Somewhere in the Sea

Chapter 03

About 500 km away in the Institute of Oceanography in Karachi, a team of marine biologists were working on the case of the coral reefs growing along Astola Island. The team consisted of the research students, Zaid, Shehzad and Nadia supervised by Prof. Javed Bashir. The team was packing up to go to the island to collect samples from the reef and then going to the Pasni substation. Shehzad was looking up pictures of different types of corals on his laptop and Nadia was watching the news on the television. Professor was pacing around and checking his watch, muttering under his breath "We were supposed to leave at 9", "He never respected the importance of being on time". After quite a while, the office door opened and Zaid entered. Out of breath and disheveled as always, he stumbled in, carrying his box of equipment and his enormous bag on his back. He quietly placed his box on the table and shyly looked at the professor who gave him a disapproving look "Late again Zaid?". Zaid looked down and mumbled something about watching the birds fly by. The professor shook his head, "We were supposed to leave at 9" Silence ensued. "One day you'll learn the importance of time. Let's just hope it won't be too late then, understand?" "Yes sir", Zaid said. "Good!", said the professor as he began to leave. "As punishment for your lateness, no diving for you on this trip. You will remain in the lab and write down all the observations from the study on the system". "Oh, come on! It's not fair! You know how much I love to go underwater!" Zaid shouted in protest. "No means no. Also scrub the coral tank while you're at it. It might help with your thesis. Now chop chop! We're already behind schedule". Professor went out followed by Shehzad and Nadia. "You should really focus on getting on time.", Nadia said, picking up the box of equipment and heading out. "One of these days, one of these days hopefully", Shehzad said, patting Zaid on his shoulder. Zaid picked up his stuff and headed out. "He's always like that. It's not fair", Zaid pouted. "But I better pick up the pace if I want to finish my work". 

Ever since he was a child, Zaid wanted to be related to the oceans. Everything about it fascinated him, the warm sunny beaches, the vibrant coral reefs, gigantic sea mammals, the mystery of the unknown. He used to read stories about creatures of the deep and how there are species unknown to the human world, yet to be discovered. They were currently writing a thesis on how the reef along the Astola Island began to form and a survey of the species living around the island. They reached Pasni substation three and a half hours later via the coastal highway. Everybody got off to go to the boat leaving for the island while Zaid looked frustrated as they headed off to the sea. He went into the lab and began to set up the equipment. The lab consisted of rows of glass aquariums containing colonies of the types of corals growing around the island. 

He then sat on the computer and began to type his thesis, "Due to the 2004 tsunami, polyps of the different marine fauna drifted towards the coastline of Pakistan after which they started to colonize the Astola Island and... Zaid was so bored that he dozed off. "THIS. IS. STUPID. Take me back to the ocean. The waves call me back. I don't wanna write this stupid thesis." In the background, the TV was showing the report of the missing fishermen. "They must be drinking or something. Nobody disappears off like that", Zaid thought as lazily typed on. "Its the devils from the sea, You'll see they are coming back. They're gonna kill us all!" A voice rang in his head and he looked around and saw that the reporter was interviewing a beggar who was constantly chanting  "Its the devils from the sea, You'll see they are coming back." "How stupid can someone be?", Zaid thought but his mind went back to when he was a little kid and he read a story about creatures from the deep and how they live in different parts of the world. "That can't be true!", Zaid chuckled and typed on.

Zaid continued to write this thesis. He was so bored that he was counting the bubbles in the nearby tank. "78, 79, 80, 81, 82..." He dozed off again. "It's not fair, Nino. JB knows that it's my interest to go underwater. I've waited for an entire month to dive again but all he does is "Late again, you need to respect the importance of time, blah blah blah", he ranted on to the blue crab Nino labeled No. 41 who was in the nearby tank blowing out more bubbles. "I mean I know I get late sometimes but I get the work done on time, right?" Nino bubbled away and then moved to the other side of the tank with the rest of the crabs. 

Zaid got up and walked to the window which overlooked the sea. It was a perfect sunny and windy day mingled with a few specks of clouds on the clear blue sky, a perfect day for diving. A group of seagulls were flying along the clear coast. The sound of the crashing waves and the smell of the salty water filled his mind. As distracted as he was, he wandered off into his thoughts again. The first time he read a book about a story on mermaids. A colony of merfolk living under the sea protecting the humans against the deep sea creatures. But as distracted as he was, he couldn't help but think about the news of the disappearing fishermen. Hypothetically speaking, if the attacks are caused by the creatures of the deep, what are the merfolk doing now? Why aren't they protecting us? Is it possible that the creatures are starting to gain power? Are they planning to take over the merfolk and ultimately the human world?

He was lost in his thoughts when he heard the door knock. It was Nadir, the caretaker of the facility who came in with the afternoon tea. "Hello Zaid. Lost in thoughts again I presume?". "Hello Nadir Bhai. Yeah a little", Zaid  replied. "Professor left you here on your own?", Nadir Bhai inquired. "Yes he did", said Zaid through his gritted teeth and looked away. "It's all alright, my world famous cardamom tea ought to help things out", handing Zaid his tea. "Thanks Nadir Bhai, you're the best", as he took his cup and sipped. This helped calmed him down a bit. "They still don't know what happened to those guys", Zaid pointed at the television screen. "No sir, not a word", Nadir said. "My cousin's family lives there and they can't understand it either. They say it's probably some giant fish or something that is attacking them but nobody knows for sure." "Hmm", said Zaid as he took another sip. "What's going on in the sea?"