Memory portal 1a

In the middle of the dark walls of the secret basement, stood four figures staring at the ring which was kept on the table. 

"So," Leo began, which got everyone's attention towards him, "without wasting further time, let us start with our mission." Leo announced.

Adi and Vivi nodded at him.

"Let us go then." came an over-enthusiastic voice of Alex.

"Wait, I want to say a few words for Adi and Leo," Vivi said with a smile. 

Everyone looked at her curiously. Even Alex didn't know what she was going to say but simply gave her a nod of approval and Vivi began,

"I just want to say, whatever we get to know today, I and Alex will be there with you, today and every day. In future, if there comes a moment where we need to fight people, we wouldn't hesitate and back off and be there with you in the battle. We will support you in all your ups and downs. You can always count on us. And that’s our promise." 

She looked at Alex and he smiled warmly. Adi and Leo were greatly obliged with the words and found no words for expressing their gratitude. 

Adi, overwhelmed by the emotions, hugged Vivi and thanked her. Leo glanced at Alex and gave him a nod of appreciation. Alex nodded in return as a response.

Four of them stepped aside and Leo rubbed his thumb on the diamond mounted on the ring. A ray ejected from the ring, made a tiny black circle on the wall in front of it. Gradually the size increased to a huge black portal.

"I will go first." Leo said.

He smiled at Adi and entered the portal. Next Adi entered followed by Vivi and then Alex. 

The other side of the portal was similar to a screen having different memories separated by the time frames just like different folders.

Before they could get to know anything, they experienced a strange feeling and were teleported to a memory.

In a blink of an eye, they were on a street in front of a small shop. As the body looked transparent, their presence went unnoticed by the passer-by.

The road was not tarred but the surface was leveled and was built strong enough, such that no heavy vehicles would damage it easily. The street was clean. Different types of stores were lined up on either side of the lane. 

The stores mainly were bakeries, beverages, fast food centers, and other small resellers. They stood in front of a medium-sized restaurant. They all looked around confusingly, trying to guess the location.

"I know this place." Alex said. 

This caught everyone's attention towards him, looking suspiciously. 

"How can you know this place, Alex? You have never been here in your whole life." Leo frowned. 

"Hey no...I was here 3 weeks ago. In fact, we all have been here at least twice a month." Alex replied pointing at the nameplate on the restaurant. Everyone looked in that direction and realized.

"It’s Pies and Sips. The same restaurant we have in the future. Only difference being, the restaurant in the future is a huge one and with a lot of enhancements." Alex added. 

"By looking at this, they have progressed a lot. Must have quite a huge profit in the pie business. Though the nearby stores vanished in the future. People are still crazy about these pies." Leo said, generally.

"It is quality and loyalty towards people that they offered that made them stay in this competitive world." Adi reasoned.

"And they still have the same logo, a pie." Leo said, observing it. 

Feeling of nostalgia emerged in them. As they were looking around, they saw a familiar figure of a man in a white shirt running towards the restaurant.

He stopped in front of the open glass door of the restaurant huffing and puffing for air. He then straightened up, fixed his hair with his fingers and walked inside, calmly. 

Not knowing what to do, the four figures simply followed the man.

Entering the restaurant they looked for the man and instead found two figures sitting opposite each other. 

They resembled Adi and Leo in looks. Same height, same eyes, same skin tone, everything matched.

The girl wore a pale blue dress and had an annoyed face while the man was apologizing for something. It was adorable to look at them as they argued. 

They realized the situation and started walking towards the couple. Adi saw a small smile on Leo's face as he watched the couple. Feeling the gaze, Leo looked at her. They both had recognized the day, which made them smile more.

"Why am I not here?" Alex asked, being confused.

"I too wanted to see myself. I was sitting at the next table laughing at him. I mean you." Alex said, turning his face to Leo in the end.

"You are not handsome enough like me to be in the memory so must have forgotten to include." Leo said sarcastically.

Alex glared at him.

"This couple from the past might not have met you, I guess. So it is only us there. I mean they." Adi reasoned and giggled as she corrected herself. 

"I think she is right, Alex." Vivi agreed and so did Alex.

They all reached near the table where past selves of Adi and Leo were sitting. Adi and Leo leaned on the table opposite to their table, while Alex and Vivi sat opposite on the same table on which the couple leaned. They all listened to the conversation, carefully. The couple was still arguing. 

"You always do this, never come on time." Ada argued, still being annoyed.

"Ada, I am sorry. You can punish me for this but please don't be annoyed." Lenn apologized.

Leo repeated the name Ada in his mind. He felt a little awkward seeing himself live like this. But mentally he smiled as he knew what was going to happen. 

"Nope. I am not going to forgive you this time Lenn. You should realize that by yourself. You know how annoying it is to wait here alone while people here stare at you and... and of course do you know how many times the waiter got in here to ask me about you. You always do this, Lenn." Ada said furiously.

"Okay, this is the last time. I am sorry and I mean it. If you are not punishing me then I’ll punish myself." Lenn said. 

"Ohh this got to be fun. Vivi, watch them. It’s hilarious." Alex whispered to Vivi as Adi and Leo were completely immersed at the moment with a smile on their face, hugging each other, looking at their past selves.

The waiter came there with an apple pie and a lot of cream over it as ordered.

"Do what you want." Ada said. 

Still annoyed at him turned her face to a side staring at the garden through the glass wall.

"Hello brother, my girlfriend is annoyed with me as this silly boyfriend of hers is completely indisciplined and has no time sense. Will you help me with a favor?" Lenn requested the waiter. 

This caught the attention of Ada. Her eyes widened and kicked his leg under the table to know what he was up to.

"You told me to do whatever. And I think I should correct my mistakes. Let me punish myself." Lenn said and turned to look at the waiter. Ada's eyes widened to see what Lenn was upto. 

"So brother, where was I? Oh yeah. Can you help me with this? I will only ask things which you will be able to do, nothing more." Lenn asked the waiter.

The waiter seemed dumbstruck with what was going on, simply turned to look at Ada and saw her shake her head, gesturing him to do the same. 

He turned to look at Lenn who now made a pleading face. Feeling the emotional pressure on him the waiter simply nodded at Lenn which made Lenn ecstatic.

"Okay then throw that apple pie on my shirt." Lenn ordered the waiter, which baffled both Ada and the waiter.

"What are you trying to do? This is not the way to get punished. We are in a public place, Lenn. People are watching us." Ada said, shockingly.

"It’s you that matters to me and not people around. I don't care if someone is watching us. I must be punished." Lenn replied to Ada and turned towards the waiter, scolding him, "What are you doing brother? Just throw the pie."

"This is your favourite shirt, Lenn. Why are you doing this? Creating a scene. Okay, I have accepted your apology. Now stop this." said Ada with widened eyes looking at him.

"Don't listen to her. She is still angry at me. Throw the pie." Lenn said loudly. Now everyone was staring at them.

"No. Don't. I am not angry." Ada said, louder than Lenn.

"Yes, you are. Throw."

"No"

"YES"

"NO"

"Throw or I will complain about you to the manager." Lenn threatens the waiter.  

"He won’t. If he does I’ll back you." Ada said.

"He has promised me to help and now he will throw."

" No. He won’t."

" Yes"

" No" 

"JUST THROW THE PIE." Lenn yelled.