Episode One
The lights came on and I opened my eyes. I must have come out of a very long sleep because I felt I couldn't move my arms or legs with ease. But I made an effort to slip out of my capsule and walk up to the glass screen and have a glimpse of the world outside. The sight that met me was simply irresistible. There must be billions of stars out there waiting to be explored.
Welcome to Magellan 6. Come aboard and you’ll find that this is the most sophisticated spaceship ever built on Earth and is now being used to transport us, a team of 6 to the nearest galaxy called the M31 or better known as the Andromeda. The spaceship's artificial gravity kept me on the ground and I strode effortlessly into the cockpit. Switching on the lights I sank into the pilot’s seat and leaning back, rested my feet on the dashboard. I pushed a blue button on the ship's side control and instantly the date and time appeared on a small screen above me. Back on Earth, it was the 6th of January 4007 AD, and a nearby monitor indicated that we had hibernated for close to 300 years. It wasn’t possible but it wasn’t entirely impossible either. Feeling relieved I pushed a small red button and Tchaikovsky's Symphony 4 Movement 3 began to fill the silence in the ship.
Our mission was simple. In the year 3403, the Himalayan Emerald was stolen by a bunch of maniac aliens who'd intruded into our Solar System. It is a precious semi-liquid that keeps the human race protected from any kind of extraterrestrial attack. An aging saint invented it in the year 2070 as humans were becoming more vulnerable to a newfound species on Mars. And finally we, a mix of professionals were assigned to travel to the M31 galaxy and retrieve the Himalayan Emerald back.
Moving across to the side, I accessed the ship's main computer. The digits on the screen began to scroll down. Suddenly I felt someone grab my shoulder. Turning around, I faced Madeline, a petite young girl from Sarasota, Florida. Smiling, she sat in the seat next to me and looked ahead at the approaching planet. She said, "It's beautiful." I was too busy on the computer and without taking my eyes off the screen said, "Wait until you see what's behind the deception that blinds you." "Are the others up?" I added. Shutting down the ship’s main rocket engines, she said, "They're loading the artillery. You better hurry. We might be entering the planet’s atmosphere in approximately 20 minutes."
Returning to the cockpit, clad in my spacesuit, I faced four anxious faces. They were already in their uniforms. Madeline touched my hand and said, "Brief them. One last time." They were just as confused as I was and I knew my message had to be terse. Folding my arms, I sighed. "You know the situation back home is critical. The fate of humanity depends on this mission and I want you guys to give your best shot at it. We don’t have time, but we got the weapons, let’s use them. Don't forget to use your shields because once you deactivate them, the unknown gases of the planet will gobble you up. I that pray I’m clear and wish you guys the best of luck. Alright, now let's get out there and show them who we are."
Magellan 6 entered the planet's atmosphere and began to plummet breaking through the clouds. I had a bad feeling about the something beneath the clouds that was awaiting our arrival.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Once upon a time, in our galaxy
This is the story of Star Wars. A classic example of how a movie that was never to be made went on to become a cult classic.
In 1977, the new head of 20th Century Fox, Alan Ladd Jr. attended the Star Wars premiere in Japan. At the end of the movie, the silence that gripped the theater surprised him. When all the major studios at the time rejected George Lucas’ 14-page treatment, it was Ladd who saw something in the project and finally approved it for a budget of $8 million. He wondered if he made a mistake. But no. What Ladd didn’t realize was that silence was the greatest honor that a Japanese audience can bestow on a film.
George Lucas had just finished making American Graffiti in 1973 and the following year, sat to write a screenplay that had a whiff of Akira Kurosawa’s Hidden Fortress in its heart. He spent a full year on it and came up with a 200 page screenplay. Since he didn’t want to condense it, Lucas decided to make the film from the first third of the screenplay and use the remaining thirds to make sequels. Lucas’ screenplay didn’t find any takers as none of the major studios felt science fiction as a genre easy to market at the time.
But Fox’s Alan Ladd appeared to be impressed with American Graffiti which led him to give Lucas a chance. Conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie also played a key role since Lucas had hired him to create paintings of a number of scenes which helped him sell the screenplay to 20th Century Fox. Passion to make the movie made Lucas waive his writer and director fee settling for a paltry $175,000 and 40% of merchandising rights. The Kenner Toys company signed on for the merchandising shortly before Star Wars opened expressing an interest in creating colorful space toys not knowing the movie would be a hit.
The new sci-fi movie needed special effects that were never created before in Hollywood. Hence George Lucas started Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), now a pioneer in visual effects. During production, it was total chaos as the company blew half their budget on four shots which Lucas rejected. Ultimately, ILM spent $5 million out of the 8 that Fox had approved. 20th Century Fox was so sure that the movie was going to be a disaster but positive feedback from an advanced screening made them change their minds.
A potential blockbuster The Other Side of Midnight was on its way and most of the theaters didn’t exude any interest in buying Star Wars. When 20th Century Fox found that its attempts to distribute the film in the U.S. were bleak, it threatened that any theater refusing to screen Star Wars would be denied rights to The Other Side of Midnight.
On 25th May, 1977, the first movie to be screened in Dolby Stereo, Star Wars opened in the cinemas and by November, had become the all-time box-office champ. The Other Side of Midnight ended up grossing less than 10% of what Star Wars did and the year end profit of 20th Century Fox touched 79 million, which was 42 million more than its greatest profit ever made in one year. And the movie went on to become a worldwide pop-culture .
In 1977, the new head of 20th Century Fox, Alan Ladd Jr. attended the Star Wars premiere in Japan. At the end of the movie, the silence that gripped the theater surprised him. When all the major studios at the time rejected George Lucas’ 14-page treatment, it was Ladd who saw something in the project and finally approved it for a budget of $8 million. He wondered if he made a mistake. But no. What Ladd didn’t realize was that silence was the greatest honor that a Japanese audience can bestow on a film.
George Lucas had just finished making American Graffiti in 1973 and the following year, sat to write a screenplay that had a whiff of Akira Kurosawa’s Hidden Fortress in its heart. He spent a full year on it and came up with a 200 page screenplay. Since he didn’t want to condense it, Lucas decided to make the film from the first third of the screenplay and use the remaining thirds to make sequels. Lucas’ screenplay didn’t find any takers as none of the major studios felt science fiction as a genre easy to market at the time.
But Fox’s Alan Ladd appeared to be impressed with American Graffiti which led him to give Lucas a chance. Conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie also played a key role since Lucas had hired him to create paintings of a number of scenes which helped him sell the screenplay to 20th Century Fox. Passion to make the movie made Lucas waive his writer and director fee settling for a paltry $175,000 and 40% of merchandising rights. The Kenner Toys company signed on for the merchandising shortly before Star Wars opened expressing an interest in creating colorful space toys not knowing the movie would be a hit.
The new sci-fi movie needed special effects that were never created before in Hollywood. Hence George Lucas started Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), now a pioneer in visual effects. During production, it was total chaos as the company blew half their budget on four shots which Lucas rejected. Ultimately, ILM spent $5 million out of the 8 that Fox had approved. 20th Century Fox was so sure that the movie was going to be a disaster but positive feedback from an advanced screening made them change their minds.
A potential blockbuster The Other Side of Midnight was on its way and most of the theaters didn’t exude any interest in buying Star Wars. When 20th Century Fox found that its attempts to distribute the film in the U.S. were bleak, it threatened that any theater refusing to screen Star Wars would be denied rights to The Other Side of Midnight.
On 25th May, 1977, the first movie to be screened in Dolby Stereo, Star Wars opened in the cinemas and by November, had become the all-time box-office champ. The Other Side of Midnight ended up grossing less than 10% of what Star Wars did and the year end profit of 20th Century Fox touched 79 million, which was 42 million more than its greatest profit ever made in one year. And the movie went on to become a worldwide pop-culture .
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The Kid That Was Me
Whenever kids get together, there exists no barrier between or around them and nothing but love envelopes their world.
There was this Save Earth contest that was coming up and we had to think of a brilliant concept and make a film out of it. So I thought of a film that’d employ toys to convey a message and shared the idea with my executive creative director. The next day I was in the parking lot going for a walk with my notepad in hand when I met my boss. He said that he liked my idea but I ought to grow up because I’m always thinking about toys. Then this blog happened.
Children are always brimming with innocence. You must watch the brilliance that radiates from their eyes which eventually draws you towards them. It’s no wonder everybody adores kids. In a world full of deceit and hatred, a kid’s smile has the power to put the worst in our lives way behind us.
The problem with us, adults is that we complicate simple situations we’re in, watch things get out of hand and before it’s too late to realize what’s wrong, we believe we’re doing great.
Yesterday I jotted down a few points I thought I had to share with the creators of humanity. What if we all never grew up? Think of a world where all of us remained as kids. We’d be in a fantasy, more like a dream under the present circumstances. Imagine going back to the past, to a time when you had nothing but toys in your mind. Make it a surrealistic world overflowing with ecstasy.
Rewriting the genetic books with a dose of optimism would make this world new and stimulating. Then life would be all about fun and loving each other. With no master and no slave, the absence of inequality is not even appreciated since we wouldn’t even know what that means.
But then we wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t grown up, would we?
There was this Save Earth contest that was coming up and we had to think of a brilliant concept and make a film out of it. So I thought of a film that’d employ toys to convey a message and shared the idea with my executive creative director. The next day I was in the parking lot going for a walk with my notepad in hand when I met my boss. He said that he liked my idea but I ought to grow up because I’m always thinking about toys. Then this blog happened.
Children are always brimming with innocence. You must watch the brilliance that radiates from their eyes which eventually draws you towards them. It’s no wonder everybody adores kids. In a world full of deceit and hatred, a kid’s smile has the power to put the worst in our lives way behind us.
The problem with us, adults is that we complicate simple situations we’re in, watch things get out of hand and before it’s too late to realize what’s wrong, we believe we’re doing great.
Yesterday I jotted down a few points I thought I had to share with the creators of humanity. What if we all never grew up? Think of a world where all of us remained as kids. We’d be in a fantasy, more like a dream under the present circumstances. Imagine going back to the past, to a time when you had nothing but toys in your mind. Make it a surrealistic world overflowing with ecstasy.
Rewriting the genetic books with a dose of optimism would make this world new and stimulating. Then life would be all about fun and loving each other. With no master and no slave, the absence of inequality is not even appreciated since we wouldn’t even know what that means.
But then we wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t grown up, would we?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Dire straits to winning an Oscar
When it was the ‘perfect’ time, 10, I realized I was working late on Sunday. It’s no big deal. If you’re working towards a particular goal, time is never a concern. I looked outside the window. The rains have been lashing the city for almost 2 hours. Since it appeared to have ceased, I straightened up and left.
Since I didn’t have my bike with me, I decided I’m going to take a bus back home. Bound by silence, I walked to the LIC building. For an hour I waited. My optimism wore off and frustration began to take over me. 11:30 and I’d reached my breaking point. Drawing out my cell-phone, I rang home. My mother answered and I explained my situation to her. She advised me to take an auto and come home soon. But you know, it’s the age and I wanted to make my own decision. It didn’t take me too long before I charted out a plan and decided to walk home.
11:45 and I had 14 kilometers to cover on foot. Few calculations in my head and I inferred it will take me an hour to reach home. My odyssey commenced and with the frustration covering my face, I was cursing the situation and myself. 10 minutes gone by and I gradually calmed down. Looking ahead, the night appeared unusually stimulating. The road was brightly lit and it was deserted. Being a Sunday, the fear of Monday morning must have put everyone early to bed.
My head was like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Too many thoughts kept racing each other, each wanting to be ahead be the first to capture my mind. Eventually the night prompted me to take an inspiration from the scene ahead and start scripting a Hollywood blockbuster. There was also an instance when I imagined I’d be meeting someone along the way and our conversation would change our lives forever. It was the magic of the movies that gripped me at that very moment.
One thing was certain. Now I had all the time the world could offer me and I presumed an exciting and breathtaking idea was in the offing. So I started taking snapshots with my eyes. The wet roads and the hazy reflections took me back to the 70s New York in Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. Keeping that aside I was filing certain thoughts for future references to be used in one of my Hollywood ventures.
Just look at my city at night. Drenched in rain, it was a captivating sight. I couldn’t imagine transporting myself to LA, atleast for now. By the time I’d finished dreaming, I reached the flyover that crept over Dr.Radhakrishnan road. A government owned bus sped past me and came to a screeching halt a few meters ahead. It was going to the place where I live and I didn’t think twice to decide not to take it. I simply wanted to walk through my city and let its magic grip me.
A few kilometers down the road and I thought I was done for. Just then, a temple ahead grew in size as I neared it. It was Lord Shiva’s temple and the sight of the ‘Lingam’ on its façade refreshed my mind like nothing else in this cosmos could. Immediately I looked in front and my gaze lit up the road. With four stories up my sleeve, I began analyzing them. It was 12:30 and I was just reaching Mylapore.
I was looking for an idea that I could use as a bait to entice the golden lion at Cannes. With dozens of ideas appearing out of thin air, I was approaching this playground near a road that shot out to Marina and I encountered a patrol vehicle. Instantly I started visualizing a chase that was going to ensue from a Mitsubishi Lancer speeding atop a building and landing on the road. Perhaps a dose of optimism would set things right.
The Adyar Bridge! I’ve been living in this wonderful city for more than two decades and yet not once have I walked across it. Now was a chance to do it and I decided to walk the side that faced Kotturpuram since the river was open to me and on the other side, some construction work prevented me from looking beyond. Wanting to get a good view of the river I paused and turned around to face it. People usually only chatter about its stench but the sight of the river actually took me to Amsterdam. No pun intended.
I remember using vivid descriptions and telling my friends the scene I had in mind that’d take place on this river with intense action and breathtaking camera angles. A look at my watch and in half an hour, it was going to be one o clock. So I decided to leave the fate of the river in the hands of Corporation officials and crossed the bridge in no time.
As the Adyar overpass approached, a BMW X5 zipped past me. By now I’d covered 8 ½ kilometers and the number straight away took me to Italy and I found myself walking in a movie set much to Fellini’s annoyance. With the blink of an eye, I was back in Chennai and found the cops ahead summon me. The usual FAQ’s were over and they finally suggested that I take an auto. Being adamant, I continued my journey on foot.
It was four hours to daybreak, but something else dawned on me. My mother must have been awake at home awaiting my return and here I was like an imbecile wanting to keep walking. I was actually trying to exaggerate Johnnie Walker. Since it’d be another 45 minutes before I reach home, I quietly hailed an auto and got down in front of my house 10 minutes later.
Since I didn’t have my bike with me, I decided I’m going to take a bus back home. Bound by silence, I walked to the LIC building. For an hour I waited. My optimism wore off and frustration began to take over me. 11:30 and I’d reached my breaking point. Drawing out my cell-phone, I rang home. My mother answered and I explained my situation to her. She advised me to take an auto and come home soon. But you know, it’s the age and I wanted to make my own decision. It didn’t take me too long before I charted out a plan and decided to walk home.
11:45 and I had 14 kilometers to cover on foot. Few calculations in my head and I inferred it will take me an hour to reach home. My odyssey commenced and with the frustration covering my face, I was cursing the situation and myself. 10 minutes gone by and I gradually calmed down. Looking ahead, the night appeared unusually stimulating. The road was brightly lit and it was deserted. Being a Sunday, the fear of Monday morning must have put everyone early to bed.
My head was like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Too many thoughts kept racing each other, each wanting to be ahead be the first to capture my mind. Eventually the night prompted me to take an inspiration from the scene ahead and start scripting a Hollywood blockbuster. There was also an instance when I imagined I’d be meeting someone along the way and our conversation would change our lives forever. It was the magic of the movies that gripped me at that very moment.
One thing was certain. Now I had all the time the world could offer me and I presumed an exciting and breathtaking idea was in the offing. So I started taking snapshots with my eyes. The wet roads and the hazy reflections took me back to the 70s New York in Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. Keeping that aside I was filing certain thoughts for future references to be used in one of my Hollywood ventures.
Just look at my city at night. Drenched in rain, it was a captivating sight. I couldn’t imagine transporting myself to LA, atleast for now. By the time I’d finished dreaming, I reached the flyover that crept over Dr.Radhakrishnan road. A government owned bus sped past me and came to a screeching halt a few meters ahead. It was going to the place where I live and I didn’t think twice to decide not to take it. I simply wanted to walk through my city and let its magic grip me.
A few kilometers down the road and I thought I was done for. Just then, a temple ahead grew in size as I neared it. It was Lord Shiva’s temple and the sight of the ‘Lingam’ on its façade refreshed my mind like nothing else in this cosmos could. Immediately I looked in front and my gaze lit up the road. With four stories up my sleeve, I began analyzing them. It was 12:30 and I was just reaching Mylapore.
I was looking for an idea that I could use as a bait to entice the golden lion at Cannes. With dozens of ideas appearing out of thin air, I was approaching this playground near a road that shot out to Marina and I encountered a patrol vehicle. Instantly I started visualizing a chase that was going to ensue from a Mitsubishi Lancer speeding atop a building and landing on the road. Perhaps a dose of optimism would set things right.
The Adyar Bridge! I’ve been living in this wonderful city for more than two decades and yet not once have I walked across it. Now was a chance to do it and I decided to walk the side that faced Kotturpuram since the river was open to me and on the other side, some construction work prevented me from looking beyond. Wanting to get a good view of the river I paused and turned around to face it. People usually only chatter about its stench but the sight of the river actually took me to Amsterdam. No pun intended.
I remember using vivid descriptions and telling my friends the scene I had in mind that’d take place on this river with intense action and breathtaking camera angles. A look at my watch and in half an hour, it was going to be one o clock. So I decided to leave the fate of the river in the hands of Corporation officials and crossed the bridge in no time.
As the Adyar overpass approached, a BMW X5 zipped past me. By now I’d covered 8 ½ kilometers and the number straight away took me to Italy and I found myself walking in a movie set much to Fellini’s annoyance. With the blink of an eye, I was back in Chennai and found the cops ahead summon me. The usual FAQ’s were over and they finally suggested that I take an auto. Being adamant, I continued my journey on foot.
It was four hours to daybreak, but something else dawned on me. My mother must have been awake at home awaiting my return and here I was like an imbecile wanting to keep walking. I was actually trying to exaggerate Johnnie Walker. Since it’d be another 45 minutes before I reach home, I quietly hailed an auto and got down in front of my house 10 minutes later.
Monday, October 13, 2008
The Legend of L
Before coming to the main subject of this blog, there is something that I’d analyzed. For humanity all over the world, gold is a supernatural substance. It is incorruptible. It symbolizes perfection and immortality, and men have robbed, pillaged and murdered in order to possess it. They picked up the gold and fingered it like monkeys and seemed to be transported by joy as if their hearts were illuminated. They longed and lusted for gold to such an extent that their bodies welled up with greed and their hunger was ravenous. Enlighten yourself with a legend that connects to this metal.
Interesting legends spring up from all over the world. But this one especially tickled my fancy. First let’s go to present-day Columbia. If you’ll kindly step into my time machine and fasten your seatbelts, I’ll transport us back to 1530.
Welcome to the Andes. 130 years ago, this was the land of the Incas. Here is an Incan city called ‘Machu Picchu’ and believe me it’s such a seductive place, it’s been beckoning me ever since I started reading about the Incas. Anyway we’ll discuss about Machu Picchu back in the future. Now back to why we’re in the Andes.
Following the trail of conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada, we’ll come up to a place called Muisca that comprised of two confederations, the Hunza and the Bacata. There was a certain ritual in Muisca that gave rise to the legend El Dorado, meaning “the golden one” rather than a place. As part of the ritual, the chief priest also known as the Zipa of Muisca would be taken to a mysterious secret and sacred lake high in the mountains called the Guatavita which is thought to be a meteor crater.
Before assuming office, the new Zipa will have to make offerings to the Guatavita goddess in the form of gold and other treasures. Before daybreak, on a decorated raft made of rushes, the chief priest and the other priests make way to the middle of the lagoon. There, the Zipa is stripped off and smeared with sticky earth and gold dust thus covering his body with the metal. At his feet was a great heap of gold which he later threw into the lake. Then the chief priest dived into the lake and dissipated the gold from his body. Back on the raft, the congregation moved towards the shore and the Zipa was received as a king with singing and dancing.
Thus the news of the tradition reached far and wide and many were attracted by the fascinating tales of a city of gold that never existed. The Spanish Conquerors widely explored the Guatavita lagoon for the old offerings of the Zipa to the Goddess and the conquistadors had also tried to drain the lake in 1580 but in vain.
Interesting legends spring up from all over the world. But this one especially tickled my fancy. First let’s go to present-day Columbia. If you’ll kindly step into my time machine and fasten your seatbelts, I’ll transport us back to 1530.
Welcome to the Andes. 130 years ago, this was the land of the Incas. Here is an Incan city called ‘Machu Picchu’ and believe me it’s such a seductive place, it’s been beckoning me ever since I started reading about the Incas. Anyway we’ll discuss about Machu Picchu back in the future. Now back to why we’re in the Andes.
Following the trail of conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada, we’ll come up to a place called Muisca that comprised of two confederations, the Hunza and the Bacata. There was a certain ritual in Muisca that gave rise to the legend El Dorado, meaning “the golden one” rather than a place. As part of the ritual, the chief priest also known as the Zipa of Muisca would be taken to a mysterious secret and sacred lake high in the mountains called the Guatavita which is thought to be a meteor crater.
Before assuming office, the new Zipa will have to make offerings to the Guatavita goddess in the form of gold and other treasures. Before daybreak, on a decorated raft made of rushes, the chief priest and the other priests make way to the middle of the lagoon. There, the Zipa is stripped off and smeared with sticky earth and gold dust thus covering his body with the metal. At his feet was a great heap of gold which he later threw into the lake. Then the chief priest dived into the lake and dissipated the gold from his body. Back on the raft, the congregation moved towards the shore and the Zipa was received as a king with singing and dancing.
Thus the news of the tradition reached far and wide and many were attracted by the fascinating tales of a city of gold that never existed. The Spanish Conquerors widely explored the Guatavita lagoon for the old offerings of the Zipa to the Goddess and the conquistadors had also tried to drain the lake in 1580 but in vain.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
A world born out of my mind
Life’s all about working 20 hours a day, earning dollars and partying. That’s what I assumed it to be until one morning something changed my perception about it completely. It started off with irritation, dissolved into frustration, escalated to anger until I finally gave in to the truth that faced me.
I turned on the ignition and the engine gunned to life. Nearing a corner, I deftly steered the car into an empty street and came to a right that led me to the Adyar Bridge.
One glance ahead and I knew my idea was not going to make it to the conference room where guys from the Ford Motor Company would be assembling in 10 minutes and sitting along with my Creative Director.
There were millions of them. The way the cars appeared on the road, I thought they just rolled out of the factory and were about to be shipped to Japan or Australia.
I rolled up the windows to avoid the carbon dioxide choke me to death and shut off the radio. I was physically in the car, but mentally fifty years in the future. Imagine a world where technology has reached its pinnacle and if it had to improve any further we’d all be living on Mars. Coming back to earth, there were three motorways ahead of me, one above the other. There was no concrete to support the vehicles that were moving along swiftly. They were just suspended in mid-air.
The road I’m on at the moment would be covered with water teeming with a new species of aquatic life. High rise bridges 150 feet high with railings would serve as pavements but would be used by only early-morning joggers and elderly ones taking an evening stroll. Mothers would push their babies in prams with their slightly grown up kids coming along and are treated to a spectacular view of Madras, the kind you only get to meet in your dreams.
I’m atop one of those really tall towers, looking out into the horizon enjoying the fresh air which I’d never had the privilege to experience back in 2008. It’s astonishing to note that some of us have actually survived and emerged from the clutter we’ve been through to wake up fifty years later in a dream born out of our creation.
My time travel lasted only 10 minutes. Back to Madras 2008, I engaged into first gear and moved the car forward as the traffic ahead cleared.
I was going to be late for the meeting yet I drove ahead with a positive frame of mind. The idea had to be presented. It was my life and it meant everything to me.
I’m not going to give up on any Herculean dream because I’m waiting to live the world I’d dreamt about.
Life’s all about working 20 hours a day, earning dollars and partying. That’s what I assumed it to be until one morning something changed my perception about it completely. It started off with irritation, dissolved into frustration, escalated to anger until I finally gave in to the truth that faced me.
I turned on the ignition and the engine gunned to life. Nearing a corner, I deftly steered the car into an empty street and came to a right that led me to the Adyar Bridge.
One glance ahead and I knew my idea was not going to make it to the conference room where guys from the Ford Motor Company would be assembling in 10 minutes and sitting along with my Creative Director.
There were millions of them. The way the cars appeared on the road, I thought they just rolled out of the factory and were about to be shipped to Japan or Australia.
I rolled up the windows to avoid the carbon dioxide choke me to death and shut off the radio. I was physically in the car, but mentally fifty years in the future. Imagine a world where technology has reached its pinnacle and if it had to improve any further we’d all be living on Mars. Coming back to earth, there were three motorways ahead of me, one above the other. There was no concrete to support the vehicles that were moving along swiftly. They were just suspended in mid-air.
The road I’m on at the moment would be covered with water teeming with a new species of aquatic life. High rise bridges 150 feet high with railings would serve as pavements but would be used by only early-morning joggers and elderly ones taking an evening stroll. Mothers would push their babies in prams with their slightly grown up kids coming along and are treated to a spectacular view of Madras, the kind you only get to meet in your dreams.
I’m atop one of those really tall towers, looking out into the horizon enjoying the fresh air which I’d never had the privilege to experience back in 2008. It’s astonishing to note that some of us have actually survived and emerged from the clutter we’ve been through to wake up fifty years later in a dream born out of our creation.
My time travel lasted only 10 minutes. Back to Madras 2008, I engaged into first gear and moved the car forward as the traffic ahead cleared.
I was going to be late for the meeting yet I drove ahead with a positive frame of mind. The idea had to be presented. It was my life and it meant everything to me.
I’m not going to give up on any Herculean dream because I’m waiting to live the world I’d dreamt about.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Before and After Time
Planet Earth
Year 2009
The Beach
It was a very dark night and I was walking on the beach with her. The place was devoid of any life except us which made me feel pretty reasonable but the starless sky made me uneasy. I could only feel the sand I kicked into the air as I walked and the sound of the waves crashing the shore. She didn't utter a word and I realized I enjoyed the silence as much as she did. It was only a few hours back that we realized we wanted to be together and it meant something.
The darkness ahead of me continued and suddenly she gripped my hand tight. I turned around to meet her face and there was a sudden sparkle in her eyes. She was looking at me. No. She was staring beyond me. The glitter in her eyes made me feel luckier than anyone I'd known and I swam in her eyes for a long time. Something struck me. A chill crept up my spine and I woke up to the present. The sparkle in her eyes was growing and I realized we'd stopped walking. I turned to meet the source of the dazzle and what I saw made me hate everything around me. By everything I mean everything but her. It was fast approaching to tear us apart. Why am I being so mean? It was coming to gobble up my planet. And I gripped her hand tight.
Jumping around, I stood facing it like a knight protecting her with myself as the shield. Something must have hurled a hundred thousand stars towards us. They were slowly growing in size and the darkness was soon vanishing around us. It was all happening in a matter of seconds. From what I could see, the hundred thousand stars called for a backup. A billion stars were behind them. At the rate they were plummeting toward our Solar System, I could feel the heat increasing with every second ticking in my watch.
40! I could sense it was 40 degrees C. That's what we normally experience in
The Office
I was sitting at my desk reading an article on the Internet. Someone had sent me an interesting e-mail that provided me a link to this website that educated me on what preceded the Big Bang. It appeared all the stars, every one of them collided together building pressure which later gave way to a huge explosion. It was unbelievable and I was not in a mood for cooked up stuff.
I swiveled in my chair and found her sitting next to me. We were 14 billion years in the making.
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