ADHYAY – 1

2498, Somewhere in Space

            Spacecraft was travelling through the dark black area in space—the craft designed in the bow shape. The outer room was very dark. Only scattered light obtained due to refraction of light produced from the vessel was visible. Both the ends of craft built with powerful rotating fans and a large amount of heat exhausted from the back part exhausts precisely positioned under the fans—Centre point of the bow enclosed cockpit, which was fully roofed with solid and non-flammable materials. Transparent glasses installed for outer screening space. Inner walls of craft manufactured by utilizing metal could sustain in the space environment. It was running with its most incredible speed for a destination.

            One human was busy controlling the craft with his knowledge of driving in space. Another one was studying the digital map generated by the latest generation computer—the map for the way to Saturn. Saturn was the second-largest planet in the solar system, also a gas giant with an average radius about nine times that of the Earth. It acquired 82 moons. Titan was the largest moon of Saturn. The astronomical symbol of Saturn was the sickle of God, named to present wealth and agricultural prosperity. The sickle was a hand-held agricultural tool, a bagging hook. Sickle represented the agricultural revolution with assisting the crop-based lifestyle, profound in Mesopotamia and Neolithic Era. The sickle was used for harvesting, reaping or cutting with the help of variously curved blades mounted on its typical design. Titan was ruled by the great, cruel, intelligent, dangerous personality, Ravan.

            Two humans present in craft worried about the human who was their travel companion in space voyage. They lost the companion in the space while they were busy repairing the space laboratory. Both settled on the driving seats of craft.

            ‘My younger brother, what’s your proposal for our next move?’ one of them asked the other one.

            ‘Brother! Ram! Accept my apology that I don’t obey your order….’ Tears rolled out from his younger brother’s eyes.

            ‘Lakshman! Don’t worry, and we will find the Sita, our companion.’ Ram placed his right hand on Lakshman’s left shoulder.

            Lakshman wiped the tears, ‘But, How do you know that the vessel went to Saturn?’

            ‘See, the image captures by cameras mounted on the upper side of the craft. The image has the clear vision of astronomical symbol, embossed on the vessel which attacked the laboratory.’ Ram turned the wall-mounted computer screen toward Lakshman.

            ‘Yes! The symbol itself represents Saturn, the wealthy planet of the whole solar system, and agriculturally sound.’ Lakshman recalled his childe age education.

            Ram turned the screen to its original position, ‘that’s why we are approaching Saturn.’

*****

            After an hour of a journey to Saturn, the craft landed at the station for fueling. Space occupied specific stations, which offer the fuel for spacecraft for flight in the area—all fuel stations owned by Bali, who was the most dominant in the fuel industry. During the stoppage of craft, Ram visited the store at the right corner of a fuel station. He wanted to buy the necessary food for their long time travel survival. Their craft was embossed with the symbol of bisection of the circle in four quarters with meridian lines. Logo suggested that the ship was from Earth. The apprentice of Sugriva found the craft and informed him about the human movement at the fuel station, which was from Earth. Sugriva sent his most trusted person to inquire about the folks of Earth, busy in visiting the store.

            Fully fueled the craft, that it could reach the next fuel station by reserving it. Ram and Lakshman were ready to ignite the spaceship. Lakshman’s right palm was set on the ignition button. Another craft came on the path of their spacecraft. They had not much space to fly away from the station. Lakshman was very angry by this act done by other craft.

           ‘Brother! Who the hell is this one?’ Lakshman shouted.

            ‘Let’s check…!’ Ram stood upping from the driving seat and walked towards the gate of craft.

            Lakshman released the vacuüm, and the gate opened with the single press on its red-coloured round-shaped switch. Lakshman also followed Ram and came out from the craft for observing the conversation.

            A very decent personality came out from the dark smoke generated through the fuel combustion. Person existed with a calm nature, wide black eyes, muscular torso, shining forehead, and hands folded in the position of bowing down.

           ‘Gentleman, who are you?’ The person asked Ram very politely.

          ‘Traveler and he is my brother, my companion’, Ram pointed Lakshman with the right hand. Lakshman was still at the gate of craft.

           ‘And…, what is your aim for travelling in space?’ A person asked another question peacefully.

           ‘Who are you to ask?’ Lakshman angrily walked to the person.

           ‘Brother! Stop…!’ Ram ordered Lakshman and blocked his way with his right hand.

            ‘Don’t take it personally. I am asking with the power given to me by the person, my childhood friend, and brother of fuel station owner Bali.’ The person explained about asking such a series of questions.

            ‘No problem! we are bound to answer your queries in the province, which sheltered by you and your friend.’ Ram replied with very calm-minded.

            ‘I would like to know your aim, Mister….’ The person wanted to know the name of the traveller and companions.

           ‘Our objective…’ Ram thought dramatically.

           ‘Yes.’

            ‘We are travelling to the Saturn, and for covering such a long distance, required a good amount of fuel. So the aim is fueling the craft.’ Ram intelligently diverted the talk in a different direction.

           ‘Saturn? Why, and I am still not knowing your name?’ The person came closer to Ram.

           ‘We want to generate the commercial relations with Saturn. So the Earth can rise economically compared to other planets, Saturn is good enough for supplying the financial need of the Earth.’ Lakshman informed their incorrect objective.

            ‘Your gesture doesn’t look like a commercially active person. You seem like a warrior. If I am not wrong, you are the soldiers who came from the Earth.’ The person explained his observation.

            ‘Yes! We are the soldiers and travelling in space. Some intruders kidnapped our companion while she was repairing the space laboratory. Intruders are from the Saturn.’ Ram opened up the primary endeavour.

           ‘And you are on the way to search her.’           

           ‘Exactly’

           ‘Then you have first to tell me the truth. Your name, please…?’ The person asked again.

           ‘Ram…’ Ram said

           Person surprised, ‘Ram…I was waiting for you for a long.’

           ‘Why?’ this time, Lakshman was in the mood for a questionnaire. 

           ‘We need your valuable help.’ Person rolled his eyes on Ram’s face.

            ‘Tell me about your necessity, who are you and why you were in search of me?’ Ram laid his hand on the person’s shoulder calmly.

           ‘My friend was afraid about the soldiers sent by Bali to search and finish him. He thinks that you both are soldiers sent by Bali for him. I am here to collect the information about you.’ The person informed Ram and Lakshman about his intention.

            ‘It’s OK. But tell us about you and your friend. Your name…’ Lakshman ogled a person’s eyes.

           ‘Yes! My friend, we would like to know your name….’ Ram agreed with Lakshman’s query.

           ‘Envoy’ 

*****