Past Tsunami

I was doing my math homework with headphones on, oblivious to the outside world. I knew that my sisters were playing in the room beside me, their laughter could be heard, and my mother was watching TV. Just a typical Sunday for me and my family.

Suddenly, I got this bad feeling growing inside my stomach which caused me to take off the blasting music and lay it at the table along with my pen. I sighed looking at the time, 5:00 PM. The high volume of the television could be heard from the living room but the ringtone of my mom's phone caused it to be muted. After a moment of chatting and a loud gasp, the next sound heard was of a reporter talking abruptly; news channel. My mom never sees the news channel and I was kind of curious as I got off my chair and walked to the living room.

As I've thought my mom was watching the news channel and I was gonna ask what's the sudden change of mind when my eye caught the terrifying headline.

TSUNAMI HIT THE EASTERN AND WESTERN COASTS OF SOUTH INDIA

It took my breath away. My heartbeat was increasing as I heard the reporter rambling. "....the weather reporters have not even alerted the civilians about the tsunami which is dreadfully swallowing the entire Indian Peninsula. The reporters are still confused as to where this disaster came and they're struggling to predict it. People got no choice but to save their lives as the seawater is taking away their lives without sparing anyone. The latest report says that the storm and water are proceeding to gulp entire South India starting from the coast of Tamil Nadu and Kerala..."

The screen flashes the self cameras of natives that are life actually. We could watch the sea crashing down everything in its way continuing to rush forward. I could only watch with dread as the cameras are cut off one by one on the screen.

They are saying about the southern side of Kerala where the sea is being hit, we are in northern Kerala, and if what they're saying is true that the sea is still proceeding to take over then...

My mouth flung open.

We are gonna die.

Soon.

Suddenly the power supply was cut off. My mother and I stared at the black TV screen for a moment sinking in the information in our head. I couldn't feel anything. Nothing, no fear of death. I'd no problem in dying but my sister's happy shriek formed a lump in my throat. How am I supposed to tell them they're gonna die in a couple of minutes? I can't...they've only just started living...why does this have to happen?

"Ananya..."

I turned to my mother. I could see not only fear in her eyes but something more too. I could see her hands shaking crazily. She looked like she wanted to tell something to me...her eyes had so many emotions in them. I couldn't read her at all. But one thing was sure...fear is not the only thing present there.

Out of nowhere, I heard the chirping of birds. The ground started to shake a little. I heard the cry of people and animals. Outside, people were running around in terror. Of course the sky was filled with birds flying away from danger and so is the animals who could clearly sense the same.

The world is in chaos.

"Mom..." my sisters came running oblivious to what's awaiting them.

Both of them embraced my mom who held them to her dearly, tears filling in her eyes.

"What's happening, mom?" asked the younger one scared, clinging to mom.

"Yeah...why's everyone screaming?" asked the other.

My mom was silent as tears flowed down her fair cheeks. What should she say to them?

"Mom, why're you crying?" asked the younger reaching up to wipe her tears, frowning.

My mother, the brave woman she is, wiped off her tears and smiled at them.

"Nothing sweaty. The Gods are asking us to go back to where we came from," she told them amidst the chaos.

A lame excuse. The Gods. I scoffed inside.

If they really existed then why can't they protect the innocent kids from dying a terrible death which is bestowed upon them for no apparent reason?

There're no Gods. Just emptiness!

"Gods?" asked the other cluelessly.

"Yes honey, the Gods. They love us so much that they want our company in heaven. They're so noble as to-"

"Mom!" I exclaimed.

I eyed her asking what she's doing. I was furious as to why she was still adoring and respecting the concept of God though they're literally gonna take all of our lives.

She didn't say anything but looked down.

Silence followed afterward though there was complete chaos outside. People's screaming and yelling were completely piercing through our ears. Pre-death struggle...huh?

My mom abruptly stood up and ran towards her bedroom as if she forgot something at the last moment. I ran behind her so did my sisters. We halted at the doorway as I saw my mom opening her locker and taking out a jewelry box. Seriously?

"Mom, what're you doing? You know-"

She took a shining blue locket out of the box. It was very beautiful...a sapphire? She ran to me almost like a madwoman and put the locket around my neck. I was alarmed as some sort of energy welled up inside me.

"Mom, why-"

"Listen, this's the only thing your father gave me. I want you to-" she was trying to say very seriously.

"But mom-" she cut me off by grabbing both of my shoulders.

"Don't interrupt. I want you to promise me that you'll never ever take this off. No matter what!" she shook my shoulders tightening her hold.

"But why does it-"

"Just promise me," she said urgently almost as if she had sensed the danger nearing us.

"Mom what-"

"Ananya.Promise.Me!" she was impatient.

"I promise" I breathed.

My mom sighed in relief. We heard a huge crash eco from somewhere far away.

Mom clutched both of my sisters and nudged me to walk towards the front of my house. I obeyed her and was passing through my room when something urged me. I sprinted inside my room and pulled open my drawer. Maybe I was crazy or I was totally foolish because I picked up my journal and ran to my family who was hugging each other and standing in tears at the middle of our courtyard.

My mom saw me running towards them clutching my journal in my hand. She hugged me along with them who was a sobbing mess. Weirdly, not a single tear escaped me. I was completely in terror inside but my mind stayed calm somehow.

There was a deafening silence as if nature had gone still. Within moments, I saw with dread the monstrous water ripping apart the trees to continue destroying anything on their path. My sisters screamed seeing the view of water rushing towards us.

I just stared at it. That's when I felt someone grabbing my hand. I looked to my right and saw my mother staring at me lovingly. It was the same look she gave me before. She brought my head to her lips and kissed my forehead.

"Are you afraid of death?" she asked calmly amidst the screaming of people around us.

"No" I answered shortly. Coz I wasn't!

"Just like your father." she said almost proud and started caressing my cheek "Please don't hate me when you know the truth. I had no other choice. Please forgive me, ".

What's she talking about? But I decided not to question it at this moment.

"I love you, Ananya. I always will," she said.

Sensing the water only a couple of meters away I turned to look at it. But mom tilted my chin towards her.

"You are not gonna die." she said firmly "You're gonna survive."

I frowned.

"Promise me you'll never give up" she whispered.

This time I didn't question it because something inside me agreed with her. That part of me trusted her confusing yet firm words. That part of me was not accepting defeat that easily.

"I promise," I said with a confidence I didn't know was there.

The water was a couple of meters apart when I took a last glimpse at my sisters and my smiling mom. I clutched my journal close to my heart where the locket hung loose. I closed my eyes.

I'm not gonna die.

I'm a survivor.

The water hit me and I blacked out.