It was February 2019. I along with a dear friend went on a trip to Thailand. Koh Samui to be specific. This was my longest holiday after 7 years. The previous being Srilanka in 2012. Obviously, I don't relate to this Sabin anymore 😉 This trip was phenomenal in a lot of ways. It led me to question a lot of things. Right from my childhood, I lived near the ocean. Like a few 100mtres away from the ocean. So the prolonged silence, followed by the sound of a wave crashing was a regular thing. Everyday lunch and dinner were not without Fish. It's probably the same for everyone living on the coast. But my connection with fish ended with only eating it. That changed during my Koh Samui trip.
Story1
In Koh Samui, I was excited to go to the Fullmoon party which was to happen in a few days. That's when I saw a brochure that had a photo of different colors of fish underwater. At first glance, I thought the photo was from some artificial tank but not. It was from a place in South China and I got really curious. Immediately, got myself and my friend a boat trip booked for my first-ever snorkeling trip.
After an hour or two of travel by speed boat, we reached the island of Koh Tao. The place was too picturesque but the Sabin then didn't really care about the beauty. Without clicking many pics I directly went into the ocean with my goggles on. There was a strong undercurrent and our guide made sure that I don't get pulled into the ocean by marking the last point until which I can comfortably stand. Getting comfortable in the place I slowly started to spot different colors of fish underwater. Almost at touching distances. Obviously, I tried to touch but 🤷.
This game of spotting and trying to touch continued for some time and I spotted more types and colors of fish as time went by. That's when the magic happened. As a part of my self-created game, I was holding my hand in a prayer pose,🙏, but sideways little away from my tummy. I was walking back towards the shore with my hands still underwater and this group of fish just followed. At first, I didn't realize what was happening. Not until I took a cautious turn and the group followed. I flipped. I checked again. Hands underwater in prayer pose and I tried navigating this group. They followed. They kept following me. I couldn't resist. My friend already went to the shore and I screamed my lungs out, "Dude look these fishes are following me." My friend eye-rolled me 🙄. I continued my game in disbelief. It went on for some time. I had no clue what was happening. Only, I know I have tried every direction possible and these fishes are following. My logical brain couldn't comprehend what I was experiencing. But my experience didn't need logic and it continues to stay close to my heart even today💙🐟🙏
Story2
2022 August. I was in Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh for the Mani Mahesh Kailash trek. After the magical Mani Mahesh Kailash yatra, I decided to stay in Dalhousie for a few days to rest but ended up staying for over a month. I trekked almost every possible spot in Dalhousie during this time and I look forward to putting them together in my blog for you soon. During this time of avid trekking, I was experiencing a lot of coincidences. It led to a profound realization of how everything is just happening and there are times when we reach a state of understanding. We connect the dots and call it coincidence. Whereas all there is a coincidence and nothing else.
On one of the evening walks in the market of Dalhousie, which I have walked a few times before, I saw the Fun claw catcher machine. A glass box with about 30 stuffed toys in it. While walking on the road and crossing this machine I spotted a fish. A fish was protruding out among the 30-odd toys. I told my friend, who was walking with me then, "Dude, Wait! I want to play this game" and walked straight to the machine. I was so focussed on the fish. I wasn't even looking at my friend. My friend looking at my desperation went to the shopkeeper, who was on the other side. He walked back saying ₹150 for 1 try (or something like that) and I nodded to my friend in a hurry. I still remember I said to myself I just need one attempt but didn't tell it openly. My friend dropped the first coin in the machine. I moved the catcher using the joystick, I grabbed the fish and one more toy on the first attempt. Both the toys were getting lifted my friend screamed in joy but both the toys slipped the catcher. Unmoved and focussed on my fish I went for the next try.
BINGGGOO!! The fish was mine.
What is the probability? A random walk in a market street and getting this fish. It has created so much joy from then to now.
A few weeks after Dalhousie I went to Rishikesh. Happened to stay in a house with a Swedish couple and two beautiful kids of theirs. Safeera the elder one and Liano the younger one. Safeera being the kind she is dug into my bag to find the fish. Liano being the youngest got to play with it the most. Every morning Liano used to come to my room to find the fish. The game is to keep the fish in the air. The fish flies around the room and both of us keep running to get it. We had so much fun with the fish. Not sure when was the last time I played so much with a kid but then it happened. Thanks to the fish. Wondering if we became close because of the fish. I don't know.
When I left Rishikesh, I really wanted to give the fish to Liano but then I didn't. I never had the heart to give the fish to Liano. He loved the fish. I didn't want to give this priced possession. The fish now lies idle in my room somewhere as I type this story. Now I know, that fish was for you Liano ❤️🤗
The fish story continues...🙏🐟