The Return (Part-2)
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Chapter 4: In Search of Memory
Dr. Nirmala led Solman to another chamber. The walls were covered with numerous screens, displaying various data and information.
"Lubni came to us when she learned about the complications in her pregnancy. She knew death was inevitable. So, she entrusted us with the complete storage of her memory, consciousness, and personality."
Solman looked at one screen showing Lubni's brain scan.
"But this process... is it ethical? Without my consent..."
"Solman, do you know how many nights you have spent awake in the last five years? You have contemplated suicide 37 times."
Solman was shocked. "You were monitoring me?"
"We were looking out for you. Lubni's last wish was for you and the children to be happy. So we waited. But your condition was deteriorating. Therefore..."
"Therefore, you resurrected my wife?" Solman's voice was edged with rage.
"Yes. And now, the decision is yours. You can meet with Lubni. Or, you can choose to forget all this and continue your life as before."
Solman hid his face and broke down in tears. "What... what should I do? What will the children say? They lost their mother. If she suddenly returns..."
"Take your time. The decision is yours." Dr. Nirmala placed a hand on his shoulder.
Just then, a young scientist rushed in. "Dr. Sen, emergency! Lubni is awake, and she's becoming agitated."
Chapter 5: The First Glimpse
Solman quickly followed Dr. Nirmala to the chamber. Through the glass wall, he saw Lubni sitting up in the bed. Her eyes were filled with confusion and fear.
"Where am I? What is this place?" Lubni was shouting.
Solman stood with his hand against the glass wall. It was his familiar Lubni. Yet, somehow different.
"Can I go inside?" Solman asked.
"You can, but be careful. Her behavior in this state may be unpredictable."
As he entered the room, Lubni looked at Solman. Recognition dawned in her eyes.
"Solman? Is that you? How are you?" Lubni got up and moved toward him.
Solman could no longer control himself. He embraced her tightly.
"Lubni! Is this real? What is happening?"
"I don't know. The last thing I remember was the labor pain. Then... then I opened my eyes here. How are the children? Sabiha?"
"Sabiha is well. She is five now. And Rahat is seven."
Lubni froze. "Five years? Wait... how long have I been... did I die?"
Solman remained silent. What could he say?
"Solman, tell me the truth. What happened to me?"
"You... you had severe blood loss after the delivery..." Solman's voice was choking.
Lubni sat down on the bed. "So I really died? Then what am I now?"
At this moment, Dr. Nirmala entered the room. "Lubni, you are fully alive now. We have brought you back."
"How? That's impossible!"
"Science has made the impossible possible. However..." Dr. Nirmala paused.
"However what?" Lubni asked.
Solman looked at Dr. Nirmala. He understood what the doctor was about to say.
"Tell me. I have the right to know."
"This life of yours... it is not permanent. Your time is very short."
Lubni was silent for a moment. Then she took Solman's hand.
"How much time?"
"A few months. Perhaps even less."
Chapter 6: The Moment of Decision
Lubni stood by the window, looking out. Solman stood beside her.
"Lubni, what are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking, was my return right? I had died. Death is the law of nature. I have broken that law."
"You broke nothing. The scientists brought you back."
"But at what cost? I need to know the full truth of this process."
Dr. Nirmala then brought in a file.
"Everything is in this file. The complete details of Project Resurrection."
Lubni opened the file and began to read. Her face grew increasingly grave.
"How many people were tested for this project?"
"A total of 247."
"How many of them were successful?"
Dr. Nirmala remained silent.
"Tell me!" Lubni insisted.
"You are the first to be completely successful."
"Meaning the other 246?"
"They... they did not survive."
Lubni threw the file aside. "I am nothing but a lab rat. You have turned my memories, my feelings, my love—everything—into an experiment."
Solman held her hand. "Lubni, you are my wife. You are Sabiha and Rahat's mother. You are not an experiment."
"But am I truly that Lubni? Or merely a copy?"
No one had the answer to that question.
Chapter 7: The Homecoming
The day was drawing to a close. Solman was waiting for Rahat and Sabiha outside the library. A storm raged in his mind. Should he bring Lubni before the children?
Rahat and Sabiha ran up to him.
"Baba, you look very quiet today. What's wrong?" Rahat asked.
"Nothing, son. Come, let's go home."
As they took the Air Transport toward home, Sabiha said, "Baba, I missed Maa (Mother) a lot today."
Solman was startled. "Why?"
"I don't know. I just felt like she was nearby."
Arriving home, Solman paused before opening the door. He smelled the aroma of cooking from inside.
"Baba, who is inside?" Rahat asked.
Solman slowly opened the door. In the kitchen, a woman was cooking, her back to them.
Rahat and Sabiha rushed in and saw... Lubni.
"Maa!" they both cried out simultaneously.
Lubni turned around, tears in her eyes.
"Rahat! Sabiha!" She hugged them tightly.
"Maa, how are you? You were..." Rahat couldn't find the words.
"I've come back, my darlings. To you."
Sabiha burst into tears. "Maa, I missed you so much."
Solman watched the scene from a distance. He couldn't tell if he should be happy or afraid.
Chapter 8: The Dawn of a New Life
The next few days passed strangely. Lubni seemed just like her old self. She woke up early to make breakfast for the children, talked to them, and told them stories.
But Solman noticed certain changes.
"Lubni, why don't you sleep at night?"
"Sleep won't come. I feel like if I sleep, I might vanish again."
"And you act completely differently sometimes."
"How differently?"
"For example, you forgot Sabiha's birthday. And sometimes, you call Rahat by a different name."
Lubni remained silent. She, too, sensed that something wasn't right.
Chapter 9: The Fading Memory
One week later, Solman was suddenly awakened at night. Lubni wasn't in bed. He searched the house and found her on the balcony, talking to herself.
"Who are you talking to?"
"I... I don't know. I feel like someone is speaking to me."
Solman was scared. He contacted Dr. Nirmala that morning.
"This is expected. It often happens in the brains of the resurrected. Her memory will slowly degrade."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning she will gradually begin to forget. First the new memories, then the old."
Solman's head spun. "How much time is left?"
"One to two months."
That evening, Lubni suddenly looked at Rahat and said, "Who are you? What are you doing in this house?"
Rahat burst into tears. "Maa, I'm Rahat. Your son."
Lubni stared for a moment, then smiled. "Yes, Rahat. My son. How could a mother forget?"
But Solman knew it had begun.
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