Dark Horse Arts and Sciences

July 1944, Cuttack, British India:

Stewart Science College was established near Buxi Bazar, Cuttack with only seven staff; six teachers and a watchman. The principal cut the ribbon and inaugurated the college. As the inauguration was occurring, the watchman heard some hush-hush noise just around the bushes, which were really big near the washroom. He thought of going and having a look around, but somehow restrained himself. Maybe a dog or something, he thought. Little did he know that it was the beginning of a never ending loop that was going to cause a lot of trouble to a lot of people at the same place even after 75 long years.

September 26, 3:33 PM, Cuttack:

As Noah and I are walking by the streets to reach our final destination at Stewart Science College, past memories started flashing in my mind endlessly like waves in the seashore on a full moon night; one after another. 

I always loved physics. The phenomena, experiments and especially the stuff that mostly appeared in sci-fi movies fascinated me and induced in me another level of enthusiasm and interest in studying and delving deep into the limitless boundaries of physics. Then I got admission in Stewart Science College with physics honours. Like all other students, I too had some exaggerated dreams for a college life. Well, I had watched too many bollywood movies for my own good. I wanted to achieve a lot of things at once. My expectations were really. Well that’s very obvious and common with newly college-goers. Bollywood films really had filled my mind with unrealistic and impossible dreams. 

For example, all of a sudden, I wanted to romance like Shah Rukh; kiss like Emraan; fuck like Johnny; sing like Armaan; write like Murakami; play like Virat; run like Cristiano; have looks and body like Brad Pitt. And none of them really happened, I just set my standards too high, that’s it. Actually these things never happen to anyone. I had high expectations towards the teachers of the college too; but they couldn’t live up to it either. It wasn’t like they were bad, it was just that I didn’t find in them that drive and enthusiasm to teach and explain new and interesting things to students. They would just explain some long questions so that we could at least pass. That was it. Rarely they encouraged us to do something out-of-the-box or innovative. 

So, I was just wandering like a lonely bird; without having the slightest idea where the path would lead me, until a guy named Noah arrived in my life. 

I met Noah at a bakery when I and Vijju had gone there to buy a cake for Tutula’s birthday. We met again near that bakery again after two days. And he changed my life, dude. He transformed my life into something I had never imagined in my wildest dreams. He taught me that those Shah Rukh dreams and all; they were nothing but mere illusions and fantasies that would only pull me down. He taught me in his own way the essence and beauty of physics with a blend of philosophy. I always love it when someone can blend physics and philosophy altogether. In those few days under his guidance, I decided finally that I’d be his disciple forever. I’d always be faithful and loyal to him; whatever the circumstances maybe; like Karna to Duryodhana. 

After all, he provided me with a sense of direction and purpose when I was stuck in the midst of senselessness and absurdity of this all; that life has no meaning or purpose to it; that it’s all just a mere illusion; that life is absurd and everyone is locked up in their own prisons in some way or the other; unable to find the key to absolute freedom. But he transformed my thought process and made me believe in things that I had given up my hopes on. He converted me into an optimist from a pessimistic nihilist. So, I decided that whatever might happen in future, I’ll always be there by his side. Some even warned me of Noah’s evilness, but I never agreed with them. How can you just say or decide whether someone is evil or good anyway? What is the parameter for that? As Noah once said, “Good and evil are just a matter of perspective.” Well, that explains it all.

He made me explore things that I had hardly thought even existed in this real world. One day, all of a sudden, he took me through the time gate to a really distant past; to the year 1905, where I met this mad physicist called Phillip Lenard. Lenard would show me his instruments and apparatus and all for the purpose of experimentation. He was such a great explainer and highly dedicated and passionate towards his craft. He was indeed a genius. But there was a catch. However, he was extremely envious of one of his former classmates. I didn’t know why, but I really had a bad feeling about it. It was as if he could go to any lengths or limit to obstruct or destroy that guy. I had never seen such jealousy of a guy towards another. Then I came to know that he and Noah had collaborated to bring that man down.

I even asked Noah about why he was so much into helping Lenard. 

I asked, “Doesn’t all this jealousy and bringing down a man for no particular reason contradict your own conscience?”

Noah, as usual calm and composed, reflected, “Do you know Karna?”

I say, “From the Mahabharata?”

Noah, “Yes, Karna never abandoned his friend Duryodhana at the times of need. He was completely loyal and faithful towards him despite knowing that Duryodhana was not on the right side of Dharma. He supported him till his very last breath, all because he was the only person who stood by him when everyone rejected and laughed at him for his blood.”

“Lenard is like Duryodhana for me. He supported me when my teenage mother abandoned me as a bastard. I was their unexpected and unwanted child. I had no idea who that coward father of mine was, who impregnated my mother in her teenage years and just fled; running away from all the responsibilities until recently.”

I asked curiously, “So now you know who is your father?”

Noah, “Yes I do. His name is Albert Einstein.”

I was taken aback by all this. I had never expected this kind of twist in the tale. 

Noah continued, “My mother, Sara and Albert met in high school. Their love knew no bounds. They remind me of me and Rojaleen when our relationship was so carefree and fun. My mother and Albert would study together, go to watch plays together. Their romance was blossoming. They would make love to each other when nobody was home. And then something happened they hadn’t expected. Sara got pregnant, and all of a sudden, Albert’s attitude towards her changed. They were both teenagers, and no teenager would want this kind of huge responsibility at such an early age. And one day, Albert left the village as if he had just vanished into the thin air. Sara was devastated, but she decided against abortion. She decided to at least give me birth. And there I was. Left all alone in the corn fields of Leipzig, my village. And Lenard found me there covered with a clean pair of clothes.”

“I wanted revenge. I wanted to know who that coward was so that I could destroy him. And when we both realized that we had the same enemy, we cherished and together made a plan to abolish him completely; not to kill him; but to take away everything that is dearest to him; his work.”

I was listening to his narration with complete concentration and focus; not even skipping a single word. 

Noah continued, “Then one day, he took me to the woods of a suburban area called Winden. There he showed me a cave in the midst of dark woods. He told me this cave was kind of a portal through time; kind of a wormhole that shortens the bridge between spacetime. So, we entered deep into the cave. As we moved further and further, things started getting darker. We would only see flashes of light passing us like high speed bullets. It was unbelievable yet beautiful. It was like a vivid dream; the type of dream that you still remember after waking up. I was totally enthralled by the beauty and surrealist visions lurking before my naked eyes. It was magical; in the sense that these only happen in sci-fi novels. And then everything ceased for a moment and we saw daylight. It appeared like a washroom or something. Then we came out of it and saw seven people gathered at a place as if some kind of programme was going on. It looked like an inauguration programme as they were holding ribbon and flowers. We left that place without anyone noticing. For a moment we thought that they’d notice us as there were hush-hush sounds created when we were walking through those bushes. Then we went out and explored the town and came back to that washroom after sometime and went back to where we came from.”

Then Noah told me something as if he was warning me of something, “But Som, there will be circumstances where I will have to let go of personal belongings for the sake of the higher goal. And you have to prepare yourself for that. I will have to sacrifice things that hold a special place in my heart. And I don’t think that day is that far away.”

Back to the present:

So, there I am. Standing in front of the time gatekeepers. Well, don’t you think they should have at least chosen a better name for themselves. I feel like laughing when I hear this- “the time gatekeepers”. It sounds so stupid, and it doesn’t create that fear, you know. Leave it. 

So, that’s it then. The final face-off. I don’t think there will be any conversations here between those three and us two. It will be a do-or-die fight. 

Thank God, I have recently been learning Karate. I guess that will be of some use today. In front me is Sarthak. I have always envied him for his football skills. He’s so good at it even though he doesn’t look like one. Such a deceptive figure. So, why any delay?

I move forward towards Sarthak to give him a straight punch on his solar base so that that will totally make him uncomfortable straight away. I did exactly as I had visualized, but he was strong. He stood up to it, and there it was. The battle had begun. We started hitting each other at heads, thighs, solar bases, under the ears. The thing went on for ten minutes or so. Others were just mere spectators. But I realized soon that I won’t be able to beat him in a fair fight, and this was no time for sportsmanship. I took out that back-up knife that I always put within my shocks tightly and put that knife into Sarthak’s abdomen. Blood oozed out of Sarthak’s abdomen and he fell down on the floor holding it. Suraj and Jigisha were startled in the turn of events. Out of nowhere, a handkerchief flew towards me with almost the speed of light; that fast; and succeeded in hitting my hand so hard that the knife fell down. It was Suraj. He just rushed towards and kept hitting my face like a boxer. His muscles have gotten stronger with everyday workout at the gym. Again, I wouldn’t beat him in a fair fight. So, I took out a very thin and sharp yet invisible wire made of aluminum and with fast hand and body movement put it around Suraj’s neck. For some seconds he struggled, but in the end, the wire was able to pierce through Suraj’s palm and then his hard neck to kill him completely. He was dead in no time. 

I then started towards when suddenly someone pierced a knife through the back and just twisted it to give it more effect to create more and more pain, and then took it out. I couldn’t comprehend what just happened and fell down upon the floor. And what I saw created some kind of earthquake inside me; as if someone has taken the floor beneath my legs and I am falling down into the crust. I saw Noah with that bloodied knife in his hands. Then slowly Jigisha appeared in my field of vision. They got closer and gave themselves a cheerful kiss. I couldn’t believe what the hell was happening. Jigisha with Noah! But why? When? How?

Then suddenly some memory flashed in front of my eyes. Today while returning from college on my cycle, I saw Sunita standing outside that bakery at Kanika Chhak. I asked her why she was standing there. She said that Jigisha had gone into the bakery shop to buy a cake for her Didi’s birthday. I then asked her about her whereabouts and how she was, when suddenly I saw a figure like Noah coming out of that bakery. I was not surprised because Noah used to come here for some snacks, and I too had met him here once. But he didn’t look at me or say hii. He just left the scene. It’s all fitting into the pieces now. Jigisha and Noah must have met inside and discussed all this. I felt sorry for Jigisha though as she was just another pawn in Noah’s game of chess. Noah used me for the access to the college campus. He tricked Jigisha to fall in love with him as she was the boss of the gatekeepers and if he could handle her, then he could have the access to the time gate without any obstruction. And unfortunately, Jigisha fell for it. I couldn’t understand how a girl like Jigisha fell for this guy. She was so smart and intelligent and cautious when it came to choosing her friend circle. Maybe Noah had influenced her too in some way; like he did to me and Rojaleen. 

But now nothing could be done about it. Noah would probably go back as the job has been finished and close the gate forever with Rojaleen’s unborn child’s blood so that Albert would be stuck here in the future forever, and Phillip Lenard would publish all of Albert’s work one by one, and become the greatest physicist ever. 

Slowly, my eyes are beginning to get closed because of the excess loss of blood. Jigisha and Noah have already left my field of vision. Maybe he will take her with him, I have no idea. I don’t care about it either.

Next moment, I open my eyes, I find myself in some kind of hospital. In front of me are my friends circling all around me, waiting for me to wake up and explain everything to them. They deserve an explanation though. Amlan is there to my right, sitting on a chair. I still remember that day when I had just broken my finger playing football and he was the one who took me to the hospital. He has always been there; with me at the times of need. I have huge respect towards him for all of that.

Vijju is there too. Vijju is one of the weirdest guys I have ever come across. But I have great memories with him. He has also played a very important role in making me who I am today; not the bad side; but whatever’s good inside me; if any, a lot of credit goes to him. Tutula is also in the room. Same credit goes to him too. He has always been inspiring, like a brother. The whole bunch is here. That sends a hint of a smile upon my face. I can see Manbes outside the room through that window. Manbes is one of the most hardworking and dedicated guys I have ever seen. He has endured pain and hardship to reach where he is today. Travelling to Bhubaneswar on a crowded and packed Padmavati bus four days a week and then attending classes sincerely and coming back again, is not something everyone can do. Well I can guarantee for sure he’ll crack the IIT with flying colors. Malaya is there too, deep in some conversation with Manbes. I really like Malaya. He has a great sense of humor, which will help him a lot, getting laid by girls. He’s helpful too. And finally to my left, sitting with my hand folding in her hands is Sunita. She is my best friend, no doubt about that. I can see a hint of tears in her eyes as I gaze towards her. I always liked her. She’s a great person. She has had her fair bit of complications in her life, but she has been a fighter. She has fought through it all. Brave girl. I wish her to be successful and independent in future; to do whatever the fuck she wants; to go to Maldives with her sweet, rich and romantic husband and make as many babies as they want. She has been a guiding force in my dark times, and I cannot be more grateful. 

Behind everyone, standing with Khaki dresses and caps are the Police. Three police officers with handcuffs, waking for me to wake up.

“You’re under arrest for the murders of Sarthak Kumar Nayak, Suraj Pal, Rojaleen Lenka and Jigisha Dash.”-one of them spoke with intent. 

Jigisha! Ohh that Noah son of a bitch!” I tell myself with frustration and rage as another life was lost in the hands of that Noah.

Ok, guys, it’s time to say goodbye. I have no fucking idea how many years they’ll put me behind those bars. Maybe lifetime, or maybe 56 years (14 years for each murder). I don’t know. I can’t imagine myself behind those aluminum bars. What will they do to me? Maybe starve me for days without food or water. Maybe strip me naked and beat me at places I cannot imagine. Maybe do nothing at all. Maybe just leave me in a room all alone with no one to talk to, so that I will go mad by myself. Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows what lays ahead of me in those rooms of darkness and sorrow.

By Som Abhisek.

Starring:

Mark Waschke

Albert Einstein

Phillip Eduard Anton Von Lenard

Rojaleen Lenka

Jigisha Das

Preyash Kumar Bala

Amlan Bala

Gyana Ranjan Swain

Suraj Pal

Sarthak Kumar Nayak

Gopi Bhai

Manbes Mishra

Malaya Ranjan Parida

Priti Prasanna Samal

Arijit Pradhan

Amir Behera

Vijayant Khuntia

Sunita Nayak

and

Som Abhisek.

Disclaimer: All the characters are fictionalized; made for entertainment purposes. So, if it hurts anyone’s sentiments or emotions, I don’t give a shit about it.