I didn't wear any suit this time. I had forgotten where I had kept them. There were seven bags of luggage after all. So I wore my full sleeved t-shirt alongwith my jeans and sneakers. I folded up the sleeves and applied gel and combed my hair well. I knew I was looking good but the only doubt was how many of the attendants will be wearing suits.

And as I reached the deck, I was eventually relieved. There were people with different attires. Some were in suits, around a dozen in tuxedos, some were possessing a beach party vibe. It was four in the evening. The preparations for the party had begun this morning. One could see the excitement on people's faces. The party was yet to begin at five o' clock. I found Caleb and Brian leaning against the rails. As I approached them, they welcomed me with a smile and shook hands.

'Welcome Mr. Brown to the Grand Party of the Cathabella! I hope you will have a great time".

"I hope so too, sir"

We had some gossips and after fifteen minutes Caleb went off as he had to attend to some other guests and passengers and prepare for his speech. As the sun was close to setting, my eyes were fixed upon the clear water of the Indian Ocean while I was talking with Brian. Looking at the blue, mixed with the red of the sky... the seagulls flying and the waves crashing against the hull – I knew it that moment I was not wrong in choosing my path.

"Caleb's a wise and straight-to-the-point man", Brian said to me.

"No doubt about that".

He gave his typical smile again. "The way he asked you straight to think about your business. Man, I was flat". We chuckled. "You really are sure, right?"

"Yes. Yes, I believe I am. I was just standing cross-armed and witnessing myself succumb slowly and painfully. He edified me by asking me to act, which I was too shy to gather courage for. And you—"

"I what? Don't tell me anything. I didn't do anything. Damn".

"You have stood by me all this while, Brian, even after we only know each other for only a week now. Never lose your smile, friend. It has kept you alive still and it will keep doing its job in future too". He laughed again. "Tells that man who was crying all night, hmm?", he mocked. I smiled with embarrassment.

"But still, George. I would recommend to ponder over it for a while. What he said is not wrong but it's you who has to take the step. I know, when you are depressed, you are desperate to make a move to come out of it and thus, you try to snatch at every ray of hope. Sometimes, it turns out it is indeed a ray that passes through your hand but you are unable to grasp it. You need to count and recount your steps. It was difficult for me to raise my siblings when my father left. It was my maternal uncle, Ruben, who helped me throughout. You needed guidance. Caleb is your Ruben here. But Ruben was not always right. No person can ever be. Sometimes I had to muse over the situation myself, and that's what you must too".

The second realization of the day – Brian is also not wrong after all. I didn't want any dilemma further but I was summoned by one which was necessary after all. We went on gossiping and then it was a healthy talk that followed.

At the hour of five, we were all asked to gather together by some announcers. There was no stage today and we were all facing the bow, before which there was only a microphone suspension above a stand. The captain of the ship and other officials were around too.

After a while, Caleb came up to the mic and started. "It's Caleb Taylor at your disposal again, fellas! I think my ears have got too old to hear you". The crowd cheered. Me and Brian joined in too. "Alright. That's better. I can hear you". He sighed. "So, that's it, right... Our journey is coming to an end after all, after a sweet gathering of the ancient minds... Yes, ancient minds. Who travels by a ship anymore? No business trips, no travels. We have got the air route now. I myself do that, no complaint. Most of you here – you are here for a vacation or a holiday, or a family trip. And I deeply hope me and my authorities and the crew of this ship succeeded in providing you with one of your most memorable trips ever. I wish we make it to your memento diaries or stuff". There was another cheer from the crowd.

"This old man right here is not going to ruin much fun now, don't worry... And now I surrender my final proceedings to you as a symbol of The Cathabella's hospitality. I have got all my bartenders together, the catering services are delicious, believe me. They have got this huge crab I want to see which kid has his hand on first. And then there will be the dance at the end. Enjoy it, my friends!". With this he removed the mic from the stand and threw it at the crowd, in a fit of sport, as the music started and the party began.

We did some dance, had some drinks, gossiped together – Caleb with us all the while, except for the dance part – and then the night was awesome. The predicament had still not been resolved though. It was half past nine right now. Dinner was already over and there was slow music playing over speakers on the deck and some people were still dancing after having their dinner. Slowly though. I was leaning against the rails again and was having my glass of Tequila.

Even if I reduce my shares, it doesn't guarantee me that Aly will agree and she will be back. And then it may ultimately turn out that I lose both – my family and my enterprise. This leaves me with two choices – to surrender or to gamble.

If I surrender, the game's over. One side completely tips over and God knows what happens next. And if I gamble, one, if it works, I get my family back. There will be lesser stress, but there will be lesser money too. People will hold gossips. And two, if the gamble doesn't work, I will be a shame, an embarrassment. An example of stupidity and 'what happens when you are tardy at your decisions'.

I was brainstorming every possibility of every scenario of my future based on some decision I make. And in every scenario, there was something I was losing. No way my life would be getting its balance again. It was when Caleb came up to me again with his glass of some yellow juice.

"What's in it?", I asked him.
"Pineapple juice". After a brief pause, he asked me, "You seem quite... delirious? You didn't like the food?"
"No, it was really good. Especially, the steaks. I ate it thrice". We chuckled.

"All right then". He was about to turn around and leave when I asked him, "Do you think it will really work?". He stopped. He knew what I was asking him about.

He sighed and then leaned over the rail himself. "Tell me, when you invest over a share, are you always sure it will be a success?".
"No".
"So you stop your business and stop investing?".
"Nope".

"Life is nothing but a business, George. Your problems and circumstances – the shares, and your decisions nothing but investments. It is up to you to analyse and decide how you have to invest in them. The only difference is – in business, you get the choice of shares you want to invest in while in life, you have to buy the shares but with different strategies of investments. It's true they won't be fruitful always but even if they fail, you have to face it. You cannot and you shouldn't back away.

"If you run away from this situation and surrender to your fate, it will do nothing but eat you your whole life with the question – Why did I never try to do something?... Even if I had the time to do so". I nodded.

"You are bound to face situations in life which are going to put you in dilemma. Your job—". He put his finger over my chest. "—is not to get confused right away even if they compel you to. You should always go for the solution no matter how hard it is to make out. This is the first step of depression – dilemma.

"I mean, it's life after all... the way you see it. It tests you with its rapids and turns but you must find your ways to manoeuvre it with your will and be selfish to find your ways of content and happiness. You just can't give in and let it manoeuvre you, which it often does, and crash you into some ditch. You guide your way through the stream".

I was looking at him with stark amazement. His words of prophecy were making me feel more and more calm and relieved. I could see my way further clearly now.

"Well, for now my stream wants me at my office with my secretary. But I hope I did my best at being a father-cum-friend to you".
"You have been much bigger than a help, Caleb. Thank you for—".

"No. No 'Thank you' or whatever. I am not keeping it. I had said it before and I am saying it again... You are a good man. That's it". I hugged him right then with all the affection and respect I had for him. He cuddled me back and patted on my back. As I let him go, he smile at me and patted again on my shoulders before he turned around and proceeded back to his office. Even if he had an errand to attend to, he stopped by me for a while and enlightened me with his prophecy... for the second time in a day. It has made me respect him more.

Although the vision of my life ahead doesn't get vivid, but there is a clarity now about my steps that I have to take. Now, I feel confident enough of putting my foot over which stone. Even if it makes me fall, I am not going to surrender to it but get back at at. All I have to submit before is Aly and ask her for forgiveness and some understanding.

It was when a cold breeze from the sea ruffled my hairs. It was a gentle breeze. It had been calm all evening though. And that's pure nature – with its healing capability – that I had come for. Not the music or the extravaganza. The nature, in its purest form. I put down my glass on a nearby table and walked over to the bow slowly. The breeze was giving me chills now.

The waft at the bow was stronger. It was not only touching my hair but it was also penetrating my body – giving me an impression of levitation. As I moved closer to the bow, I put my hands on the rails and for a moment I thought I should climb up and give the 'Titanic' pose. It made me smile. I looked down at the hull. The moon was exactly before us and it had lit up the hull ahead. I could still see the sea and feel the wind simultaneously.

With time passing by, I was feeling more and more relaxed and filled with enthusiasm. It gave me a reminiscence of the day I had boarded up. I had looked down at the hull and that had made me retch... and I was still feeling sad and depressed. And now here I was, again at the rails, this time at the bow. All the sea-sickness and a feeling of despair gone. Now I was teeming with confidence and euphoria.

After a while, I retreated back from the bow and standing there, just looked at the moon. A bright full moon night it was. And when another strong wind seemed to pass by, I lifted up and spread my arms, in a bid to seep in all the wind and its positivity. As the wind passed through me, I thanked my grandfather, Martin Brown, for helping me even when he was not there. Had it not been for him and his album, I would never have come here. I would never have met Caleb and Brian, and I would have never had this opportunity to feel the power of sea.

After it was gone, I pulled my arms down and as I turned around, there was Brian smiling at me. "You really are a spiritual man, aren't ya?", he asked me.

"I guess I never realised it until I came here".
"Let's go, Brown, the music stops and the party gets over. It's time for your new home tomorrow at one in the afternoon most probably".
"Where's Caleb?"
"He's in his cabin, I guess... with his lovely secretary".

We laughed and left together for our quarters.