Saltwater: Was the man who returned from the depths of the ocean even human?

1. Fog and Waiting

A small fishing village on the outskirts of Cox's Bazar—a centuries-old settlement. Most of the men here earn their living at sea, and the women look out to sea... waiting.

A year ago, one such early morning, four fishermen set out for the sea. With them was 12-year-old Raju, the most restless boy in the village. But that afternoon turned into night, night into morning—they never returned.

People said, “Once you go down to the sea, no one comes back. If someone calls, they won’t come back.”

Mother would come and sit by the sea every afternoon. She would call out Raju’s name, “Come back, mother... I am sitting with your rice.”

No one would respond.

2. Return

A year later, on the same day, at the same time, at the same pier... Raju came walking.

Seeing him, mother screamed and cried. Everyone in the neighborhood came running.

But something is unusual.

Raju is silent. He doesn't say anything. There is no look in his eyes. His lips are empty, yet his mouth is speechless. He just stares at the salty water. Whenever he is asked, he only whispers once,

"He calls..."

3. Doctor's opinion

Raju was taken to the local hospital. The doctor said, "Post-traumatic shock. Being in the water for a long time has affected the nerves of the body. If you give it time, it will be fine."

But even after time, Raju is not the same as before.

He starts walking in his sleep at night. He opens the door and walks towards the sea, his eyes open. When his mother stops him, he says,

"He is standing for me... If I go, he will go."

4. Old story

A researcher named Nabila was working in that village at that time - on folklore. After hearing about Raju's incident, she started to inquire.

An old woman said, “Sixty years ago, there was a girl named ‘Rupa’. Beautiful, but a bit mysterious. She used to charm the men of the village. Some would say that she had the shadow of a mermaid on her body.”

One day, the villagers killed her and drowned her in the sea. They believed that because of her, there was no fish to be found and men were becoming submissive.

“Since Rupa’s death, the number of people lost in the sea has increased. Especially on the night of Purnima, those who respond to the ‘call’ never return.”

5. The shadow of the night

Five days later, Purnima. That night, Raju woke up again. His mother hugged him and cried, “You won’t go anywhere!”

Raju raised his eyes and said,

“She is standing. If I don’t go now, she will take you too.”

He moved his mother’s hand and left.

6. Responding to the last call

Nabila, the guide, and a few people followed Raju. They saw a woman wearing a white sari standing on the seashore. His face is covered, his hair is wet, water pools under his feet. Raju is slowly walking towards her.

Nabila shouts, “Stop, Raju! It’s no one! He’s a ghost!”

But Raju doesn’t stop. She says,

“You don’t understand… He only loves me. He just wanted someone to love him back.”

The woman extends her hand. Raju takes her hand.

Everything disappears like a flash of wind.

7. Morning grief

The next morning, people come to the shore again. Raju is gone.

But where Raju was standing, there is something carved on the stone—

“He who loves the sea once, never returns.”

8. The last words

Raju’s mother goes crazy. She sits looking at the sea every day.

Nabila writes a research paper after that incident, naming it—“The Ghost of Salt Water”.

But after a year, she too disappeared, on a full moon night... by the sea.

People say that now, every full moon, a woman dressed in a white sari can be seen standing on the seashore. And whoever looks into her eyes... is no longer human.

🕯️ The end.