The Momma Clan

I have always admired the sea since childhood. Growing up in Bombay, now Mumbai, we used to walk from Bandra to Juhu Beach.

Visiting the Gateway of India was fascinating.

Once my friend Sita and I ventured into the sea secretly. 

When we ventured on a boat, it turned upside down, and Sita shouted, “Help, help.” But no one was there nearby. She could not swim, and I saw her drifting away 

From me, before I could save her.

I, too, fell and hit something big. Omg! Did I hit a whale?

The whale, Robin said, ”Yes, I am your friend, and let us play a game.”

I was afraid at first, but said, “Ok, let us be friends.”

Maybe our sizes were the same. Fat and heavy.

“You must be hungry,” Robin told me. “I will get you some good fish.”

I was amused to be friends with a whale, Robin, but was not afraid.

He asked me, ”You are a human being, but so sweet, and you accepted me as a friend; thank you.”

Both of us shared our experiences in life and rested in one place under the water.

Robin’s friends came along to meet me, and all were friendly. 

One little whale said, ”Hello, sister, how are you?”

“How did you come here?”

“ I lost my friend Sita and am feeling very sad.”

“Oh! We saw a girl underwater.”

 I was thinking of my parents and wanted to go back, but I was happy to be my new creature 

Friends of the Sea.

Robin took me to a new place one day. It was an underwater fantasy land.

“ Oh! Such a beautiful place, friend, Robin.”

There were colourful fish that swam near me. All were friendly.

“Hello, friend, what is your name?”

“I am Meena.”

“Nice name.“

I thanked Robin for being my friend.

I was happy to know about their lives underwater and how peacefully they live together.

I was thinking of the outer world on land and was worried about our future.

One day, the baby whale asked me, ”Meena, will you teach me that song you teach your children about fish?”

I laughed to see the cute babies’ excitement. I said, “Ok, I will surely teach you.”

I sang “Machli jal ki Rani Hai.” Each day, many joined to learn the song. My friend Robin enjoyed their enthusiasm. 

Once, I requested my friend Robin to take me on his back and swim across the sea. He laughed and said, “Surely, Common, let us go.”

One day, early in the morning, Robin took me on his back for a ride. I was so excited, and I splashed the water with both my hands and shouted, ”Hurray!”

He took me for a long drive by the sea. A big whale came in front of us. I was afraid and screamed.

“Oh! No, save me, Robin.”

Robin said, “Do not worry, he is my Brother Ryan has come to meet us.”

When he came up from the sea, I was shocked to see his size.

“Hello Ryan, “I am Meena. I am glad to meet you.”

He also said, “I am also happy to. Meet you, Ryan.”

We three had a great swim, and all of us returned to Robin’s house.

I  was missing my home and parents.

Robin could feel my sadness and said, “Friend Meena, I know you are missing your parents and family.”

“ Thank you for being my friend, and please do come again. I will give you a ride.”

As our friendship grew, we used to run near the sea and shout, ”Robin! and he dashed near me, and both swam across the sea.

-Poornima Sivaraman