“Stop off at our house and pick up the fishing net,” D’Cunha yelled, his voice implying he was in a hurry. His son cycled towards the house and picked up the net. “Dad wants to get to our boat quickly, mom,” he babbled. “Have something before joining your father for deep-sea fishing,” the woman urged. “Oh, no thanks, I’m in a hurry.”

Nature slowly unfolded her treasure at the first ray of sunrise. It was a sunny morning but suddenly it started to rain. “Where is my raincoat dad?”  “You are sitting on it!” Oh no! The boy lowered his brows. “Hey, pull in the net,” D’Cunha shouted. “Sure,” the boy replied.” “Any fish inside?” D’Cunha raised his eyebrows. “No dad, it’s full of plastic waste!” His breathing quickened and his palms got sweaty. “Ugh, take out the trash, please.” grumbled D’Cunha.  They found large amounts of plastic deeper in the sea. It was disturbing.

The boat sailed through the blue waters as the morning sun made ripples of gold everywhere. They returned to their home from the sea.

Though D’Cunha fished out tonnes of plastic from the sea for one month, he soon realised that the scale of plastic waste was much more than a single person could handle.

The fisherman decided to approach the village council for help. “The people are making fun of me to the extent of even labelling me mad,” he said to the head of the village.

D’Cunha decided to launch an anti-plastic mission in the ward along with the council officials. They went around the town, raising awareness on plastic and its detrimental effects on the environment. “If anyone is reported or caught burning plastic waste, he would be heavily penalised,” warned the village officials.

Many people from abroad joined them in their crusade. In total, D’Cunha and his team managed to collect tonnes of plastic waste as well as loads of liquor bottles from the shoreline as well as the sea.

 “You are an inspiration to us all, D’Cunha,” admired the villagers.                                                                

    4.3 28 votes
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    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    2 years ago

    Interesting story Dipayan. You highlight some real issues within the story. Your fisherman certainly is an inspiration.

    Mousam Ray
    Mousam Ray(@mousam-ray)
    2 years ago

    Very interesting story, love this.

    Reema Mukherjee
    Reema Mukherjee(@reema-mukherjee)
    2 years ago

    Wow. It’s a real fact and your story will inspire many persons who are aware but not active. Together we can do so many things. We need some to lead us. Thanks for choosing such a simple but awesome topic. It’s brainstorming.

    Aranya 007
    Aranya 007(@aranya-007)
    2 years ago

    A very simple story yet it delivers a strong message. It’s wonderful to see how this short story perfectly grasps the current situation of dumping plastic wastes into water bodies. Loved it! Very inspiring ?

    Shrabani Chakrabarti
    Shrabani Chakrabarti(@shrabani-chakrabarti)
    2 years ago

    The story is a slice of reality of today-macrocosm brilliantly shelled in microcosm.

    Shrabani Chakrabarti
    Shrabani Chakrabarti(@shrabani-chakrabarti)
    Reply to  Dipayan Chakrabarti
    2 years ago

    Is the story symbolic, Dipayan?

    Shrabani Chakrabarti
    Shrabani Chakrabarti(@shrabani-chakrabarti)
    Reply to  Dipayan Chakrabarti
    2 years ago

    The voice, though implicit, rings through the lines ushering in a new hope.

    Shrabani Chakrabarti
    Shrabani Chakrabarti(@shrabani-chakrabarti)
    Reply to  Dipayan Chakrabarti
    2 years ago

    Apart from simplicity and clarity of expression, a poignant lyricism runs through the story.

    Shrabani Chakrabarti
    Shrabani Chakrabarti(@shrabani-chakrabarti)
    Reply to  Dipayan Chakrabarti
    2 years ago

    Yeah you’re right, Dipayan. The smell of the salt is pungent but soothing.

    Shrabani Chakrabarti
    Shrabani Chakrabarti(@shrabani-chakrabarti)
    Reply to  Dipayan Chakrabarti
    2 years ago

    You’re welcome.

    Kaustav Dam
    Kaustav Dam(@kaustav-dam)
    2 years ago

    Good story.

    Abhijit Ghosh Dastidar
    Abhijit Ghosh Dastidar(@abhijit-ghosh-dastidar)
    2 years ago

    Amidst the dark days, a story like this surely will inspire many. Skillful storytelling is your forte. Loved every bit of it. Best of luck.

    Paramita Guha Naskar
    Paramita Guha Naskar(@paramita-guha-naskar1)
    2 years ago

    A good story with a strong message. The time has come that we should do our bit to make Earth liveable for our future generations else it will be too late.

    Santina Forlenza
    Santina Forlenza(@santina-forlenza)
    2 years ago

    Hi Dipayan, I love your story. Expecially the sentence “The boat sailed through the blue waters as the morning sun made ripples of gold everywhere”; it gives a touch of poetry to the wonderful plot. Congrats!

    Chirag Barot
    Chirag Barot(@chirag-barot)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations

    Nabendu Paul
    Nabendu Paul(@nabendu-paul)
    2 years ago

    Nice story. Good work.

    ALOK YADAV
    ALOK YADAV(@alok-yadav)
    2 years ago

    Really inspirational story to save our environment!!!

    Avijeet Sarkar
    Avijeet Sarkar(@avijeet-sarkar)
    2 years ago

    Point taken Dipayan. Your story voices the silent concern of many of us.

    Mousumi Chakraborty
    Mousumi Chakraborty(@mousumi-chakraborty)
    2 years ago

    Too good.

    Rahul Singh
    Rahul Singh(@rahul-singh)
    2 years ago

    What a lovely story.

    Piali Das
    Piali Das(@piali-das)
    2 years ago

    Nice and inspirational. Congratulations!!

    Last edited 2 years ago by Piali Das
    Ashfaque Ahmed
    Ashfaque Ahmed(@ashfaque-ahmed)
    2 years ago

    Hi Dipayan Da
    Undoubtedly a very good story with a great message. It has touched me more as the story deals with the message that I always try to convey.
    Thanks a lot and wish a great success.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    2 years ago

    It implies a great message, which makes your story extraordinary. I love it. Hope many people can able to read and understand the message of this story. To protect and help the ocean and all the living things underneath. 

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    2 years ago

    Many congratulations on your impressive win, Dipayan. You have helped bring awareness, and also give us hope. Thank you.

    Eric Radcliffe
    Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
    2 years ago

    Congratulation Dipayan. A very inspirational story – Thank You.

    Romyani Chakrabarti
    Romyani Chakrabarti(@romyani-chakrabarti)
    2 years ago

    The character-focused narrative and the clear voice artistically depicts the present chaos with clarity and realism.

    sujoy sarkar
    sujoy sarkar(@sujoy-sarkar)
    2 years ago

    Wonderful Dipayan ……The message is loud and clear.

    sujoy sarkar
    sujoy sarkar(@sujoy-sarkar)
    Reply to  Dipayan Chakrabarti
    2 years ago

    Absolutely no doubt about it.

    Sagarnil Pal
    Sagarnil Pal(@sagarnil-pal)
    2 years ago

    How green was the fisherman… !! A real crusader and inspiration… We definitely need more of them to save this earth!! ✊✊

    Sagarnil Pal
    Sagarnil Pal(@sagarnil-pal)
    Reply to  Dipayan Chakrabarti
    2 years ago

    The world today is really in dire need of more of such inspiring people! Who can lead this awareness forward to the masses, make it more acceptable to them.. Good to see such dynamic character being the central figure in this short piece… ???

    Last edited 2 years ago by Sagarnil Pal
    sujoy sarkar
    sujoy sarkar(@sujoy-sarkar)
    2 years ago

    Really interesting. We need more and more people like him to make this earth a happy place to live in.

    NIRMALYA RANJAN Guha
    NIRMALYA RANJAN Guha(@nirmalya-ranjan-guha)
    2 years ago

    Blessed my eyes with this story with such a bold message to the society.

    Arunava Sarkar
    Arunava Sarkar(@arunava-sarkar)
    2 years ago

    Congrats….

    Dipanjan Mukherjee
    Dipanjan Mukherjee(@dipanjan-mukherjee)
    2 years ago

    Simple yet strong message. Very nicely written with a good flow of narratives!!

    Partha Dasgupta
    Partha Dasgupta(@partha-dasgupta)
    2 years ago

    Wow! So inspiring!!

    arijit mukhopadhyay
    arijit mukhopadhyay(@arijit-mukhopadhyay)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations! You deserve it.

    RIDHVIK RAJKUMAR MITRA
    RIDHVIK RAJKUMAR MITRA(@ridhvik-rajkumar-mitra)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations

    RIDHVIK RAJKUMAR MITRA
    RIDHVIK RAJKUMAR MITRA(@ridhvik-rajkumar-mitra)
    2 years ago

    The story is modern and thought provoking..

    Joydeep bhattacharya
    Joydeep bhattacharya(@joydeep-bhattacharya)
    2 years ago

    Very nice story. It is very simple but interesting topic. I like this. Keep it up.

    Rupak Banerjee
    Rupak Banerjee(@rupak-banerjee)
    2 years ago

    A well written nice and interesting story….good work…congrats.

    Archisman Sikdar
    Archisman Sikdar(@archisman-sikdar)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations!!!!!

    sujaya dasgupta
    sujaya dasgupta(@sujaya-dasgupta)
    2 years ago

    It is a wonderful and inspiring story..gives us a strong message..thank you for sharing it with us.

    Subhro Mitra
    Subhro Mitra(@subhro-mitra)
    2 years ago

    Dipayan, I enjoyed reading this story. Keeping writing and contributing to this literary forum.

    Priyanka Chakraborty
    Priyanka Chakraborty(@priyanka-chakraborty)
    2 years ago

    Just awesome.. carefully crafted the environmental issue in front of us. Liked reading it very much..

    Ashoke Basistha
    Ashoke Basistha(@ashoke-basistha)
    2 years ago

    Writer or activist, whatsoever may be on your mind, success is yours bro.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations on your win, Dipayan. I am happy for you.

    Niladri Bagchi
    Niladri Bagchi(@niladri-bagchi)
    2 years ago

    Nice story. An experience to read. Congratulations Dipayan.

    kalyan chakborty
    kalyan chakborty(@kalyan-chakborty)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations

    Raja Guha
    Raja Guha(@raja-guha)
    2 years ago

    Awesome story. Keep it up (Bobby) Dipayan.

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