A voyage to The Indiscernible Island

I heard a bunch of people roaring into laughter, it broke my nap. I looked down from the upper berth and saw Amar bhai ecstasizing the flock sitting around him with his jokes. He was the host of that moment. My friends were auscultating the epigrams that his lips followed, while I had slipped myself onto the upper berth for few hours resting my body to avoid any kind of weakness due to the sleepless night spent yesterday. His humor made the passengers in the nearby berths to peep into our compartment. As the day was approaching further, the bursting of laughter became louder and louder. It was so much fun inside that we could not realize the day was approaching to an end; the red blazing circle was all set to slip into a soft, magical slumber after a long and weary day. In the konkan railway path, our train was moving ahead gashing the chests of several mountain ranges through the tunnels. It felt as if the day is frequently changing its color from light to darkness when looked through the windows. The train was running late behind schedule and for that we reached our destination very late, around 9 pm, whereas we should have checked in by 4 pm. The resort booked was good enough to give us a rich feel although it was cheaper on the pocket due to non-seasonal time. We decided to hit our beds as soon as we checked in as we did not want to waste time in the morning by waking up late.

We started the next day very late, around 11.30 am. We visited the Arambol beach which was around 25 kilometers from our hotel. The distance seemed more than double to me as I was not able to enjoy the ride by viewing roadside sceneries, thanks to Vishal’s daring idea to ride the bike. He had hardly driven any vehicle before that. I was on the back seat guiding him with my so called expert driving tips throughout the drive. Although he was driving well, I still could not make myself completely comfortable. Anyways we reached Arambol beach with all our body parts intact even though we had some close encounters. The day was spent well at the beach; the only regret was we could not have our lunch at the Florentino restaurant, one of the finest places to have cheap and authentic Goan food as suggested by Durga!!

In our stay of 2 days we visited Anjuna beach, Vagator beach and Baga beach. The treat from Saket bhai at the shack named Curlies near the Anjuna beach was awesome, the food was really delicious. The 2 days spent at Goa were heavenly to say the least. Unfortunately we could not buy some more time on the trip as most of our colleagues had to resume office on Monday. The departure time of our train was 6.30 pm from Madgaon station. The train was running 8 hours late from its scheduled time. We had already reached the station on time as we had no clue that the train would get late. When we heard the announcement that the train was arriving late, everyone started cursing each other, why not someone did check the train is on time or not before departing from the hotel. We had to seriously think about, how to spend the awkward 8 hrs.

We could not find any accommodation nearby. All we had one option, to wait at the station till the train arrives. We tried spending the time by playing antaksri, dumb charades. But we could hardly kill 2 hrs from our stroppy waiting hrs. We needed some better ways to kill the time.

I told Saket bhai to think about something. He suddenly announced that, he is going to tell the girls about what we boys did in the Saturday midnight when they went off for bed. Saket bhai whispered something to Vishal and started telling the truth about the Saturday midnight.

From now on, I chose to narrate the story through saket bhai’s eye.

As soon as we checked-in in the hotel, I enquired with the reception about the availability of vehicles on rent. The receptionist could arrange 3 scooters immediately and promised us to give the 4^th one in the morning. My astir mind had a better plan than simply settling myself inside the 4 walls of my room, it was all set for drifting throughout the night, may be with a very short nap, just to ensure maximum adventure and enjoyment on this trip. I had spoken to Swapnil and Vishal about this, and they had agreed to go with me on a night out. I managed to convince the rest of the boys for the junket. We all decided to go to the Sinquerim beach. It was a 20 minutes’ drive from our hotel. When we reached there, we found it completely dark. None of the beach restaurants were open nor could we see a single person on the beach. We were disappointed as we had thought the beach would remain active day and night. We were discussing what to do, whether to go back to the hotel or to check some other beach. I saw a person walking towards us wearing a 3-4^th trouser and a t-shirt. “Are you guys looking for some fun?” “Who are you?” was my first question to him. “I am Johan Jerin, a tourist guide”, he replied. “I can show you a really cool place, if you wish, you would have never seen such a place in your life”, he added to convince us. “You will show some beach or what, which is active even at this time?” I told him checking for facebook updates on my mobile. “Yes Saheb, I am going to show you a beach, but let me tell you, that won’t be an ordinary beach at all. It’s an Island beach having an adjacent jungle which adds to the beauty of the beach. And that’s not all; the real surprise is inside the jungle.” “What is there inside the jungle?” I asked with a sudden attention to the stranger. “A beautiful water fall that shimmers even in a new moon night!” My eyes widened. His words sounded like parts and pieces of some fiction story. I wanted to search for the island on my map which I was carrying. I asked for the name of the island to Johan. He told; “The Island is not in any official records as that is a disputed land and that is hardly known to anyone. You won’t get it on any map. However, the early visitors hard given it a name- ‘The Indiscernible Island’.” The name of the island was mysterious. I wanted to know, why it was named so. “Saheb, if I tell you the reason for such a name, then you won’t believe me. But I will still tell you. The island goes invisible in the day time. No one gets a trace of it in the mid sea under the sun. It appears only in the night.” There was no reason with us to trust the words of that stranger. “Is he trying to fantasize us to make some money or he should be trusted” I was muddled. I looked at my mates; they were all in a different expression- mixed of shock and surprise. “Where is it, how far from here?” my dubious gaze looked at Johan. “It will take 1 hour from here, but once you reach there you would realize that the 1 hour journey is definitely worthy”, he answered. I checked my watch, time was 10.00 pm. “What guys, what you all say?” I asked my mates. “It is too late Saket bhai, we must go back and take rest”, Prakash quickly replied. I looked at Vishal, Amar and Abhisek. I read hesitations in their faces. However Swapnil was still thinking over it. I asked him, “Swapnil, what is your thought?” He winked at me and said, “I am in”. I smiled and said, “come-on boys, let’s do this.” “Hey, tu pagal ho gaya hai, we have not even heard about this place before, there is no record of it in the internet too. And how can we trust this stranger’s words. It is too risky to go to such uncharted place”, Vishal responded with an irritation. Vishal’s concern was not at all pointless. But my super excited mind was somehow lugging me towards island.

The voyage to ‘The Indiscernible Island’ started. I had finally managed to convince my boys for the move. The speed boat was driving us to the destination at around 30 Nautical miles per hour. The shadow of the moon was hazily reflecting in the wind shattered water of the sea. The only sounds heard were the buzzing sound of the motor boat and the water that was clashing head against our boat. All of us were gazing at the distancing shore. To break the silence I asked Johan to tell us more about the Island. He uttered his mugged up lines telling how beautiful the beach is. His repeated lines did not kill my curiosity. I moved close to sit beside him. I asked him, “Why it is so that hardly any people have seen the Island, what is the matter?” “Saheb, I had told you about that the mysterious fact of the island that it goes invisible in the day time. For that reason, many people avoid going to such place as they think that the place is not so safe. That is the reason, who ever so far visited the island have avoided disclosing the existence of such an island. So, it’s not part of any map or any official record.” But is it actually a safe place?” I was concerned about the safety of my boys. “It is all safe, no worries”, he replied. I was still thinking over it. I did not show concern to my mates. We reached the Island after a journey of an hour and 15 minutes. When I saw the island for the first time, I felt as if I have landed in a fantasyland. The existence of such a place was only in my dreams. I was astounded by the elegance of the beach with a dense forest at the back side and the mountain range that stood like a wall guarding the adorable beauty of the place.

We followed Johan to the jungle. He had warned us to stay close to each other so that we don’t get separated in the jungle. Mobile networks were down, so there was no means to contact each other if required. I was walking ahead of everyone as I could not my hold my patience to experience something that I had never seen before- ‘The shimmering waterfall’. Every bit of furtherance made me antsier. The distance to the waterfall looked like never ending. We were walking through an intricate series of paths and grassy trails inside the dense forest. The fragrance of forest flowers wafted through the cool and crisp air. We had already walked for 30 minutes. I was kind of exhausted, my body wanted a rest, may be for a shorter while. I looked back for my guys. Hell!! I could not see any one of them. Soon all the excitement faded out and anxiety ruled my thoughts. I could not understand how they could disappear all of a sudden. I felt as if I was in a trap and did not get any means of alleviation. I started screeching names, the louder it is possible. I did not get any response back to break the dominance of silence filled in after my every desperate screaming. I felt as if the tiny night creatures making some peculiar sounds were trying to say something to me. May be they wanted to tell me- “go back, this place is not safe”. I had to ignore the allusions given by the tiny critters and had to search for my missing mates. I had really come so deep inside the jungle that I had lost my way. I still did not get any clue about my boys.

My crippled feet kept on moving in the despair search. I felt as if someone is watching my steps. I turned back and tried to figure out who he is, there was no one. I had to avoid any such engulfment which would fill my thoughts with fearsome ideas that would distract my search. I kept on moving. After a little more move, I heard the sound of a water fall. I moved to closer to confirm, there it was; the poem of a poet, a mirage in the desert, an imagination that came alive. The sparkling water was amazing. It would have been beyond my belief if I would not have experienced through my own eyes. My desperation now had turned optimistic. I had to wait there as I expected my friends to gather at the water fall. I was very tired and thirsty. I drank the clean and cool water from the stream. I thought of taking a rest near the bush and while waiting for my buddies. My bleary eyes caught sleep immediately.

I discovered myself in captivity when I woke up. I was shaken to see tribal people around me while I opened my eyes. I was tied up against a wall with the help of bamboo strips. The only thing that I could have done in that helpless situation is to observe their actions. I was in a cave with 20 odd tribal heads. I was stunned to see a fair skinned tribal person. I had never seen a white skinned tribal. I was staring at him and was observing his bodily features. He could understand that I am observing him; he looked at me for some time and turned his gaze sideways. Everyone was looking at the person sitting on some sort of throne made of wood and stones, as if they were waiting for some instruction. He looked like the head of the group. I looked around from one corner to another corner of that cave. There was so much brightness inside the cave. I saw a torrent of water adjacent to the exit of the cave which was shrouding the entrance; it was then I realized that the cave was just behind the water fall; that brought me to this island and was the reason of me falling in the trap.

My fast moving gaze stopped at one corner. The thing which I was afraid of had happened already. Vishal, Amar, Prakash, Abhisek, Swapnil and the Johan; all were under the same roof along with me as captive. I had no clues how to return back safe, it almost looked inconceivable. The reason why they caught us was still unclear. “What they want to do with us?” was my worry. I was desperately looking all around, if I can get some help. A glittering stone caught my attention that was the reason for so much brightness inside cave. It was fixed on a big stone that was kept behind the throne of that tribal leader.

The tribe became attentive as their leader spoke up. He was talking in some uncanny language which obviously I had never heard. Although I could not understand his language, I could understand from his voice modulation that he was giving them some sort of command; may be something related to us. After 5 minutes of talk, he ordered his men to bring the captives to the center place. The white man came near me and loosens me up from the bamboo strip. “Hi, I am Steve; I am the priest of this tribal group. The leader has ordered to offer sacrifice of your lives to their God. You have to help your selves and run as soon as you get some opportunity”, he whispered in my left ear while untying the strips. I looked surprisingly at him. All of us were brought to the center. Our worried eyes met each other. I told my mates what Steve informed. I read the tensed eyes of my friends; even I could not hide mine. All we had to do is to hold patience and wait for the opportunity.

The leader then commanded his fellows to get ready with their sharp weapons for the execution. The shrill edges of their weapons gave me goose bumps. I saw that, Steve went close to the leader and whispered something in his ears. The leader then stood up from his throne and looked at me with a surprise in his expression. More than him, I was amazed, “what happened, what his expression is meant?” He came closer to me and then suddenly bowed to me. Seeing him rest of the tribes bowed to me too. My mind could not process the happenings, it was beyond my understanding. Before sometime they treated me like a captive, and later they were treating me with respect. “What did Steve speak to the leader in his ears that changed his behavior?” was all I was thinking. The leader told something to Steve and he nodded his head in acceptance. “Come with me”, was Steve’s instruction to us. We followed him to the exit of the cave. I was clueless, where he was escorting us? We kept following him up through the jungle. I asked him, “Where we are heading Steve?” He maintained quiet and kept on moving. After sometime, we reached the beach where we had left our motor boat. I was relieved as I understood that Steve had brought us back alive from that noxious captivity. Before I could say anything, Steve spoke, “You guys leave as soon as possible and never come back to this place again.” “And you”, I asked. He refused to come with us. He shared his story with us. He had gone to the Island 4 years back. He had come from France to visit that Island as he had heard about the place from one of his friend who was a Geological Surveyor. Steve was a researcher who wanted to make a documentary on the tribes whom hardly anyone knew. So, upon his arrival to Goa, he approached a boatman and went along with him to the Unseen Island. And, there he landed up in trouble as the tribal people caught him. The tribes had an idea that, he wanted to invade the place and wanted to take away their magical stone, the one which was kept behind the throne. So they kept him captive. They did not kill him as they had to wait for the orders of their leader who was sick that time. Eventually when Steve met the leader he offered him some natural medicine by virtue of his Ayurvedic knowledge which he had learned from an renowned Indian Ayurvedic doctor in his last visit to India. The medicine offered by Steve cured him. The leader was pleased with services of Steve and offered him to stay with them. Later he learned their language and became part of their group. He also married to the daughter of that leader and became the priest of that group.

Steve mentioned about the power of the magical stone. Because of the stone, they never suffered from any natural calamities or any threats from out siders. We learned from him that, their magical stone was the reason for the indiscernibility of the island. That is why, the Island is known to very few people. “All that he explained to me would have been difficult to believe if I would not have come here”, I thought.

He also mentioned that some of the early visitors wanted to steal the precious stone from the cave. The gleaming water of the fall always attracted visitors as they thought the cave behind the stream was filled with diamonds. Many of them never returned back. He had understood Johan’s intention. “Do not even think about that stone in future, you might not be fortunate enough all the time” he warned Johan. After knowing this, I wanted to slap Johan for endangering our life for his greed. But I controlled my anger as I saw him repenting on his deed, his eyes spoke to me.

“Why you do not want to come with us Steve?” I asked him. He mentioned that he was an orphan from his childhood. He never really knew the love and affection of a family. Now that he had got everything, he did not want to leave the place. He wanted to help the tribal people to get cultured and educated. For that he wanted to stay with them. They had become the part of his life.

His words touched my heart. But I was still wondering, “What did he whisper in his leader’s ears? I asked him. He told, “I had to tell a lie to my leader for saving your lives. I mentioned him about a dream that I saw last week about the visit of God’s legates to the cave. I told him that, I saw the God’s men coming to the cave and blessing us with prosperity and happiness. I told him that you have come from the God’s place to bless them. So, he must relieve you and your friends. He was convinced to accept you as the God’s man when he saw the stone fitted ear stud and the glittering ring on your finger. These tribal people worship all the objects that are a source of light, even if it is a tiniest stone.” I could not react to the situation. I had never thought that my ear stud and my stone fitted ring can save my life.

My words were falling short to show my gratitude to him. His lie had saved our lives. We finally bid adieu to Steve and started heading back to the main land. The time was 4 am. We wanted to reach our hotel as soon as possible because all of us were completely enervated with so many happenings for one particular night. For this reason we could not get up early in the morning the next day.

Everyone of us were so much indulged in the story that saket bhai was narrating that we forgot that we were in a railway station platform. Girls had understood the truth about the nonexistence of ‘The Indiscernible Island’. We heard the announcement about the arrival of the Porbandar-Kochuveli train that was entering the platform. We had successfully passed 8hrs; the lively narration by Saket bhai helped this. Even though the existence of such a place was untrue, the beauty of the beach as described by saket bhai in the elusive island was still flashing in my memory. We boarded the train as it seized to stop at the platform. I went off to the upper berth and placed my body in a horizontal position to catch a sleep as soon as possible. I wanted to go back to the island through a dream; the dazzling water of the imaginary water fall had an attraction. Soon our train blew horn and return journey began.