Broken Sky
Chapter – 1
Storm of the Split World
(The sky grew sorrow. The wind beat against the plane like a wild drum.)
Mother: Eliza, be brave my dear.
Eliza: I will be brave.
Thomas: But the storm—
(Yet even after he spoke, the plane shook as though struck by giants. A cry. A crack. A flash. Fire spread. Metal tore. Then darkness.)
Chapter – 2
Island of Silence
Eliza woke upon quiet sand and salt with blood. She stood up thinking all of this was a dream.
Eliza: Am I alive?
Thomas (beside her, says with a weak heart): Yes, we are.
(Before them stood an island—green, deep and waiting. No rescue. No voices. Just surrounded by the ocean waves.)
Through the pain they gathered wood, built a small fire and began their new life.
Chapter – 3
Wild Golden Eyes
(Night fell. The jungle spoke. A growl rolled through the trees. A fierce shadow of a tiger appeared. Thomas gripped a stick.)
Eliza (whispered): Someone, save us.
(The beast stepped closer. It stared at them like he saw a face familiar to him. He sat near them.)
Thomas: Is this mercy or madness?
Eliza: Let’s name him Rajah. But why is he not moving?
Thomas: Well, I don’t know but I can try to pet him.
Chapter – 4
Blood on the Sand
(The island tested them with thorns that tore their skin. Sharp stones cut their feet. Once bushes changed themselves to spiky thorns like a cactus.
Thomas fell. Eliza screamed. Rajah leaped quick as lightning. Then silence came. Thomas lived.)
Thomas: Eliza, I am gonna tell you one thing that will always be in your heart.
Eliza: The two of us are always there for you, Thomas.
Chapter – 5
Light of Hope
Weeks turned into months. One day Thomas went deep inside the forest seeking fresh water, but he did not return. Rajah came sprinting towards Eliza as if something was frightening him.
Rajah (in mind): Eliza!
(She searched until her hands were bleeding. At last she found him beneath a tree near a cliff.)
Thomas: Leave me. Save yourself! (He gasped.)
Eliza: You are my strength. You made me realize who I am. Now please stay strong.
(Rajah stood beside them. Their friendship and experience destroyed fear and gave strength.)
Chapter – 6
Sea of Despair
(Storms again. Their shelter broke. Their fire died.)
Thomas: I am weary.
Eliza: So am I. Yet we stand.
(Rajah lay beside them guarding. Eliza looked at the sea.)
Eliza : Somewhere beyond lies home.
Thomas: And if we never see it, then make this place our victory.
Chapter – 7
The fire that called
(One dawn, Eliza saw smoke far upon the horizon.)
Eliza: The cruise.
(Too far to hear. Too far to see. They built a fire that set to smoke.)
Thomas: We must shout with flames.
(They built a tower high upon rocks using wood. Fire rose red and wild but wind caught the jungle. Smoke swallowed the sky. Rajah stood at the forest’s edge.)
Thomas: Eliza, he… he can’t come.
(She knelt before the tiger)
Eliza: You shaped our lives through fire and it was. You showed us the true meaning of life. You are our hero and you always be my Rajah. Now it’s time to say goodbye. My life is inside your heart.
(Rajah brushed his head against her hand. He turned her hand and kissed it. He turned and vanished like smoke. The ship saw the smoke. Boats came fast and lifted them from death.)
Chapter – 8
The world beyond the island
(Upon the ship’s deck, Eliza wept. Not tears for fear but from farewell. Thomas held her hand.)
Thomas: We survived.
Eliza: Yeah, we learned to survive and meaning of life.
(Years later, they told the tale of blood and fire, of Rajah and trust of despair that turned into strength.)
Jacob: I have a doubt. But how did you survive in that jungle?
(Eliza and Thomas looked at each other and said)
Eliza & Thomas: By courage, kindness, trust, patience and never leaving anyone behind.
Chapter – 9
The memories inside, hidden
(When they were going to Switzerland, they saw the same island they passed more hardwork into and realized there was one person who they left behind.)
Eliza: Rajah! Our hero.
Thomas: Rajah! Our hero.
Eliza: We have always been grateful to you Rajah. We hope you are happy and strong like before.
Thomas: He will always give our life and time to you if needed.
(From afar they could see a familiar face. It was none other than Rajah who was alive strong and healthy till then. Although he could not identify them. If they visit again he would be happier than ever.)
