It was Not in Destiny!

“Hey! Wake up”….. “You lazy bums”.

“Dad! Allow us to sleep. It is only two thirty in the morning.”

“Two thirty”. “What two thirty?”

“Mom! Mom! Look at your husband.”

“Yes! Kids like you cannot be mine. Niyati! Come here! Look at your kids.”

“Oh! Not again. It”s only two forty in the morning. You are over excited.”

“Me Niyati!?… No… It cannot be. Oh… Yes, it is two forty five now”.

“Come! We will leave at four thirty for the shore”.

Niyati and Anand, childhood friends, got married in Mumbai when she was 18 and he, 20. He left home soon after to pursue his dream of making it big in “professional sailing”. Niyati and their twins – Rishab and Samarth -- aged 10, used to tour with him across the globe, but since two years, the childrens” studies had taken priority. He came back home only last week, after six months of professional sailing in New Zealand.

Niyati and the kids enjoyed the closeness to the sea. Anand wanted to be at home, but they insisted on “adventure sailing” this weekend. He reluctantly agreed and booked his “old favourite seaside club” for the weekend. The place had rustic surroundings with abundant natural habitat around it. People loved the place due to its courteous staff and beautiful landscape.  

The family “checked in” at the club on Saturday evening. The kids were excited as the club had lots of amenities including a swimming pool, beach volleyball, water sports and indoor games. Niyati and Anand sat in the Coffee Shop, spending precious time together.

“Anand, you seem to be lost somewhere?” Niyati asked him.  .

“Nothing! everything is alright” said Anand.

“When you say: “everything is alright. I understand. Tell me”, Niyati pushed Anand to share his woes.

“I am feeling insecure. A typical sense which I had as a kid when I lost my mother in early childhood”, said Anand.

“Why do you have this feeling? Are you alright?”

“Yes, sort of, Niyati. I had a tough childhood. My father took care of us. He played the dual role of a father and mother. It”s difficult for a father to manage the household when no lady is around”, said Anand.

“You are unnecessarily getting worried. I do not get any of these feelings”, said Niyati. “I am of the view that we will live together “hale and hearty” till we are eighty …. no eighty five.”

“I cannot imagine life without you…Niyati. Especially the kids who love you like anything”, said Anand emotionally. 

“Anand…You are scaring me now”, Niyati seemed to be concerned, but burst out laughing the next moment.

“You will never get serious”, Anand stood up from the seat.

“O My Love! Please be seated”, Niyati grabbed Anand by his wrist and pulled him down.

“What do you want?” Anand asked Niyati sternly.

“Even a small thing can’t harm you. If  something ever happens to you, I will come in between you and the bad omen”, said Niyati looking deeply into Anand”s eyes.

“I will always be around. You need not worry, my dear”. Anand got up from the seat and extended his hand towards her.

She looked towards him and immediately stood up to shake a leg with him. She rested her head on his shoulder and enjoyed the closeness. Anand was a doting husband and caring father. She was always proud of him.

The next day, the family boarded the “sailing boat” with food, drinks and a handy-cam exactly at five in the morning, as planned. Rishab was very fond of clicking beautiful pictures and shooting “exclusive” videos. Anand wanted to have an exclusive experience, so the entire boat was booked for the family. Niyati insisted on having a Captain on board, but Anand rejected the idea. He wanted to sail this important trip all by himself and did not want an outsider on board. He also felt it was demeaning to him, as he could manage the show easily.

The stage was set for a beautiful journey into the sea. Anand took to the helm and set the boat into motion. The image of the boat departing Gateway and moving across ships while getting closer deep into the sea was mesmerizing. The Mumbai shoreline with celebrated buildings in the backdrop, made it picture perfect. Anand put off the engine when the boat reached deep in the sea to enjoy the surroundings. The family relaxed and set up the breakfast on the deck.  

However, unexpectedly, the weather started playing spoilsport after some time. It changed rapidly from quiet and soothing to violent. It turned the experience sour as managing the sailboat was becoming difficult. The seas pushed by the violent tides, build high walls in front of them. 

“Rishab, be cautious. Do not stand on the deck”, shouted Niyati, who wanted to capture the changed weather on his handy-cam.

“Let it be Niyati. He has almost become a Pro”, said Anand gleefully.

“Oh My God! Anand… Anand… Rishab has fallen into the sea”

“Take care of the tiller”, Anand immediately jumped into the sea towards Rishab.

The next few seconds were traumatic. A high tide had swept Rishab away. It was becoming difficult for Anand to swim with his life jacket. He took off his life jacket and swam fiercely towards Rishab. Anand, the expert that he was, caught Rishab from the back of his life jacket and pulled him towards the boat. In no time, he was near the boat with Rishab.

“Niyati… Niyati…” Anand was gasping for air.

“Yes Anand. “Rishab” is safe. Come over.”

She could not believe the turn of events herself. Anand, a professional, was not able to hold himself in the waters. It seemed something was pulling him into the sea. Even before she realised, he was some twenty feet away from the boat. To her surprise, he wore a soulful smiling look and waved to her.

“Noooooo… Anand”. Niyati took her life jacket off and jumped into the sea without thinking about herself. She swam at a fierce pace. The more she tried to reach him, the farther the distance between them grew.

“Oh Lord… listen… please listen”, she called out.

“Tell me, my child, “ she heard a profound voice coming somewhere from deep. She saw a magnificent bright light showering towards her. Everything seemed formless, time seemed to have stopped for the next “sixteen minutes”. Those “sixteen minutes” were the time between life and the death.

“Oh Lord!…  Can you hear me?”. She tried to stop her tears, but it didn”t matter as nobody would notice.

“Yes, my child “.

“Lord… Lord… My husband”, she cried within. The sea would have looked shallow if she cried.

“Feel who is beside you”

Niyati turned her face around to find Anand beside her. He was smiling, calm and soulful.

“Thank you, my Lord”, Niyati got hold of Anand”s wrist and tried pulling him towards the boat. His body was stiff, heavy and did not move an inch. 

“He has chosen the time” said the Lord.

“No… No… Anand!… Anand!”, Niyati got hold him, pulled him violently.

“Niyati!…”

“Yes, My Lord”, said Niyati.

“No. It”s me…Anand”

“Oh, Anand!…We are blessed!. Come, we will swim to safety”, said Niyati confidently.

“You tried… didn”t you?” Anand pulled his hand out of Niyati”s clutch.

“Yes… but don”t waste time… It”s almost ten minutes in the water.  I do not know how are we alive?” Niyati pleaded to Anand.

“I can”t…Together we can”t”

“Why not Anand. Come don”t waste time”

“The time has come, Niyati. The kids need you.”

“I cannot live without you… Anand. Come, the kids need you as well”. Niyati got hold of Anand”s hand… again.

“Niyati, do not test nature. Our kids are destined to have a single parent”, said Anand to Niyati. “Go back, Now!”.

“How could I leave….?” Niyati could not complete the sentence. She had swallowed sea water. She was choking. Anand wanted to help but was not in a position to do so. Niyati became calm and composed. She became very light and saw a big ball of light attracting her. The light emanated from a white formless body.

“Oh Lord. Give me my husband.” Niyati could recognize Him.

“He is with you only.”

“No, I cannot see him.”

“Feel him beside you. He was always there and will be”, said the Lord.

Niyati understood. “What do you want me to do, Lord?”

“Your kids are destined to have a single parent. Go back…He has taken your place”.

The whole family, including Niyati was in a state of shock after the incident. Niyati kept murmuring, while she lay in bed at home. ““The last sixteen minutes” changed our lives forever”…. “It was me who had to go… How could Anand…?” “How could God listen to his request….?”

It was Not in Destiny!