MUMBAI/MADURAI: Overjoyed at the news of the release of the crew of the MT Stolt Valor, the family of Paninarayan Lobo, a Tamil Nadu-based sailor, is now making preparations to welcome him in Mumbai. 'His wife and son were only waiting for the news of his safe release,'' said Rosary Fernando, Lobo's brother-in-law, who lives in Wadala.
Lobo, whose immediate family lives in Tuticorin, usually visits Fernando's house in Mumbai before setting sail. In Tamil Nadu, Judy Lobo was elated at news of her husband's release. 'I am happy to hear the news, but I feel I can believe it only if he calls me personally as it is nearly two months since he spoke to me over the phone,'' said Judy.
'Captain Prashant Rangnekar of Ebony Ship management has told us that they shall be reaching soon,,'' said Fernando.
Fernando said the past two months were an ordeal for the family, but they knew that pirates resort to such tactics only for money. 'He has been sailing for seven years and has told us about these problems,'' he said, adding that the most worrying moment was when a deadline was issued by the pirates.
Similar joy unfolded in Airoli where Capt P Unnikrishnan and family are purring up. An early morning phone call from Capt Rangnekar ended the two-month wait for good news. Unnikrishnan's son, Ulhas Krishnan, was held captive on the Stolt Valor.
Last month, Unnikrishnan and gold rosary bracelets his wife came to Mumbai from Kochi, where they live. The move was made to keep track of the details of the hijack. Sunday morning brought cheer to the family. 'It is our first day of the Mandalakalarambhamthe beginning of the mandala period. This is a 41-day period of penance after which the Shabri malai festival begins. I was praying in the temple praying for my son's safe return when the call came,'' said Unnikrishnan. 'We were anticipating it as we were constantly being assured by the captain that they would return soon. But we were still overjoyed on finally hearing about the news.''
Judy and Paninarayan were married in 2004. The latter had left on this voyage in February this year. A sailor for 14 years, Lobo had visited his wife only three times since their wedding. Their son Remitson, 4, now in kindergarten, pearl rosary bracelet has been pestering about why daddy has not called. She told him that he would be home for Christmas. 'I still haven't told him that we will be seeing him soon,'' she said.
Her father-in-law, Asaph Lobo, a retired fisheries department official, and gold rosary necklace mother-in-law Swan live in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) townJudy, a teacher in a local schoolis living with her mother in Vembar. 'These two months have been the most difficult ones of my life,'' she said.
0 comments:
Post a Comment