What makes every minute tortuous is the fear of the unknown. The death is spreading across the coastal villages, and the families are afraid that many of the 200-odd “missing” may end up on that list. Many fishermen from these parts do deep-sea fishing, remaining out of reach for up to three weeks at a time.
Peter owned a boat, and would traverse into deep-sea fishing and would be away for weeks together. But there seems no coming back for Peter. We entered into Peter’s house it was dark, gloomy with a small pile of children’s clothes and schoolbooks,and candles lit. Thathaeus Mary was just sitting and gazing at the floor. Peter has two daughters Rufina in VIth grade and Acquila in IVthgrade. Acquila has not yet understood how the cyclonic storm has changed her life. “She starts saying appa (father) the moment the mobile phone starts to ring. She rushes to it, expecting her father to be at the other end,’’ says Thathaeus Mary. Both Rufina and Acquila are great artists it is proved by the pictures and smileys they have drawn all over the walls of the house. Peter was the only breadwinner of his family, and now, his family is in shock and doesn’t know how to move forward. Thathaeus Mary has refused to eat ever since her husband failed to return home. We along with Sister Reji have pressed her to eat and putting to her bluntly as to what would come of Rufina and Acquila if she starved and stressed herself. She just sat frozen, sobbing. We suggested that even if we could do something little to alleviate the burden of the family, she must be around to guide the children to a better future. Our pacifying worked a little, she slightly nodded understandingly. It will take some time before Rufina and Acquila are the ‘smileys’ of Peter’s home.
