Prologue
November 17th, 1964
8:00 a.m.
Today I am going to tell Maria what I feel for her. That from the age of eight itself all I used to wait for was her eyes peeking at me or her voice resounding my ears.
Today I am going to tell her that I want her to be with me for the rest of my life.
I surely am.
November 18th, 1964
10:00p.m.
Yes! I told you, man, she will accept me! And smile while doing so!
Now, all that I need to do is be something. Or as she said, “Do something that brings a roof over our head. Or else my father is not going to accept you. At all.”
Conditions applied..! Let's see what can I do!
December 18th, 1964
10:00p.m.
Hey! Finally got the job as the helper to our local railway signalman. I hope that is good enough, for I really want her with me all my life.
December 22nd, 1964
10:00p.m.
If all goes, tomorrow I am gonna take the ring with me when I go meet her father. He needs to know that I can keep her safe and happy and that I am serious.
Bought the ring from Rameswaram this evening, just waiting for the morning to come!
The weather’s rough, but my life is gonna be smooth as silk from the morning!
Waiting... Waiting...
Night of 22-23rd December 1964. A super cyclonic storm struck Pamban Island and the small fisher town of Dhanushkodi. The cyclone washed away the town and an Indian railways passenger train, killing everyone on board. A few survived. Just a handful.
This is not their tale.
This tale is of the one who did not survive.
Told more than fifty years later.
