Visionless Reality

Twelve

‘I want every recruit in the testing field right now.’ Someone shouted from behind in a heavy and aggressive voice. He was Major David. Although his voice was heavy, but actually he was a clumsy person. With his huge stomach and curly hair, he looked kind of funny.

‘Everyone, stand in a queue. On my whistle, each one of you start with the track and continue till the end of the line.’-Major.

        He was too fast. I didn’t even get some time to spectate the whole arena for some possible shortcuts.

‘Ready… Set… (Whistles)’-Major.

        And we were already running. I was not able to see anything in front due to the crowd ahead… and also I was not able to process anything for everything happened so fast. I ran for half a mile when the texture of the ground started changing. From green grass, to muddy slippery lands. It was awful, running on that land and I was tired already. The mud was being accumulated on my shoes, decreasing my speed and endurance. I wasn’t able to see any of my teammates either. I tried hard and finally went out of that muddy sickness. I soon realised that it was not over yet. The next hurdle was the net that was laid on a bar high above… and to get past the bar, one has to climb the net. That hurdle was not that easy how it sounds. I got hold of the net and tried to pull myself up but wasn’t able to do it for the first time. After giving it a boost by jumping up, I was successful, placing my foot in one of the holes. Continuing the same strategy, I made all the way up the bar and was already out of breath. The net was made of really strong fiber which made my hands bear all of my weight. They were red and marked with the crisscross of the net. Climbing down the net was easy. As I was slow in this step, I was able to see the tasks to be done further. This made me prepare myself for the upcoming difficulties. Next were the tires, where one had to jump inside the tire holes to pass the arena. The mud that had accumulated on my shoes, was shed in that challenge. Completing that challenge, it was time for another long run towards next hurdles.

        Giving a look around the training field, it was like being trained for army. It was actually breath taking. Although I was in a VR setup, I was totally consumed by the challenges that felt like real life challenges. This reminded me of my actual life. If I had done enough physical workout at my house, I too would be on the top. I saw one of the recruits falling from the net while climbing the net. He bumped his head on the bar above, making it a serious issue. Medic team approached him instantly and saved his life. While I was still running towards the next challenge, Recruit-399 shined from the first few members, clearing the challenge. He was really good in all the skills required for the promotion to the next tag. Behind him was Recruit-38 who was doing good too, being in the top runners. But it was time for another hurdle. It was a tunnel of wires above and the whole setup was in a muddy arena. It was mud again. Sliding down to the tunnel entry, like a hero, I ended up with my face, covered with mud. It was dirty and I could not see anything. Clearing up my face with the muddy hands, I was able to regain my eyesight. The tunnel was long enough to cross and the problem was crawling in the mud. It was too hard moving inside the mud. That part completed, making me relaxed. But there was a last one, still left to overcome. That were the real hurdles, from the hurdle race. Jumping at such heights after being so tired was so irritating. I was feeling nauseous and giddy. In extreme need of water and some air, I was still running for the task like I was running wild for life.

        Jumping over the hurdles, thinking that all would be over soon, I cleared the whole tiresome task and laid down on my back at the ending line. I was extremely tired. It was like this workout sucked each and every bit of my soul.

‘Brilliant recruits. You have proved your strengths to not only our team of professionals, but also yourself. This whole circuit is a proof of the abilities that you possess, which are not often found. Every time one takes the task as a challenge, it becomes a necessity to cover up… making you more available to resources you possess. Enough with the talks, please have some of the energy drinks to get healed fast and then proceed to the lobby for some meditation session.’-Major David.

        Alright… First food item inside the game and it was the best feeling ever. I picked up a can of energy drink from an unknown company, and tried it. The taste was in my mouth. It was some fizz with taste of iron, lemon and some other chemicals which I don’t know. Although it smelled awful, I drank it for I needed something to quench my thirst. My team once again assembled in the field and everyone was feeling relaxed.

‘This drink is one of my favorites. I can’t stop drinking it.’-Recruit-38.

‘You have tasted it before?’

‘Ofcourse I have. This is the best energy drink they could provide for it regains our physical and mental stability, faster than any other drink available. Oh man… I love it. Can I have that one of you are not drinking.’-Recruit-38.

‘Sure… take it.’-Recruit-399.

‘Well guys… did you see my shoe? I think I lost one in the mud.’-Recruit-147.

‘Why didn’t you get lost inside the mud? It would be more beneficial for all of us.’-Recruit-38.

        147 was the one who was mocked at and made fun of many times by 38. Being a stupid person, he was somewhat the deserving one for that. But overall, he was a nice person by heart and seemed like he cared a lot about the world. I was impressed by his behavior at my first interaction, when he took my side, making 38 feel guilty for his rudeness. The team was getting close and I was sure with more and more upcoming tasks, all the teammates would be able to work in unison. I was having a future glimpse of all the teammates, standing together, more close than ever, united as one, with their smiling faces, enjoying the victory they achieved. It was time for some lobby rest and planning for the third task. We went to clean up ourselves by taking cold showers, and changing our clothes, which were the same clothes that we all wore previously. After getting into the lobby, everyone felt more tired than ever. It was like all would fall asleep soon. But there were other tasks to complete too.

‘What do you think 147, what would be their next task in the series? What are we going to face this time?’

‘I think this task would be all about thinking. They will make us play some games related to mind and distribute the points accordingly. That would be amazing.’-Recruit-147.

‘Oh dumb goat please! This is not a toy shop where you will be given the task to rebuild the puzzle mixed up by the son of an ugly mother, who tries to save her money by sending her child into the shop to play there instead of buying him a game... This task would be something more dashing like riding a horse and playing polo on the testing field. I am not ready for that… I have to go home to get my lucky saddle and mallet.’-Recruit-38.

‘Well I don’t think that they are going to let us play any of the games… They are testing us with serious skills required while working for an important body. What do you think about it 399?’

‘They are going to test us... They are going to test us in the worst conditions that you could have ever faced. You shouldn’t have come here. This can be the biggest mistake of your life.’-Recruit-399.

‘Well see who is preaching the words of wisdom. The one who is himself at the field, trying hard to complete each and every task will full determination, so that he may win the badge of private with perfect scores. I know such imposters… who try to force people to leave the game so that they have less competition in the market.’-Recruit-38.

‘There are no hidden intentions within. If you still doubt me, then wait till last, this game would not let you live without grievance. And by the way, are you of any competition to me?’-Recruit-399.

‘I really want to behave like a teammate, but if you make me count your achievements, mind it, I’ll make you every moment count.’-Recruit-38.

‘I remember the instructor using the word meditation. Have you ever tried 38?’

‘Meditation is not my kind of stuff. I often sleep during that drowsy feeling exercise or whatever you call that.’-Recruit-38.

‘I think it would be awesome. I tried meditation once and you know what I slept for 18 hours straight. I was numb the whole time and my parents felt like I was in coma.’-Recruit-147.

‘I think that is the reason you are like this.’-Recruit-38.

‘This meditation is all about purification of soul. Many recruits fall asleep during the meditation and stops responding. This is one of the toughest tasks of the whole journey.’-Recruit-399.

‘And how do you know that would you mind explaining?’-Recruit-38.

‘I am the nephew of Major Rorie, and I have gone through all these tests before. I do not feel any resistance now performing them.’-Recruit-399.

        I was sure that he would have done this all before, being the reason, he was perfect in all the steps, gaining higher ranking from others… But I was not aware about his relationship with Major Rorie. Further during the conversations, some of the people came inside the lobby with mats, and spread them on the floor.

‘Attention recruits, your next task is performing the guided meditation. This is required to clear your mind and make it available for other, more important information to take place… This task will be held by the meditation expert, Joshua from the sacred lands of Nation-B. He has mastered the art of meditation and different methods of self-healing, which he would tell you, in further lobby times.’-Instructor.

        All of the recruits in the lobby settled on the mats. The mats were made of jute and woven with strong fiber… similar to the one on the net. Sitting on the mat and relaxing after a tiresome day… what a cool system was set by the planners. I was totally satisfied with the task.

‘Welcome warriors… I welcome you with my pride and honor… to meet future warriors of this nation. I am Joshua… from Nation-B came here to make you worthy… of what you deserve.’-Joshua.

        This person seemed like the monks. No hair… wearing minimal clothes… and the wisdom talks… Was he a Buddhist? I was really feeling to ask him that question but I predicted that would be too stupid thing to do. His face was bright, and he had an amazing aura, a bundle of great energy, that he spread around as he entered the lobby. I always thought that all those people were fakers and the internal energy was a myth. But it was real… The whole environment was changed. From weak and tired recruits, everyone was feeling alive again, like they have been served with invincibility potion.