Time's Up: Every Moment Counts

by Vasu Velamur

  A flash of inspiration struck Vashist. He did not listen to Vindhya completely, but the last few words sent a spark in his brain. He jumped and ran towards Vindhya and hugged her and lifted her off the ground. Then he circled with her in his arms. “Iyyooo Vin, you are such a genius in giving us the much-required hint”

  Ranga, taken aback, thought it might be both of them cracked and are now in an uncontrollable mode. So he looked up to Vashist, “Hey dude, what is that you are so happy about?”

  “Man, I have it. Cracked it”

  “Leave me down first” shouted Vindhya “and tell me if you have cracked it correct”

  He dropped her on the bed and then searched inside the bag when Ranga asked, “What the hell are you searching for? Please tell”

  “My jeans”

  “At this moment you want to dress up? Are you cracking up” Vindhya shaking Vashist from the bag “So you have given up the puzzle?”

  “No, I have the answers”

  “How”

  “All because of your hint only, Vin”

  “What hint”

  “Take 2 words from your last sentence which you told”

  “I can’t remember it. Tell it in plain English, please”

  “Periodic Tables”

  “What has that got to do now? You’ve gone crazy”

  Ranga also then got a flash, and he joined the search and ordered, “Vashist let me know why do you want your jeans?”

  “I need it to solve this puzzle soon”

  “I could not pack your jeans since there was no time in the last place”

  “Can you use someone else phone” Vindhya was pleading

  “No, only mine is needed.”

  “Ooh I remember now, it’s there inside my dress - the Rajasthani dress”

  They searched and located the phone, but there was no charge left. Ranga dug into his bag and got the charger out and they all sprung into action. They plugged the phone, and it said 0% charging.

  “Let’s wait for 2%, that's all I need” Vashist looked at the device timer and it displayed 3 minutes.

  Ranga calmed himself down “Vashist, what is this drama tell me”

  “I downloaded the entire Periodic table in my phone and I need it now. All these alphabets are some metals and if we translate those metals into their numbers, we get the clue”

  “What do you mean, Vashy?” a puzzled Vindhya looked at him for more obvious answers.

  “Look here, P.AsSn Os.RhCf and P is Phosphorus and is 15. As is Arsenic and is 33. I remember these, so the code is 15.33 and something like that. If we get the periodic table, then we have it done”

  Vindhya couldn’t control her emotions and did a tit-for-tat. She lifted Vashist off the ground and circled him and finally fell because of gravity. The timer ticked, and the phone showed only 1% and it charged in the quick mode. All their eyes focussed on the screen for it to turn 2%. When it did, Vindhya turned on the phone to boot up. In 20 seconds they saw the splash screen “SAMSUNG” and “Powered by Android”. What a jubilation for them - after a long time they got back to their comfort zone.

  Vashist navigated swiftly into the periodic table, called out the numbers with 1 minute on the timer. The result that came out was: 15.3350 76.4598. They were into the last 40 seconds when Vashist entered the result into the device. The display flashed in green, confirming the answer was right.

  “Phew, what a way to get it” a jubilant Vashist hugged Ranga in a victorious manner

  “OK, but what is this number?”

  “Lucky that I downloaded the South India map into my phone. These are some coordinates of our next problem”

  “Quick then let us know which place in Mangalore do we go now” a happy Vindhya “I am hungry and we need to have Pizza and Pasta”

  “One sec” Vashist punched the numbers into the map and he shouted, “Haa Haa. You are wrong”

  “What?”

  “This location is pointing to Virupaksha Temple in Hampi”

  “So what, Mangalore or Hampi I am sure we will get breakfast right?”

  “Fine, but let’s get out of this outfit and blend with the crowd”

  They heard a crack sound of the lock, and it was a very refreshing sound. All the friends were quick to change into their comfortable dress - jeans and a T-shirt. They were ready to attack the breakfast but looked at the sun and found that they rather attack full meals. They stepped out of the room through a small flight of stairs on the outside of the building. Then they crossed the road towards the tea shop, which they saw from the window.

  They were happy that at least now they could speak to the people who kind of knew what they were talking about. This made them a little relaxed in their mind, but Ranga was a little curious and tense. He was not as relaxed as the other two and something was bothering him. Vindhya spotted it early and got hold of his left hand. “Hey Ranga, any problems?”

  He smiled and replied, “No, why do you ask?”

  “We both got excited when our parents were in college.”

  “What’s so special about that?” he still sulked, but now even Vashist spotted it.

  “What special haa Dude?” barged in Vashist “I can now verify all the stories which my father told about the 90s and when I go back I can corner him”

  Ranga gave a wry smile enough to display a tiny gap between his lips. Yet they seemed locked. Vindhya knows how Ranga smiles when he is in a cheerful mood. So she pulls him as back as they move forward “Hey Ranga, look into my eyes and tell me you are OK”

  She pauses and stares right into his eyes. Both of them are still and waiting for the other to blink first. Then after a few seconds of an angry stare, Ranga twitches and blinks. “OK, ok stop. The device shows the Virupaksha temple and a lady picture in it”

  “Yes, we all have seen it. What’s the problem with it?”

  “The problem is the lady in the picture”

  “Yes, we also know that. Now tell me the real reason”

  “I know who that person is” and Ranga stopped walking

  They all stopped, and Vindhya ran in front of Ranga. “So you know the lady. What is the problem? It should be easy for us to find her”

  “Yes” he paused for a few seconds and then started “Vin, you recollect the story about my aunt who disappeared. She went away one fine night. We found nothing about her afterward”

  “Yes, even your mother used to tell that story. What has that got to do with you being sad now?”

  “Dumbo dumbo” slammed Vashist on Vindhya head “That aunt is the lady in the picture”

  “Is it?”

  “Yes, Vashist is correct”

  “So what, we go and also tell her how we miss her and ask her to rejoin the family in 2020. Finished”

  “You don’t know the full story”

  “If I don’t know, then tell me when we have lunch” said Vindhya and pulled Ranga forward. They now strolled to the shop. The 250 meters walk was so still that they heard their heartbeats. Vashist was curious honestly since he couldn’t keep cool if he did not know what others knew. Vindhya tried to calculate what family problems could arise if they proceed further. Ranga wondered where to start the story. In this mindset, they reached the tea shop where they saw the board which read “ಟ ಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗಿದೆ”. This roughly translated into English meant “Meals Ready”

  They entered the hotel and found a table free, and sat down where Vashist tried to decode the menu. He scratched his head on how to decipher the script when Vindhya pulled the menu card away. She turned it around and gave it back. It had the same menu printed in English. This got Ranga back to his normalcy. He smiled and relaxed his posture. Vindhya looked up in eagerness to hear the story.

  Vashist read aloud “Bajra Roti, Shenga, Badane Kaayi, Kosambari, Bele Kaalu, Mosarubajji. What the hell are these?”

  “Wait” barged in Vindhya “these are edible items served in your meals. What more do you want?”

  “What is Shen
ga?”

  “It is powder or dry chutney made of ground peanut or sesame”

  “Then what is Badane Kaayi?”

  “Ooh, wait a second” she recollected what it was. “It’s brinjal stuffed with dry ginger, peanuts, and masala. Added with sesame, sprinkled onion, and other spices.”

  Ranga then stopped the progress of the conversation “Dude, it’s all vegetarian and a part of the full meals. Let’s have it and move forward. We have only 19 hours before our time runs out”

  Vashist nodded, and Vindhya splashed water on her banana leaf. Her wait for the meals and the story were with a lot of eagerness. She then looked inside the kitchen where the server assembled the items “Ok, start, Ranga”

  “Start what?”

  “The story”

  “I promise I will tell it to you once we reach our ultimate destination”

  “Tell us the detailed story then” pleaded Vindhya “right now tell us the abridged version at least”

  “Yeah Dude” joined Vashist with her for the request

  “OK, but it’s too short, and we do not have time to think of this story. We have another one waiting for us”

  “Yes Dude, done” both of them saluted Ranga

  “Hey Vin, remember that family photo of my father which you saw last month and asked me who that person was?” started Ranga with the story.

  “Yes, you also told me it’s you aunt”

  “Yeah, her name is Vaidehi and my Athai”

  “We all know that your father’s sister is an Athai” interjected Vashist “carry on with the story, please”

  “Remember that you were asking me where she is currently?”

  “Yes, and you did not answer it”

  “Well, I did not answer it since I did not know the answer. It was in 91 when she finished her college that she went missing”

  “What do you mean, she went missing?”

  “Don’t ask details but looked like she was in love with someone and my grandfather did not approve of it”

  “So you mean to say she ran away from the house?”

  “Not ran away but sent out by my grandfather”

  “Where did she go?”

  “We do not know, but my father and his brothers believed she went to her friend’s house in Bangalore. They searched and came back empty-handed”

  “Did she?” Vindhya elongated her question.

  “No, as time went by we could not trace her anywhere”

  “So now that you have found out, we can tell them once we return to our timeline. What is the part that makes you so sad now?”

  “The twist is here”

  “What?” jumped Vashist out of his chair. He could not even stand even a few seconds of pause. Although Vindhya was the one who wanted the story badly, Vashist entered now. The curiosity cat mode becomes stronger than the women in gossip.

  “It was around one year after my aunt went out. Some time in May beginning of 91. We tried to search for her till May 1992 when finally my grandfather turned very sad and guilty. So we were all desperate to find her '' Ranga paused for a moment. Then had a few portions of Badane Kaayi and restarted. “My father went down south to enquire with our relatives while my periyappa went to Karnataka.”

  “So then what happened. Any luck?”

  “No, after 15-20 days of unsuccessful search, both of them came back crestfallen. It was on August 23rd when we wanted to see the movie Roja and we all got set to leave when a bomb dropped”

  “What happened?” Vashist could not handle the suspense, and Ranga chewed the food even slower now.

  Ranga signaled him to wait till he finished his lunch. “I still remember that day, around 3 PM we had the postal work come and ring the doorbell”

  “So it was a letter from your aunt, right?” Vashist fast-forwarded to finish the story.

  “No, it was a telegram about my aunt”

  “What?”

  “Yes, we received a telegram from a person named Meitreyi who claimed to be her friend. She conveyed Vaidehi was in a serious complication and required immediate help”

  “So you went there immediately?”

  “Yes”

  “Then what happened”

  “Vaidehi was not there. We only met her friend, and she said that she did not know her whereabouts. The local police notified us they found a body on the 23rd. It was near the banks of the Tungabhadra river and closed as a missing case”

  “So you all believed it?”

  “No. The police could not trace her so they closed the case this way. Only the handbag got identified as my aunt’s property but we felt the deceased was not her”

  There was dead silence for some time. They were near and yet far was the mood in the camp. Then they realized it was hardly a few days from now. A possibility existed that they could uncover some more details for sure. No one dared to speak out, and they completed the lunch without a single word spoken. Finally, Vindhya summoned up her courage and approached him “Hey Ranga, do you think we can try to save your aunt?”

  “I wish” he replied, “but I do not know if we can even meet her”

  “Why not. She is there in this city only. I will search for her while you two solve the puzzle.”

  “Not required. First let us see where this device leads us and then think of the next steps. I am not sure if this photo is the same person, but it almost resembled her”

  “Yes, I too, felt the same. I am sure the device has so far only helped us. Something good will happen to us post our adventure”

  “It may not be the same person my gut feels says that. Since the first time when an old lady picture came up and it looked like my family, but it turned out to be a total stranger. It’s the same situation here” said Vashist confidently.

  “Let's stop this story and continue with our problem at hand,” said Ranga. He tried to put a full stop to the current conversation.

  “OK dude, done” they all clapped their hands together, and the group was back on track. They ran back to prepare a strategy for the next adventure.

  “I need at least 2 hours of rest before we move out again” Vindhya signaled sleep.

  “If that’s so, I also concur. Let us take some rest. We have around 19 hours this time. So we can make a brilliant plan. Also, Virupaksha temple is very easy to find” Vashist ran to occupy the bed before Vindhya jumped in. Remember that there were only 2 beds in the room.

  ∞∞∞

  Chapter-16

  All Roads Lead To Virupaksha Temple

  Thursday 1:43 PM

  Sleep is something that this group of friends never want to compromise on. There is also one other thing which is food. On both these items, they have all rallied with the group and never had a difference of opinion. As time stood still and the heat blazed itself outside, the inside ventilation was perfect. Might be because of the red-oxide flooring which facilitated the escape route for the heat. As only one bed was available, Vindhya occupied it by default. Rather, Vashist renounced it, and the guys spread their legs wide on the floor and relaxed.

  On one side of Ranga’s mind, he was keen to forage extra information about his aunt. On the other side, scared to dig deep into this matter. For the first time in this adventure, he entered a what-if mode of rationale. His thoughts revolved around the truth content of the police report.

  Vashist was dead tired with a full tummy, and it’s very obvious that sleep was the highest priority task in his mind. Yet he pondered if they could meet Ranga’s aunt during this adventure. If that were to happen they would have altered the space-time continuum. A concept projected so high in the movie “Back to the future”. He thought on both the fronts and so remained silent.

  It was Vindhya who lived the moment. She was devoid of any thoughts which led her into a deep sleep with no fuss. Of course, the friends had time, but knew that night knocked at their heels, they could not afford to sleep much. Ranga, before preparing to sleep, set the alarm for 4:30 pm and then dozed off.

&
nbsp; Thursday 4:29 PM

  Nothing happened till now except the random snore of Vashist because of the sumptuous meal. The entire silence in the room got disturbed by the alarm set by Ranga. As expected, only Ranga woke up and the other two were in a delightful reality. They enjoyed every moment of the rest. Ranga woke up a little lethargic and checked the time. It was 4:30, and he was sure that the temple would have reopened for the evening. They needed to move on, so he shook Vashist by violent methods in vain. Anybody from the outside would imagine that he man-handled the guy on the floor. Yet without such violence, it was impossible to wake this slumbering giant. Why wake the giant first? Since he was the only one who could wake her up, since it required even more violent skills.

  “Get up, Vashy” cried Ranga, shaking him up from right to left. There was only a slight reactionary sound from him. After roughly 3 to 4 minutes of royal turbulence, Vashist finally caved in and opened his eyes. He asked, “Is the tiffin ready, Dude”

  “You better get Vin on her feet now, then we can think of it” Ranga dressed up for the adventure. Vashist, when he saw the clothing, sat up in a jerk wide awake. Ranga was in traditional attire, a silk veshti and a dark brown half hand shirt. It looked like a dress to kill.

  “So you mean to say Vin also has to do this tamasha today? I can’t wait”

  “Well, we have only those options for us, so get into action mode. We need to campaign a lot to get her adapted and the clock’s ticking”

  “As you say, sir” he shook his head, got up, and went to the bed where she was in her sleep. He always liked to do this with lots of excitement. He took the jug full of water and trickled water droplets on her forehead. At first, he slipped in 3 to 4 drops and then waited. She raised her hands to rub them off and continued her sleep. After a while, he repeated the process with an increased number of drops. Still the same result.. Ranga got a little impatient “Hey Vashy, stop playing dude. We are short of time, please”

  “Oh god, leave it to me. When do we need to step out? Tell let me that”