Chapter 2

Some 4 Prithvi Years Later

Mukunda was now five and argumentative as a fifty. He was cute, cheerful and confident. But being humble, that simply was not there on the list.

Wouldn’t take no for an answer and wouldn’t let anyone get away, till he is done explaining his point of view. To add to the woes of those stuck in crossfire of his words, he was athletic and would not mind chasing the person in question to narrate his story. If you disagreed with what he thought, he used to take it upon himself to make you understand his views. Neither time nor energy was a constraint for him (at least).

He was star of Ksharanpur, nonetheless. Anybody who had ample of time (for leisure) at hand and wanted to hear to few of the most tiringly long details of matters of trivial interest, would often sit down with Mukunda.

‘Shoes are more comfortably than slippers.’ said Raghava. Vallabha chuckled; she knew he was now in deep trouble.

‘No. Slippers are awesome, uncle. Am I right, Aunt?’ he demanded an affirmation from Vallabha.

‘Don’t know. I don’t even know how to differ a slipper from a shoe.’ she said holding back her smile.

‘Why in heaven’s name, I am always surrounded by people who know nothing.’ he shot back, with frustration apparent on his face.

‘You mean to say, we are idiots?’ queried Raghava, with both his arms on his flanks.

‘Not you, uncle! You at least can point a slipper from a shoe.’ he said with a poker face. Vallabha’s laughter and joy now knew no bounds. The pleasure that you get, when you see a Vamana challenging a King Bali, it was that. The pleasure that you get, when you see a toddler standing up for what he considers right, it was that.

Mukunda held his robe firm and sat on the floor of his room, he knew the establishment of superiority of slippers, would take some explaining.

‘Aunt! A slipper is a shoe with little to no hassles. You can fit your feet into it and take your feet out of it in a jiffy.’

‘Never thought of it that way.’ she said.

‘A shoe is like this palace, you need to cross so many doors and cross so many hallways, just to reach you room. While wearing slippers is like camping outside, under the moon or by the lakeside. No dearth of fresh air.’

The smile on Raghava’s face now was replaced by amazement for the analogy.

‘He is right palaces are no fun.’ added Raghava.

‘Just like shoes are no fun.’ he said.

‘Not yet, dear! Not yet!’ said Raghava. Mukunda sighed, and murmured something inaudibly. Probably ruing his efforts going waste.

‘What else do you need to agree?’ he asked.

‘How about this? Can you race me in your slippers? That too when I am wearing shoes?’

‘Why would I race you? I would rather go to the beach and pour sand in between my toes protruding out of my slippers.’

‘Let me guess! Your whole idea of discussion is centered on your disliking for shoes and your liking for beaches and camping. You don’t want to go to school?’ said Vallabha.

‘I never said that.’ he said so with that cute expression of innocence on his face.

‘You did and that too quite tacitly. What’s the matter? School doesn’t interest you anymore?’ she queried.

‘A school is a school, where you are schooled. I don’t like getting schooled.’ he replied, while crossing his arms in anguish.

‘Don’t you enjoy company of Madhav and Rukmini?’

‘Madhav – yes, but Rukmini is an altogether different story.’

‘What about her?’

‘She behaves like my nanny. She thinks she cares for me, I think she pesters me.’

‘Beware! Young lad you are talking about her Papa’s princess.’ said Raghava.

‘No, Uncle, she is good. But her goodness often wanders into the dark territories of annoyingness.’ he replied.

‘Did she eat from your lunch?’ inquired Vallabha.

‘No. I don’t mind sharing my lunch.’

‘Then what on Prithvi did she do?’ said Raghava.

‘The other day I was too sleepy, because you know the previous night those imageries were all over the lake..’

‘Mukunda, we don’t look at the lake, when that happens. You should sleep when its time to.’ interrupted Vallabha.

‘And I saw those beautiful play of color all night long. So, I was tired and dozed off in Miss. Vaishnavi’s class and she told the teacher about it.’ he continued, as if Vallabha’s word didn’t make their way to his eardrums.

‘She did it for your good. You would have missed the lesson.’ said Vallabha.

‘She embarrassed me to no end.’ he added.

‘You are five, you will get over it.’ said Raghava, chuckling.

‘It’s not only about her. I have read all my books at the beginning of the session, what is there to listen to?’

‘Then what on Prithvi do you want? No more beating around the bush, tell me straight.’ she said.

‘I want to play with Samganak.’

Vallabha raised her arm and made a call on her wrist-phone. ‘Here tell it to your Pita-Maha.’

The holographic image wobbled for a fraction of a second and then captured a full foot by foot of two-dimensional space of the hall.

‘Hey! Mukunda. How is my buddy doing?’ said Shyam.

‘I am perturbed. Aunt Vallabha thinks I am not smart enough to be around Samganak.’

‘Raghava! Did I ever say that?’ she screeched.

‘The whole matter is that your Grandson, doesn’t want to go to school. He thinks its below his dignity to sit among commoners.’

‘Pita-Maha! Please ask Madhav how much I adore school. Where else can I nap, if not school. And mind you uncle! Those commoners are my friends. Ridicule a man, but never his friends.’

Vallabha picked him up in her arms and started tickling him left, right and center. ‘ Now tell me! Is this a man chuckling or a ticklish boy?’

Mukunda, while still chuckling (involuntarily) said ‘Pita-Maha! See how aunt cannot tolerate me making headways in life?’

‘What headways? What do you want Mukunda? Vallabha will you stop that for few seconds?’

‘He wants access to Samganak.’ Raghava answered.

Shyam raised his eyebrow quite idiosyncratically and thought for a movement. The hologram wobbled as he then moved his right arm swiftly to reach his won wrist-phone.

‘Mohan is now in Holo-Con with us. Mohan the lad wants access to the Samganak. As our Chief Scientific Advisor, it is for you to decide.’

Mohan eyes widened but he held his other facial expression unperturbed. ‘Samganak! Hmm!’ he murmured.

‘I am fine with it Mukunda. You can visit anytime and see what Samganak looks like.’ he then said. The after-smile from the tickling now ceased, instantaneously.

‘I swear Pita-Maha! I will not talk to anybody, if these pranks do not stop. Right away.’ he said. ‘Why what occurred?’ said Mohan, while trying not to burst into laughter.

‘Am I visitor here? Why would I ask for a guided tour? I want to code Samganak.’

‘Then you need to pass through a test! How do we know you even deserve to be anywhere near that big machine?’ said Mohan.

‘Fair and Square! Mohan, he is an ambitious lad and must I say smart too. Test him right now.’ said Shyam. A half complaining and a half sobbing grunt emanated from Mukunda’s wide agape mouth.

‘Your only key to Samganak is answer to this question. Spell Samganak.’ he said.

Mukunda regained his composure; he knew this was doable. He could already see the titanium frame of Samganak glistening in front of his eyes. ‘As-Aa-Em-Ge-Aa-En-Aa-Kh.’ he replied.

‘Can’t help, Shyam! The boy is right. There is no stopping him.’ said Mohan.

Shyam stood there with his eyes wide and face stiff in amazement, he drew in a large gasp of breath and said ‘Boy’s a genius.’

‘Not only genius but brave too, unlike my father.’ he said and embraced Vallabha.

‘Wait! What?’ said Shyam.

‘I am brave, he was not!’ exclaimed, affirming what Shyam heard.

All the joyful pretentions and any hint of smile vanished from everyone’s face (in the room). More so for Shyam, to him it felt like his face ran cold.

‘You father is a brave man, Mukunda.’ he said while still trying to not choke on his own breath.

‘He might have been intelligent but brave? I have no reasons to believe that.’

‘He built this wonderful place for us to live. He reunited ShriRam and us.’

‘That’s what Pita-Maha; no doubt he must have been smart. But not brave. I am brave. I never step back from what is required. He couldn’t join us here, when he was required the most.’ he replied.

‘The choices a man makes, makes him brave. He sacrificed his own spot to make sure we all reach here safely.’

‘Now don’t tell me hundred thousand people could make it but he could not. Moreover, it was Uncle Mohan who defeated Kamsa. Uncle Mohan is brave, Krishna was not.’

Shyam exhaled in despair and said ‘Go to the lawns and enjoy your day. You want access to Samganak, you will have it.’

Vallabha placed Mukunda down and he rushed outwards with both his hands up in victory.

‘Who feed him all that?’ said Shyam.

‘Even we are to figure that out, yet. No one in Ksharanpur talks like that for Krishna. No clue, who conjured these notions in his head.‘ she replied.

‘It’s tough on the boy. He needs his father by his side. Probably his way of coping.’ said Raghava.

‘Mohan! How many Bhoomi year’s must have lapsed?’ said Shyam.

‘We simply don’t know how to calculate time-factors for outward Universes. I have no clue. But, must have been eons.’

‘Use the last available Bhoomi to Prithvi time-scale.’

‘Few thousands if not more.’ he said, knowing well what Shyam was trying to back calculate.

‘How much Bhoomidium was left, back home?’

‘All of it! It cannot just vanish or get used up.’

‘Any chances..’ the image wobbled. Communication deterioration and disruption was a norm when tides turned. Whether it was the moon’s gravity or some kind of interference from the lake’s changing water levels, no one knew.

‘Shyam, Bhoomidium or lack of it doesn’t matter. Bhoomi collapsed unto itself, Madhavpur must have sunk by now.’

The bitter realization of the fact that he might never see his nephew again, sent him down the dark aisle of despair and helplessness. But he was not an Uncle anymore, he was a Pita-Maha and responsibilities bigger than ever before were now his.

He didn’t say anything, just nodded in nonchalant agreement and got off the call.

‘Carry on, Mohan! Let me and Raghava go and see where the kids are.’

Mohan nodded and disconnected his wrist-phone.

Standing on the porch of the entrance to the main hall, Vallabha could see Mukunda playing with Madhav and Rukmini. What Vallabha saw next, took away at least an ounce or two from her already heavy heart.

Madhav for some good reason, known to only a five year old, was pestering Rukmini (in a playful but annoying manner). Mukunda stepped in and reprimanded him.

‘He is bitter and hurtful by his words alone. Soft and kind by his actions.’ said Vallabha.

‘To what levels have we stooped? We are judging a toddler, that too for his talkativeness?’ said Raghava.

‘Wish that cloud could shows up again and somehow Krishna could make it.’

Raghava nodded, patted her on her shoulder and then left for the administrative office.

Sufficient arrangements were made for Mukunda’s Samganak classes. Miss. Vaishnavi was instructed to let Mukunda off the hook by lunchtime. And, Mukunda was instructed to either finish his lunch in 20 minutes sharp or be prepared to forgo it. And, ‘No’, napping was not allowed while in the System Chamber; he was told, beforehand.

It was his first day and he could not help but stand and stare the ‘Café Evolution’ (from outside), enough. It was sweltering hot, but he would refuse to enter; rather simply won’t listen. He counted the number of floors, some five to six times. And, then recounted.

‘There were four floors in Krishna’s Cafe Evolution, why is it three here?’ he finally said.

‘There were just three, in the original one too.’ Mohan replied, while lugging him by his hand in a bid to tract him inside.

‘No! Mother has narrated the tales about Café Evolution to me. And, it was four.’

‘Your mother barely visited the lab once or twice. And, I used to work there; you stubborn kid.’ he said.

‘Pita-Maha! Uncle Mohan always call me names.’ he said, amply displaying his grudge.

‘He was never my favorite too; lets drop this idea of Samganak. We want neither him nor his fancy toys.’ he said while turning a little on his torso, as if preparing to retreat.

‘This trick won’t work on me, Pita-Maha. Uncle Mohan, cannot wish me away so easily.’ he said, resuming his counting. Mohan grabbed him by his hand and picked him up ‘ Come on in. Your relentless counting won’t change the architecture of the building.’

A foot from the entrance, Mohan closed his eyes and issued a thought command. The door slid open, letting a burst of light into the main hall. The floor to the walls to the ceiling, were now shining in bright daylight. But none of that could match the glittering brilliance of the dark metal of the Samganak’s chassis. Its contours dipped in slant sunshine, seemed as if, were coming to life.

‘That’s pure titanium on it, isn’t it?’ he said and then shook his legs with vigor. Mohan placed him down.

Awestruck he started taking little steps toward the machine. Starting from the left side of the vast panel, he started sliding his palm over it. He slid his hand over it from end to end. He turned and said ‘Pita-Maha! See, I don’t even reach the Command-Panel. How will I work on it?’

‘You will. But before that you need to learn the basics. What are these big computing machines all about and what kind of respect they deserve.’ said Shyam.

‘When can I get access to the main control panel?’ he said turning towards Mohan. He couldn’t help but see the similarities between then and now.

Krishna prevented Mohan from encryption codes, for his own good. And, Mohan craved for them as if he was being denied some fundamental right of his. Now he could see the flames of same desperation and want engulfing Mukunda.

‘What for, you can always ask Pita-Maha for a wrist-device to play games and prepare class reports.’ he said.

‘Pita-Maha! Uncle always does that..’

‘Does what?’ enquired Shyam.

‘Looks down upon me! He doesn’t love me. He loves Madhav.’ he replied.

‘I definitely love Madhav, cause he is my son. And, yes you are right I don’t love you.’

Mukunda frowned to no end, looking toward Shyam in despair and anguish.

It was then that Mohan picked him up and tickled him under his chin, on his neck. ‘I don’t love you. I adore you. And not only cause of the fact that you are my nephew. But, I love you for your tantrums and your foolhardiness, you little moron.’ said Mohan.

Mukunda turned toward Shyam and while still chuckling from the soft tickling, said ‘Are we sure he isn’t lying this time around?’

‘Of course! Why would you ask so?’ said Shyam, troubled by Mukunda’s endless skepticism.

‘Nothing much! Just that he is known for switching sides, way too often.’ he said and then laughed, mercilessly.

Shyam took a fraction of second to get the reference, but when he did; he could not help but burst into fits of laughter. Mohan smiled, then eventually chuckled and said ‘You are no less evil than Kamsa, won’t mind siding with you.’

Mukunda grasped his uncle’s face with both his palm and kissed him on his forehead.

Mohan then placed him down and said ‘You won’t get access to the Samganak, until next year. You will have to learn extensively about the machine, then prove your worth by presenting us with a detailed road map of what different would you do with your access. How would you put it to good use for all Manavas.’

Mukunda nodded. This time around he didn’t find faults with his uncle’s plan.

Meanwhile, Mohan turned toward Shyam for discussing nitty-gritty of the training program and the logistics for bringing Mukunda to café Evolution. Mukunda placed his left ear on the cold surface plate of the Samganak. He could feel the chill travelling up his skin towards his head. As he started sweeping his face across the machine, he could hear some voices underneath.

His mind knew those humming were the noises from the circuitry of the Samganak, but his heart wanted him to believe otherwise. It was as if Samganak was whispering something into his years. Maybe, narrating the tale of what he has been through. How he has seen the rise and fall of Madhavpur. How he colluded with Mohan to defeat Kamsa. How his soul was Brahmported from his earlier home to his new abode, in a pen like device. And, how when he gained consciousness again on Prithvi, his original Master was nowhere to be seen.

‘I will pick him up from the school and will bring him along here, tomorrow by thirty past two.’ said Shyam. And, then he turned toward Mukunda and said ‘Let’s go.’

As they were stepping outside the main door, Mohan ruffled Mukunda’s hair and said ‘I will be teaching you skills, I have not even taught to Madhav. So never doubt my love for you. Will always be on your side.’

Mukunda smiled and then walked alongside his Pita-Maha down the Bhoomi Avenue, eastwards.