UNBEATABLE

PART 1:- THE BEGINING CHAPTER NO 1:- SEEDS FOR A REBEL “Time! That elusive entity whose real nature has confounded the scientists as well as philosophers for centuries. Is it the creator of existence or the existence itself? well…whatever may be the case this is an undisputed fact that it is one of the most complicated and powerful forces of universe. It assimilates hordes of information and keeps absorbing more but doesn’t reveal anything to us. The debate whether it is a material entity or the real creator is perpetual and complicated. There are no easy answers as there are no straight questions. Nobody knows the beginning of time and till date no one has been able to predict its end. But one thing is for sure, it’s the time which makes things move.” Professor Das beamed triumphantly as if he himself wrote the theory of time. Most of the class looked on with glazed eyes and some even stifled a yawn. But lost in his own world he continued… “Did life exist before time or time was the reason for life. As I said before, nobody knows yet theories abound. It is such a powerful force that it affects everything in past, present and future. It can be said that it creates or programs the future and erases the past. It’s akin to an uninterrupted stream which flows from the past towards the future, gently and steadily,” explained the professor. It was getting unbearable by the minute but the class had no other choice than to take the onslaught with as much grit as possible. Professor Das had the distinction of being one of the most knowledgeable professors at school. Being one of the best from IIT, he was indulged with space research programs. Although 59, he agreed to teach the students. He called his life full of failures although having none. Well no other school would dare to pay him the amount he was paid here in Cublix Senior High School, the school famous for admitting the ultra wealthy. Professor Das would always carry his set of watches in his coat, six of them, nobody knew what it was really for. He was at the same time had the dubious reputation of being the most boring one too among the students. When faced with the theory of relativity in the syllabus, a bunch of class twelve students have no choice than to muster enough interest to attend his classes. The fact that relativity theory section carries highest marks in semester exams does little to help things! But the students kept on going as they knew the class will get over at 12 o'clock. They crained there necks to the clock on the wall just to the right of the black board. The clock showed time "11:55 am" Oblivious to the state of students, Professor Das prattled on. Just as everyone had got used to the rhythmic pattern of his speech, he paused. Suddenly there was a hush as silence enveloped the lecture hall and even the sleepy ones were jostled from their slumber. All the eyes gazed at him as he stood with a perturbed expression on his face, gaping at the horizon. All the students craned their neck with alacrity. A solitary hand was raised up in the air. A backbencher wanted to ask a question. This particular backbencher was not a very friendly sort of person, although in cublix High no one really cared for others as all came from the prestigious families, so no one knew him well. Though the same fellow always stands meritorious when it came to academics, other students were highly jealous of him, but…well…he actually had a question to ask!!! A tall and healthy boy stood up a bit awkwardly and said, “Sir! Is it possible to change the pattern of time or alter its course like we can do with a river or other fluids?” The way he drawled out the question gave the impression that he was drunk. Some students reacted by cursing the boy for asking a question just as the bell was supposed to ring. It created a wave of disappointment among the others who were just ignoring him till now. Some of them started gossiping. Unable to understand the question Professor asked, “I didn’t get you boy. Can you elaborate?” This time the voice was loud and clear.“Sir! We are hearing lots of news about crimes, murders, r***s. People are literally killing millions in the name of profits. Environment is dying. This world is cruel. Peace and balance is impossible. Can’t time, the most powerful force, be challenged and changed for once? Can’t we reverse its flow, since it’s free-flowing like a river? Don't you think we can solve all our problems if we can. ” "So it's finally started! The influence of news and propaganda through message really travels so easily. I wish I was not doing this. " Murmured the professor. The class was filled with mixed reactions. The professor silenced the class and replied, " It was a nice thought you had, my dear! Good intentions are essential but it should remain as It is. A slight change may harm the world more than It can cure. And as far as time is considered It may depend on many things my boy!" Taking one of his watches out, " Ask me what's really in your mind. " The boy looked quite interested in this so he continued, "Sir! We hear so many of the articles related to time travel and others in the news and scientific talks around the world. The idea struck me deep so I am excited. Now First of all you said that time can and is flowing like a river. Then once you mentioned that rivers travel in space and time which makes the particle of the water in the river to occupy a particular point in the time space horizon. So if we can locate this particular co-ordinate and somehow make the water particle to be in that co-ordinate forever, will time stop for the particle or not? " The Professor came to the boy. Gave him a gentle pat. Took out a glowing watch from his coat. It showed 11:58 am. He pressed certain buttons on it. It was quite normal and the class all of a sudden kept pin drop silence. The boy didn't looked anywhere except the Professor. He continued," It's a lucky day for me I think. I knew it will come to this one day. So tell me since when did you started thinking on it. I know you from 2 years. I didn't found any such thoughts from you yesterday." "It all came to me just yesterday night. I was surfing the internet when I read this article." Replied Ash " Lord Danzo! Never thought you could betray the Almighty Supremo!" Said Professor. "Sorry Professor! I didn't mean to disrespect you but I don't understand what you are saying. " "Let me have a look at what I have on hand. Well you didn't looked like a neutral to me at the start. Being created under Lord Danzo's unit I understand. But if Lord Danzo is after you then I have no doubts. In that case I must do what I was told!" "Umm.. What do you mean? " Replied the boy "You don't need to understand everything right now. All you need to do is listen carefully. Well I certainly don't want to go in details now." Saying this the Professor gave a digital device; a gadget. "What is it? " " It's yours! You were destined to bear it. You hold the key to make a decision. Being from the same unit, I know I should avoid this. Maybe it will be a grudge to you but whether you use it or not use it, in both the cases, the world will be balanced." The Professor replied He continued," And As far your question Young man, time goes on! No matter what you try, it will flow. But in this case, where you are trying to stop time, the time will continue to flow for the particle but it will be an altogether different time space horizon. It can be bent." "What's the gadget for? And why give it to me? What shall I do with it? You don't make sense Professor. We live in a real world not some imaginary wonderland! " Professor said with a hint of humour, "So tell me what really is the matter with you? What's really going on? I didn't encounter such a question from the last time I met an old friend of mine. Are you afraid of the gadget? " The boy said, " I am just puzzled. First you talk non sense then you give me this weird thing. Now don't tell me that with this time travel is possible?" "Such a complicated question! Yet you say that so easily. May I remind you that we live in a world of simplicity. Time passes and so does we. Who knows whether we have such things like a past, present or future. Who knows whether we are experiencing time in present or past. Your past can be my present and my present can be your future. Don't engage or try to disrupt the monster. It will change the time and you. " Professor uttered while looking in the boys eyes Seeing the boy confused the professor said, " Just listen carefully! Our world that you know will soon cease to exist! And by No means can we prevent it unless you become a part of this unending curse. Think of it as a game that is 'UNBEATABLE'!" "So? " The boy asked "Just press the 'ON' button of the gadget and read the instructions carefully. Also don't forget to see the points stats daily. Make sure you succeed! " "And what if I fail? " "God knows! " The professor remarked as he went for his coat watch again. It seemed he pressed something and and went away towards the teachers desk. The students as if were waiting for the professor to reach the desk to utter a single word. The boy noticed that the other students really didn't talked all this time while he was engaged with the professor. Even the boy was so glued with his questions that he forgot to look around him. The class was amazed and the professor paused for a minute as if looked pondered over a question. Suddenly he became annoyed, “Listen boy! Don’t waste your time over such hypothetical concepts. What you said is a scientific paradox and can never ever happen. It would be good if you just stick to the facts and your syllabus. Got it!” The boy was dead still. He was wondering what is the professor saying. Suddenly some of the boys of the class murmured, " What an i***t! Has nothing more important to say." A class fellow from his right said to the boy, " What is your problem? A river and time are just not the same. And what is this particle and co-ordinate you are talking? Maybe the next question you will ask will be time travel! " The boy got puzzled. He began to think. He asked the time and river similarities question to the professor way before and the professor even replied him. He even asked the professor about time travel but how come the class fellow students didn't heard it. Were they sleeping? Suddenly the bell rang. The boy moved his eyes to the wall clock. It showed 12:00 noon. But the boy hesitated to accept this. He could not accept what was going on. He clearly remembered him talking to the professor for at least 15 minutes and the professor even replied to all of his questions. But the other students didn't heard any of this and even the professor rejected all this. And now as per the clock, conversation lasted only for 2 minutes! The boy said nothing. He was clearly puzzled with the answer and somewhat resented the attitude of the teacher. He simply sat down and opened his register. “Ash” was written on the cover page with a bold handwriting. The entire class grinned and then moved back to what they were doing. The next teacher came and the class continued but Ash, name given to him by his father, continued to look at the gadget.