THE KELP DOG

 The beach side customarily is a respite from day to day hustle & bustle for many. Amidst the commotion, Ben walked along the shore of the private beach, climbed over the rocks and reached a quite spot from where he viewed the delightful sunset. Marine biologist by profession, he availed himself enormous jollification and learning from nature, in a nutshell he was a happy young man. He was studying kelp forest and it’s habitat, which forms the most productive ecosystems on this planet. In his daily routine he encountered many fishes, urchins, kelps, octopus, corals and several sea creatures.

Just like any other day he snorkeled into the sea making notes & taking pictures. Large volume of bubbles coming through the kelp bed, began surrounding him. As he turned around, there was a snake like tail end moving inside the kelp.

“Kelps are full of surprises! A gurgling snake”, thought Ben. Out of curiosity, he followed this snake but after few minutes of chase the creature vanished into deep sea. Looking at his compass to check time and direction, Ben comprehended that he swam five nautical miles into the sea. Tides were very high due to the full moon. Increased effort was needed to swim back to the shore. He treaded the water hard only to realise he was now stuck in cross waves, a rare phenomenon of powerful rip tides he only wished to have witnessed outside the sea.

The worn out was seeping in as Ben was sinking in!, a layer of massive bubbles encircled him again gobbling him inside it, a massive creature came out of the deep sea carrying him on its back while his fatigued eyes were stuck on the tail he had seen while chasing the gurgling snake. The creature bolted to the shore in a jiffy, put him down on the shore and started licking his face.



“My goodness, you are a giant dog!” said Ben throwing up the salt water

The dog fetched him a bottle of water from his shack & watched him in silence, recovering slowly.

“It was you bubbling in the kelps?”, asked Ben in a soft tone. The dog woofed in response

“Hmm, big dog! You are like the cheetah of sea. Mind staying with me for while?”

“Woof Woof Woof” said the dog

“Well, then I take it as a yes”

Ben and the giant dog spent their evening playing by the shore and lazed on the beach gazing the charming full moon.