"Why?" Luca cries out as sits while others do the same.
"Because there is an anathema on this island." Uncle Harsh replies.
Hearing his words, we all roar out in laughter.
"Ana…Anathema… you mean this island is cursed." Gregor chokes out in his laughter.
"Look kids, you can laugh all you want, but it's true. I've spent all my life here on this island and I know all there is to know about it. This island… it's cursed. It's doomed! You can only enter this island but you can never return back." Uncle Harsh states.
We still look at him in disbelief.
"Look kids, yesterday I tried to sail farther out there in the sea to catch more fish. But my actions invited a violent storm which crushed my boat." He huffs out.
At this, we all fall silent. The storm he is speaking about is the same storm that crashed our plane. But still his words elicit some instinct in my gut saying that something is wrong.
But I crush that instinct. Maybe I'm the one who's wrong here. Maybe I'm just overly paranoid. Maybe Uncle Harsh is really a good guy.
"Uncle Harsh, I apologise for my behaviour earlier. Can you forgive me?" I ask.
"It's alright, child." Uncle Harsh replies, forgiving me with a pat on my back.
"But there's got to be a way out of here. You have to help us, Uncle Harsh." Grace whines.
"Hmm…When I was young, my mother used to tell me the story of my great-great-great-grandfather who hid all the sturdy ships and boats of this island in order to stop the tribals from migrating towards the mainland to escape the curse. The only boats that remained were small boats used by fishermen. Those small boats are now damaged but I believe that the rest of the boats are still hidden." He explains.
"That's not very helpful." Anya murmurs.
"Yes, but you don't know the strength of these ships. Some of them are so strong that they can withstand that cursed storm. But alas, they weren't big enough to fit in all of the tribe at that time and hence great-great-great-grandfather took the stand to hide them. He believed that the tribals were not in any danger if they stayed on the island. Do you understand what I'm saying, my friends?" He finishes.
We all nod as the idea sinks into our mind.
"How are we going to find these boats?" Noah asks.
"It is said that great-great-great-grandfather wrote down about the whereabouts of the boats inside his diary just in case of emergency. The book has been passed down from one chief to the other for generations. My mother told me that the book is in a language called Marathi and clues are written on pg. 357. But I'm afraid that I can't read it as I don't understand the writing." Uncle Harsh finishes.
"More deadends! Just what we need! One hope! Just when I had one more hope and then it was crushed!" Grace cries out.
"Swastik can read it." Gregor growls.
Everyone exclaims in different versions of- "He can?!"
"Of course. Guys, think! His mother is Marathi. He can speak Marathi. He even listens to Marathi music. He even writes Marathi!" Gregor lists out.
The room bursts in different versions of - "You have to do it." They start to pester me and don't even let me speak.
Eventually, I shout over everyone, "Quiet!"
Everyone startles and a hush falls over.
Even though this is dangerous, I have to take this chance. Otherwise, we'll never get back home.
"Fine. I'll do it. Give me the book."
A very delightful glint twinkles from Uncle Harsh's eye as he gets up and hurries towards a chest in the corner of the room. He opens it and rummages inside it. After a minute or so, he straightens and returns to me with a very old book in his hand. The book, though old, is very beautiful and has a beautiful spine. The cover of the book is covered in the design of flowers.
He pushes it into my hand and grunts, "Go directly to Pg. 357!"
Roger that, Captain Growly.
I swiftly navigate to the required page and find a riddle.
I read the riddle.
Someone harshly pokes my shoulder.
I turn to find Uncle Harsh, growling, "What does it say?"
I read out loud then, for all to hear,
"संपत्ती प्रत्येक वंशाची असते,
साठवलेली, जपलेली, पिढ्या-पिढ्यांची असते.
ह्या द्वीपा वर माती आणि पाणी जिथे,
सदाफुलीची संपत्ती आहे तिथे."