"Forget I ever asked." Uncle Harsh says, breaking through the tense silence.
"Wait! We'll tell you. It's just a little painful to talk about." Gregor starts. "We were headed towards the Lashwadweap-"
"Lakshadweep" I correct.
"-yeah, same, to meet Swastik's grandparents. His mother is an Indian who went against her parents wishes to marry his French father. You can imagine how that went. So now, after so many years, they contacted his mother to make amends. We friends took our private jet to go meet them and our parents were going to join us later. Fast forward, our plane crashed in the sea due to the storm and we barely survived and swam towards this island by clinging to the broken wing of the plane. So now, here we are."
"I see. Hmm…" Uncle Harsh hums and then makes the sign of a cross while saying, "Thank God, you are now safe and sound."
The actions of this man are really suspicious and at the same time they make me curious too.
"Tell us your story." I demand.
"Huh!" Uncle Harsh glances at me.
"I said, tell me your story, Uncle Harsh."
"My story…"
"Yeah… like how are you all alone and what happened to this island? Why is it deserted, except for animals?"
"Don't bother, you lovely people. It is too traumatic…"
"Maybe sharing it with us will help you feel better. I've read that in some books." Noah insists.
"Fine. As you wish. But don't say I didn't warn you. Around thirty years ago, I left the island to pursue higher studies so that I could civilise my people. At that time, a German man named, Otto Paul Schneider, had visited our island with his team so that he could learn about our culture and land. He was the one who helped me pursue my studies. And so I left at the tender age of 15, with dreams of developing my island and helping my people. For 2 years, I continually studied medicine. The longing of my home eventually tugged me back earlier than I expected and I returned for a short duration of time. I thought I could visit home and then go back to continue my studies, but fate, my dear friends, had other plans for me in store."
He shed a tear and then continued, "I returned home to a fight between the brilliant sir Otto and the island chief, my father. I don't know what the matter was but my arrival settled it for a short time. I asked my father but he didn't tell me. I never knew that it would be the last night I would see my people happy."
He sobs silently again. I guess I'm just wary because of our situation or he is a very good actor. But I think it is the latter.
After giving a slight hiccup, he stutters, "That Otto killed my people and my father in sleep but before I was saved from suffering the same fate as I was swimming in the hot spring. When I returned to the corpse of my people, I single-handedly killed Otto and his team in my rage but by then it was too late."
"I'm sorry." Anya chokes out with tears streaming down her lovely face.
Others offer their sympathies and as do I when Anya glares at me.
But not even Anya could stop my next question.
"Why did you never get off the island?"