Value of life....

Sunday - Feb 3rd 2008, I was up and active at 5 30 in the morning. I was all set ready waiting for the sun with four of my friends on a private beach of a resort in Chennai. We were all so eager to see the sun rise from the shore. After an hr or so, not so happy about seeing the sun far above the horizon and amidst the clouds, my friends decided to go back to sleep. I was also kind of sleepy out of boredom.
But then something stuck my eyes. Far from the place where we were, may be a kilometer or two, I could see a group of people trying to pull something from the sea with a rope. A big team of people they were. Quickly we were informed by a person from that locality that they are the fishermen. I was so keen to go and see them fishing. It looked like a long distance that three of my friends decided to get back to the room and sleep. Luckily one friend of mine was also interested to watch out the event. We then decided to walk though we were told that it would take more than an hour for them to finish the process. Time did not bother us. We were so curious and started walking towards the group. Coz we knew that it is going to take an hr or so, we decided to take a stroll. I really enjoyed that with my friend.
We walked along the shore with the waves kissing our legs now and then. I was exploring the sand at different spots - It was so loose at times and so hard at times. I was also collecting the shells on the way. My friend was helping me out in spotting the very unique kind of them. I was admiring the sun’s refection on the sea, roar of the sea and the fresh morning air. I was also jumping and running on the shore listening to the noise made out of the shells I collected in my pocket. To be in that kind of ambience, I could have walked any longer. Finally we reached the spot were they were fishing.
Right from small kids to age old people, all were pulling the rope. They were dragging the fishing net that was thrown into the sea by a group of men who went in a motor boat into the sea an hour back. I was so eager that I too started pulling the rope with them. I was warned not to try it hard as it would hurt my hands. I did not bother and in few minutes, I realized what they meant. My hands became reddish and burning. I stopped pulling but wondered looking at the kids who were still pulling it. It could be their interest or probably the anxiety to see the fishing net that kept them going on and on. Or probably they wanted to help their parents who were struggling. When I held the rope, I felt the force of the sea pulling the rope inside against which those fishermen were pulling it. I did try to talk with a small boy there. May be he is five yr old. He told me his name is venkatesan. I asked him if he comes there everyday but he was so shy to reply and ran away blushing :) And there were little gals who told their names stressing their initials and I realized that they are sisters. They too did not talk much as they were also anxious looking at the sea to see if they could catch any trace of the fishing net.
After a long time struggle, finally we could see the net nearing the shore. There was then so much excitement. Every others who were also watching the site rushed and gathered together. Now people were circled around the net when it was totally pulled on to the shore. I and my friend had to peep in to see what was there in the net. I was imagining seeing a bulk number of fishes. But it wasn’t so much as I was anticipating. They told us that it was a bad day for them that the count is so feeble. However, their routine of work was not hampered. It doesn’t look like all that a bad sum of fishes to me to see the way they were keen about their business. The fishermen started the auction with their sellers. They were yelling rupees 250 once, twice and thrice… and someone said 300… and they said once, twice and it went on and on…
I was so attracted looking at one fish that was so thin, lengthy and beautiful in a tall round big vessel. I was enquiring a lady for its name and I learnt it as “saavalai”. A bit away from the spot where the auction was going on, I saw a small fish. It is useless for selling for its size and may be for its kind. The fish was alive but twisting and turning battling for life. I was holding a camera and I took a shot.
There was a thought running in my mind – It is fate that this fish had to die today at its very small age though it is of no use to the fishermen and just coz it was unlucky to be caught in the net that was meant for all other big fishes. I don’t know why, there was some kind of lump in my throat that I did not want to look at it any longer. And when I was just about to turn aside, a small boy came running and took this fish in his hand. No one noticed him. Everyone was busy auctioneering and discussing. As I was wondering what is this boy so fascinated about this fish, he started running into the crowd of people. I struggled to keep track of him in the crowd and finally noticed what he did and I was at a loss for words and I was teary-eyed – He threw the fish back into the sea. I would say that was one of the guiltiest moments of my life. I felt bad for not realizing the value of a life when a small boy could. He did not save all the fishes caught but he did make a difference to that one giving it a chance to live. Hats-off to him. In few minutes, I lost him in the crowd for a click :( But his little image and the scene is so much afresh in my mind….