Blue, But as Azure as Pastel.

Tidal Chord

The Neptunus had already been on the sea for six hours. The atmosphere was pertinently cool in spite of the sun overhead. The fog was cleared and almost all nautical conditions were favourable for the voyage. Kristoff had memorized the names of all the crew members by now and had developed a sense of comradery with each of them. He was a lively kid after all. Even the dead serious cook of the ship, Mr. Giuseppe who rarely spoke, laughed at the obscene jokes made by Kristoff. Amongst all the work and banter with his mates, Kristoff often found himself unconsciously thinking of Lady Anna. He has never seen anyone as beautiful as Lady Anna. Her beauty and voluptuousness had struck a chord all through the puberty-stricken body and mind of Kristoff.

Dr. Cornelius Stevens was out on the deck, with a mug in his hands a pitcher of British Beer by the side of his long-drawn chair. He was a tall man with sharp features and relatively weak limbs, pain was a constant feeling that was always readable on his face. His vision was fixated on the hallway that lead to the room of his long-lost love, Lady Anna. His eyes restlessly waiting for a single glimpse of Anna. Fate has its own amusing ways of playing with people’s deep-rooted feelings. The door to the room of Lady Anna opened, but the one who came outside was not Anna, but the man she was married to, Arthur Brown. He walked towards the deck of the ship and took a seat beside Dr. Stevens.

People who drink alcohol generally has an odd habit of offering alcohol to anyone they see as a potential drinker. Dr. Stevens was no exception.

He addressed to the man who recently married his love,” Fancy some beer?”

Arthur Brown replied, “Sure!”

Dr. Stevens filled another mug of beer and handed it to Arthur Brown. The two men were drinking silently, enjoying the cool breeze of the ocean.

“How is married life treating you?”, asked Dr. Stevens out of the blue.

“Good! To be honest, Lady Anna is a remarkable woman… but there is something…”

“What is it?”, asked the doctor with hopeful eyes.

“I miss my bachelor life… with all the women, alcohol, pubs… specially women. I try very hard to not to return to my previous life but I know myself very well, I won’t be able to handle it very smoothly.”

Dr.  Stevens sat there, listening to every word Mr. Brown said. His facial expression did not change a bit but the inside of Dr. Stevens was burning with rage and agony.

“Maybe she deserves someone better than you, Mr. Brown. By Heaven’s! Anna is a precious pearl and I think probably you are not worthy of possessing that sweet innocent gem.”, stated Dr. Stevens sternly.

The statement caused an uncomfortable silence and put an end to the brief conversation between the two men. Mr. Brown finished his drink and left the deck and went to his room while Dr. Stevens continued drinking.

Kristoff was always finding opportunity to go near the room of Lady Anna. Her beauty has intoxicated him like Sicilian rum. When Captain Thompson ordered Kristoff to check on the passengers and ask them if they need anything, Kristoff went straight to the Brown’s room. When he reached in front of the door, Kristoff stopped, because he heard a furious voice inside. It was Mr. Brown.

“So those rumours between you and that doctor were true, weren’t they?”, shouted Mr. Brown.

“That drunkard out there is advising me on life? God, that is rich! Next time he tries to say something to me, I am going to break his face!”

Lady Anna said something in a very low voice, but Kristoff failed to make out what she said.

The next thing Kristoff heard was a sound. A sound he was familiar with. Arthur Brown had slapped Anna.  The next thing he heard was approaching footsteps so without losing any time, Kristoff knocked on the door.

Mr. Brown opened the door, “What do you want?”

Kristoff said, “The Captain wanted to make sure if everything was to your convenience sir!”

Mr. Brown with an irritated face said, “Yes! Yes!” and closed the door.

Within the split second before he closed the door, Kristoff made eye contact with Lady Anna. He saw her dark beautiful eyes and drops of tears rolling down from it.

Kristoff knocked on the very next door.

The black woman, who was the maid of Lady Anna opened the door. Realizing her comfort was not a matter of concern and his own prejudiced mind created by the English society made Kristoff moved on to the next door.

The sun was now on par with the ocean. The orange hue had engulfed the previous blue shade of the sea. Dr. Stevens was still on the deck, drinking. Mr. Anand Patel stood on the railing of the deck and enjoyed the mesmerizing view that was in front of him. He was feeling happy. He was finally returning to the land he called Home.