In the days that went past the exploration, the team continued on their research work as usual. They were getting regular updates from the substation about the progress of the specimens and were keen to return back. Shehzad and Nadia were eating each others' ears as usual. Zaid was sulking behind the computer trying to complete the thesis. His background was filled with complaints such as, "You shut up! No you shut up! No, I get to the surface first! No I did!" The look on Zaid's face was comparable to a cat that has been forced to take a shower. He put on his headphones and typed on. "...with increasing distance from the shore, and provided that suitable hard substrate is available for attachment, coral communities become more diverse and abundant..."
Through the haunting music of "Descent to the Ocean Floor", Zaid's mind drifted off. He thought back to the nightmare he had back then. It didn't mean anything, right? He had a lot of crazy dreams but none like this. Those half human-like sea creatures were probably something he thought of while diving. But there was also one thing more. That day during the dive, he felt someone was watching him. It wasn't a scary feeling but more of that of someone who was looking out for him. Either way, it was strange that someone was watching him underwater. "See I told you! It wasn't me, it's your stupid camera!", exclaimed Nadia. "No, it's not. I am telling you, something's there.", replied Shehzad. "If it were, then why are these pictures blurred and not the others?" "Maybe because you were busy ogling at the other fish to not focus on the specimens. Look, this one with Zaid is also blurred", Nadia pointed out in the camera. "Here let me look '', Shehzad snatched the camera and looked. "Huh! It is'', said Shehzad thoughtfully. "Here, Zaid look! Your friend can't even take your picture right", said Nadia while rolling her eyes. Zaid took off his headphones and looked. The picture showed Zaid picking up the plastics from the reef floor. It all looked normal except for one thing. There was a blurred shadow in front of him as though someone was floating just there. Zaid looked in shock but kept it to himself. Was it just the problem with the camera? Or was there really someone there? Was someone really watching him? "Oh dear, what's happening to me?!"
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Somewhere in the Sea Chapter 13
Marjan spent her days living in the reef along with the corals. All of them had gotten pretty well together. She spent her day helping around the reef, cleaning around and making friends with the residents. Even Old Timer was complaining less about her and more on the coral politics. She was happy living with them but she still needed answers. What happened to Sanho and where is she now? Marjan kept asking around if they had seen another mermaid around but they all said the same thing. A rogue mermaid went about killing fishermen and then disappearing without a trace.The migratory shoals didn't report any recent attacks and everybody was relieved that things were back to normal but that still didn't explain where Sanho is. Marjan was worried that something might have happened to her. But something else was also bugging her. That human who she saw the last time. Will he ever come back? What's his name? What's he like? When can I meet him again? Everytime a boat passes overhead, she wo
Somewhere in the Sea Chapter 14
"Oye Zaid!", Shehzad smacked him on the back of his head. Zaid came back to his senses. He was lost in his thoughts focused on the computer screen blankly with his headphones off. "Where are you lost?", Shehzad asked him. "He's probably thinking that his friend can't even take a decent picture", smirked Nadia. "Oh please", pouted Shehzad. "What do you want to eat? We were about to order lunch." "Oh, just a burger for me, thanks", said Zaid. During that time, Zaid completed the next few pages of the research. Shehzad uploaded the pictures and Nadia entered the readings in the database. Lunch arrived and they all sat down to eat. Zaid ate quietly while Shehzad kept eating Nadia's dish and they were fighting once again. The fact that he had a weird dream and then that feeling of something watching was just his mind playing tricks on him but then that photo? Is this all just a coincidence? "I know I love the sea but is there something else to the whole scenario? This has to mean something
Somewhere in the Sea Chapter 15
In the weeks that followed, the team continued their work as per schedule. The reports from the substation were coming back with positive results. Until the day came for the next dive. As usual, the team packed up the equipment, headed for the substation, dropped their stuff off and went to the beach. The weather was a perfect sunny day and a little windy. They got to the island in about two hours. The instructor told them that water currents might vary this time of the month so stay near the reef floor and return back as soon as the work is done. They put their gear on and dropped into the sea. The reef looked beautiful as ever as they descended down. This dive's assignment was just to observe the growth of the reef and to take pictures. There was less trash as compared to the last dive. The corals were thriving well. There were a few new shoals of fish in the reef as well. They began to document it and take pictures. Invisible to all others, Marjan wa
Somewhere in the Sea Chapter 16
Zaid was lucky to be alive. But during the entire trip back, he had to endure a two hour lecture from everyone on the boat. "How could you be so careless?", yelled the professor and the instructor. "You could have died and we wouldn't even have found your body. Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?" This went on for some time. After the professor cooled down, Shehzad and Nadia began. "If you want to die, just say so. We'll just push out the running boat next time", Nadia said sarcastically. Shehzad smacked him again at the back of his head. "Idiot!", he said fuming. And to make matters worse, a seagull pooped on his head when we were about to get off the boat. Zaid apologized again and again to everyone on the boat and promised to never wander off again. Professor accepted his apology and agreed to let him on the next dive. Shehzad and Nadia were not convinced though. Zaid had to make a deal to buy them dinner the next week. They forgave him then too.They got back t
Somewhere in the Sea Chapter 17
Down in the abyss, Vex and Blitze swam down to meet Madam Roohar. "We are so dead!", said Vex nervously. "She's gonna kill us for sure", Blitze replied. "It was the perfect opportunity to get them. We were planning this for weeks and now the plan is all ruined. Oh! How are we gonna tell her that?" They kept thinking up ways to give her an explanation but couldn't. Finally they reached the entrance to her cave. There was nothing but silence at the entrance. Their minds were filled with a millions ways to run away and to never return but unwillingly they entered. The atmosphere inside was colder than usual. The anglerfish loomed over her chair. There were a few glowing worms moving along the walls making it more luminescent than before. Madam Roohar in her chair not saying a single word. "Umm.. Ma.. Madam Roohar?", Blitze stuttered. No response. "Madam Roohar?", she said again but no response. "Madam Roohar, we encountered a problem with the attack." Madam Roohar rose from h
Somewhere in the Sea Chapter 18
Things have been exceptionally difficult for Marjan. She was facing an internal struggle each day. On one hand, she was supposed to look for her sister of whom she had zero progress so far and on the other, she was starting to have feelings for a human she barely knew and above all, she saved his life. She was nervously swimming around the reef talking to herself. "Your sister is in grave danger and you're here thinking about some human who doesn't even know you exist. Mother would be highly disappointed in you. It's been several moons now and I haven't even figured out where Sanho is. I should resume the search, yes." So she focused on finding her sister and got back to work. She would ask the migratory shoals if they had seen a mermaid in any other region or not. But it's been almost a month since the last attack so it was extremely difficult for her to look for her now. And by now, most of them had forgotten that they had seen a mermaid or not. The reef's inhabitants we
Somewhere in the Sea Chapter 19
It was a bright sunny day and the team was getting ready to go to the wedding. Zaid and Shehzad were wearing kurta shalwar and Nadia wore traditional clothes. The professor wore shalwar kameez with a coat on top and was waiting outside talking to the driver. Shehzad and Nadia were taking pictures with their phone while Zaid was playing Tetris on his phone. Professor came inside and talked to them, "So I just talked to the driver. The village is an hour long drive from the substation. The wedding festivities will start at around noon and will go on throughout the day. We'll get there at around 2 and leave at sunset. It might take a while until we'll be back home by midnight". '`Ok!", said Shehzad and Nadia. Zaid was busy beating his high score of 762. Shehzad smacked him on the back of his head. "Ow! Hey, what the- Oh hi Professor!", said Zaid massaging his neck. "Anyways", said the professor rolling his eyes, "We better hurry up if we have to get there on time." The team t
Somewhere in the Sea Chapter 20
The fish and the corals started to hide in their homes. "Honey, you have to hide now! They're after you!", said flower pot. Marjan frightfully hid beneath the reefs. "Come out, come out wherever you are princess.", said one of the sirens. She was holding a spear head. "Come out and play. We're not gonna hurt you". "Yeah our leader wants to see you. She says that you'll be an excellent guest for her '', said another. They were approaching the place where Marjan was hiding. She was holding still. "Infidels! Filth! Get away from our homes!", Oldie shouted at the sirens. "Oh shut up you old twig!", snapped back the siren. "Don't you wanna meet your sister, princess? She's getting lonely with us", said one siren. "She's practically starving. She said she won't eat until she sees her baby sister". "Yeah the dungeons are a bit sad with just one mermaid in it" and then they all cackled loudly. "And don't try to use any of your fancy powers! We know all about them now. Thanks to Mi