Amit Malhotra's experience of the sea

 Well I joined tha navy in August 2002 and went for my basic training in chilka in orrisa.. There I hv been trained for 6 months to learn basic rules and discipline.. Then in last week of January 2003 I got one month leaves after my basic training.. I was very happy that I was going back to my home after a long time.. That time I realized that now I'm not a normal person.. I become a soldier of my nation.. When I arrived my home at Ludhiana that time my parents hug me tightly and blessed me with their love.. Apart from that i was feeling my self different from my other friends.. I enjoyed leaves with happiness and joy.. In that period I met with my all relatives and friends.. After my leaves I hv been appointed for ship training in cochin kerala for my further 3 months ship experience.. My parents came to railway station to see off me with heavy heart.. That day I was so much upset coz again I was leaving my parents for a long time.. But I was unable to stop going my self... That day the rain was in full swing.. It was heavily raining.. Train started and after more than 2 days journey I reached at cochin. I was shocked when I came to know that the people don't know Hindi.. But I manage one taxi driver to drop me at naval base..... After that I reported on board my ship.. First time I was looking such a big ship in my life.. It was like a mini city.. Next day my shipmate introduced me and other trainees to ship company.. I took almost 10 days to settled my self in ship conditions... After that our ship went to Goa and followed by foreign countries like Italy and Egypt.. During visit the sea conditions was normal but when we arrived at suawge canal at Mediterranean Sea the sea conditions gone worst like a hell.. The sea was very rough and our ship was rolling and pitching.. We all under trainee were scared like a small kids and praying for our lives to god.. Full night we were under scare... But next day in afternoon again sea was calm and silent like a river.. After around near 11th day we arrived at polermo city in Italy.. The city was looking like heaven and we all had enjoyed there for 6 days.. Indian navy ambassy in Italy had arranged some other cities and placed tours for full ship company.. 7th day we moved back from there to our next city to Egypt.. After 4th day we were in the Egypt... Here also we went to see pyramids and many more things like mummy.. It was like a dreams for me but I bite my self and said "Oye amit Malhotra it's true.." in Egypt we stayed for 5 days.. after that we headed towards India.. We all were so much happy and feeling proud to join the Indian navy.. As it says that "join the Indian navy and see the world".. After 45 days we were back to cochin.. Slowly slowly 3 months passed and we had done our ship training successfully.. From there I went to lonavala for my further branch trade training.. Here too I spent my 6 months.. After passed out from lonavala engineering college I was a complete package of well disciplined man and a Navy battle soldier too.. My first appointment was again in cochin in the ship.. But this time my ship was another.. I spent my four years at cochin and transferred to Mumbai.. Then vizag and now presently at Delhi since 2011 May.. During my 11 years of service I got lots of experience in engineering and other various battle activities and navigation system.. I saw the world like almost 15 countries.. I saw various region sea and sea life.. Sea world.. And many more which I can't explain in text messages.. :-) so here it is my life.. I hope you would like this.. But I would like to say that I am little bit weak in english and grammar.. So please understand my past.. Present and future tense...

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 Walking alone in some Victorian dream,

on a path along some solitary beach,wrapped in a cape and a hood,

and in her hands a jaded book of hymns,

the sand sticks to her sandals but does not bite.

The backwaters flow between the sand and the hills

and the slopes are covered in a blanket of green.

I recall a woman walking in the sand

wondering if I met her would she know me!

In that dream where I see her, does she recall me?

What did we share, what let go?

In that idyllic past, where did I live;

where did I fall in love?

What were those things I was made to forgive

and then was led to forget in the flow?

Sushama Karnik.

GOOGLE.COM

Image: Solitude, 1889 - Charles Sprague Pearce - WikiArt.org

Found on Google from www.wikiart.org

Emma's Story. Part 2. Chapter 1.

  I wasn't sure how she would take it. She was mature and level-headed. But I was not sure of myself. And most of all I felt concerned for Charles. He had just learnt to calm down after he had begun to trust me in his innocent but proud way. It would be another rather cruel stroke of destiny to be deprived of someone who had begun to figure as a father and a friend. .

That night I was left with no appetite. The night came without a sound. I prayed, solely for Emma, and Charles desolately..

That night I dreamed a dream of Emma, or rather a dream that she would have dreamed. It .was a large dining table in a cool dark dining hall with an overhanging lampshade, a kind of Victorian type of house. Emma's family had gathered around the table as if it was a long awaited reunion; Emma, and Charles, a grown up happy young man, and they were all sharing some tough thoughts and soft prayers. I wasn't anywhere in that dream, and yet the dream was a part of me.

That was a short but good sleep and I got up feeling hopeful and peaceful, not for me so much as vicariously for Emma.

 Emma's Story. Part 2. Chapter 2.

The first major mission before me next morning was to visit my headquarters and arrange to transfer money to hometown. I had on my hand the time of a week or so before starting on my voyage back.

I might see Emma on her way to school if I managed to plan my schedule accordingly. But I trembled at the thought. It was destined to be my last encounter with Emma and Charles. I wasn't sure how she would take it. She was mature and level-headed. But I was not sure of myself. And most of all I felt concerned for Charles. He had just learnt to calm down after he had begun to trust me in his innocent but proud way. It would be another rather cruel stroke of destiny to be deprived of someone who had begun to figure as a father and a friend. .

That night I was left with no appetite. The night came without a sound. I prayed, solely for Emma, and Charles desolately..

That night I dreamed a dream of Emma, or rather a dream that she would have dreamed. It .was a large dining table in a cool dark dining hall with an overhanging lampshade, a kind of Victorian type of house. Emma's family had gathered around the table as if it was a long awaited reunion; Emma, and Charles, a grown up happy young man, and they were all sharing some tough thoughts and soft prayers. I wasn't anywhere in that dream, and yet the dream was a part of me.

That was a short but good sleep and I got up feeling hopeful and peaceful, not for me so much as vicariously for Emma.

Emma's Story Part 2. Chapter 7.

 Emma and Charles had come prepared to spend long hours of that Sunday on the beach with me. There was the breath of freedom in their presence, the way they were dancing to the rhythm of some song that Emma had picked up recently from her music lessons. Charles threw his hands up in the air like the child he had drawn in the sketchbook. This went on for some time until Charles found a mound of a sandcastle somebody had started making and left half the way, incomplete. He got busy building it up again in his own way.  

Looking at Charles who was busy meticulously shaping the form of the new castle, Emma looked pensive. I asked her about her unexplained and abrupt exit of that day. She did not speak for some time but the pause did not last long. Without turning to look at me she said, "I cannot quite explain and you will not understand. It had to do with the loss we suffered over our father's death. My parents were deeply attached to each other. My mother who was outwardly a strong person was not all that strong really. She was dependent on my father in many ways. Financially we were secured but that was not the point. In spite of her brave effort to get on with life and with her devotion and duty as mother she had caved in and collapsed under the stress. When you mentioned you  being from the armed forces I recalled all that we had gone through." She paused. 

I did not ask her anything more. The Pacific ocean was deep and the wind had stopped. The yachts parked in the distance were softly swaying and the masts drew lines against the deep blue sky. Emma had taken the burden off her chest . Perhaps she needed to do it earlier but could not Sometimes someone who is relatively a stranger like me is the safest outlet to relieve such stressful moments. 

Emma's story. Part 2. Chapter 6.

 Just then Emma reached the table and before putting the tray down she peered over Charles's shoulder to look at our object of interest. I looked at her to read her expression. A thin smile flitted across her face. She put the tray down and settled in her chair facing me and Charles. 

She was trying to hide the pain over Charles's innocent and trustful involvement in me. For no fault of mine I feared there was a subtle resentment in that expression. After a brief moment of silence we were about to speak simultaneously and both stopped to give the other the chance. I expected her to speak about my date of departure, the impending doomsday as it were. But Emma 's astute mind decided elude the obvious. Skipping the expected she said, " How are you placed tomorrow morning? Tomorrow is Sunday. Charles and I would like to spend it with you if your time permits!" 

I said, "I have absolutely no problem. But will your aunt permit you to go out with a stranger that I am?" 

Emma said without hesitation, " I'll manage." and with that she looked at Charles. They both seemed to be like a duo who were used to working in collusion over finding a route in such situations.  

The next morning we were three of us at the Jericho beach facing the Pacific. The sky was changing the moods fast. I hoped it would not rain like the day on our first meeting. But soon the clouds dispersed and the sunshine was clear and falling straight and candid over the sea.