Amid the scorching sun on Cockatoo Island, Mr. Sully's past and present collided like the waves crashing against the shore. As Nick and Susy, the teenage grandchildren of Mr. Sully reveled in the panoramic view of harbor bridge and the impressive skyline surrounding this small yet lovely island, their grandfather's gaze reflected both joy and the haunting shadows of yesteryears.

While their father managed a fleet of transport cars, Mr. Sully became the anchor for his grandchildren. Susy, like a nurturing maternal figure, cared for him, while Nick, the partner in crime, shared a unique bond with his grandfather. Often, they used to come over to Cockatoo Island to get some respite into the beaches nearby.

This area had every ingredient to pep up a job sulked soul. The songs played in waterfront cafes interplayed with the stereo systems of bustling crowds having a picnic with their families. The Skimpily clad folks were basking in the sun with their partners either reading books or leisurely nibbling on chips absorbing the refreshing chill from the nearby sea.

No No... don’t do that, you dork...Susy chided his playful brother for splashing water from the shore to their grandpa.

That’s ok Dear...It doesn’t harm. I’m in for some game “said the sprightly Mr Sully.

Mr Sully was a tall muscular man in his prime. Though his skin weared with time, the vigor he carried in his long arms was enough to outsmart his grandson, Nick.

Each splash of water revived the sport in him, much needed fun in the sweltering heat of December. As the gushes of water slapped his face, his consciousness wandered into the relics of the past when Mr Sully used to be beckoned as Suleiman in his homeland India. The relationship with water was not new to him.

Suleiman was a fisherman serving his family at the banks of Hugli in Kolkata at the time before independence. Forced into service as sailors, he along with fellow sailors toiled relentlessly at the docks, tasked with transporting Indian produce and cultural artifacts to British shores. Despite enduring countless atrocities inflicted by the colonizers on their countrymen, the unwavering responsibility towards his family kept him going for livelihood.

During Second world war, when the struggle for independence gained velocity, the Indian crewmen at the boats echoed the rebellious sentiments by overpowering the British contingents aboard the ship and took control of the ship. But fate had scripted different destiny. The defiant sailors were attacked by the patrolling ship and arrested for the revolt.

Held as captives in London, Suleiman and his fellow freedom fighters were put through inhuman tortures but clung with their dream to return back to homeland.

As the war unfolded, the British government, facing pressure from Axis powers, decided to relocate prisoners, including Suleiman, to Australian penal colonies to contain internal hostilities and direct all of their military might at war rather than maintaining prisons.

Suleiman along with few local prisoners of Britain were shifted in one such batch over to Cockatoo island in Australia. The island back then was fraught with grave risks with snakes and deadly creatures lurking around. The newly arrived convicts were subject to grueling manly jobs to construct prison cells and storage for agricultural grains. Despite the backbreaking hours of labor, Suleiman’s wish to return his homeland and meet his family kept him alive.

To endure the cruel punishments, some prisoners, including Suleiman, were forced to fight like gladiators. In one fierce battle, a dagger left a cut on Suleiman's forehead. However, like a determined phoenix, he fought back, defeating his opponent and reclaiming his life. Each passing day in prison became an ordeal for Suleiman, where the air reeked of both blood and sweat.

One day, the “Stroke of midnight hour” piece in a newspaper at the prison mess eventually brought news of India's independence, and with it, the freedom of the Indian prisoners on Cockatoo Island.

Upon returning to his homeland, a bittersweet reality descended upon Suleiman. The joy of a free India was shadowed by the loss of his family in the partition riots. With no home or family left, he sought refuge back in Australia with the help of naval contacts.

He began working as chauffeur now to transport Englishmen from rave parties. At one event, the beats of music led him to a stall of handcrafted jewelry, where he met Susanne, the artisan. In the midst of the party's chaos, their eyes locked, and a connection sparked. Through shared laughter and stories, they discovered a love that transcended the shadows of Suleiman's past.

In Australia, Suleiman, now hailed Mr. Sully, finally found solace and companionship.

Grandpa!! No one can beat you!! Applauded Susy breaking Mr Sully’s reveries of the past.

As he played in the water with his grandchildren, Nick and Susy, the echoes of his past blended with the joy of the present. Cockatoo Island, with its panoramic views and tranquil shores, had become a haven of independence — not just from colonial oppression but from the shackles of the past.

 Mr. Sully's journey had come full circle, and the island that once held him captive now cradled his newfound sense of freedom and belonging. As the sun dipped below the horizon, Mr. Sully embraced the current reality, grateful for the independence he had found at last.