Demystifying a Mariner’s Thoughts
Solitude has a tale of its own, reflected Prithvi. Sitting on the deck of his ship, sipping a freshly brewed cup of tea and gazing at the setting sun, he considered himself to be really alone and more than that he was away… away from his home, his family, his land and his friends. He was in his own world. The vastness of the sea helps one to miss many a thought. It makes one forgetful of the past. But today, he did not know why he was reminded of that old lady whom he met while studying in Darjeeling. She was a Bhutia lady, wife of a late Indian Army Subedar and mother of two sons. She used to work as the care-taker of the local tea garden and run a shop adjacent to the office of the tea-garden owner. She was an entrepreneur in her own right; she employed two people who helped her with packing and selling the garden-products to the tourists. Prithvi first met her during his initial days in Darjeeling. He spoke to her whenever he was confused or disturbed or just like that. He found lot...