Chapter 5 – A Journey Begins

Treasure Hunter: The Seventh Tide of Andaman

Chapter 5 – A Journey Begins

(Flashback Continues – Kolkata)

S ome decisions are made with logic.
Some—
just happen.

🌃 Kolkata

Night had settled over the city.
But inside Arindam Da’s apartment—
lights were still on.

Books everywhere.
Notes scattered.
Laptop open.
Maps half-folded.

And in the middle of all that—
the diary.

“Okay… let’s just clarify,” I said, pacing.
“Random diary, no author, incomplete sentences, creepy last line…”

I stopped.
Looked at both of them.

“And we are seriously planning a trip based on this?”

“Yes,” Arindam Da replied.
Without looking up.

I blinked.

“Dada… I make travel content, not crime documentary.”

“Then start adapting,” he said calmly.

Ishani Di smiled.

“Rit, tumi jachho na?” she asked softly.

That question—
was dangerous.

Because she knew—
I wouldn’t say no.

“I’m coming,” I sighed dramatically,
“but I’m documenting everything.”

“Good,” Arindam Da said.
“We’ll need that.”

🧠 The Research Begins

This wasn’t travel planning.
This was something else.

“Cellular Jail records…” Arindam Da muttered.
“Most prisoners documented…”

Pause.

“…but some entries missing.”

“Missing mane?” I asked.

“No names. Just numbers.”

“That’s not normal.”

“Exactly.”

Ishani Di turned her laptop toward us.
Satellite view.
Andaman Islands.

“This pattern…” she whispered.

We leaned closer.

It wasn’t exact.
But close.
Too close.

“Okay… now this is getting serious,” I said.

Silence.

And just like that—
the decision was made.

❤️ The Unspoken

“Why does this matter to you?” Arindam Da asked.

To Ishani Di.

She paused.
Then said quietly—

“Because someone tried to erase it.”

Silence.

“And you want to bring it back?”

She nodded.

A long pause.

“Then we do it properly,” he said.

Not you.

We.

She looked at him.
Softly.

“You’re sure?”

“I didn’t leave history to ignore it.”

Something shifted.
Again.

😄 Rit Reality Check

“Okay… wait,” I said.

“So we’re officially doing this?”

“Yes.”

“Dada… this is not normal travel anymore.”

He looked at me.

“Good.”

📞 The Unexpected Call

The next morning—
something unexpected happened.

Arindam Da’s phone rang.
Unknown number.

He answered.

“Yes?”

Pause.

Then—
his expression changed slightly.

“Subho da?”

I looked up instantly.

Subho Kaku?

“How did he—?” I whispered.

Arindam Da listened quietly.

Then said—

“We were just planning…”
Pause.

“…yes, Andaman.”

Another pause.

Then—
“No, it’s not finalized yet.”

He ended the call.

I didn’t wait.

“Dada… Subho Kaku knows?”

He sighed.

“I mentioned Cellular Jail yesterday. Casual conversation.”

I grinned.

“That’s enough for him.”

Right on cue—
phone rang again.

This time—
video call.

📱 Subho Kaku.

“Hello hello!” he beamed.

“Tomra Andaman jaccho, aar amake bolbe na?”

Ishani Di smiled.

“Plan hocchilo ekhono.”

“Plan? Tahole ami ready,” he said proudly.

I laughed.

“Subho Kaku, eta picnic na!”

He leaned closer to camera.

“Rit, tumi bujhbe na… Cellular Jail-e onek golpo ache.”

His tone changed slightly.

Less playful.

More… knowing.

“Ki rokom golpo?” I asked.

He smiled again.

“Ja lekha hoyni.”

Silence.

Arindam Da spoke calmly—

“You’re serious about joining?”

“Of course!”

“Ekta kotha mone ache?” Subho Kaku said.

We looked at him.

“Train-e dekha hoyechilo… Howrah theke Varanasi…”

Flashback hit.

Arindam Da nodded slightly.

“You said—some stories are never recorded.”

Subho Kaku smiled.

“Exactly.”

“And I think… this is one of them.”

A pause.

And just like that—
he became part of it.

🧭 Planning the Trip

Now—
it was four of us.

Flights booked.
Morning departure.
Kolkata → Port Blair.
~2.5 hours.

Package selected:
“Andaman Kartik.”

✔ Airport pickup
✔ Hotel stay
✔ Transport
✔ Ferry tickets
✔ Local coordination

“Activities extra,” I added.

“Manageable,” Arindam Da said.

“Food?” Subho Kaku asked instantly.

“Included,” I replied.

“Good. Tahole ami aschi,” he said confidently.

We laughed.

📞 Confirmation Call

I called the agency.

“Andaman Kartik?”

“Yes.”

“Booking for four people…”

“Names?”

I looked around.

“Arindam Sen… Ishani Roy… Ritwick Sen… Subrata Ganguly.”

Pause.

A slight pause.

Then—
“Noted.”

Something about that tone—
felt… familiar.

But I ignored it.

🌙 The Quiet Night

Late night again.

Packing.
Planning.
Thinking.

But something made me pause.

Voices.

Balcony.

Arindam Da and Ishani Di.

“You know this won’t be simple,” he said.

“I know.”

“And if this leads nowhere?”

“Then at least we tried.”

A pause.

“And if it leads somewhere?”

She looked at him.

“Then maybe… it was meant to.”

Silence.

Then—
very quietly—

“Stay close,” he said.

She smiled.

“I always do.”

I stepped back.

Because some moments—
aren’t meant to be recorded.

🔚 End Hook

The journey was set.

Not just three.

Now four.

A researcher.
A storyteller.
A watcher.
And a man who knew more than he said.

And somewhere—
between a forgotten diary
and a half-written truth—

we had unknowingly formed—
a team.

Not to travel.

But to uncover.

❄️ To Be Continued…