I was only 23. A newlywed on board a cargo ship in the Mediterranean Sea way back in 1985.

Sailing with my husband Captain Sudhir Javadekar, this was my very first voyage and I was all excitement.

Young, married to a captain, and sailing on a ship. Who could ask for more? I was gathering wonderful memories each day at sea.

Then one night the winds came up and the sea started to show its fury. The waves grew higher and tossed our ship around. At times I couldn’t even stand up from my bed. I was seeing for the first time what everyone aboard kept referring to as ‘rolling & pitching’.

Initially, it all seemed quite normal because everyone, including my husband, went around doing their tasks calmly. But the vessel’s motion became more severe with each passing hour, and fear began to creep in to my thoughts. I told myself to be brave; after all these people were experienced sailors.

It was then that a most dreadful thing happened. The entire wood cargo on one side of the deck slipped into the sea, and the ship leaned over precariously to the other side. To my horror, I saw a young cadet slip into the churning waters along with the wooden logs.

He was flailing his arms and screaming for help. The crew rushed over and tossed buoys and jackets in to the waters. But none reached him.

Fortunately, the cadet was very strong and determined. He swam with all his might towards a log and grasped it. In this way, he remained afloat and safe, till he was rescued by the ship and brought back aboard.

Everyone had tears in their eyes. They said it was a miracle.

Marex Media