Tour de' Brahma

 His eyes were surveying the surroundings, without actually capturing any sharp images. His ears were drumming with chatter, but not picking up any meaningful messages. His brain waves were jumping and skipping like a kangaroo. This state of looking but not seeing, listening but not hearing and thinking but not remembering made Brahma to wonder in which dimension he was currently residing!

This less than an attosecond experience of listlessness came to an abrupt end when Chitragupta appeared before him, like a ghost. Normally annoyed at this type of intrusion, he   overlooked itat this instant, as an idea clicked in his mind. With a bright smile, lighting the ambience and bathing Chitragupta in celestial shine, Brahma asked, “Are you ready to go on a tour with me, like the one you took with Yamadharmaj long ago?”

“Oh, that trip! It was actually a fictional narrative by an earthling.” Chitragupta replied and fondly recollected the frolic and fun filled outing. He continued, “The central plot was a mission to search, find and recover a bunch of records that have mysteriously vanished from Yam Lok and appeared on earth! The clever writer scripted it in such a way to show us in poor light, as if both of us only had fun and frolic on earth and nothing else. But by doing so, the writer managed to gain huge readership and I even heard movies too have been successful?”

Wondering why and confused by Brahma’s sudden desire, Chitragupta cautiously nodded his head. Now with Brahma in tow, what places he might be forced to visit - pilgrim centers or ancient forts and mountains or seaport, airport or a spaceport? Of course, another e pressing concern was what if Yamadharmaj also joined them? Worried about how to repurpose that tour to Earth after all these years, he wanted to know the context, itinerary and intent.

The ever-wary Chitragupta remained silent, trying to work out the possible angles, edges and wrinkles in this mysterious move by Brahma. He patted on his shoulders, by himself, for having nailed an agreement that prevented Brahma from using his, now famous, thought jamming device.

Chitragupta's silence placed Brahma in an awkward situation. During this time wheels were turning in his mind, making short work of raking and hoeing, on his sanity. To placate the frustrated heads, he decided to straightaway tell Chitragupta his plan and purpose for the tour. To sweeten the deal, he decided to add that Yamadharmaj will not be accompanying them and they will not be visiting temples dedicated to him.

Brahma wanted to impress the importance of the tour and said, “The spectrum of emotional upheavals experienced by all the living things happens according to a cosmic schedule. No surprises there. Yet a few milliseconds ago, I experienced a feeling of listlessness, devoid of sensory perceptions. That moment made me to realise that a field trip, to personally witness the behaviour of humanity under trying situations, might be a good diversion?”

Chitragupta did not expect the thunderbolt Brahma threw his way. “Of all the things on Earth, you wanted to select and study a family struggling to eke a decent living? Want to witness how earthlings manage to govern themselves!” – Chitragupta silently murmured, hoping Brahma’s ears would not pick his musings. With no escape route in sight, he forced himself to say “Yes.”

Choosing such a person for study proved a little difficult as Chitragupta applied many filters to the selection process. Brahma waited patiently, in the light of the former's familiarity with earthlings. Within hours - Chitragupta insisted on following earthly timings, the first window of opportunity opened. The chosen one came out of his work spot huffing and puffing, broadcasting his agitated mind. When he entered a hot beverage shop, Chitragupta signalled Brahma that they too should have a cup of whatever the earthling has ordered, as a conversation opener. 

Brahma, in a voice oozing with compassion, enquired, “You look stressed. What is the matter?" The chosen one, indicating his forehead, replied "It is all written in my head. That is the matter". Chitragupta surreptitiously cast a 180° glance at Brahma. Why? Because Chitragupta has heard this statement millions of times! With nothing else to do, Brahma suddenly found interesting things in the cup and saucer in front of him.

Taking turn Chitragupta probed further, “What exactly is the matter?" The chosen person blurred out, "Someone has misplaced a file, and I am blamed for being careless". With a furtive glance, Brahma took note of his underling’s discomfort. Why? Because Brahma knew the story! Finding himself cornered, Chitragupta took an instant liking for the geometrical shapes on the floor and cast his eyes downwards. 

Brahma silently implanted a location map of the missing file in to the chosen one's memory, to extend a helping hand. This prompted the person to get back to his work spot to resume the search. Brahma and Chitragupta waited till the end of the workday, and again enquired about the missing file. The chosen one was perplexed why these two strangers should take such an interest in the file.

Unable to curb his enthusiasm, Chitragupta asked," How do you feel now"? The chosen one replied in a barely audible voice," Luckily, I found the missing file though someone else got appreciated; if not, I would have got a reprimand. How can I change what is written in my forehead!" Mumbling 'twice is enough in a short period', Brahma hurriedly pulled Chitragupta along and rushed out to be near the chosen one's residence. 

There a few heavyweights were waiting at the door of his house. A mild shiver ran through Chitragupta's body. The hefties have come not to welcome but to collect a loan shark's dues. The default appeared to be that the chosen one had stood guarantee. Taking pity, Brahma sent a melting look at the hefties, made them to apologise and extend the deadline up to an undisclosed future date.

Appearing innocent, both of them approached the chosen one and enquired, "What is the issue now?" "The issue is an extension without a specific expiry date. Now my worries are whether my friend will repay the loan and when will the day of reckoning come for me? It would have been better if it got settled, one way or the other, today itself. Who can escape Brahma’s written will?”

This unsolicited intervention in the life of the chosen one, reminded them of the mess created by Yamadharmaj, in the recent past, and the works that had to be done by them to clear it up. As if on cue, they realised it, within milliseconds of each other. Simultaneously they came to the same conclusion that a change of scene was in order.

As they reached a street corner, a procession of cars swept past raising a mini dust storm. With watering eyes and dust choked voice Brahma telegraphed, “who, why and in such a hurry?” Chitragupta calmly replied, “Welcome to the world of politics. That caravan is probably doing a tour of shrines!” New to politics, that too of an earthly variety, Brahma looked confused. Shouldering the onus, Chitragupta explained, “It is fashionable to decry faiths and beliefs and customary to praise faiths and go around visiting shrines during elections.” Still confused Brahma asked, “How this helps, is it not contradictory?” Chitragupta patiently replied, “Exactly. Controversy keeps the politico in the news. The bashings keep a section of voters happy. The shrine rounds are to reach out to the 'offended others' on the eve of elections. Ultimately, what matters is winning an election”.

Harried and unconvinced Brahma persisted, “What happens if the politico wins or loses”? Chitragupta went suddenly quiet. Heart beats elapsed before he gathered up his courage to address the conundrum. In a feeble voice he said, “The winner starts all over again to decry faiths. The loser, as is wont, will blame it on the writing in his or her head!”

The caravan to the shrine perked up interest in Brahma, before he could react to Chitragupta’s last point. He asked, “Have you gathered any intelligence on this aspiring candidate?”. Pausing for a moment to collect his thoughts, Chitragupta started a narrative studded with twists, turns and unexpected jumps. After getting the picture and to err on the cautious side, Brahma wanted to wait for the aspiring neta's election result, what ever may be the case. It was a long wait and on the day of successful rejection of his candidature, Brahma followed the lone car travelling towards the same shrine. They saw the dejected candidate murmuring something, repeatedly and non-stop. as it in a trance.

Chitragupta looked at Brahma and indicated that they should move away from that place. After travelling some distance, Chitragupta said, "I think it is better to end our journey here and now". Brahma asked, "Why?". He replied, "That man in the shrine was murmuring if only he had known the writing in his head, he would neither have contested nor would have gone around any shrine."

Brahma felt utterly dejected by the act of being blamed for charting any living beings' fortune. His explanation that the saying has no connection whatsoever with him had always fallen on deaf ears. The engraved DNA refuses to accept and happily goes about with the blame game. Now is it time for him to worry about choosing a suitable power willing to relieve him from the blame game? 

Now it was the turn of Brahma to go silent. He started questioning the timing and merits of his decision to come on this tour. In the side lines, he had other doubts on his choice of bringing Chitragupta along instead of Yamadharmaraj. His silence kept on building up like clouds bereft of rains. He found himself alone in the same perpetual state of looking but not seeing, listening but not hearing and thinking but not remembering. This made him to rue this tour! Making up his mind he announced the decision to depart to familiar surroundings.

On the return journey Brahma told Chitragupta, "I could not even imagine the complexity in a human being. If they don’t have, they yearn for it; if they get it, then they worry about negative possibilities. One thing is clear, let us keep these office and election politics away from our life. Which shrines could we visit to seek blessings of which deity, if push comes to shove? I understand, from your in-depth analysis, that politician is like the one who touched a live wire. The hand will not release its hold from power till the end....?” 

Chitragupta stood speechless, wondering, “Is Brahma prepared to endure the pains of listlessness at home rather than being an official or a politician!” Aware that Brahma could not use the thought reader, Chitragupta chuckled to himself, “One head gives mild headache; many gives earthquake”. He chided himself for using this analogy as ‘quakes’ are not common in their Lok!