The Doomsday

  Chapter 7: Visit to Planet Gianta

  Dad comes back from his visit to ‘Gianta’. But Divya is not happy because ever since he has returned, he has become very busy. She knows he is working for the welfare of the world and is actually very proud of him. But still she misses the lengthy talks and discussions she used to have with him. He has also been named for the highest civilian award for his contribution in developing the language ‘Bilang’. Divya too has to learn this difficult new language. It has been included in the school syllabus of both the planets. Divya says to Ami “can you help me learn this language?” Ami replies “well I can. But for that I will have to read someone else’s mind. Someone who is thorough with it.” Divya says “Yeah, that’s a problem because all are learning it. But dad must know it thoroughly. After all it is his brain-child.”

  Ami replies “yes. I will have to read your dad’s mind. But will he allow me do so?” Divya said “No, that’s not possible. Forget it. Its better I ask him to help me. But he is so busy nowadays, I hardly meet him.” Ami replied “see he is there out in the lawn, having a walk. Let us go and talk to him.” They come down. Divya calls him quite a few times but he seems to be lost in his thoughts. So, they quietly sit on a bench and wait for him to notice them. It is very breezy.

  “Ouch!” cries dad.

  Something has entered his eye. Ami and Divya quickly come to help him. Ami is quick to notice a small particle in his eye. Divya said “it’s too windy here. Let us go inside.” Ami carefully removes the dust particle from his eye. It is dinner time, by now. She waits for the next day.

  Today morning, when Divya meets Ami, he seems worried. He says “I want to tell you something about your dad.” Divya asks “You sound worried. What’s that?” he replies “I don’t know exactly but something is definitely wrong with him.” Divya is getting impatient. She asks “why don’t you say it clearly?” he said “Yesterday, when I was removing the particle from his eye, I thought to scan his mind for ‘Bilang’. But I was shocked to find his mind completely blank! It was as if he was not in his own control. That is why he did not listen to you when you called him yesterday.” Divya was shocked and she asked “what does this mean? Has he lost his memory?” Ami replied “no-no. It’s not as simple as that. Today morning when I deliberately made eye contact with him, he was normal. That means only for a short duration he comes to a ‘complete loss of memory’ state.” He paused for a while and then asked “what should we do? Shall we talk to him regarding this?” Divya replied “But what will you say? You will be in danger because you will have to reveal your identity.” Ami said “I don’t know. But he must see a doctor.” Their conversation is interrupted by the ringing of the phone. It’s dad calling. He says “I have an official trip to planet Gianta, today afternoon. You are interested to go there, aren’t you?. So, if you want you can accompany me.” Divya is so delighted. She says “oh that’s great. But dad can Ami too come along?” he thinks for a while and replies “o.k”

  Divya is very excited as this is her first space trip. Ami is glad too because he might be able to signal better from space to his star Astroda. The spacecraft travels really fast and soon they are in the ground station of Gianta. Everything is automatic here. Divya could not help saying “what a sophisticated place!” Ami too is impressed by their technology. Then dad goes along with others for the conference and they are taken for a ride in a super-sonic automatic car. There is no driver in the car. The car is programmed to take them to specific places. They are accompanied by one of dad’s subordinate who has already seen Gianta before. So, it helps in sight seeing. The planet is a complete dessert with very little vegetation. There are huge fortresses at regular distances. He tells them that these are super-complexes where people live in. Divya thinks what a tough life they must be leading in such a dessert. But her views about the life there change soon as they enter one such super-complex. It is a different world, completely in contrast with the dessert outside. It has lavish residential complexes complete with lush green trees, lovely gardens and water gushing down from waterfalls. Divya sits on a stone near the waterfall with water falling on her feet. She says to Ami “It’s so refreshing! Look at those colourful butterflies.” Ami says nothing. He is keenly watching the surroundings. Divya shakes him saying “isn’t this place picture-perfect!” Ami replied “Yes, it’s indeed picture-perfect, too beautiful to be natural.” Divya asked “what do you mean by that?” Ami replied “I mean, these flowers, butterflies, trees and everything here is artificial.” He plucks a small red flower and holds its petal in between his thumb and index finger. He says “I have very sensitive sensors in my palm cells. They identify it as synthetic.” Divya is amused “but it looks so natural! These people are truly geniuses.”

  While returning, the chief of Gianta comes to see them off. Ami has a brief conversation with him deliberately staring into his eyes. Divya knows what is he upto. She later asks him “what did you read in his mind?” Ami replied “Oh nothing much. There was no time. I only read their language. I wanted to have a peep into his technical part of brain too, but did not get sufficient time.

  In the spaceship, they ask dad about the synthetic world of Gianta. Dad gets surprised and says “How could you make out that it’s not natural? You guys are really smart.” Ami and Divya smile looking at each other. Dad continues “Actually they once had a nature rich planet just like ours and that too much bigger in size. There were forests, rivers, flora and fauna just as on earth. But thousands of years ago, a hot star collided with it and destroyed everything. The major part of planet was blown into pieces and just a fraction of it was left. They were highly developed even then, so they fabricated a new synthetic world which was as good as natural. They are now leading such life since then. Everything there is fabricated. The planet had completely dried. There was no water. They are just like us. They need water to survive. They took the molecules of their sweat and replicated them into gallons of water. The gushing rivers that you saw are made by using their sweat.” “Wow! Unbelievable! Isn’t it Ami?” says Divya. But Ami seems to be lost in his thoughts. Dr. Ahuja asks “hello, Ami, what’s the problem?” Ami says “Oh, nothing sir, I was just wondering how intelligent these Giantians are!” Ami is actually busy sending signals to his star Astroda. Divya realizes it and leaves him alone. Ami keeps trying but there is no reply.