Short Stories

Set in the majestic foothills of the Indian Himalayas, explorer, writer, NASA engineer and would-be husband Garret Fitzpatrick goes on the hunt for the toughest freshwater fighting fish in the world, the Golden Mahseer—a carp-like beast that can grow up to nine feet in length and is often found at the confluence of two rivers. Just reaching the stomping grounds of the great fish can be an adventure of a lifetime, with lush jungle landscapes, waterfalls, dirt mountain roads and an assortment of wildlife onlookers from good luck goats to observant monkeys. Guided by local fishing legend Vidya and businessman Chandan, Fitzpatrick seeks to tame both fish and inner demon with an unlikely jungle-fishing companion: his snake-fearing girlfriend.

He sat motionless in his seat, unable to move not only from the restraint across his chest, but from a strange feeling in his gut. It was as if an unknown force grabbed hold of him, silencing his speech and leaving his mind frozen in thought. He could only look straight ahead, down the long, dark tunnel that had surrounded him. The tunnel was narrow and its walls sloped endlessly on into the darkness, converging on a bead of light he couldn’t turn his gaze away from. His mind screamed words that his lips could not, yet all he could hear in return was a hollow echo as the sounds bounced off the cold walls around him. He truly felt alone in a way he had never in his lifetime experienced, and it scared him.