Jal main Kahin (Somewhere in the Sea)

Chapter 13

"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 be mean something", Zaid thought to himself.

They finished up their work and headed back to their homes in the evening. Zaid got back and just sat there on his bed. He had always been a deep thinker and had a tendency to drifted off in his thoughts. The sea, weird dreams and the picture. What does it all mean? "Ok let's focus and look at what I am dealing with", Zaid said to himself.

"I went to the dive in the reef. That night I had a nightmare about monsters in the sea and then Shehzad took a picture in which there was a blurred thing in front of me and I felt as if something was there." Zaid pondered over this for almost 2 hours. "I ate fish and chips two days back. I watched The Meg which was horrible to say the least. Why do they even make movies like that? What else?", Zaid thought. "And I was up the night before studying for the reef and the diving methods. And there must be something wrong with Shehzad's camera. It could have been a plastic bag that causes the diffraction on the image. Also Shehzad and Nadia were nearby too so it must be their presence that I felt. Yes!" Zaid punched his hand in the air in victory.

"I got it! I am not crazy! I've ate seafood the day before and watch a movie about underwater monsters. No wonder I had nightmares. Best to cut these down." Zaid concluded. He smiled to himself. "I told you nothing's wrong is going on. Its just your imagination."

A while later, his phone rang. It was his parents on Skype. "Assalaam Alaikum. How are you guys!" Zaid said. "Walaikum assalaam. How is my little ball of wool?", his mom replied. "MOM! Stop calling me that! I am not 5 anymore!", Zaid said embarrassingly. "You are to me! Now are you eating on time? Look how skinny you've gotten. You're overworking again. I keep telling you time and time again but you never listen and.." This went on for a while. "Yes, mom I hear you. I am eating and working on time." Zaid replied. "Here your father wants to talk", she handed the phone to his dad. "Assalaam Alaikum Papa! How are you?" "I am fine Zaid. How was your work?" "It was good. We've gone to a dive a few days back. I'll share the pics when I get them."
"Good! Azeem and Shehnaz are not back yet from their office. They'll call you when they're free!" "Ok dad" "Its good that you're happy with your work." "Thanks dad. If it weren't for your support, I wouldn't be here right now following my dreams and-", "ASSALAAM ALAIKUM CHACHU!!", came a deafening scream. Zaid's little niece Asma came in screaming.

"Walaikum assalaam. How are you?", Zaid said lowering the volume on his phone. "I am fine Thank you!", said in a bird like repitition. "Chachu! Chachu! I saw a movie today about sea monsters. It was very scary." "Oh was it?" "Yes there was a princess who ruled her kingdom but then the monster took over and kidnapped her. But then the princess used her powers and " "Oh, what fun! Was the princess pretty?" "Yes Chachu, she was very pretty. Can you marry her?" "I sure will. Where can I find her?" "Under the sea Chachu!", Asma replied. Zaid laughed, "Sure if I find her, I'll ask her to marry me, ok?" "Yay!", screamed Asma in delight.

Soon he said goodbye to his parents and promised to call back again. Exhausted, Zaid changed, ate dinner and got to sleep. "Sea monsters, huh?", Zaid laughed on his own and fell asleep.

He had no idea what was about to come his way and it would change his life forever...