the situation is set for MANAS and TAMANNA to meet !!!!

Two hours later, he finally laid the guitar aside and walked barefoot back upstairs to start some dinner. He placed a couple of small boneless chicken pieces in a spice and white wine mix to marinate(marine water) . Then he took some rice from a canister to cook it. He would then stir fry some vegetables; snow peas, onions, peppers and broccoli to add to the rice for a great side dish to the chicken. While the rice was cooking, he went across to the large upstairs windows and his eyes were drawn again to the small boat below. He could see the whole boat from this vantage but no one was on deck. Tamanna had also put away her laptop by now and was out of his sight below decks starting some dinner of her own. Hers consisted of a can of cheese and jam and a sandwich made of thick home baked bread that she had made prior to departing on her cruise adventure. Manas found himself wondering again who she was and why she had chosen this locale for her anchorage. Tamanna was just finishing the few dishes from her solitary supper and was looking forward to a mug of the coffee she could now smell brewing. She intended to work into the evening and so had put a full pot into the coffee percolator. The smell of the coffee was enticing to one other soul that early summer evening. Manas had gone for his usual after dinner stroll along the beach and his eyes were drawn to the little sloop in the sheltered alcove. The craft was laying almost broadside to the beach and he could see her sides were painted midnight black with a blue white moon and icy blue stars grouped near the bow against the black field. He was now very curious to know the name of the little boat and to know more about her owner. As he strolled along the sand, his nostrils caught the scent of a rich and delicious smelling coffee wafting across the water. Perhaps he should go back to the house and make his own coffee, he thought, as the scent tingled his taste buds. Instead his pace became more purposeful and he made his way quickly down the sand to the very edge of the rocky spur. In the lee of the spur there was a very short wooden float which extended only about ten feet into the water and was held there quite firmly by two large chains which were fastened to two very thick and sturdy posts which had been planted securely into the earth. Tied to the float was a small wooden row boat which Manas would sometimes use to do a little fishing, a pastime that he found very relaxing.

Manas quickly climbed into the row boat and bent his back to the task of rowing out towards the anchored sloop(sailing boat). He glanced over his shoulders frequently as he pulled on the oars to ensure his course was true. The summer sun would not go down for another two hours nearly so he was not concerned about being on the water in the dark. He kept telling himself he'd just row around the sloop, give her a look then maybe head down the shore to the next rock spur and back. After all, he reasoned, he could use the workout. The deck of the small sloop was empty, as Tamanna was still finishing up her dishes. As Manas gave one last pull on his oars, he came alongside the sloop at her stern and got his first look at her name. Painted on the same black field in the icy blue paint with stars to decorate it were the words 'TAMANNA - ANGEL IN BLUES OF THE NIGHT' and Nicobar Islands , India in smaller script beneath it. Manas chuckled out loud with pleasure. What a great name for a neat little cruiser like this, he thought. Tamanna jumped at the sudden human sound of Manas's chuckle coming from so close to her. She recovered herself and cautiously took two steps up the companionway, just enough to see around her. However, Manas's rowboat was low enough in the water that it was out of sight from this angle. Tamanna moved right out on deck just as Manas shipped his oars and called out. "Ahoy aboard Blues!" ( hoy = is the call used to get attention ) he called tentatively, then smiled when Tamanna spun around towards the sound of his voice and he got a chance to see the lady sailor up close for the first time. Tamanna , for her part, was a little off balance by his sudden appearance in the midst of her solitude but recovered her cool quickly. "Hi, you startled me. I ..I..was below and didn't hear you rowing up." She was assessing the young man before her. He was very handsome and the little growth of goatee and mustache gave him an almost 'bad boy' look that she found somehow quite appealing. "Can I help you?" She asked, wondering just what he was doing here, had he come from the house on the hillside and was he who she thought he was? Even in the casual jeans and turtle necked shirt that he wore she was almost certain of his identity.