The Family T-shirt

Aryan was excited. ‘Are we there yet?’ 

‘Almost there,’ his mother beamed at her son, raising her eyebrows and giving him a wide smile. 

Aryan was the eldest sibling of the Chopra family. He was the leader of the kiddie gang, the responsible one, and the problem solver for his two little sisters. Aryan was ten years old. He’d spend hours and hours constructing and demolishing the tiny, colourful, plastic pieces of Lego. He’d make ships, houses, tall buildings, airplanes, trucks, cars, whatever his bright mind could think of. His PlayStation was his best companion. At school, his teachers would have lovely things to say about their blue-eyed student, but they always tried to push him to be more of an extrovert. 

‘I’m so excited to go to the beach. I can’t wait,’ Aryan added. ‘Do you think we can come back tomorrow? Why didn’t we take a hotel at the beach?’

‘Because there were no rooms available. The Holiday Inn was the closest I could book at the last minute. We’re not too far off. So just hold tight,’ his father replied.

‘BIRD!’ Zia announced, pointing out of the car window. She was sitting at the back, in the car seat next to her mother. 

Zia was the youngest of the lot—one year and eleven months old. Her tiny, chubby hands wanted to hold, touch, and squeeze everything that came her way. Her light brown, curious eyes and shy smile made people stop and adore her cuteness. 

Her mother giggled. ‘Yes, Zia, you’ll see many birds at Bondi Beach. I hope the place isn’t too crowded and we can find a nice spot under the umbrella.’

‘Look, Zia, look there,’ Yanvi said, pointing to the flock of birds. Yanvi was the middle child. She was a tomboy who was Aryan’s shadow. She always had to do the same thing that her elder brother was doing. Yanvi was famous for climbing trees. She perpetually had bruised knees and scraped elbows. However, Yanvi would immediately start dancing the moment she heard the music. She was constantly tapping her feet and snapping her fingers. But there was one thing in her life that was not tom-boyish at all - Sandy… the raggedy doll she took everywhere, even on their first family trip to Sydney since Zia was born. 

‘Mummy… I’m uncomfortable in this T-shirt, Aryan sighed, tugging on its round neck. ‘It’s… it’s irritating. Why do we all have to wear them?’

‘What’s so irritating about it?’ his mother frowned.

‘The heart on it! It’s so girlish!’ 

 ‘What’s the big deal? You look so nice in it. White suits you,’ his mother replied. 

‘I don’t like it. It says FAMILY TIME? With a BIG red heart?’

‘Well, that’s the whole point, isn’t it? We’re on a family vacation, and we all are wearing the same T-shirt that says family time!’ Yanvi interrupted. 

Aryan rolled his eyes and continued to grumble. 

Finally, the family of five piled out of the van and stood at the drop-off area at Bondi Beach. 

‘Now, everyone, please stay together. The place looks pretty busy. The last thing we need is for one of you to get lost,’ their father directed. 

The sky and the beach looked endless, stretching far into the horizon, where the sea met the sky. 

‘Look at the sky! There are no clouds,’ Yanvi said.

‘I know,’ Aryan replied. 

‘Bird,’ Zia grinned. 

Soon, the family found a nice spot on the beach. It was unusually crowded, filled with all sorts of people—little children building sandcastles, surfers, people bathing half-naked under the sun, a bunch of teenagers scattered here and there, and another bunch of people playing volleyball. It was indeed a crowded and happy place. 

Luckily, the family had already put on their swimsuits earlier that morning before leaving the hotel. Aryan and Yanvi dumped their bags and immediately took off their clothes.

‘Race ya!’ Aryan screamed as he ran as fast as he could to the shoreline. Yanvi was right behind him, trying her best to keep up. Zia watched her siblings run and then looked up at her mother, indirectly seeking permission to go along. 

‘We’ll join them in a minute, darling. Just let me settle down for a second,’ her mother said to her little daughter. She placed her bag under the umbrella and spread a towel on the sand. 

‘Bird!’ Zia said, clapping her small hands. 

‘You’re going to see many birds,’ her father smiled. ‘Look, there are some more over there. Can you see them?’

‘Bird….bird.’ Zia was amazed. 

‘What’s the plan?’ Anil looked at his better half. 

Vandana sighed. ‘I’m already tired. I just want to sleep. But…. obviously, that isn’t going to happen. So I will take Zia to the shore and dip her feet in the water. What are you going to do?’

‘I’m going to get a pint of beer and…’

‘And then sleep?’ Vandana raised an eyebrow. 

Anil smiled and shrugged his shoulders. ‘Umm… maybe.’

‘Can you get me a pint too? I’ll be right back,’ Vandana replied. She took Zia by the hand and began to walk to the shore. She could see Aryan and Yanvi splashing water on each other and giggling. 

As the waves crashed on the shore, the kids shrieked excitedly, jumping into the water with abandon, their giggles filling the air. They splashed and ran back and forth, their little faces lit up with joy. Sometimes, the surf knocked them over, but they bounced back up completely unbothered.

‘Chap …. Chap!’ Zia smiled, waddling through the soft, golden beige sand. 

‘Yes, darling,’ her mother giggled. ‘You’re turning out to be just like your sister. Another chatterbox.’

A few hours later, the family was lying under a huge blue and white striped umbrella. They hogged on fish and chips and glugged their sodas. 

‘Mummy, can I go back into the water now?’ Aryan asked. 

‘Let’s give the water a break for a bit, shall we? You guys have just eaten; I don’t want you two throwing up.’

‘Urrrrrg! This is so annoying,’ Aryan whined. ‘But we are going to come back tomorrow, right?’ 

‘Hmmm… I’m not too sure what your father has planned. I think we’re going to see the three sisters. It’s in a place called Katoomba. It’s about a one-and-a-half-hour drive.’

‘What?’

‘The Three Sisters! I’ve heard about them,’ Yanvi said excitedly. ‘It’s going to be so much fun. My friend came to see them last year.’

‘We’re going sightseeing tomorrow! That’s so boring. I want to come back to the beach,’ Aryan exclaimed, disappointment evident in his voice. ‘Can I please go back into the water now?’

‘I’m going to build a castle for my doll,’ Yanvi beamed, opening her bag and taking out a bucket and spade. Let’s make a massive one!’

‘Let’s make a hole and bury Sandy in it!’ Aryan countered, taking out Yanvi’s raggedy doll from her bag and swinging it in the air. 

‘NOOOOOOO! She’ll get dirty,’ Yanvi whined. ‘Mummy! Stop him!’

‘Aryaaaan,’ their mother sighed. ‘Please give your sister her doll back.’ She closed her eyes, wishing for a few minutes of silence. She then looked around for her husband. She could see him at a distance having a conversation with another man. 

‘I’m going to use the bathroom. Can the three of you stay put until I come back? Daddy is over there,’ their mother said, pointing in the opposite direction. ‘I’m going to send him to you, okay? Till then, none of you will be moving from here. Do you hear me? And keep a hold on Zia, although I doubt she will get up; she’s just been too busy playing in the sand. Are you two listening to me?’

‘Yes, Mummy,’ The siblings sang in unison.

Vandana got up from the beach towel and dusted herself off. She began to walk toward Anil, hoping to get his attention so she could run to the bathroom. She looked over her shoulder and saw all three children playing together. Anil saw his wife walking towards him. Their eyes met. He smiled and raised his pint of beer. 

‘I’m going to pee,’ Vandana mouthed, pointing to the bathroom not too far away. 

Anil signaled a thumbs up. 

‘Keep an eye on the kids,’ she shouted, waving back at him.

Anil immediately ended his conversation with the stranger and headed towards the children. He could see his kids giggling, screeching, and laughing. ‘This trip was totally worth it,’ he smiled to himself. As he reached the kiddie gang, he decided to lie on the beach towel, hoping to take a quick power nap. 

Vandana used the washroom and picked up a few water bottles from the nearby stall. She saw no one as she walked toward the spot where her family had been sitting. ‘That’s odd. I wonder where they have gone.’ She dumped the water bottles beside their bags and scanned back and forth across the beach. She sighed in relief when she spotted them eating vanilla ice cream further down the stretch of sand. All of them were wearing their family T-shirt.  She began to walk toward them. 

Both Aryan and Yanvi held a cone of ice cream in their hands. Zia was walking around them in circles, trying to catch a bird. When Vandana arrived at the ice cream stall, the kids were delighted to see her. 

‘Mummy! Do you want to eat ice cream? This is the best vanilla flavor ever!’ Yanvi smiled with white, creamy milk residue smudged across her face. 

‘You’ve got some on your nose,’ Yanvi giggled at her elder brother. 

‘Wait. Hang on! Where is Zia?’ Mummy panicked.

‘She was right here,’ Aryan replied, looking around for his little sister. 

‘Where could she go?’ Yanvi added. 

‘What’s the matter?’ Dad asked as he joined them after paying the bill. 

‘Anil. Where is Zia? I can’t see her anywhere. She’s lost!’ Vandana’s eyes began to well up with tears. 

‘Let’s stay calm. She must be here somewhere,’ Dad replied. 

‘She’s still wearing the same family T-shirt,’ Yanvi remarked. ‘Thank goodness we all are still wearing the same family T-shirt.’

The family milled around the ice cream vendor in search of their little one. She was nowhere to be found!

‘Mummy, Zia has disappeared. How can she just vanish?’ Yanvi cried. ‘What are we going to do?’ Her voice rose to a wail. 

‘I’m going to inform the lifeguard. Maybe they can help. Till then, you all stay here!’ Dad added. 

‘No! Let’s split up. I’m sure she hasn’t gone far. I’m sure we can find her,’ Aryan retorted. 

‘No! You both need to stay with me. What if you two get lost as well? I can’t imagine the catastrophe,’ Mummy insisted. ‘We wouldn’t be in this mess if you guys didn’t whine for ice cream.’

‘Hey! We didn’t whine for ice cream. Dad asked us,’ Yanvi stamped her foot. ‘We were so busy making a castle for Sandy.’

‘Yeah! There he goes again. Trying to make brownie points with the kids,’ Mummy murmured. 

‘What did you say?’ Anil frowned at Vandana. ‘What brownie points?’

‘Nothing. I just…’

‘What? I just what?… just say whatever you have to say. Say it to my face. Don’t pretend you didn’t say that!’ Anil exclaimed. 

‘You always do whatever you want to do whenever you want to do it!’

‘What? What are you even talking about?’

‘You get to do whatever you want to do whenever you want!’ Vandana repeated. 

“You know, Vandana… you’re not making any sense!’ Anil replied. 

‘You guys are wasting time with your stupid fighting. Zia could be far away. We need to look for her,’ Aryan shouted at his parents. He grabbed his sister by the hand and ran toward the beach, calling their little sister’s name. 

Vandana and Anil rushed after Aryan and Yanvi, scanning the beach frantically for any sign of Zia. The sun started setting, casting an orange glow over the sand. Panic rose in their chests as they realized how quickly darkness would fall. 

‘Zia!’ they called out, their voices growing more desperate each minute. The family knew they had to find her before nightfall.

The sound of the waves crashing against the shore now felt threatening. The once joyful atmosphere had turned heavy, and the bright orange hues of the setting sun intensified the urgency of their search.

‘Zia!’ Vandana cried out, her voice trembling, as she scanned the bustling beach. The sea of people now seemed overwhelming, each face a blur, each figure a potential person they needed to ask or rule out. Her heart raced; the sinking feeling of helplessness was creeping in.

‘Keep looking,’ Anil urged, his voice tight with worry as he jogged alongside her. The cooling sand beneath their feet felt heavier with every step. ‘She can’t be far.’

But with each passing moment, the fear in Vandana’s chest deepened. How could something so simple, a family outing at the beach, turn into this? How can we be so careless? How on earth had she disappeared so quickly?

The two older kids, Aryan and Yanvi, kept running ahead, each desperately calling for their little sister. Yanvi’s usual confidence had evaporated, and now she had only a look of raw panic on her face.

‘She’s still wearing her shirt,’ Aryan murmured, more to himself than anyone else, trying to reassure himself with the thought that Zia’s bright family shirt would make her easy to spot. But the beach was so crowded.

Minutes felt like hours. The temperature had dropped slightly, and the wind had picked up, kicking up sand in swirling gusts. ‘Zia, please… oh please come back. Mummy needs you,’ Vandana whispered, her voice cracking.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a small figure in the distance—a girl running towards the water. The figure was too small to be anyone else.

‘Zia!’ Vandana shouted, her voice carrying over the wind.

The child paused, then turned and went back into the water. Vandana could see the child’s mother running towards her little one. 

‘Ohhh! I thought that was her…’ Vandana whimpered. 

The family continued walking ahead, asking people if they had seen their daughter. ‘She’s wearing the same T-shirt,’ they repeated several times. The beachgoers all nodded their heads and shrugged their shoulders. 

‘I don’t think she could have gone any further. Maybe Aryan is right. Maybe we should split up,’ Anil suggested. 

‘I can’t believe this is happening,’ Vandana halted, pressing her eyes with her hands, fighting back her tears. 

‘Anil!’ A voice called out from afar. ‘Anil.’

Their heads turned, scanning the beach and then looking at each other. 

‘Anil.’

‘Over there, Dad,’ Aryan announced. ‘There he is. That man you were talking to earlier today. By the shore.’

The man vigorously waved his hand in the air. Vandana could see a small figure walking alongside the man. ‘Is that my baby? Please be my baby… please, oh god, please…’

‘Chap… Chap!’ Zia said happily, as if she didn't have a care in the world. She had been playing, running towards the water, lost in the magic of the beach, her feet buried in the sand.

Tears of relief welled in Vandana’s eyes as she ran toward her daughter. She scooped her up into her arms, holding her tightly. ‘Where were you? We were so scared!’ Vandana whispered, kissing her daughter’s cheek several times.

Zia giggled. ‘BIRD,’ she said innocently, pointing to the sky. 

Anil caught up, his breath ragged from running. ‘Zia, don’t scare me like that!’ he exclaimed, pulling both of them into a hug.

‘Never do that again, okay?’ Vandana whispered to Zia, holding her even tighter. The chaos of the moment slowly settled into relief as the family reunited. The sun was almost gone, leaving a soft twilight behind them.’

‘Next time, let’s not split up,’ Aryan said with a sigh, clearly trying to process what had just happened.

‘No more ice cream stops without checking with everyone first!’ Yanvi added, her voice a little more chipper now that they had found their sister.

‘How can I ever thank you?’ Anil said to the man. 

‘The family T-shirt paid off,’ the man smiled. ‘And I can totally understand how you must be feeling at the moment. My daughter did the exact same thing when she was little. She held someone else’s hand and walked away, thinking that woman was her mother.’

‘Oh my God! That must have been a nightmare,’ Anil widened his eyes. 

The man nodded with a smile. ‘The worst nightmare!’

The family gathered together, all holding on a little tighter to each other, the weight of the moment sinking in. They'd come to the beach for fun and family time, but what they found today was a reminder of how quickly things could change—and how precious the time together really was.

‘Let’s just enjoy the rest of the day,’ Anil said softly, his arm around his wife as they returned to their towels.

The waves continued to crash, and the last rays of the day bathed the beach in warm hues. The Chopra family sat close on one of their bigger towels, each taking turns cuddling sleepy Zia, each feeling considerable relief.

Tomorrow, they would visit The Three Sisters—but for now, they were just grateful to be a family of five on the beach together.

Aryan tugged on his family T-shirt. ‘You know, I think these T-shirts are great for a beach day. Thanks, Mummy, for thinking of that.’