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God Of A Man
Infinity Confined
“A choice is all that you make;
the future is what it results in.”
Chapter Eleven: The script
of unknown probabilities
Dated: 19th October,
2460
It is very easy to predict your future, and you don’t
need to know all the stars and planets that revolve around your head to figure
it out. All you need is an impartial analysis of the choice you are going to
make today, then extrapolate its’ results. Add to the mix the eventualities
that might afflict the outcome, and review your preparations, or lack thereof,
and you know exactly what position the result would leave you in. That expected
result would give you an idea as to your reach post future; whether you would
be able to seek further glory, or would you be content where you might be right
then. And there you have it; your future as you predict today!
While your choices are determined by you, the
probabilities are determined by none, for each result, from abstract to absurd,
is open to the future. You can however filter them with your efforts, to leave
out those that you don’t wish to materialize, while multiplying the chances of
getting a favourable result by the same factor. Sitting down on your bum, with
your feet up on the coffee table and waiting for a lottery bonanza, and you
know exactly where you would be, both in five minutes, as well as in five
years.
This doesn’t mean that you won’t miss a golden goose
chasing the end of the rainbow. You will if you won’t keep your eyes open for
the opportunity. And this is what luck really is; you are seeking one thing,
but find another on the way. But seek nothing, and everything would keep flying
past your door. Efforts and a keen eye determine the winner.
“But why me, and not someone else?” a confused Chris asked
Anne, as the two walked towards the flight deck.
“Because you first worked hard to be a pilot, rather
than becoming a fisherman or a farmer,” Anne sensed he was troubled by the
supernatural talk let loose on everyone by Norman. So she patiently answered
his queries, “And then you worked as a pilot to be the best because you were
never satisfied with your achievements, because you are a perfectionist by
nature. Lastly, this mission needed a flawless flight officer, something you
fit the bill perfectly, and you made the right choice. Had you not made that
choice, you wouldn’t have been here.”
“But don’t you think someone was guiding me all this
time, to be what I became?” Chris however was still not clear in his mind.
“Yes, and it was your life,” Anne replied, “People
around you treated you in a particular way, that developed your understanding
of life and emotions in a particular way. This unique individuality of yours
determined how you would seek what you want, and also what you would want. All
opportunities were open for you to seek, but you chose to do what you wanted to
do because that is what you grew up liking. Your life experiences have been
guiding you all the time.”
Life can teach you how to struggle, but it cannot
teach you how to not let the struggle shape you as an individual. You will not
be the same at the end of your struggle, as you were before it. This change is
the learning, and learning is the strength. Each struggle leaves you a bit more
strong and a bit less innocent!
“What’s that sound?” a surprised Jack asked an equally
confused Jenny, as the noise of the NSSS Full Bloom overpowered the
surroundings.
“Sounds like a craft or something,” Jenny replied as
she strained her ears to try and ascertain the craft’s identity, from behind the
door that was shut on her.
“Yey! They’ve come to pick us up,” Jack’s excitement
didn’t know any bounds.
“Wait, we don’t know if it is our people or someone
else,” Jenny however was cautious, “It could be aliens who live on this planet,
and they might kill us.” And a sudden fear gripped Jenny’s heart as she clung
on to Jack who by now had also realized the danger.
Learning can as much be a boon as much it could be a
bane. The result would often depend upon the use it is put to in any given
situation.
As the craft hovered above the block of units, one of
its hatches at the lower end was thrown open and four soldiers, led by
Lieutenant Reginald, were lowered down in to the street.
Inside the craft, everyone was busy with their
assigned tasks. Engineer Dodd, who was managing the mapping unit called out to
Lieutenant Reginald, “Alpha two to bravo one; could you please confirm the name
of the street for me? Is it Calloway Avenue?”
“Brave one to Alpha two; now checking up the street
sign markings,” Jake replied and confirmed, “Yes indeed!”
“Bingo!” exclaimed an exuberant Dodd, before turning
towards the Command desk, “Sir, I can confirm, our mapping is a success. The
block of houses, as predicted by the software, is indeed from ‘Peacock on the
hill’ suburb.”
“Good work,” Rear Admiral replied before turning his
attention to Jake, “Alpha one to Bravo one; Jake, you are clear to make the
announcement on the radio, but make sure your men keep an eye out for any nasty
surprises.”
“Copied sir,” Jake replied as he hooked the radio set
back to his shoulder and grabbed the megaphone hanging by his side, “This is
Lieutenant Jake Reginald of the New Saisho Armed Forces. If there is anyone
living in these houses, please come outside. We are here to rescue you. I repeat,
please come outside.” And as he continued with his announcements, he and his
team took a cautious stroll down the streets, slowly making their way back
towards the beach. The beach was going to be the last place to finish their
physical search.
Barriers can be both physical and mental. While
physical barriers can restrict you, mental barriers can actually break you
down. It is much more important to overcome the mental barriers first.
“Oh my mother, these are our people,” a panicking
Jenny exclaimed as she heard the very first of the announcements, “Damn this
door.” Desperately she flung her body against the demon that stood in her way.
“C’mon Jack, give me a hand,” she exclaimed as she repeatedly crashed her body
into the thick wooden block, crying out for help and banging the door at the
same time, hoping to catch the attention of those patrolling her street for the
first time in months. Alas the noise of the craft was enough to drown her muted
cries that escaped the closed room! The caravan kept marching on.
A journey doesn’t end until one arrives at the destination,
numerous oasis might have lain in the path however. A resting spot is just what
they are, and no more.
“The images of the planet show a complete ice cover on
the planet,” Jhiang informed Anne and Charles, as Aslam prepared to transfer
the controls to the next shift. Jhiang continued, “Initial analysis of the
radio waves transmitted by the planet suggests it has the same elemental
composition as is consistent with our universe. Looks like a planet lost by our
universe, and it probably might have hosted life. In fact, I won’t be surprised
if some life is still alive, even though it is now lost in completely starless
space.”
“What a shame, no use to us,” a dejected Anne
lamented, “But good to know that it reinforces our belief of finding a
habitable planet for us.”
“Wouldn’t have been quiet useless had we had spare
time,” Jhiang replied, “For then we could have replenished our ship with some
natural supplies, like water, and possibly meat.”
“Of course,” Anne quipped in response, “Would have
given us an opportunity to feel the real gravity again too. But alas; too good
to be true!”
A lost opportunity is also an open window, for another
to come by. It doesn’t matter, how good was the last one that you missed. It’s
more important as to what you will make out of the next one. Making good of one
opportunity is never enough. An opportunity can only set you up for a new
opportunity. It cannot make you accomplished. Rather the struggle put in after
the loss of an opportunity is what makes you better, both as someone who will
grab the next, and also you ability to milk it.
The struggle was desperate, and the blood was real. “You
are bleeding,” a crying Jack exclaimed as he saw the desperate Jenny flinging
her body against the heartless piece of wood with all her might. With her
knuckles skinned, ear hurt and shoulder aching, Jenny was a picture of struggle
at its worst and best at the same time. But blood was the last thing that was
going to stop her. Debatably death might have!
It is not what you would take away with you on your
journey, but rather what you will leave behind, that matters. Forget something
important, and you will fret through the entire endeavour, and leave nothing
behind, those left behind will have nothing to say about you.
The caravan had moved on to the beach, and there was a
surprise waiting for them.
“Sir, you won’t believe what we found here,” Jake
radioed back to the ship, “A car!”
“What’s the registration,” a bemused Rear Admiral
asked.
“It’s one of those fancy plates, says; Army,” Jake
replied.
“That’s Captain Aman Ahluwalia’s car,” Rear Admiral
immediately recognized his son’s license plate, “Funny it’s ended up here.”
“Sir, do you want me to check where it might have been
when it was lost?” Engineer Marcus Dodd asked his officer.
“Negative,” Rear Admiral replied before replying back
to Jake, “Have a look inside and see if there’s anything interesting that you
can see inside.”
“Would you like us to bring it along?” Jake asked, “As
a token!”
“Negative,” Rear Admiral replied, “We might end up
rescuing people on our journey, so no point in carrying weight we can avoid.
Tell you what; let us leave behind a couple of barrels of fuel that we don’t
need anyway, as our token.”
Sometimes it is not the gift, but the impact that gift
leaves behind, which is all that matters. Gifts are often desired but seldom
useful, for they are not a planned acquisition. A gift rather is a liability
that one needs to return in some other form.
“Help!” a tired, desperate and bleeding Jenny cried as
she finally managed to break the door. Splinters of wood abraded her soft skin
as she forced her had through the breach to unlock the door from the outside.
Like a desperate deer running away from a forest fire, towards water, she
dashed out of the house, and behind the ship. “Help!” she kept shouting, her
feet faltering but her desperate efforts unwavering. She tumbled, got up, ran
forward, tumbled again, but kept on going. “Help!” was all she could say with a
fast deteriorating voice.
But those who came unannounced, had already boarded
their train, and the train left the platform. All that was left behind was a
desperate and broken girl, and a wailing child.
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