I stood on the deck of S.S. Rajula. As she
slowly moved out of Madras harbour, I waved to
my grandparents till I could see them no more.
I was thrilled to be on board a ship. It was a new
experience for me.
"Are you travelling alone?" asked the person
standing next to me.
"Yes, Uncle, I'm going back to my parents in
Singapore," I replied.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Vasantha," I replied.
I spent the day exploring the ship. It looked
just like a big house. There were furnished rooms,
a swimming pool, a room for indoor games, and
a library. Yet, there was plenty of room to 11111 around.
The next morning the passengers were seated
in the dining hall, having breakfast. The loudspeaker
spluttered noisily and then the captain's
voice came loud and clear. "Friends we have just
received a message that a storm is brewing in the
Indian Ocean. I request all of you to keep calm.
Do not panic. Those who are inclined to sea-
sickness may please stay in their cabins. Thank
you."
There was panic everywhere. An old lady prayed
aloud, "Oh God! Have mercy on us. My only
son is waiting for me in Singapore."
A gentleman consoled her, "Don't worry,
Madam, it's only a warning. We may not be
affected at all."
Another lady, who was sitting beside me, looked
very ill. "Not rough weather! I'm already seasick.
A rough sea will be the end of me!"
I could not understand why all the elders were
so upset. I remembered the several sea adventures
I had read. Excitedly, I turned to the elderly
gentleman sitting next to me. "Uncle, won't it
be thrilling to face a storm on board a steamer?
Have you ever been on a ship during a storm?"
"It can be quite unpleasant, you know," he replied
rather severely. "I remember a time when
the ship on which I was travelling ran off course.
We were wandering on the ocean for a couple of
days."
I remembered my class teacher, an English woman,
telling us in class one day, "When I crossed
the English Channel on my way to Singapore,
there was a big storm near Gibraltar. The ship
rocked to and fro. Everything in the cabins rolled
up and down. Even the heavy pianos in the
lounge went crashing against the walls."
