The morning was biting cold, dawn still some hours away, as the northeastern wind blew in from the seas. The fishermen on the jetty, sleep long gone from their eyes, prepared to head out to sea, shouting, swearing, mumbling, moods mingling, drifting, the air smelled of tobacco smoke and above the din, was the mellow voice of a radio broadcaster on someone’s little radio as the day began.

Rajiv, a young boy, with his father and small crew, cast off to sea, his heart pounding with excitement, for today was his initiation. Today he had become of age to join a long line of ancestors as fishermen, a family legacy.
The boat cut through the waves and as the cold wind stung his face, it gave to his life, a new experience, for over the years, he had heard so many intriguing tales about pirates, killer sharks and mysterious ghostly ships, but the tale that mesmerised him, fable some claimed, real said others, was of the silver flying fish, with scales that glittered like diamonds in the night.
It was said that whoever caught the silver fish would have his wishes come true but for so many decades, no one ever did. Rajiv had one wish in his heart, neither for riches nor fine things, even though his family was poor, but for something with so much greater worth.
That first morning at sea, was good with their haul of fishes and he saw two sharks, but no ghostly ship or the silver flying fish. His father told him, there would be many more mornings and nights when he heads out at sea and every outing always brings something new, be it bad or good.
It was, for, the young boy, a life of adventure to look forward to and with a smile on his face and a spring in his step, he ran home to tell his mother and sister about his first day at sea. His mother had cooked for him, a special meal, but he could eat nothing until he saw his sister. She was sitting in the garden, under the shade of a mango tree, reading stories to two little children, looking so pretty and younger, her long hair in two plaits. A pang of regret touched his heart knowing as a boy, his ambition to continue a family legacy had been fulfilled but a cruel twist of fate had snatched her dream. It had been two years now, since that horrible accident that paralysed her legs, an accident that had cut the family purse strings, poor people they were but all their money spent could not help her walk again.
He touched her shoulder and she turned and smiled, hugging him, wanting to know everything about his first fishing trip.
He could not understand how she could still smile, knowing her dream to be a dancer and to travel the world had been shattered, leaving her in a wheelchair. He had vowed in his heart to help his sister walk again, no matter what. It was the reason he wanted to believe in the silver flying fish, so he could make a wish for her.
Days rolled into weeks, weeks into months, until one late night, when the tempest sea was wild and the wind wailed rocking the boat like a toy, the silver flying fish broke through the water, like a vision in the dark night, riding the high waves, and disappearing in the raging sea. Rajiv, the water streaming over his face, almost obscuring his vision caught a glimpse of the fabled fish and gasped in wonder.
It was such an extraordinary sight.
It stayed in his mind. Every day he went out to sea, wondering how he could catch such a fish, for he was just a boy and it had eluded grown men over the decades. To try to catch that fish, his father had warned was flirting with danger, but Rajiv had a vow in his heart he had to fulfill and he hoped and prayed that something, somewhere, somehow would help him.
Months rolled into a new year and his body had grown a little taller, a little stronger. The night before his sister’s nineteenth birthday, he had kissed her ‘goodnight’ hoping that in the morn he could give to her a gift of something very special.
That night, the sea was once again wild and restless and the fishermen struggled to pull in their catches. A storm was brewing and as the waves, lashed against the boat, the silver fish flew out from the water, flying over Rajiv’s boat and disappearing in the sea.
Rajiv so excited at seeing that amazing spectacle did not heed his father’s warning as a huge wave bore down on them and he was knocked into the raging sea. He went down, then surfaced, but was pulled down again and that was when he saw the silver fish, trapped in the net of another boat.
Rajiv struggled with all the strength in his young body to get back to his boat and grabbing his knife, he dived back into the water, much to his father’s dismay. He swam, towards the boat that was already pulling up their net and Rajiv knew if he couldn’t get there in time, to cut free the fish his chances of a wish for his sister to walk again would be gone.
The sea would not let him, the strength draining from his arms and as he started to sink, his sister’s beautiful face and a smile that was always on her lips flashed before his eyes, putting new strength in his arms and kicking to the surface, he breathed in deeply before diving again. The boat’s net was just a few inches from being pulled up, when Rajiv with every little ounce of strength left in him reached and grabbing the net, cut the fish loose. He made his wish with the little air that was left in his body before slowly sinking to the bottom.
There was the sound of music coming from somewhere far as his eyes opened. He laid still for a moment, not sure where he was, not knowing if he was alive. The music was now closer and he stood up, a little unsteady, wondering what was happening. No one was around and he walked slowly down the steps to an open door where from within came the soft sound of music.
What he saw hit him like a storm on the high seas but it was a storm that filled his heart with happiness, bringing tears to his eyes. His sister was standing in the middle of the room in a baby pink dress, her hair tied by a ribbon as she practiced little dance steps.
“Priyanka!” He called her name.
She turned and ran to him, hugging him as their mother and father entered and they all embraced, a family whose hearts were now filled with joy. A brother had risked his life to make a dream come through for his sister for he had allowed his heart to believe in the magic of the silver flying fish.
In the darkest of the nights when the seas is at its wildest, the silver flying fish can still be seen – a vision to behold.

(By MAUREEN RAMPERTAB)