HOLDING ON TO LIFE

by Sreelekha Chatterjee

he boat left the jetty of Port Blair. My destination was Narcondam, an uninhabited oceanic island of volcanic origin, located about 240 km northeast of Port Blair in the Andaman Islands.The word Narcondam originated from the Tamil word “Naraka Kundam” or the pit of hell Sprawling over a small area of about 6 8 square kilometers, it had a dormant volcano

It was the month of December, and the freezing billows of wind moved about me in an unwelcoming mood I was traveling all alone on an assignment to write about the seldomrecognized geographical locations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands that had limited biological exploration and research over the last century While visiting these spots, my guide David mentioned the dormant volcano in Narcondam

In the boat, we found another 15–20 people headed toward the island

“You’ll get to see long-nosed monkeys over there ” David said; a man probably in his late forties, with brown eyes and a long nose

“I’m Tara ” I said, smilingly, to a newlywed couple

“I’m Shiela, and this is my husband, Kunal We’re on our honeymoon ” The woman said, flaunting the semi-precious stones on the rings adorning her fingers.

Another family introduced themselves Nivan, probably a thirty-year-old guy with his wife, Ahana, and two daughters, Sara and Zoya. An elderly couple, Mr and Mrs Roy, said they were traveling to all the well-known historical places though this island had no specific factual significance other than that it attracted visitors who wished to get a glimpse of its dormant volcano Other passengers mostly kept to themselves and didn’t seem quite friendly

On reaching the shore of the island, we found the enveloping mangrove trees with submerged roots that moved gently into the depth of the emeraldblue seawater

“There are the long-nosed monkeys Over there Can you see them?” David said, pointing to the dense vegetation along the shore Our eyes shifted toward the coastal vegetation and on failure to detect any living being, back to David

You’ll find these Narcondam hornbills, endemic and globally endangered. If we are lucky, we’ll get to see them.” He continued brightly.

We descended on the white sand beach and ambled down shoreward, mostly covered with evergreen and deciduous forest, with trees such as country almond, and fishtail palm, from where the mountainous region started It was a short hike through the evergreen trees like Dipterocarpus, Sideroxylon (bully trees), and fig trees The vegetation toward the summit was dense, mostly moist evergreen with several epiphytes upto approximately 700 m from sea level, on the western side of the island

The crater of the volcano could be seen from a distance the volcanic cone with a hollow, truncated top, and two high, unequal shoulders A sluggish, pond-like stream that glinted in the morning sun flowed by the mountain The music of its rustling water came to us faintly as if from a distant land We had to cross the creek of water on foot where it was ankledeep to reach the site of the volcano

As we went near the crater that was lit intermittently by the light and the next moment hidden by the cloudy shade, we found white fumes emanating from it

“A constant feature Nothing to worry!” David said, touching his nose with his index finger

On the verge of moving toward the forest area, David alerted me, “It’s better to stay with all the tourists ” I smiled and was about to venture into the dense vegetation when Mrs Roy held my hand affectionately and said, “Yes, young lady. Let’s be together or else we might get lost over here.”

“Next, we’ll visit the limestone cave,” David announced all of a sudden.

I was about to say something when we heard a loud bang. It seemed to originate from somewhere nearby. Within seconds we found the whole place filled with a blinding cloud of grey–black ashes, gases, hot mud, and slurries It seemed as if the sky above had cracked and tons of ash and rock particles were thundering down like unlit meteorites It took a while to sink in that the volcano had erupted without a warning, spewing ash, rocks, and steam I looked around and found Mr and Mrs Roy kneeling on the ground near me Instinctively, we covered our faces with our hands and kept staring at the earth With the rising panic, I didn’t know how long we had been in that state when we felt intense heat on our bodies, somewhat like a chicken being steamed

It had been a couple of minutes that we stayed in that position, waiting for the staggering volcanic explosion to subside but it continued If we stayed there for too long, we would be fried alive Wading through the sea of helplessness with an injured leg, I somehow got up on my feet and trudged forward As I turned around, I found Mr and Mrs Roy lying on the ground Mr Roy was motionless He seemed to be senseless Mrs Roy gestured me to leave

“I won’t be able to make it ” She said, constantly coughing from the gaseous emanation, with tears running down her cheeks

“I’ll come back with help,” I promised

As I went downhill amidst rolling clouds of debris and flying rocks that had swept down the volcano’s verge, I found many others lying on the ground, probably not breathing anymore The green verdure, sparkling blue streams and lakes were totally wiped out from the scene, and what lay in their place were a pitless, dull grey and plumes of smoke everywhere The atmosphere was stripped of its vitality My breath seemed feeble with the uncontrollable cough due to the soaring poisonous gases, leaving me dizzy and exhausted. Further down the ash-blanketed way, I saw Kunal and Shiela lying still almost buried in ash, bodies battered by the cascading rocks holding hands even in their never-to-wake-up sleep. A surge of horror engulfed me, as I found myself to be the only survivor among them. The smothering smoke had not only choked the living but also stifled their spirit to remain alive.

A little further away was the stream that we had earlier crossed to reach the volcano There were bubbles all over as it wasfuming with muddy water like a water-filled kettle put upon the gas ring to boil I walked along the stream till I reached a spot where the stream had narrowed down to only a foot It was impossible for me to jump, but I still managed to do so with the limp On reaching the beach, I found a rescue team in uniform probably the coastguards They’d arrived on a boat Behind me, Nivan came along

“Where’s your wife? And the children?” I asked him, observing his shoulder-length hair matted with thick grey ash

He kept quiet for a moment while tears welled up in his eyes “Let’s get to the boat ” He said in a heavy voice “There are many survivors out there ” I indicated to the rescue team, sensing the suspension of the recovery effort

With meager strength left, we somehow got on the boat As the rescue team members held our hands to help us settle down, the skin on our limbs where they touched started falling off and sticking onto their hands, resembling a snake shedding its cloak Once around five of the survivors were in the boat, they started moving toward the direction of the main island.

“What about the others? There are so many of them over there Around 10–15 people must be there requiring help ” I shouted

“Yes, yes, we know we’ll get the bodies soon ” They said with faces probably darker than the blackening cloud over the volcano

“What are you saying? They must be still alive I know ” These were my last words before I fell into a swoon When I regained consciousness, we were somewhere midway between Narcondam and Port Blair. The rescue team members were applying the cold water of the sea on our burns which reduced the excruciating pain to a certain extent.

For moments, I thought nothing but the astonishing escape from sheer death. Broken and unable to rise, my feeble movements indicated signs of life, as I gazed in bewilderment at the azure sky and silently bid a strange farewell to the land of the fuming volcano.

Sreelekha Chatterjee’s short stories have been published in various national, and international magazines and journals like Indian Periodical, Femina, Indian Short Fiction, eFiction India, The Criterion, The Literary Voyage, World of Words, Writer’s Ezine, and Estuary, and have been included in numerous print and online anthologies such as Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul series (Westland Ltd, India), Wisdom of Our Mothers (Familia Books, USA), and several others She lives in New Delhi, India

You can connect with her on Facebook at facebook com/sreelekha chatterjee 1/,

Twitter -@sreelekha001, and Instagram @sreelekha2023

by Ankur R. Gupta

The air in the train was thick with the mingled scents of instant coffee, Samosas, and the noisy rumble of conversation accompanied by occasional touches of laughter. I was scanning each face as a writer with an insatiable hunger for stories for my next novel.

As the train rumbled to life, I squeezed into my seat comfortably, and my curious eyes wandered around my compartment A group of college students huddled together, their faces alight with excited chatter, sat across the aisle They were in deep conversation and often burst into laughter As they saw me looking at them, their loud laughs mellowed into frequent giggles

Looking at them reminded me of my time as a Youth when friends meant the whole world Seizing the opportunity, I initiated a conversation, seeking to bridge the gap between our generations Soon, we were all engaged in a lively exchange

"So, tell me, what is your happy space?" I inquired, the writer in me ever-present They exchanged puzzled glances One, with fiery red nails and a mischievous glint in her eyes, says, "Hanging out with my friends like this! Sharing crazy stories doing crazy stuff, knowing they'll have my back no matter what "

The boy beside her, hair tousled and sporting a chipped tooth, chimed in, "Cricket! Winning a match nothing beats it!" He grinned

My heart warmed at their unadulterated joy. But happiness wasn't the only story I wanted to hear. "And what worries you the most?" I asked gently, " I mean the things that keep you up at night?"

A momentary silence descended upon the group. The girl with the red nails speaks again, her voice softer now, "The future? Entrance exams and finding a dream job...... feel like never-ending challenges. There's so much pressure to succeed at each step and so much to figure it all out "

The boy nodded, a shadow flickering across his playful features "Grades, definitely My parents expect straight A's in coaching to crack competitive exams Huh! But I I've been unfair towards them, he spoke softly with defined anxiety "You see, I'm facing this daunting challenge of telling my parents that I don't want to be a doctor, " the boy mumbled in a single row of breath "Eh need some more time to explore but definitely, not medicines" He sounded like many other Youths struggling to understand their choices for the future And also, how to voice what they want to do to their parents

"How do you plan to tell them? I asked.

"Don't know."....he shrugged his shoulders.... "But I will." He then giggles again in his mischievous glint." ....till then, let me have solace with my friends; the friends joined him, too."

I kept watching these raw, unfiltered emotions They're the Young minds struggling to stay carefree amongst the anxieties and uncertainties of impending adulthood Each dealt with their fears in its own way

"Excellent," I heard a male voice sitting next to me I looked at a man in his mid-fifties whose silver hair and tailored suit spoke of success and exuded a different weariness

"Eh sorry, I eavesdropped on your conversation with these kids", says the man as he apologized meekly "Hello, I'm Anil Varma, a businessman " He extended his business card with his initials as CEO of a wellknown start-up

Oh Y yes I recalled reading an article about him in Indian Times "You eh and " I stopped midway as Mr Anil shifted back his focus to the giggling Youth Some undefined emotion in his eyes caught my writer's mind

"Is something bothering you?" I asked gently

Sometimes, we open our hearts to strangers as we have no fear of being judged.... and that's what happened with Mr. Anil....perhaps he needed someone to confess

. Anil chuckled a humorless sound and said. " These kids here, they are struggling to achieve their dreams. " And here I am, Successful, but not so much happy?"

I raised an eyebrow, inviting him to elaborate.

He looked at me, eyes filled with regret. "Work… deadlines, and money my entire life went into overcoming these challenges I missed my children's milestones and quality time with my wife, disconnected from my friends And, N now, I stand alone with trophies of my success with no one to share "he sighed heavily

"An ironic twist, you can say?" A hint of a satirical smile played on his lips "The young ones chase a future for their dreams while I grapple with the emptiness of the one I built "

"Ohh " I offered a sympathetic murmur, the words failing to capture the complex emotions swirling within him "It must be harrowing," I asked Mr Anil gently

"Yes," he nodded " "And now, when I try to mend what's broken, I realize this is the most daunting challenge I've ever faced " He then got up to collect his suitcase I am now heading to my village to connect to my roots, he smiled, "starting with my dear ones there "

I wished him "Good Luck" for his new journey as he boarded down the station He gave me a thankful smile and stepped on a journey of fear and uncertainties mingled with determination to connect with his loved ones

The sun has sunk below the horizon outside the window Across my seat came and sat a couple From their proximity and appearance, they seem newlywed They looked happy, but as they got into conversation, the flustered expression on the bride's face intrigued me to eavesdrop on what they were discussing

Riya's smile lacked the usual newlywed sparkle. Her voice quivered as she spoke, "Starting a new life together... it's exciting, of course, but..." The "but" hung heavy in the air.

The flicker of uncertainty in her eyes made her husband, Rohan, lean closer. "But what, Riya?" he asked gently, sensing the storm beneath the surface.

"It just feels like " her voice wavered "Like mountains of adjustments and endless uncertainties Leaving everything I know behind a new house, faces, and routines I'm constantly on edge, trying to understand your family and their ways while worrying if I'll ever truly fit in " A tear of worry shimmered in her eyes

Rohan listened intently, his own smile fading

"And then there's this f fear of losing myself Waking up every morning, not recognizing the woman in the mirror because I'm so busy trying to please everyone else " Riya says, her voice barely a whisper

As she continued talking, her anxieties poured out, including the fear of neglecting her dreams and career She seems tangled in the uncertainties of 'What if that happens '

Rohan's hand reached out to cover hers, his touch a silent reassurance "We'll talk it through, Riya," he said, his voice thick with concern "We'll figure this out together "

Maya sighed, a flicker of hope battling the storm within "I know," she whispered, "It's just I built my life so carefully, and now it feels like it's all up for grabs." Rohan offered a comforting smile. "Marriage isn't a destination, Riya," he said gently. "It's a journey. There will be challenges, but there will also be moments of love, laughter, and growth The key is to face them together, not apart "

Perhaps you're right, Rohan, she agrees, still figuring out how?

Rohan says, "We will work it out," and presses her hand with a promise

She smiles, leans on his shoulder, and whispers, "Yes " Riya realized these challenges would always exist but should not stop her from building a beautiful life with her love

As the train pulled into the station, signaling the end of their conversation

They both boarded down As they walked away holding each other hands to their new journey, their eyes filled with a newfound determination mixed with fear and hope.

By the time this train lulled me toward the end of my journey, my lap was full of stories. Each one I met was etched with a unique story of passing through either struggles or a set of challenges.

The young girl with crimson-painted nails struggles with an uncertain future The young boy faces the fear of unveiling the truth of his future dreams to his parents

Contrary to them was the seasoned businessman, success etched on his face, bore the silent challenge of loss The newlywed bride, eyes sparkling with hope, grappled with the weight of societal expectations

I also met a few more; among them was a tireless construction worker facing the challenge of a brighter future for his son. An old woman struggling with the demons of loneliness and finding ways to overcome it, then a young widow and a small-town boy. They all had their share of fear, struggles, and challenges to overcome.

While boarding the train, I thought, "Everyone has their own share of challenges Most of us take them up to meet our aspirations, many of which are for survival and a few others for passion But all these weren't roadblocks They are the fuel to propel them forward in their journeys to get what they want "

With that thought in mind, while, exiting the railway station with the sacks of stories, I was busy setting the characters for my new novel - Sketches from a Moving Canvas

Ankur R Gupta - Ankur R Gupta is a multifaceted individual with a passion for storytelling and a deep understanding of human psychology

As an author, writer, and cybercrime intervention officer, her articles and stories delve into the complexities of human emotions, relationships, and the pursuit of personal well-being

Through her captivating narratives, she invites readers to embark on a journey of introspection and self-discovery

In addition to her writing pursuits, Ankur is an avid traveler She is particularly drawn to historical and adventurous destinations, where she immerses herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and histories These experiences serve as a wellspring of inspiration for her work, adding depth and authenticity to her stories and articles.

@ankurrastogigupta https://inkmyword medium com