Summary
"Man Overboard" is a thrilling first-person narrative written by Vasantha Murthi. The story follows a young girl named Vasantha who is travelling alone on the ship S.S. Rajula from Madras (Chennai) to Singapore to reunite with her parents. She had been staying with her grandparents in India.
During the voyage, the captain announces over the loudspeaker that a storm is brewing in the Indian Ocean. While the adult passengers panic and feel seasick, young Vasantha is excited about the prospect of a sea adventure, drawing from stories she has read and heard from her class teacher about storms at sea.
In the evening, strong winds arrive and the ship begins to rock violently. Vasantha notices an elderly gentleman (whom she calls "Uncle") leaning over the railings, suffering from severe seasickness. As she approaches to offer help, a massive wave strikes the ship, causing it to lurch violently. The man tumbles over the railings into the rough sea.
Vasantha, despite being momentarily frozen in shock, immediately springs into action. She runs screaming for help and encounters the ship's captain. She informs him about the man overboard, and the captain swiftly orders the ship to stop, drop anchor, and launch life-boats for a rescue operation.