The Past in the Present

Surya stood in silence, observing the battlefield in front of him. There were great warriors in both the sides. His face was full of consternation. He did not know which side he should choose. Then something occurred to him. Why should he take sides? He did not want to get tangled in this mess.

He started to move towards a chariot on his right. It had four white horses. He could not see the driver clearly, for mist lay thick in the air. He was perhaps intrigued by the chariot, maybe more, by the driver.

"Surya!", called a voice, which seemed to come from a long way. He could not comprehend what it was and how it came. Suddenly, he felt as if he was rising towards the sky. With a start, he came back to reality.

"Who is it?", he asked.

"It is me, Jaya", said the voice.

Surya reluctantly closed the large book in his hand and got out of his bed. Jaya entered and hugged Surya enthusiastically.

"I have devised a new plan", said he,"to travel back in time."

Surya sighed,"Not again."

"But this time it is different", Jaya argued,"I have worked on it for more than a month." Jaya sat down and explained the plan in its entirety to Surya.

"Hmm", said Surya thoughtfully,"I think this should work. I am positive."

"Are we leaving right now?", asked Jaya.

"Not now, Jaya, not now", replied Surya.

"What are we waiting for?", Jaya asked.

"Not 'what you were waiting for', Jaya, it is 'whom you were waiting for'", spoke a new voice at the door.

"Hey Arka", said Surya hugging him.

"Wassup fellas?", Arka asked.

"Journey's up, man", replied Jaya.

"Whoa!", said Arka in astonishment, "you don't say you created a plan without me?"

"Yep, I exactly mean that", retorted Jaya.

"Here it is", said Surya giving Arka the plan.

Arka, after reading it thoroughly, asked,"As far as my field of expertise is concerned, it is perfect. But, is the Math perfect?"

"Why don't you just say that scientifically it is right? Math will be reviewed by Soma", replied Jaya.

"Should I invite him here right now?", asked Arya.

"Noooo!", shrieked Surya,"we will discuss in our usual meeting place."

"Uhh", said Arka acting groggily,"I am too lazy."

"Uh come on!", exclaimed Surya,"you know Aryaman, if invited, will be too loud."

"Whatever", agreed Arka,"Why are you wearing a tuxedo?"

"I am the leader, so I have to maintain my reputation", replied Surya.

"You still do not know how to tie a tie?", asked Jaya laughing.

"Not yet", replied Surya.

"Ha!", said Arka, "you still did not solve your 'tie-tie' problem. How can you be our leader?."

"Are you challenging my leadership Arka?", asked Surya narrowing his eyes.

"No, of course not", said Arka winking at Jaya.

"Hey! How are you?" asked Surya as he entered the small 6 by 5 room along with Arka and Jaya. It was an isolated room which looked like a very tiny house from outside. A carpet covered the flooring of the room and the backyard had a tunnel with a ladder going underground.

"Hey guys" came the reply.

"Where is Mrityu?" asked Jaya.

"He will be here any minute now" said the man in the room.

"Check this out Soma" said Arka handing him the 'Great Plan of Jaya'.

Soma whistled softly. "You made this by yourself Jaya?"

"Obviously" came the reply from Jaya who was visibly angry.

"You are a genius, Jaya" said Soma without taking his eyes off Jaya's plan."All calculations are perfect. I like the way you attract the dark content of the solar ray to hide our machine. You even planned to camouflage our machine by using the collision of the electric and wind power in the atmosphere. But, that would create a glow which could blind us."

"Aryaman has those powerful lenses through which we will be able to see the glow without getting blinded" said Arka.

"Hello guys! Did I miss something?" asked someone who just entered the room.

"We have been waiting for you Mrityu" said Surya.

"Jaya's plan is amazing" said Soma handing Mrityu the plan.