Miniverse

Journey to the Brain

Journey to the BrainThe biceps muscle, right arm, was hosting a grand graduation ceremony, as it did annually. The main hall of the local school was decorated with colourful balloons, stickers of graduation hats, and signs that said ‘Party!’ and ‘Happy graduation!’. Cells swarmed the hall in the hundreds – both the graduates and their parents or siblings.

Amidst the excited crowd was Bicepa. She hopped into the room, bumping into other cells and wishing everyone a good day. She could barely control her excitement – but her excitement sprang less from her graduation. She led her parents to the centre of the hall.

Bicepa grinned at her parents. “LET’S PARTY!” she yelled. A few cells around her cheered.

The party was grand. There was everything from lick-smacking food to glittery decoration, and it ended with a grand disco dance. But Bicepa was only half-interested in the celebrations.

The next morning, Bicepa intended to leave for a trip around the empire – which is to say, the body. She remembered the little her, staring out the window at night, wondering what was beyond. By law, Bicepa was not allowed to leave the boundaries of her muscle. it had been etched into her mind since she was a child – every cell stays where it belongs. But Bicepa never abided by the rules. She was curious and determined to know what her empire was like – for real, not through a picture.

Her only plan was to catch a train – one of the blood vessels – at the main station of her muscle, and roam around in it. She would reach home by evening, and impress everyone with her stories. it was going to be an epic day.

As bedtime drew nearer, Bicepa couldn’t wait for morning. She could barely catch sleep. Little did she know that her adventure was not going to be that easy or fun.

Bicepa woke up earlier than usual the next morning and left, not wanting to be seen by anyone. She hurried to the platform and boarded the train. She knew, so far, only one thing about blood vessels – that they transported things around the empire. As she got into an almost empty compartment, she noticed the tracks were labelled ‘artery’, ‘vein’ and ‘capillary’. She didn’t have the faintest clue about any of them, but noticed that she was seated in an artery.

The train left the platform and in no time, her home was just a blur. As she saw the remnants of her town disappearing, her excitement was slowly replaced with fear. She had never been this far from home before. She did not even know where she was heading, and instant regret filled her. Everything was now a stranger and she had to accept that she wasn’t prepared for what was coming.

By the time she reached the end of the muscle, Bicepa had calmed down. She began enjoying the ride. She observed the organ systems closely, and wondered how they were different from the muscles. She was fascinated by the organs. She saw the little, red cells climbing into the capillaries to deliver Oxygen, bigger, stronger cells guarding the gates, and many others, seated in the train patiently, except when they neared the heart.

The blood cells seemed to know each other, and whenever they saw someone, they’d say, “Good morning.”

Their daily commute was lively. They cracked jokes and everyone laughed along, unlike back home. Cells in the biceps muscle were easily offended by the slightest attempt to eavesdrop. In the blood vessel, however, everyone was casual and friendly with each other. They did have immense respect for each other, though and addressed each other as ‘Ma’am’ or ‘sir’ only. Happiness seemed ubiquitous in the blood vessels, which shattered Bicepa’s previously held notions about blood cells: that they were as boring as their job.

The heart was where a sudden wave of chaos spread through the train, as circular, red cells, whom Bicepa identified as Red Blood Cells, gathered around the exits. The younger ones fighting to get out, the older ones standing patiently behind them and muttering to themselves.

She was mesmerized by the huge muscle, releasing trains into the tracks as it contracted and relaxed. She was puzzled by its four chambers. When they were near enough, the train jerked and was sucked into the heart.

The heart was beautiful. It was the bustling, main junction where every train had to go. Bags of air were carried to-and-fro on conveyor belts. But before Bicepa could marvel at the details, the train leaped forward with a jerk.

From the heart the train went to the lungs and then back and she saw a complex system of collecting oxygen and expelling carbon-dioxide. Bicepa couldn’t understand how it worked, though, because the RBCs had swarmed up against the windows and doors, still scuffling amongst themselves.

Finally, the train left. The RBCs settled down and resumed chatting, joking, and generally having fun.

As the train went upwards, past the neck and towards the skull, a loud echoing voice announced, “We are heading towards the brain. I repeat – we are heading towards the brain.” As soon as the announcement was made, all cells replaced their casualty with seriousness. The RBCs rushed to the exits and the other cells made way for them. They lined up quietly and without a fight. Bicepa didn’t find this odd since the brain was the most important organ.

A mere millisecond after the train first stopped, some RBCs got off and hurried to places unknown (Bicepa could hardly see them after they got off as the train immediately left the platform).

The brain was a maze of cells working in desks, trotting around with grey files, and simple-looking homes that were less lavish than the ones she’d seen back home.

Bicepa thought that this was her golden opportunity to explore. She got up quietly and stood squeezed into the line, ahead of a distracted RBC. When the train halted again, she jumped offboard with the RBC crowd.

The station was simple, themed black-and-white. The tiles were light grey, the walls were a little darker, lined with small black doors. Tube lights installed above them shone bright white. Ahead of her, a long walk away, stood a set of black doors that had been slid open. Two WBCs stood guard on either side, and Bicepa had no intention of being caught.

She decided to follow the RBCs instead.

She slipped through one of the smaller doors. Inside was a miniature station – also themed grey. On the small tracks in front of them, an equally small train zoomed in. Its front was streamlined, and it was tubed up to the flat back. Except for its floor, the whole thing was transparent glass.

A section of the tube protruded and slid upwards. The RBCs climbed aboard, maintaining order and discipline with such perfection, Bicepa felt uneasy.

The train zoomed ahead quickly. It emerged into bright daylight, and the glass doors on the sides slid open. The cells poured out. Bicepa climbed off, too.

Finally, having got an opportunity to explore, she looked around.

Everyone was busy working. They ran about with papers and files, jotted down points while on the telephone, and typed vigorously. The brain cells were larger than the muscle cells that lived in her home. Somehow, they maintained order along with speed. Bicepa found them a little intimidating.

Bicepa was filled with excitement. Though she had to admit she was a little scared, she couldn’t wait to see how the brain functioned.

She imagined herself at one of the desks, scribbling furiously while having important discussions on the phone – saving the empire.

Bicepa walked around, looking at everything and everyone in awe. The cells who noticed her eyed her with suspicion, but then got back to their work. There were so many cells who were working with concentration. Their work seemed to be much different than hers back home. They were extremely organised, something that she specifically admired about the brain.

It wasn’t long before she came across an office labelled ‘head of logical thinking’. without much thought, Bicepa knocked on the door. A deep, serious voice from within the room said, “Come in.”

Bicepa opened the door slowly and peeked inside. She saw a busy cell, most probably the head of logical thinking. Bicepa slowly got inside the office and shut the door behind her. Not taking her eyes off the computer on which she was working, the cell began, “Have you finished the files I gave you this morning? And have you written the letter-”

Before the brain cell said anymore, Bicepa blurted, “I’m not who you think I am.”

The cell lifted her eyes from the computer and stared at Bicepa suspiciously. Bicepa continued, “I’m a mere biceps cell. I just came here-” she was about to spill the beans but ended up saying, “by mistake.”

“Well,” said the cell, “just take the train and go home.”

Bicepa didn’t want to go on the adventure all alone, and decided to trick the cell. She said that she was afraid to go alone, that she had ended up in an unknown place and didn’t even remember where she had gotten off the train. Her acting skills came in handy. She played innocent and managed to persuade the cell, who finally agreed to drop her.

“By the way,” said the cell, “I’m Briana.”

Bicepa introduce herself too, and they left for the platform.

Briana had thought that Bicepa was innocent, scared and guilty to be where she didn’t belong. She was about to find out that Bicepa was the exact opposite.

As soon as they were aboard the train, Bicepa told Briana that she had fooled her. She had intended to keep the secret until the end of the day but Bicepa was not good with secrets. She had gotten into trouble at least a hundred times because of her inability be secretive.

Briana was furious. She fixed Bicepa with a murderous glare. Her voice was dangerously loud, “You dare?!”

Bicepa giggled. She couldn’t help feeling a little proud. “You’re angry because I tricked you. A muscle cell tricked you – big brain cell, the head of logical thinking.”

Briana’s glare intensified. “You fool! Do you understand the consequences? WBCs would come after us any moment.” She took a deep breath. “Listen to me. I’ll drop you home, then go back home myself. You could get away with your story,” she scowled, “Maybe. If it’s at least half-true.”

“No,” Bicepa protested, “We will explore the entire empire and then head back home. I haven’t even seen the stomach yet.”

“You’re not supposed to!” Briana snapped.

Briana tried hard to convince her, but in vain. Bicepa remained ignorant of her warnings and said firmly, “I’m going on this adventure and taking you with me too. That’s it, no arguments on that.”

“I hate you,” Briana declared. Her eyes flickered with rage; her frown deepened.

Not only had she been tricked into doing something wrong, but Bicepa had also lied to her. Briana was extremely intolerant of people who lied. In her whole life, she had never cooperated with those who lied, nor had she lied herself. She knew that on this journey with Bicepa, she would have to lie innumerable times.