy suffering from any such ailment to make him incapacitated. He queried about the remedy or any treatment for his illness.

Father told him in brief, Yes! He is on regular medical treatment and with the help of family members he is doing well. Doctors waited for his hole to get reduced in size even it could be closed by itself with the growing age. But findings on recent medical checkups revealed that operation to close the gap is needed. He is going to complete eighteen years of his age in December and operation is planned somewhere in the month of February or March next year in 2005.

Srikanth showing his sympathy wished Rajan good luck and healthy life.

Hradeyrao had a well maintained hut, partitioned into two rooms and a kitchenette along with a lobby with dining facility and toilet outside. There was enough vacant land outside for gardening to grow plants and vegetables for their daily use. Malini occupied small room for her own privacy and the large size room was left for her parents and brother because of his illness as he had to be watched closely and given medicines in time. They were happy and satisfied. After finishing their dinner Srikanth looked at the time, it was past seven and he was to board the bus to Kizhvelure via Nagapattinam. The last bus was to leave at 8.30pm for that he was to go over one and a half km on foot. Outside weather was windy and it was drizzling, street was dingy as there were only a few lamp posts. It was usual in the villages of coastal areas and to escape that he used to carry a torch for his own safety. Though there was not enough space in their hutment but extending his courtesy Hradeyrao reluctantly asked the young man to stay for the night and mother also showed a bit anxiety for the overnight journey in such a bad weather. Srikanth though wanted but remained firm to meet his obligation for the next appointment. It was the question of his professional duty that he could not exceed to their demand but felt in his heart and wished for such an opportunity. Malini understood the reluctance of her parents for the stranger being not so well acquainted with the family and urgency for his job commitment. She was hiding behind taking shelter of her mother and staring him with fixed notion but her eyes were numb. For the first time she felt as if someone very close to her was parting away. Somehow she wanted him to remember her and thought of presenting him a memento. Looking at the outside weather she ran inside the house and quickly brought an umbrella and gave it to her mother to give it to him for the journey. Father was surprised, but mother could understand the inclination of her daughter. The young boy meekly showed obligation for the courtesy extended to him and deeply felt the concern of her daughter. His heart started throbbing; deeply looking into her eyes he conveyed the acceptance of her gesture. Unable to stand further, turning to her mother he bowed down to touch her feet and turned back to go, but he was in utter confusion as to how to compliment her father who was watching him and standing on the gate. It would be an insult to the head of the family if he did not touch his feet but the hesitance was, never before he extended such a courtesy to any of his client. He was baffled and became emotional because deep into his heart a bond was developed with the family because of his daughter. He, therefore, hurriedly touched the feet of her father and started his journey leaving everybody in lurch to think in their own way, including himself.

Umbrella depicted a ‘bond’ in between the two and this was his prized possession, enough for him to carry the memories with him. He kissed the umbrella and embraced it to feel cozy. Getting wet in the shower he shivered and felt the need of the umbrella, therefore, he covered his head and felt a little warmth under it. He was pacing with the time, running to get energize and boarded the bus, which was ready to move as if it was waiting for him. During the journey his mind was occupied with innumerable thoughts and queries. The kind of life he saw in her, he remained restless with some vague pictures and thoughts disturbing his mind again and again. He was sleepy, but his heart continued to throw some kind of waves to his mind with every beat. For the first time in life, he had such an acquaintance with a nubile young lady and he did not have this kind of feeling ever before. Her every movement and expression got registered in his mind. The moment he thought of the incidence, he felt relieved from the agony of pain by the warmth of her body and his mind could submerge in peace for that he was able to take a nap during the journey.

Father came inside and went to his son to give medicine, sat with him and asked for his dinner to be served. Malini got food for her brother and went back to her mother to finish the kitchen work. Later, mother and daughter came back with plates in their hand and Malini got coffee for her father. They sat along and everybody had something going on in their mind, but they were reluctant to come out openly. Mother felt some inclination of her daughter by seeing her concern for the young man. Weather was getting cold and windy; they were hibernating in their hutment in the fall of night and started discussing about the day’s work.

Father told them about the boatswain did a nice job of fixing the boat as he is well experienced and very sincere in his work.

Mother retorted with a jeering remark, Then how could he injure his thumb if he is experienced and qualified in his job?

Father could sense her meaning, looked at his daughter with a smirk he told her, These tit-bits usually happen when somebody is serious in his work and gets his attention diverted by sudden thud of a storm.

What was that storm? Do you mean it was a thunderstorm or a hurricane? asked the mother surprisingly! At least I did not see anything like that being here only a hundred yards away from the site.

Yes it was a storm only, because our daughter is no less than a hurricane, she swings and runs like a storm. The poor chap felt scared when she stopped suddenly with a sound of thud on his side as if something was going to fall on his head. So, please make her understand that she is a grown up girl now and should behave with maturity at least with an unknown person.

Malini retorted, Papa you are unnecessarily getting hyper, he has not got injured because of me. You always have a tendency to blame me for something or the other if it goes wrong. If you feel so, then I will not go to your work place at all.

Father got a silent message in her reactive reply. He consoled her in a submissive tone. Oh! Dear, I take my words back. I did not mean that it was because of your fault. For me you will always remain a child and we like your innocence. But now you are of the marriageable age and someday you will go to another house, there you will have to adopt certain customs of the new family. Therefore, you must grow up and behave maturely. We know that you are intelligent and accommodative and you will keep your husband and the family happy. We, as parents wish you to lead a secured and happy family life and bonding with all the members of the family.

All conversations were in a light mood and everybody was enjoying chit-chat and the day’s work. It was only to pass time otherwise there was no other source of entertainment in the area. Shrimala came out with her motherly love mixed with a bit of anxiety, Now she is a grown up girl and we must actively look for a suitable match for her.

Drawing the attention of her husband she asked, What about the boys you have seen in our community?

He replied, There were proposals from outside and some from local area but none was suitable for any consideration. Further he told that, I did not find any one suitable for her since all the boys I have seen by now were not of any status and none was well qualified rather they were worse than the labours having no etiquette, manners, culture and no education to match her.

Malini’s parents were disillusioned for not getting a suitable match for her. However, the present situation is different. What they saw a vibrant and masculine personality in young and versatile Srikanth. He looked to be educated, simple and sober with desired etiquettes and manners. He is hardworking and also of marriageable age.

Hradeyrao showing concern for his daughter spoke, I am looking for a handsome boy for my daughter, who should be educated, well qualified in his job and he should keep our daughter happy. The boy must have independent income to support the family on his own and should not remain dependent on his father’s income only.

Mother was delighted that father is concerned about the welfare of their daughter and asked him, Do you have someone in mind?

He replied, Well, what about the boy you have met in the evening? I can vouch that he is a well-qualified mechanic and not a labour.

Not bad but we must know about his credentials in detail. Shrimala told him, showing her interest in the boy.

Teasing Malini her brother told, Yes papa, I also feel that he is a nice match for her. At least, I will have some more space in the house when she is married.

Malini was elated, feeling shy she tried to suppress her emotions but pretending to be annoyed she retorted, Alright, I will go, if you feel that I have become a burden and should leave space for you in the house, but look, you lazy bum! Who will look after you when you can’t do a thing for your own self?

Her expression of annoyance gave impression of her being in love as she was trying to hide the intense emotion of affection. Never before she had such feelings, but now somebody had enchanted her virgin heart and the episode started occupying her mind.

They were talking about her marriage and discussing about many questions before the proposal to be carried for Srikanth. Thinking that, her parents would like her to comment and ask about her like and dislikes as if they were going to buy some gadget for her. She was feeling shy because her private matter was being discussed in the open. She had no guts to tell about her feelings openly, therefore, she preferred to leave the matter to her parents as they were the best to decide and let her destiny take its own course. She was unable to control her emotions, therefore, pretending to be annoyed and feeling sleepy, she ran away from the meeting and went into her room. She laid on her bed wrapped in her cotton stroll, grabbed the blood stained portion of stroll in her hands pressing it she took it near to her heart and was lost into the dreams.

Chapter - II

Malini was around twenty, full bloom grown up girl, well built, of average height, though not very fair but attractive for her feminine youth. She was chirpy and playful, not very ambitious, sober and well behaved, but would not tolerate anyone doing wrong to her. She was greatly influenced by her friend Jasmine, who was four-five yrs. older to her, married at an early age and living in the neighbourhood. Jasmine was extrovert and talkative, she helped her grooming and getting oriented to the social developments through accessibility of media as she was fond of television installed in her room. She would take her to the market for their makeup and select dresses for occasions and cultural events in the colony and enjoyed window-shopping.

Malini was well acquainted with all the residents in the area and remained quite helpful to them whenever there was need for extra help. Whenever some elderly person fell sick in neighbourhood she would take him/her to local dispensary and take care of them. She was lovable and trustworthy. Malini knew that her mother and brother are not well, therefore, she used to help her mother in the household work and after the lunch time she would go to help her father.

Hradeyrao was well known for his sincerity and hard work, doing reasonably good in his business, but he could not save much as his wife was suffering from joint pains, asthma and hypertension. Rajan had defect in heart by birth and for that medical expenses were high because they needed regular medical treatment. Local residents were mostly fishermen. They used to provide raw sea food to fisheries from the high sea. There were small shops for daily needs away in the market area and school facility up to matriculation. Electricity and water supplies were erratic. There was plenty of open area with marshy ground and unmanned parks. It was for the residents to take care of the area by themselves. Occasionally, they would arrange for a get together in the open land in front of their hutments.