Surangi, The Child Bride

Part 38

The bullock cart, which had left the Oak family home at the crack of dawn did not pause to take a break as it was important for the children to reach the port in time if they had to meet the ship that would ferry them to Bombay. They raced past the well-tended coconut and betelnut groves. Life in the villages began early and the sound of the watering wheel driven by oxen emanated along the way. The fragrance of night scented queen mingled with that of bakul and coral jasmine blossoms that had bloomed when the sky was still dark and had now been strewn under their trees carpeting and perfuming the courtyard and the dirt track. Because the sun was not shining yet the air was pleasantly cool and oxen sped along energetically.

The children had just eaten some puffed rice mixed with some yoghurt and sugar for breakfast but they had carried along enough food to last them the journey to the city. Chandri appeared more excited than either Surangi or Madhav. The girls were dressed in drab colours and did not have many adornments on them as it was risky business to be seen clad in fine clothes and jewels while travelling long distances. Instances of travellers being robbed were not uncommon. They were given strict instructions to stick together, to look after their luggage and to not accept any food or drink from strangers.

The roar of the sea could be heard miles away before they could actually smell the salt-laden breeze. The stillness of the early hour was interspersed with birdsong and the rhythmic tinkle of the bells around the oxen's neck. The road was a well-travelled dirt track and although the ride was not too comfortable the children did not mind, they were much too eager to get on the boat for their onward journey. They just took a single rest break and soon resumed their travel so that they could reach before midday. The cart pulled up by the seaside on schedule. They could see before them the bay dotted with tiny fishing boats bobbing on the waves. Here and there a seabird dived into the waters looking for fish.

Madhav paid the fare and the cart driver helped him unload their luggage. Madhav waved out to boat crew who were standing by to ferry the travellers from the shore to the ship anchored some distance away. The absence of a wharf had made this arrangement necessary. Even the row boat was moored in waist deep water. An adult could wade his way to it but children needed to be carried on a sailor's shoulders before they could be deposited on the boat. The experienced boat crew managed to get the three children and all their luggage safely on board. The bosun waited until his craft had filled to capacity with people before pulling in the mooring line and making his way toward to the ship. 

"What if our luggage or worse still, we fall into the sea while getting on to the ship?" Surangi voiced her concern.

"Don't worry, they use a sling to load the luggage, and if one is careful enough there is no need to worry about falling off the gangway. Just remember not to panic!" Madhav said without looking at her. It was his first journey too and he was equally apprehensive but he chose not to exhibit his true feelings. The children were accompanied by a man called Narhari from their village, and who was also travelling to the city. He had been assigned to watch over them. He was on the oxcart and row boat with them but seemed quite unruffled, having made the journey several times earlier.  

There was a swell in the water due to the tide and the rowboat swayed erratically as it regurgitated the cargo of goods and people it had carried to the ship. Chandri went aboard first. Surangi felt helpless, not being accustomed to the unsteady movement of the watercraft. She was caught unawares when she was physically hitched up by the strong arms of a lascar and deposited on the gangway from where she had little choice but to climb on to the ship. Madhav trailed her closely, ready to catch her if he had to. Fortunately they managed to board the ship without much ado. The ship's crew continued to help passengers embark and hauled their goods with the sling.

Surangi stared around at the sight before her. From where she was standing on the ship's deck she could see the magnificent shoreline dotted with lush coconut plantations and neat little houses tucked between them. The lighthouse on the hill across the bay was clearly visible. The red beacon of the lighthouse would be clearly visible to boats and ships in the night warning them to navigate cautiously between the submerged rocks. Before Surangi there was a sea of humanity on the ship's deck. Families sat huddled with the women flanked by the men they were travelling with, infants nestled in the comfort of their mother's breasts which kept them from wailing. A people, mostly women and older folks dozed on mats as a remedy against seasickness. Others sat around chatting with each other or looked around taking in the scenery.