Chapter 26 – North Bay Signal

Treasure Hunter: The Seventh Tide of Andaman

Chapter 26 – North Bay Signal

R unning away from danger—
is instinct.

Running toward the next clue—
is choice.

And somehow—
we were doing both at the same time.

Ross Island

🏃 Escape from the Chamber

“Cholo. Now.”

Arindam Da’s voice didn’t rise.
It sharpened.

And that was enough.

We moved.
Fast—
but controlled.

Up the broken staircase.
Each step louder than before.
Each breath heavier.

I didn’t look back.
Didn’t want to.

Because some fears—
grow when you acknowledge them.

👁️ The Exit

We reached the top.

Empty.
Still.
Too still.

“Keu nei…” I whispered.

But I didn’t believe it.
None of us did.

🌿 Back into the Ruins

The sunlight hit harder now.
Blinding for a second.

Like we had stepped out of something—
that wasn’t meant to be found.

❤️ The Protective Moment

Without thinking—
Ishani Di walked closer to Arindam Da.

Not dramatic.
Not visible to others.

But clear to me.

And just as quietly—
he adjusted his pace to match hers.

Slower.
Steadier.
Together.

🧠 Arindam Da Thinks Ahead

“We don’t split.”
“We don’t stop.”
“And we leave immediately.”

No debate.

Even Subho Kaku nodded.
“Eta ar normal ghora noy.”

No.
It wasn’t.

🚤 Leaving Ross Island

We reached the jetty.
Boarded the next available boat.

Didn’t wait.
Didn’t question.

And as the boat pulled away—
I looked back.

At the island.
At the ruins.
At the hidden chamber beneath it.

And for a second—
I felt something strange.

Not relief.
Not fear.
Something else.

Like—
we had just taken something
that wasn’t meant to leave.

🌊 The Sea Feels Different Again

The water between Ross and Port Blair—
calm.
Almost too calm.

Wind softer.
Sky clearer.

But inside—
everything was louder.

😄 Rit Tries Again

“Okay…”

I exhaled.

“So we just escaped a secret underground chamber…”
“with erased historical evidence…”
“while being chased by unknown backpack guy…”
“and now we’re casually boating again.”

Subho Kaku nodded.
“Bhalo golpo hobe.”

Even I had to laugh.
Briefly.

🧠 Arindam Da Connects the Next Step

“North Bay,” he said suddenly.

We all looked at him.

“Why?” I asked.

He flipped open his notebook.
Re-drew the symbol.

Seven lines.

Then marked positions.

Cellular Jail.
Havelock.
Neil.
Ross.

Four points.

Then—
he extended the lines.

One direction stood out.
Clear.
Consistent.

⚡ The Alignment

“It points here,” he said quietly.

North Bay Island

The lighthouse.
The direction marker.
The next signal.

❤️ Ishani Di Understands First

“Not just a location,” she said softly.
“A reference point.”

“Yes,” Arindam Da replied.
“Something visible from distance.”
“Something constant.”

That made sense.

A lighthouse doesn’t move.
It guides.

🚗 Return to Port Blair

Back at Port Blair—
Binod was already waiting.

“Sir, North Bay jaben?” he asked.

Arindam Da nodded.
“Now.”

No delay.
No rest.

🌴 Journey to North Bay

The boat ride to North Bay—
short but sharper.

Sun higher.
Water brighter.
Tourists louder.

But we were silent again.

Because now—
every step felt closer to something final.

🌊 Arrival at North Bay

North Bay Island

More crowded than Ross.

Water sports everywhere.
Jet skis.
Snorkeling.
Sea walk.

Energy.
Noise.
Life.

But above it all—
the lighthouse.

Standing still.
Watching.

👁️ The Signal Reveals Itself

Arindam Da stood facing it.
Still.
Focused.

Then—
he adjusted position slightly.

Left.
Then right.

Measuring alignment.

⚡ The Moment

“Rit,” he said quietly.
“Stand here.”

I did.

“Look at the lighthouse.”

I did.

“Now… shift slightly left.”

I moved.

And then—
I saw it.

The alignment.

The lighthouse perfectly centered—
between two distant land edges.

Forming a straight line.
A direction.

🧠 The Final Extension

“That line continues,” Arindam Da said.
“Beyond visible islands.”

My pulse rose.

“Where?”

He looked at me.
Calm.
Certain.

⚡ The Final Destination

“Baratang.”

Baratang Island

Silence.

Because now—
everything connected.
Completely.

❤️ Ishani Di’s Quiet Realization

“That’s where it ends,” she whispered.

“Or begins,” Arindam Da replied.

👁️ The Watcher Again

And then—
I saw him.

Far behind the crowd.
Near the tree line.

Black backpack.
Still.
Watching.

Again.

My chest tightened.

“He’s here.”

Arindam Da didn’t turn immediately.
But I knew—
he had already sensed it.

🔚 End Hook

The lighthouse stood steady against the sky.
The sea moved calmly below.
Tourists laughed around us.

And yet—
everything had narrowed into one direction.

One path.
One final destination.

Baratang.

Because whatever truth had been hidden—
whatever history had been erased—
it was waiting there.

And now—
so was someone else.

❄️ To Be Continued…