THE GOLDEN EVENING by Shantosmita Biswas

As the sun sank, the beaches were bathed in a golden glow, almost saying goodbye to the day with a hint of sorrow. Seated on a worn stone, Tiya observed the waves moving with a steady beat, it was quiet and calm. She was a young girl, who had always been fascinated by the ocean and spent most of her free time exploring the sandy shores. The sun began to set, casting a golden glow across the beach as the temperature grew colder. The sound of waves crashing against the shore was very soothing to Tiya’s ear. The gentle breeze played with her hair, and the salty scent of the ocean filled the air. 

As she sat there, gazing out into the vast expanse of the ocean, silhouettes set against the sun-kissed horizon surfaced from the depths. The manta ray gracefully soared across the air, its giant wings gliding as it left a trail of sparkling dust. A monk seal popped its head out of the water, followed by the massive whale, who curiously observed its surroundings. Droplets fell from the air as the animals soared out. Tiya’s eyes widened in shock as she watched the animals disappear into thin air, leaving behind a sparkling trail of glitter. These creatures were soon to be extinct, they made their great escape. 

Tiya didn’t know what to make out from this. Her brain felt all fuzzy and blank until her attention shifted quickly to a baby turtle nearby. The poor creature had a plastic wrapped around its delicate flipper. Without wasting any more time, Tiya rushed over and carefully untangled the helpless creature. As she released it back to the ocean, she couldn’t help but feel the sadness and concern take over her mind. It dawned on her that the plastic pollution problem was not only threatening lives of innocent animals but also robbing future generations of the chance to witness the wonders of nature.

Years flew past as Tiya sat in her cozy rocking chair, her hair now adorned with streaks of gray. She was reading a book to her grandchild, Raj as he looked up with curious eyes,

“Grandma,” he asked,

“Tell me more about the whale and those extinct animals”

Tiya felt a wave of nostalgia wash over her as she recalled that magical evening. With a smile she looked at his soft brown eyes,

“My dear, I saw them. I was young like you, they left in search of a better place.”

Raj’s eyes sparkled like the glitter trail that vanished into thin air when the silhouettes disappeared. He listened with utmost attention, his imagination running wild. Intrigued by what his grandmother told him, he pleaded,

“Can we go on the adventure like you did? Can we go see them, Grandma?”

Tiya could not resist the little one’s interest as she took him by the hand and led him to the same beach where she had witnessed the scene all those years ago. As she stood on the sandy shore, gazing out into the vast ocean, she could see the cloud taking the shape of those creatures. She whispered softly as her hair brushed near his ear,

“They were my friends, and they went on an unknown trip. Let’s try to save the planet and we can hope that one day, we will find a way to bring them back.”