The Striver

Robin Jensen Jones has faced many a hardship in life; from losing both his parents in childhood, to escaping from the clutches of bullies, to braving the merciless goons of Udipi. He arrives in Goa, in pursuit of a new job and a fresh start to life. In a bid to help his surrogate family with their financial difficulties, he takes up a job aboard the Sea Warrior, a cruise liner on its maiden international voyage. Bad luck however seems to follow him there too, as the ship collides with an oil tanker and sinks. With sheer luck, Robin makes it to a floating life raft, while managing to save another soul, Caroline.

The life raft takes them to the safety of a tranquil, uninhabited island where they fall in love and get married. They almost give up hope of ever being rescued, when they discover mysterious letters written by a James Patrick, who had inhabited the island a century ago. James' words inspire Robin to build a raft to sail to safety. Will the raft overcome the wrath of the ocean? What does the future hold for Robin and Caroline?

Shibu Yohannan has been a Marine Engineer for over 15 years. He has sailed to many ports in the Indian subcontinent. His travels and interest in different cultures and lifestyles have inspired him to write many short stories. The Striver is his first novel.