The Missing Owl — #5
Due to the disappearance of the accused, the judge decided to postpone the judgement until further notification was given from my side. Even though the case looked solvable, I couldn’t legally proceed. All my effort seem to go in vain. A maximum of 2 weeks time has been given, so I have to find Jobi within one week and also work through the case in another week.
I was sitting on the balcony of my home, looking into the dense trees listening to the sound of birds. A criminal case that turned into a missing person’s case is now taking my sleep and it was 4:30 AM in the morning.
Sandya — “My dear Advocate! What’re you doing here?”
‘Hey! I couldn’t sleep. At least not until I find Jobi.’
Sandya sat on the cement bench attached to the balcony wall — “Why don’t you get Aravindhan and maybe he can help you out, right? Or maybe you can take up any other case.”
Exhaled — ‘I did, Sandya. But unfortunately, I couldn’t even write the case files for it. So, I’ve asked Lindo to take care of it.’
“Guess you need a break! Get some sleep now and wake up later, then go for some birding. It will help you.”
‘You know what, Sandya? I’m going now.’
Driving towards the Mizhavukkadu
Mizhavukkadu is a tiny island with mountains situated on the Eastern riverbanks of Pakshi river. After driving to my friend Saadik’s house who owns a couple of boathouses and 3 other boats that take people to Mizhavukkadu.
He wakes up at 5 AM in the morning and goes straight to his farms behind his house. I entered the Farm and called out with a whistle.
Acknowledging back with a whistle, he greeted — “Hello Sameer! My friend, what are you doing at this hour?”
‘I want to go to Mizhavukkadu, Saadik!’
“Bird watching aanu. Are you alright? Okay, you wait. I’ll refresh myself and inform the family and come” and he asked me to wait near the stand where his boats were parked.
“Ahn. Shall we go? We will go in my Ferrari” he laughed.
On our way in the backwaters, the breeze calmed my nerves, and went to sit on the nose of the boat. With houses and trees on both sides of the bank, many people had tiny boats as a mode of transportation. Sitting and staring at the vast, Saadik asked me to come a little backward to talk with me. He switched off the motor and took the row.
“Sameer! What bothers you? Is it something that you can share with me?”
‘I’m sorry Saadik. It’s a case I’ve been thinking about.’
“Ohhh! Adhanu ninde kozhappam. Let me tell you a story of a sailor.”
‘Yes, Saadik! Please tell me. I’m all ears.’
STORY OF A SAILOR
There was a sailor and he’s also a fisherman. His family sells the fish he gets. Every day is a miracle because he catches 3 big ones every single day and not one less or more.
Those 3 fishes sell for a higher price. One day as usual, when he and his father were preparing for him to go to the sea, his father felt a bit uncomfortable and he had a cardiac arrest.
The father said — “My Gods have answered my wishes. I’m going to die on the boat I constructed and in the hands of my child. You take good care of your children. Teach your son fishing and you do better than what I taught you every day. God bless you, my son. My savior is calling onto me”
And just like he wished he died in the hands of his son. Life passed by in a blink. The sailor’s son became a young man like he was and he began going on trips to catch fish from the sea with his father.
The sailor’s father gifted him a watch when he was in his final moments. It was his grandfather’s watch who also gave it to the sailor’s father while he was on his deathbed.
The sailor and his son traveled a lot. Sometimes, the daughter would also accompany them. Brother and sister took care of each other during the trip and eventually they both took care of their father — the Sailor.
One fine morning arrived and the father-son duo was preparing their ride. Eventually, the Sailor’s watch was coming to an end. The old man stood looking over everything he had done, everything he had built. He asked his son to call his mom and daughter while he waited near the boat.
The sailor asked his son to sit in the shade of their boat while the others stood by. He laid his head on his son’s lap and began telling the story of how his father passed away.
The father said — “My Gods have answered my wishes. I’m going to die on the boat I constructed and in the hands of my child. You take good care of your children. Teach your son fishing and you do better than what I taught you every day. God bless you, my son. My savior is calling onto me”
— —
I interrupted Saadik to stop telling the story. ‘Man! You’re repeating the same story now. It is not going to have an end. This is just another story of a sailor and his family.’
Saadik laughed and replied — “And that my friend is Life. No matter how hard you try to change it. It is going to repeat until you notice it. Be it God or some driving force of nature, eventually, it will happen. Thinking is not going to take you anywhere. But a clear decision making will.”
Chuckled and looked at the rising sun.
‘You’re right, Saadik! This story now makes sense man. You helped me make a decision. I am going to revisit this from a different perspective but with the same approach. You’re a savior, Saadik! Now, anyway, let’s go to Mizhavukkadu while I need to make some notes in silence.’
“Glad I could help, my friend!”
~to be continued~
