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Past, Present and Future
>> Thursday, June 12, 2014
Past, Present and Future
A Short Story by G.S.Vasukumar
It was pouring down heavily…the sky was filled with grayish dark clouds. The sun seemed to be hidden somewhere beneath these very clouds…
Arjun rushed to the ICU in the downpour and traffic jam as soon as he got the message. A cement mixer truck had hit hard against the car in which Sahana and her father were traveling that evening, her father had succumbed due to cardiac arrest on the spot. He had tears seeing her body covered with bandages almost all over her body. She opened her eyes with a blink as he entered the room, pushing the glass door gently inward. She forced a smile on her gloomy face as soon her eyes saw him enter. He went close to her and took her delicate, soft hand into his, caressing it gently. A drop of tear fell from his eye and landed on her hand, which glistened in the dimly lit room. He bent down and kissed on her cheek, as she wiped his tears overflowing from his eyes with her fingers.
‘Don’t cry! Nothing can part us…not even death...’ Sahana said, thrusting a small box into his hands as she breathed her last breath.
Arjun closed her eyes gently, before he broke down slumping beside her. He had decided to propose to her tonight, it was a surprise though they were in love for seven years now. He pulled out a small box from his jacket pocket, opened it, took out a diamond ring and put it on her lifeless finger. He kissed her hand, before keeping it down gently on the bed. He kept the box which she had given him in his bag and zipped it. As he was about to get up, he heard the buzzing sound of a mobile. He traced the sound to near her pillow, found her mobile and answered it.
‘Hello? Who’s this?’ He asked.
‘That means she is no more…’ The voice started, ‘I could be your friend or your enemy, which you’ve to decide…I think she should have given you a small package. I want it!’
‘What package are you speaking about?’ Arjun cried, annoyed.
‘Now, don’t try to pretend or try to act smart by denying it…they would have been alive now if they had given it to me…now, I give you the option to live or join them…it would be your choice..’ The voice said.
‘You killed them for it?’ Arjun cried, rather shocked in disbelief.
‘Yes, I did! Now, you have twenty four hours to give that package to me or else...’ The voice replied, before the line went dead.
Arjun called his friend who worked in the telecom exchange and gave him that number. He asked him to collect the details for that mobile number. His friend promised to give him a call as soon as he got the details. After his girlfriend and her father’s funeral, he returned home. He opened the small package which his dying girlfriend had given him that morning. It had a beautiful digital watch with some buttons for settings.
‘He killed them for this watch!’ He thought, taking a piece of paper which was inside the box. He unfolded it, and started to read it…
‘Dear Arjun,
I would be no more by the time you would be reading this letter, which would be my last one to you. The watch which you are holding in your hand is no ordinary watch! My father, who you already know is a famous scientist had designed and made it. It is a compact time travel device!
My father had guarded his invention secretly as far as he could. However, one of his colleagues got a hint that he was working on something substantial and he started getting threatening calls since then, which he neglected.
Now, after this accident and losing my dearest father, I know how desperately he wants to have this one...I know this will be safe in your hands. Also I know that you would have your revenge on this unknown person who did this to us.
I would be waiting for you…please come fast!
Lots of Love,
Yours always,
Sahana
Arjun opened a word file in his laptop and typed the title ‘Don’t cry if I die!’ and started typing his thoughts and things that had happened to him in his life, how Sahana had come into his life, etc. He decided to complete his first book in next six months. He knew that he always did what he wanted to do and in time as well.
Arjun wore that watch and went through the instructions written down by Sahana’s father. He set the date and time to six months from now in the watch and then pressed the button ‘Go!’. The next thing he saw was that he was still in his room, but his future self was sleeping on his bed. He walked up to him, placed his had gently on his forehead and stroke his hair lovingly. He then saw the printed sheets of papers with the title ‘Past, Present and Future’.
‘So, he has changed the title..’ He thought, sitting on the chair and started to read it. He was surprised at how well he had written the story. It was a wonderful love story. But it was a sad one at that. Now, he wanted to go back into the past and change it, and try to give it a happy ending, if possible.
Arjun went back to the present and just then he got a call from his friend from the telecom exchange. He gave him the details of that mobile number. It belonged to a scientist named Vikram Varma, a colleague of Ajay Sharma, Sahana’s father. Now, everything fell into place. Arjun did a search on Vikram Varma and got complete history about him.
He set the date and time to seven months before the birth of Vikram and went to the hospital dressed like a doctor where Vikram’s mother was to come for her check up. When he found her, he took her to the scanning room. After the check up, he called her husband. Then:-
‘I know how you guys should be feeling…but then I’m really sorry to tell you this bad news…your wife has to go in for an abortion..’ Arjun said quite seriously, ‘If she continues with the pregnancy then not only child birth is doubtful, but there would be serious threat to her life as well.’
‘What?’ Her husband said, ‘Is there no way out of this? I mean keeping the baby…’
‘I do understand that this is your first baby…but then you could always have another one sometime later...the question is, would you mind losing your wife?’
‘No, no, I want her!’ He said, holding her hand, ‘Then let’s do it!’
‘You are so brave, Mr. & Mrs.Varma. Mrs. Varma please follow me!’ Arjun said, standing up, trying his best to hide his smile on his face.
He administered her methotrexate injection and gave her four tablets of misoprostol. Having accomplished his job, he came back to the present. His mobile started to ring and he answered it.
‘So what have you decided?’ The voice asked.
‘About what?’ He asked.
‘About the package! Are you giving me that package or joining your girlfriend?’
‘Well, it’s too late for that treat, Mr.Vikram Varma! You have made the mistake of choosing the wrong person to mess with!’
‘So, you have traced me…too smart. Now, what are you going to do, kill me?’
‘Well, I have just gone one step ahead of that. I have not only traced you, but just erased your history! Bon Voyage, my friend!’
The line at the other end became suddenly silent. He heard the receiver of the telephone fall and hit the floor. He smiled and ended the call. He was too tired and went to sleep.
The buzzing of his mobile woke him up, he was shocked to see ‘Sahana…calling’ on his mobile screen. He kept staring at the mobile screen and then answered the call.
‘What took you so long?’ She asked him.
‘I was sleeping…’ He said, searching his pocket, found the ring box, flipped it open, and saw the diamond ring…which brought a big smile on his face.
‘Do you know what date is today?’ She asked.
‘Yes, I know! Many, many happy returns of the day, Sahana!’ He said, ‘I have a surprise for you! I would meet you in sometime..’
‘I have one surprise for you too…dad has made something…’
***
Later, he met her and proposed with the diamond ring, she accepted his proposal. Her father gave him and her two watches, which were compact time machines.
‘This is my gift for your timeless love!’ His would be father in law said, smiling, ‘Just set the date and time in one watch and press the sync button in the other watch…then both of you would be transported to that date ad time..’ He added.
‘Thank you, uncle!’ Arjun said.
They both traveled eight months into the future and reached the Crossword book store where the book signing ceremony of ‘Past, Present & Future’ by Arjun Pandey was going on. Arjun of future was signing the books for his fans, while Sahana of future was helping him do it.
Arjun and Sahana of present stood in the queue to get the autograph from the writer.
‘I’m glad that you have become a famous writer!’ Sahana said, smiling at Arjun, ‘Did he mention about the time travel watches in the book, by the way?’
‘Thank You. No, he just mentioned about the time travel machine..’ Arjun said, smiling back at her.
Later, when he came forward in the line....
‘Arjun, I owe a lot to you…if not for you, I wouldn’t have had Sahana in my life, my dear friend,’ Arjun of future said, signing the book for him. ‘How can I repay what you have done to us?’
‘Well, give me a hug, my friend.’ He said smiling.
Arjun of future stood up, hugged and patted on his back. While Sahana of the present sat with Sahana of future and both started chatting with each other like long lost friends.
A Short Story by G.S.Vasukumar
It was pouring down heavily…the sky was filled with grayish dark clouds. The sun seemed to be hidden somewhere beneath these very clouds…
Arjun rushed to the ICU in the downpour and traffic jam as soon as he got the message. A cement mixer truck had hit hard against the car in which Sahana and her father were traveling that evening, her father had succumbed due to cardiac arrest on the spot. He had tears seeing her body covered with bandages almost all over her body. She opened her eyes with a blink as he entered the room, pushing the glass door gently inward. She forced a smile on her gloomy face as soon her eyes saw him enter. He went close to her and took her delicate, soft hand into his, caressing it gently. A drop of tear fell from his eye and landed on her hand, which glistened in the dimly lit room. He bent down and kissed on her cheek, as she wiped his tears overflowing from his eyes with her fingers.
‘Don’t cry! Nothing can part us…not even death...’ Sahana said, thrusting a small box into his hands as she breathed her last breath.
Arjun closed her eyes gently, before he broke down slumping beside her. He had decided to propose to her tonight, it was a surprise though they were in love for seven years now. He pulled out a small box from his jacket pocket, opened it, took out a diamond ring and put it on her lifeless finger. He kissed her hand, before keeping it down gently on the bed. He kept the box which she had given him in his bag and zipped it. As he was about to get up, he heard the buzzing sound of a mobile. He traced the sound to near her pillow, found her mobile and answered it.
‘Hello? Who’s this?’ He asked.
‘That means she is no more…’ The voice started, ‘I could be your friend or your enemy, which you’ve to decide…I think she should have given you a small package. I want it!’
‘What package are you speaking about?’ Arjun cried, annoyed.
‘Now, don’t try to pretend or try to act smart by denying it…they would have been alive now if they had given it to me…now, I give you the option to live or join them…it would be your choice..’ The voice said.
‘You killed them for it?’ Arjun cried, rather shocked in disbelief.
‘Yes, I did! Now, you have twenty four hours to give that package to me or else...’ The voice replied, before the line went dead.
Arjun called his friend who worked in the telecom exchange and gave him that number. He asked him to collect the details for that mobile number. His friend promised to give him a call as soon as he got the details. After his girlfriend and her father’s funeral, he returned home. He opened the small package which his dying girlfriend had given him that morning. It had a beautiful digital watch with some buttons for settings.
‘He killed them for this watch!’ He thought, taking a piece of paper which was inside the box. He unfolded it, and started to read it…
‘Dear Arjun,
I would be no more by the time you would be reading this letter, which would be my last one to you. The watch which you are holding in your hand is no ordinary watch! My father, who you already know is a famous scientist had designed and made it. It is a compact time travel device!
My father had guarded his invention secretly as far as he could. However, one of his colleagues got a hint that he was working on something substantial and he started getting threatening calls since then, which he neglected.
Now, after this accident and losing my dearest father, I know how desperately he wants to have this one...I know this will be safe in your hands. Also I know that you would have your revenge on this unknown person who did this to us.
I would be waiting for you…please come fast!
Lots of Love,
Yours always,
Sahana
Arjun opened a word file in his laptop and typed the title ‘Don’t cry if I die!’ and started typing his thoughts and things that had happened to him in his life, how Sahana had come into his life, etc. He decided to complete his first book in next six months. He knew that he always did what he wanted to do and in time as well.
Arjun wore that watch and went through the instructions written down by Sahana’s father. He set the date and time to six months from now in the watch and then pressed the button ‘Go!’. The next thing he saw was that he was still in his room, but his future self was sleeping on his bed. He walked up to him, placed his had gently on his forehead and stroke his hair lovingly. He then saw the printed sheets of papers with the title ‘Past, Present and Future’.
‘So, he has changed the title..’ He thought, sitting on the chair and started to read it. He was surprised at how well he had written the story. It was a wonderful love story. But it was a sad one at that. Now, he wanted to go back into the past and change it, and try to give it a happy ending, if possible.
Arjun went back to the present and just then he got a call from his friend from the telecom exchange. He gave him the details of that mobile number. It belonged to a scientist named Vikram Varma, a colleague of Ajay Sharma, Sahana’s father. Now, everything fell into place. Arjun did a search on Vikram Varma and got complete history about him.
He set the date and time to seven months before the birth of Vikram and went to the hospital dressed like a doctor where Vikram’s mother was to come for her check up. When he found her, he took her to the scanning room. After the check up, he called her husband. Then:-
‘I know how you guys should be feeling…but then I’m really sorry to tell you this bad news…your wife has to go in for an abortion..’ Arjun said quite seriously, ‘If she continues with the pregnancy then not only child birth is doubtful, but there would be serious threat to her life as well.’
‘What?’ Her husband said, ‘Is there no way out of this? I mean keeping the baby…’
‘I do understand that this is your first baby…but then you could always have another one sometime later...the question is, would you mind losing your wife?’
‘No, no, I want her!’ He said, holding her hand, ‘Then let’s do it!’
‘You are so brave, Mr. & Mrs.Varma. Mrs. Varma please follow me!’ Arjun said, standing up, trying his best to hide his smile on his face.
He administered her methotrexate injection and gave her four tablets of misoprostol. Having accomplished his job, he came back to the present. His mobile started to ring and he answered it.
‘So what have you decided?’ The voice asked.
‘About what?’ He asked.
‘About the package! Are you giving me that package or joining your girlfriend?’
‘Well, it’s too late for that treat, Mr.Vikram Varma! You have made the mistake of choosing the wrong person to mess with!’
‘So, you have traced me…too smart. Now, what are you going to do, kill me?’
‘Well, I have just gone one step ahead of that. I have not only traced you, but just erased your history! Bon Voyage, my friend!’
The line at the other end became suddenly silent. He heard the receiver of the telephone fall and hit the floor. He smiled and ended the call. He was too tired and went to sleep.
The buzzing of his mobile woke him up, he was shocked to see ‘Sahana…calling’ on his mobile screen. He kept staring at the mobile screen and then answered the call.
‘What took you so long?’ She asked him.
‘I was sleeping…’ He said, searching his pocket, found the ring box, flipped it open, and saw the diamond ring…which brought a big smile on his face.
‘Do you know what date is today?’ She asked.
‘Yes, I know! Many, many happy returns of the day, Sahana!’ He said, ‘I have a surprise for you! I would meet you in sometime..’
‘I have one surprise for you too…dad has made something…’
***
Later, he met her and proposed with the diamond ring, she accepted his proposal. Her father gave him and her two watches, which were compact time machines.
‘This is my gift for your timeless love!’ His would be father in law said, smiling, ‘Just set the date and time in one watch and press the sync button in the other watch…then both of you would be transported to that date ad time..’ He added.
‘Thank you, uncle!’ Arjun said.
They both traveled eight months into the future and reached the Crossword book store where the book signing ceremony of ‘Past, Present & Future’ by Arjun Pandey was going on. Arjun of future was signing the books for his fans, while Sahana of future was helping him do it.
Arjun and Sahana of present stood in the queue to get the autograph from the writer.
‘I’m glad that you have become a famous writer!’ Sahana said, smiling at Arjun, ‘Did he mention about the time travel watches in the book, by the way?’
‘Thank You. No, he just mentioned about the time travel machine..’ Arjun said, smiling back at her.
Later, when he came forward in the line....
‘Arjun, I owe a lot to you…if not for you, I wouldn’t have had Sahana in my life, my dear friend,’ Arjun of future said, signing the book for him. ‘How can I repay what you have done to us?’
‘Well, give me a hug, my friend.’ He said smiling.
Arjun of future stood up, hugged and patted on his back. While Sahana of the present sat with Sahana of future and both started chatting with each other like long lost friends.
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