What If the Earth was the other way...?

Thruth that pains

Antony Faelliyo

The tour through the sss forest was refreshing, and the whole time, I couldn't stop marvelling at its mesmerizing wonders. Although I had no idea we would visit the sss on our South American tour, it had turned out to be the most exciting part. 

As for Eric and Vanessa - well, they were upset, because their best friend Nathalia, had declined to go on the tour to attend classes. And since the last two weeks were all about enjoying nature, I made them leave their phones and gadgets with my assistant who said he would drop it at the mansion. Well, they both were angry at me because for two whole weeks they wouldn't be able to contact Nathalia. They really missed her - but I suppose that feeling was neutral for everyone. 

Today, we returned from our tour, and it was good to be home. 

My home might look extravagant to others, but it is a memory of my dad and grandpa. It is also the memory of Alicia and Tommy.

The Italian architecture was inspired by my grandpa's Italian tour in the 1940s and my dad didn't quite want to reconstruct the Faelliyo mansion. My dad installed the mischievous design for the library, so he could get lost in the world of books for most of his vacation. My grandpa used to joke how dad would come right after school, the last day and run into the library and literally spend weeks in there. Dad was an avid reader, so was I and so was Tommy.

Tommy was everything to me. I always found time to spend with him. I was with him. He loved his grandpa. And I still remember how seven year old Tommy sang Over the hills and far away, beside his grandpa's bed. His blond hair ruffling in the wind. His tiny hands clutching his grandpa's hand and nodding his head to the rhythm.  He was devastated when my dad passed away. 

Now, he being nowhere to be found makes me devastated. I hope, one day, I will see him.

Sigh.

After having no contact with Nathalia for two whole weeks, Eric mentioned that he was going to collect their phones first before going home. Nathalia mentioned she would be at the mansion when they last called. Tongo was also at the mansion. 

I always liked that dog. It always reminded me of how Tommy patted him and played fetch with him, the first time I met the Avra family.

Eric is a great father. He is also a caring husband. I love  his dedication to spend quality time with his family. He always reminded me of myself and Nathalia of Tommy. I still remember meeting Eric for the first time.

It was in Calicut, India. I had to attend a convention. It was a very sunny and humid day. The convention hall, though was air-conditioned, still felt like sitting in the sun. The hall was packed with leading cooperative companies and potential foreign investors. I fancied the idea of doing investment for some reason. Also, Tommy wanted to explore other countries. Tommy and Alicia were enjoying their time at the beach, that was what I understood when Tommy kept babbling about it all evening. As for me, I was stuck with businessmen in a cramped hall with ceiling fans and air conditioners trying their level best to keep everybody cool. As every executive pitched for their companies, I caught my attention to a young executive; Eric Avra. 

He wore a plane blue shirt and black pants with a well polished pair of shoes. His black hair was neatly combed and partitioned to one side and he had a very bushy mustache. His chin was freshly shaved. His raspy voice carried so much confidence and the way he vouched for his company was remarkable.

So at the reception, I made up my mind to talk to him.

At the reception, I clicked my glass with him. We got acquainted and I really felt that talking to him was a good idea.

"So Mr Avra, how do you envision yourself in the future?" I shoot assessing him all along.

"Future is always uncertain. I like to envision myself every day. Today as an executive, someday running my own business." He said, sounding confident and unwavering.

"And hypothetically, if you started that business, what would it be about?" I ask nudging.

"Well, I have a Bachelor's Degree in Aeronautical engineering and a masters degree in business management and some years of experience as an executive manager. I have some prototypes ready and I only need some financial support." Eric seemed to be drifting to another world.

"I might be interested in your prototypes. Are you ready to impress me?" I ask.

Eric looks straight into my eyes for a moment, calculating, weighing, and after a moment of deciding, he replies, "Dr Faelliyo, why don't you think of investing in our company. We have--"

"I am not interested in your company, Mr Avra. I am interested in your dreams." I say as I gaze at his unbelieving eyes.

"As much as I love taking risks, the prototypes are yet to be tested and I have a daughter to raise. She is just twelve. I have to consider my options and I want to keep my job until I am damn sure whether  my dreams would work out." He whispers smiling as the air between us changes and people start staring at us.

"I would be around for two weeks. Feel free to contact me Mr Avra and I would love to see your prototypes. And please, call me professor. I like it that way." I hand him my contact number, offer a handshake and walk away. I had a feeling that his prototypes would be just the materials I need for my new invention; THE WORMHOLE TRANSPORTER. It helps to move through a wormhole and a trek which takes like a thousand light years could be done by five to ten days. It is still a theory and wormholes are considered fiction.

The next day, Eric contacted me and I was at his home. It was a wonderful piece of land. It was near a school and the house stood on a small hill. The front yard was full of plants and there was a goat, a cow and some chickens in a pen. Tongo, their dog was tied to a kennel and the house was bustling with activities. Vanessa was cooking and Nathalia was on a five-day class tour to Hyderabad. Tommy loved to hang out with the goat and he was so keen to see Narayanan milking the cow. 

Narayanan was the local milkman and for a small fee, he would milk the cows in the neighbourhood. One litre for the family, the rest would go to the corporate Milma factory.

Vanessa's food was equally mesmerising. She had made Kozhikodan biriyani. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Alicia soon jolted the recipe down.

Eric showed his prototypes and I must say, that was the start of a bustling friendship and a lifelong partnership.

I and Eric made our first branch in England and one year later… Well, Tommy went missing and Alicia passed away.

Sigh.

That was long ago. Vanessa didn't want to leave her home, so she stayed back with Nathalia for a year before coming to England. They had to sell their lovely animals and they donated their house to a poor family. Tongo came along to England.

"Good evening, Mrs Ahima," Vanessa said with a smile as we arrived.

Mrs. Ahima has been working for us since I was  twelve. She was this young girl of twenty and her father died due to cancer and she had her young sister to look after and her mum died when her sister was born. My dad gave her and her sister a roof and in gratitude Mrs. Ahima volunteered to work for us. Her sister, Rose is now studying BBA with a scholarship. 

And whenever Rose visits, she always has a place in the mansion.

The housekeeper was excited to see us, and she welcomed us in with a big smile. "Please, come in. I've been waiting for you all day, and I'm so glad you're home safe."

"You knew we'd be here this evening," I remark, smiling. I look around with a frown as I realize something. "Mrs Ahima, where is Nathalia?" 

"Oh! She said she was working with Brittany for a while on an exclusive project - whatever that is."

"She mentioned that to me when I talked to her last, too," Vanessa remembers.

"I wonder what this project of hers is?" 

"Well, I'm going to call her," Eric said as he began to dial numbers on his phone. 

"It'll be a relief to hear her voice again after so long." He left the room to talk, and returned not a few seconds later, looking worried.

"What is it, Eric?" I ask, concerned. 

"It's nothing, I'm probably just overreacting," he said. "She's just not picking up. And she never turns her phone off. It's always on and with her." 

"Call Brittany," Vanessa suggests.

Eric dialled Brittany and this time he received someone. "Hello, this is Eric Avra, Nathalia's dad. Isn't this Brittany?... So, I heard you girls are having some fun but could you just give Nathalia your phone?" There was silence and Eric's face showed concern.

"But Nathalia informed Mrs Ahima that she is doing something like an exclusive project and will be with you for the last two weeks." More silence. His face turned pale.

 "A month? Oh my-" His phone slipped from his hand crashing on the floor. He sat down with a thud, dumbfounded.

"Eric!" I yelled. "What's wrong?"

"No...no" Eric muttered, and Vanessa and I moved quickly to his side. "Nathalia - she's missing." 

Vanessa froze. "What?" she gasped. "Missing? How? Since when? I-" She turned and fell back into a chair, completely in shock. 

I tried to console her, but it was no use. I knew what both of them were thinking. I had been in their exact situation. I knew that the best thing I could do was help them not lose hope, try to prevent what had happened to Alicia. 

And then, somehow, we had to find Nathalia. 

Vanessa and Eric needed time alone, to figure things out, and that was fine with me. They were strong people - I trusted that they wouldn't go the same way as Alicia had. 

She was agitated for the last twenty four hours when we didn't find Tommy. He said he would be in his room.

That  night before the big reveal of my invention. Tommy met me in the morning, his blue eyes excited, when I gave him the job to do the introductory speech. He was fifteen. 

He said he would be in his room. He didn't come for dinner. I was worried sick. But Mrs Ahima promised she will make sure he has his dinner. After like nine p.m. I was a little agitated myself. I went to his room, and found it open.

"Tommy?" 

Silence.

"What is bothering you son?"

No reply.

I walked inside and found no trace of him.I ran downstairs to the library and I didn't find him there. 

My mind started racing. My hands were sweating. And my gut kept telling me something bad happened to him.

Tommy would never go out without telling us. He wouldn't be outside for so long. 

Maybe he was in the lab. The soundproof basement was converted into a lab after my dad passed away. It was where I spent most of my time and it was where the Transporter was kept. I went outside the French window and into the garden, where a small hatch was made to get inside the lab. The lab had another entrance but it was through my room and I was not planning to climb upstairs and then climb downstairs. 

The lab was eerily silent today. The light was already switched on. I sighed a breath of relief as I was sure Tommy was there. 

But I was wrong. Tommy was not there, so was my vehicle! The opening hatch for the launching of the vehicle was sealed and my crew said that the vehicle was all clear when I met with them in the afternoon. My heart sank so deep. I immediately called the police and well, I never saw the both of them ever again.

I was devastated. My son was gone. My work was secondary. I don't mind it being stolen. I wanted my son back. 

Alicia took it rather badly. She couldn't bear the loss. She was bed ridden for two weeks with chronic fever and then she left me. She wasn't peaceful. Her face looked like a strangled flower, being deprived of the sun...her son.

Her black hair was covering her sorrowful eyes. She died crying. She left me crying.

The days that followed, I sealed the basement. I took all my journals and diaries and albums and stacked it into the first bookshelf ever to be installed in the library. That was Tommy's favourite shelf. He always said it was where grandpa kept chocolates for him to find. 

I couldn't stop thinking about Tommy. Tommy, who I just desperately wanted to find answers for, but never had. Alicia, who I had lost and could never get back.

There might not be hope for either of them, but there was a possibility for Nathalia.

Memories crashed into my head suddenly - memories of the last time I had seen Nathalia. Her curiosity for the library. What a curious girl - one after my own heart, although I'd never tell her that. Last time she'd been here, she had been browsing happily, and-

I shot straight up from my chair. 

The shelf.

I ran, almost falling on the doorframe, and slid downstairs to that shelf. I rummaged furiously, but it was just as I thought. 

The notebook was missing. 

I sat down hard on the floor. I had a good idea of what this might mean. She knew about the ship, then, or at least there was a good chance she did - and could that somehow be linked to her project? 

To Tommy? 

Regardless, I had to get to the bottom of this. 

I couldn't watch another person lose because of me.