Anuradha T

Classics Crime

4.0  

Anuradha T

Classics Crime

The Boat Rode

The Boat Rode

5 mins
230


"Most people row the boat against the current and tides, while all they need to do is let go of the oars instead of turning the boat around."

Boat riding is probably one of the most exciting and enjoyable activities for people of any age. It is so challenging and enchanting that we want to give it a try at least once in our lifetime. The ride may be on a river, sea, or ocean, and these names indicate the depth and risk involved. But still, boat riding is exciting. Before we delve into more details of the picture prompt, which is a painting by David Cox, a few lines about the master painter are required, for sure. David Cox is considered one of the greatest English landscape painters and a major figure of the Golden Age of the English Water Colour Era.

Looking at this particular picture prompt, we get many ideas regarding the painting in our minds. Our creativity and imagination are put to the best use. If you ask a young child what the painting is hinting at, he or she may say the two boys are looking at something very interesting in the boat that they have got by fishing. A young woman or man may feel it is the catch of oysters and pearls that have been caught by the fishing net, which is not visible, of course. For an elderly person, it may be either of the two.

Kino and Tino were looking very keenly at something in their boat. They are the father-son duo who had gone fishing to get some pearl oysters if lucky. Pearls, as we all know, are the most beautiful sea stars that are so alluring to everyone, especially women. They were sure to get some as their gut feeling was that a lot of them were supposed to be at one spot on the seabed. Kino's older son was bitten by a scorpion when he was on the same boat a couple of days ago. They somehow cleared the doubt about whether the scorpion was still aboard. But, to their relief, it was found okay; the boat was safe to travel. Their immediate task was to fish for oyster pearls, sell them in the market for a good price, and get Nino, Kino's elder son, the required treatment at the doctor's clinic. It was a huge task that had to be done quickly. Kino takes his heirloom out of the estuary and gets ready to dive deep into the seabed while his wife and sons pray for a big catch of pearls so that their money problems will be solved. Their prayers were finally answered, and Kino caught hold of the largest pearl that anyone had ever seen in the nearby surroundings. He yelled so loudly with happiness that all the other fishermen in his vicinity started hovering around Kino's boat. It was a huge catch and a good treasure, everyone agreed, and so it was celebration time as well. But before that, Kino's son was to get his treatment, and this became possible as the pearl fetched a very good price. Now it was celebration time.

In the evening, all the people of the neighbourhood gathered at Kino's modest house. As the people started munching food, Kino proudly announced to the gathering his future plans. They included furnishing his home, buying jewellery, especially pearls, for his dear wife Liza, getting admission for his sons in the top schools of the area, and so on. The elders and the young feel that Kino is either very foolish or nonchalant. They finish dinner and go home. Just then, the priest enters, saying he will perform some rituals that will bring good luck to Kino and his family. The priest performs the ritual, but since Kino did not have the money to pay him immediately, he suggests selling the pearl the next day in the market and paying the money to the priest. Kino and Liza notice the greedy eyes of the priest, who is ogling at the big pearl. As the priest leaves, Nino and Liza decide to hide the pearl safely until the next morning. As they doze off to sleep, they wake up to the noise of someone digging the floor to enter their house. Startled, they notice a huge man who is trying to steal the pearl. Kino and Liza realize he is a thief there to steal the pearl. A scuffle ensues between the two men, which leaves Kino bruised and hurt. He somehow manages to thrash the intruder who escapes for good. Liza feels the pearl is not lucky, and she forces Kino to throw it away into the water. Kino disagrees, and they both have a bitter argument. As Kino goes back to sleep, Liza quietly picks up the pearl with the intention of throwing it into the water. Kino wakes up and, upon learning Liza's intention, thrashes her black and blue. As she limps back into the house, Kino decides to sell the pearl in the nearby city, where he could get more money. He meets the same fate again. A group of goons attacks him and beats him up. During the scuffle, the pearl drops into the grass, never to be found. Seeing him lying with blood all over, the goons escape into the dark. Liza slowly walks up to Kino and hands over the pearl, which she found in the grass. Kino sees his children petrified at all that was happening; he regrets how he badly hit his loving wife for the sake of a non-living object, he regrets how everything changed in a few hours from happiness to a mistake of sorts. He decides to throw the pearl back into the sea from where he got it. He makes up his mind to do some proper job that will give him a decent living and keep him and his family comfortable. All that glitters is not gold, all that shines is not a pearl.


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