By: Dr. Gulshan Ara

It was a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean
Vacationing tourists came from afar
Colorful flood light painted the canvas of the moonlight
Full moon in the sky and music in the air cast a magical spell
Sweet breeze reverberating with exotic music,
Romancing couples dancing clutching each other to their bosom
Children playing around
Abundant foods and drinks
It seemed like a paradise on earth!

Suddenly woke up a dormant volcano
From the bottom of the ocean
Roared in giant monstrous tidal waves
Splashed on the island growling like a pack of hungry wolves
Twenty feet tsunami splashed all over the glittering sand
Resounding with deafening sound
Tossing people around like little toys;

I was struggling desperately to stay afloat
Saving myself from being dragged by the killer wave
I grabbed on to a hanging branch of a tall tree
With both hands

Suddenly, I saw a little baby thrown off the bosom of her mother
Her mother, as she was drowning,
Was screaming for her baby, in vain
Instantly, I let go off one of my hands
Reached out for the baby and grabbed her with all my strength
I held her tightly to my bosom
Desperately trying to save her from being washed away!

The Tsunami kept on churning through the ocean all night
Stamping on the lovely island, dancing doom’s day dance
Leaving its bloody signature through complete devastation
Then slowly receded, like a tired war monger general
Carrying a flag of victory after conquering the enemy land

Then came eerily ghostly silence
Moon waned away and sun appeared
When I came to, I found myself laying on the beach
Almost senseless, still clutching on to the baby
To my bosom, tight
As the killer waves recede, earth calms down,
It was quiet all over, only sweet breeze blowing
Lifeless bodies of humans and animals scattered all around
Giant trees totally uprooted

Suddenly, cries out the baby, Mom, Mom
Her cry echoing around the island becoming louder and louder
Resonating all around
I screamed out, here I am, holding her tight to my chest
May be, we two were the only alive souls in that Island
The baby cried again!
Now, I must find some food for the baby
I must keep her alive
There, among the scattered debris,
I found a loaf of bread and an apple
Completely soaked in salty water
I squeezed out water from the bread and apple
Held near baby’s mouth
As the baby was sucking on to the soaked apple
I felt the vibration of life
Yes, I felt that there still is hope
Love still prevails

The realization I had was truly priceless
I realized that
The world needs to be totally destroyed
Before it is rebuilt
We need to lose everything, feel helpless and powerless
Then learn to lean on one another
And help one another to survive
Our sense of jealousy, power, hatred and greed
Made us prisoners within our cage of selfishness

O, Tsunami, come and teach us a lesson, rob us off everything
Let us begin from the beginning
Let us crawl just for a loaf of bread
And then learn the joy of living
Through giving, caring and sharing

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Dr. Gulshan Ara, a scientist and writer based in Connecticut, USA, explores the intersection of science and storytelling in her work. Her writings reflect a profound curiosity about the natural world and human experience.