Dr Mitra and Dr Sam were engrossed in some serious discussion, which I overheard standing outside, over the time portal technology that we developed recently. I was about to step-in the testing facility lab located in the suburbs of Shimla.
"Sam, Do you think it will be wise to share this idea with Bawa ?", Dr Mitra in a very serious tone asked Dr Sam.
"Sir, I think he will never agree to it.", concluded Dr Sam.
I am Dr Abhishek Bawa and I work for Graviton, a leading tech giant in the country. We three, the two other scientists mentioned above and me, are part of its research and development wing. Recently we were working on time travel technology. The concept was very simple -- to create an infinite mass in the space, which could tear the space-time meshing and stabilise it with the help of exotic matter (negative energy density). I worked upon the creation of the exotic matter whereas Dr Mitra worked upon fusing it with the infinite mass created and Dr Sam on the other hand developed a device that could potentially create infinite mass anywhere in the space. By fusing the work of all three of us we could create portals with the help of which we can travel anywhere in the universe.
Well that was not our aim. Our aim was to simply travel anywhere in the timeline, whether past or future. We have already spent seven of our years on this technology and still we could not get hold of what we actually desired till what I actually discovered while pondering over the travelling concept through the wormholes. I was about to walk into the lab, when I suddenly overheard Dr Mitra and Dr Sam discussing about the portal in a serious tone. I was standing outside.
"The govt has already stopped the funding of the Graviton and its asking for the technology to unveil before the public before the elections. A letter, from PMO in consent with the DRDO chief, has already been faxed stating to handover the technology to the DRDO", Dr Mitra shared his concern with Dr Sam.
"Sir anyways the technology is not able to achieve the time travel concept. Its a mere door to reach anyplace with a lightning speed. So, I think we should deliver it to the DRDO asap", Dr Sam suggested.
As soon as I heard this, I forcefully opened the door in excitement. I was really exhilarated to share my discovery with the other two. The moment I entered the lab, both of them were stunned to see me. I could sense that they were not expecting me. At least not at that time.
"Dr Sam and Dr Mitra. I feel privileged to share my findings and a ground-breaking research on the time portal", for a moment I paused myself and gathered again.
"Presently, to travel anywhere on this planet we need two portals, just like two doors. One at the place from where we will embark and other at the place of our destination. Now, this is costing twice the production of one portal".
Both of them nodded in agreement.
"Like we know that to create a portal, we need three main ingredients -- infinite mass, negative energy and fusion of the two", I added.
"Exactly!", exclaimed Dr Mitra.
"So, instead of directing the beam of energy to create anywhere in space, we will direct it on one of us ", I further added.
"But why would we do that Bawa? Don't you think its too dangerous?", Dr Sam reflected his concern.
"Because as humans we have got negative energies too in ourselves so we already contain one of the ingredients to support time travel. Now all we have to do is to think of the timeline we want to travel and we will reach there", I added in an excited tone.
"How can you be so sure about this thing?", Dr Mitra asked curiously.
"Because I have tested it on myself and in next half an hour the team from DRDO is coming to take this technology from us. We have to hurry up now and move to some safe place.", I replied.
"What do you mean?" Dr Mitra asked in a sceptical tone.
Meanwhile Dr Sam from the window, at a far distance, observed a convoy of five black SUVs drawing their path towards the research facility and he immediately pointed out the same to us.
Without wasting a single grain of sand, all three of us rushed to the parking area along with micro equipment. The convoy was hardly a kilometre away and the moment we embarked to some safe place we knew, the convoy started following as if someone from the research facility informed them about our move.
We were being chased by them. Fifty odd kilometres we found ourselves on a narrow road and in a very treacherous terrain of hilly landscape. All we could see was a river flowing in the valley beneath the cliff we were driving in. Dr Sam was behind the driving wheel.
" Sam watch out the re-entrant ahead", Dr Mitra shouted as he could see few big rocks sliding ahead.
It was too late and all three of us along with the vehicle fell from the cliff.
The next thing authorities discovered was two dead bodies. Somehow by almighty's grace I was saved. My body was washed to ashore, where I was discovered by two of the monks from the nearby monastery.
I was rushed to a local hospital, where the doctor gave me first-aid and I was transferred to the govt hospital in the nearby town. I was in comma for six months and after gaining conscious I could not remember anything. Various shock therapies too were utilised, but all in vain. I was sent back to the village again and was kept in the monastery for few months before finally I started working in a cycle repair shop.
"Ramveer my peon is on leave for a week and I don't have a substitute at the moment. I request if you can spare any of your boys for the job?", the headmaster of the village school requested the cycle repair shop owner.
"Master Ji, It would be my pleasure to help you out. I will see what I can do. Tomorrow morning you will get your guy", with a gentle smile the shop owner replied.
With this the master left the place and I was assigned for a new chore.
Next morning, I reached the school by 0800 hrs and was summoned up by the headmaster in his office.
"You just have to ring the bell on the timings mentioned on this piece of paper. Rest my assistant will guide you", the master handed over the piece to me.
After getting briefed by the headmaster, I got on to the job. For three continuous days I was working as expected out of me. One fine noon I was walking through the corridor, I noticed a trigonometry problem written on the blackboard in a classroom. I went in, picked up the chalk from the punnet, solved it unaware about the fact that I was being observed by headmaster standing just besides the window. He walked up to me inside the class room.
" How could you able to solve this mathematical problem without any prior knowledge?", the headmaster was stunned on his recent discovery about me.
"I don't know sir. I just picked up the chalk and started analysing the problem and solved it", I replied in a bewildered tone.
The very next day, I was again summoned up by the headmaster to his office. I could see the mathematics teacher already waiting for me with a sheet of paper in his hand.
" Mr Naresh, the mathematics teacher will take a quick test of yours", headmaster with a very insouciant expression on his face grinned at me. While the Mr Naresh handed over me the sheet. It comprised of mathematical problems of 12th grade. I don't know but I solved all the problems while standing there only.
Seeing this they were completely shaken. "Who are you? How can you solve co complex problems ? Who taught you all this?", a fusillade of questions brimmed with curiosity hit me.
"I am Kaka", I replied confused. That's what the cycle repair shop owner used to call me. With this I took my leave from the headmaster's office and was busy with my chores at the school. That fine evening the headmaster along with the mathematics teacher arrived at the shop. I was fixing a punctured tyre.
"Where did you get this guy?", headmaster enquired the owner.
"What happened? Is everything alright? I hope he didn't bother you.", the owner replied with a worried expression on his face.
"This guy is a genius. He is extremely brilliant in mathematics.", the headmaster reduced the owner's worry.
"The senior monk from the monastery brought him here. On his recommendation I kept this guy for work", the owner informed the two about my past.
I too was shocked. I could remember nothing.
"And where is this monk residing?", headmaster asked the owner.
"He resides in the monastery up the hill", the owner pointed out at a monastery on the zenith of a rocky hill.
After few days, once again the headmaster summoned up me to his office. This time I could see an old man all draped in a red robe was sitting with him along with the mathematics teacher.
"So, you are a scientist -- Dr Abhishek Bawa!", exclaimed the headmaster in exhilaration.
"A scientist? Me?", I could not believe it was me.
Then he showed the metallic case.
"Take it. It belongs to you", the monk said in an insouciant tone.
I stepped forward and grabbed the case.
"Would you care to open it please? May be we can find your home address", asked the mathematics teacher.
I unlatched the suitcase and opened it before them. Seeing what was inside the suitcase, everything came back to me. There was micro equipment inside and my memories flooded back. A flint of pain shot through my head and I was back.
The first thing I enquired was the time. Upon knowing that its been almost an year now, I was distressed. I thanked all three of them to save my life. Fortunately the equipment inside was safe.
Eager to test the machine and travel back in time, I set up the equipment again. All three of them were standing beside each other and were looking at me. The moment I focussed the beam of infinite energy on me and closed my eyes to think of the time I want to travel, I could hear all of them crying in pain and when i opened my eyes to see, i could see them choking and holding their heads. Seeing this catastrophic situation, I immediately switched off the equipment.
I realised that if I go back in time then all the characters I have interacted will die due to brain hemorrhage. I could see the blood coming out of their noses.
"What was that?", the monk asked gathering himself.
"If I travel back in time you all will die. So, practically if I want to travel past then I should not interact with anyone in the present as it will distort the timeline", I explained it to them.
"I understood. So, What will you do now? What about this technology that you have?", the headmaster asked curiously while wiping off the blood coming out from his nose.
"I will destroy it and If you allow me I can teach students about science", I told him my plan and requested him.
"We would be delighted to have you. It will be a privilege for us to have a genius like you as our faculty", the mathematics teacher concluded.
This is how I ended up here students. So, now you understood how important is education. You can achieve wonders and help society grow but at the same time keep a track on what you are delivering to the society. It should not harm any one.
(With this Dr Bawa concluded his class. He started working as a teacher in the school and on sundays he used to visit monastery for meditation. He gave up all materialistic belongings but gained eternal peace.)
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