Type-1 Terrorists, terrorism and sponsors in "Guns Sans Frontières"

"Guns Sans Frontières"   Worms in woodworks and from woods:

Imaginch, did not know what made him to read about the Anobium Punctatum, a common furniture beetle. This beetle lays eggs on moist wood which become larvae (worms). They bore deep into the wooden articles and make it their home. Over a period of time, it destroys the home that sheltered it. They do not carry and propagate diseases, except causing minor discomfort. He named this beetle/larva (worms) and the likes as worms in the woodworks.

His wandering mind did some acrobatic manoeuvres, started to explore the phenomenon of terror and terrorism. He noticed that the worms and the terrorists shared many common characteristics between them – infesting to destroy. He delved deep to list the similarities. Ambrosia beetles, woodborer weevils, bark borer beetles, and deathwatch beetles infect the woodworks. 

Likewise, terror outfits of different ideologies infiltrate across borders. For simplicity’s sake, he named the terrorists as worms from the woods, as they often choose woods or forests as cover. Both like wood, infest, stay hidden, have ravenous appetite and feed on to destroy the shelter that harbours them. A major difference being, the worms and their destruction is a containable, with suitable protective treatments. No such preventive measures exist to contain this contagion called terrorists.

In his view, compassion to terrorists is tantamount to surrendering sovereignty.  The only treatment that would work is to put them down - lock stock and barrel, like in the old western movies. This will be better than naming and shaming the sponsors. Coming to the mindset of the international community towards terrorism and sponsors, he doubted that even the gunshots in the western movies could disturb their deep slumber.

To keep the narrative, on track to avoid getting lost in the woods, he came up with certain markers. He designated the ‘sponsor’ is the nation sharing borders, or in the same geographical region or has an inter-continental location, with a common ideology of inimical intent and selfish motives (this would become clear in part-2 of the narrative). The ‘perpetrators’ could be residents of the above qualifying nation/nations, as the terrorist are guns sans borders.

The worms from the woods range from ignorant and indoctrinated to learned and illogical. These camouflaged terrorists call themselves as liberators and freedom fighters. Once out, they perpetrate different forms of terror. Military grade combat training, including strategy, logistic and use of state-of-the-art technologies – under free education programme, probably with funds misappropriated from loans and grants given for developmental works. 

Modus operandi of these courageous, hardcore worms is:  On national duty, infiltrate and avoid contact with military/paramilitary forces, as much as possible. Select soft civilian targets, unleash terror attacks and escape alive to repeat the cycle, barring unforeseen encounter operations.

The tag, as non-state actors, is a meaningless misnomer. The terrorist has residences and families. And for the expedient of deniability, the citizenship records of the ‘host’ country registers them as ghosts with postal addresses, bank accounts and satellite phones. Their ethereal status draws the politicos, to hobnob, fall heads-over-heels, with these worms, to have a tete a tete. Each an invaluable asset to the other.

The safe haven enjoyed by these two-legged worms from the woods, made Imaginch to lock on to the nation that breeds and supports them. Taking the cudgel, he named the border sharing nation/nations, as worms that stay in the woods as type-1. These type-1 worms, facilitate the terrorists to sneak across borders in battle gear, with impunity. Instead of diplomatic passports, briefs or pouches, the terrorists carry grenades. 

Is it not the moral responsibility of the sponsor to ensure safe return of terrorists to home bases? The sponsor guarantees by providing satellite imageries and artillery cover during infils and exfils.

This Type-1 worms live with defunct moral compass.  As a state policy, not adverse to use terrorist as ambassadors to dispense cross-border terrorism. The nativity and the germinating pool of indoctrinated professionalism of the worms from the woods, is exploited to the hilt by this sponsor. As an added bonus, the sponsor has a perfected, successful low-cost military strategy with deniability for captive use, in proxy wars in the neighbourhood and a profitable business model terrorists as exportable commodity!  

To further their business model, this type-1 worms do not hesitate to dangle ‘strategic location carrots’ in exchange for umbrellas to shield them, from scrutiny and indictment. These quid pro quo umbrellas cut both the ways- nations, with devious minds, do not hesitate to help the strategic ally, and the ally offering FTA on all its exportable commodities and guaranteed deniability! Imaginch boiled at the callous attitude of nations hedge-funding terrorism. He decided to deal with such nations and related subjects separately, in part -2, as Type-2 worms that stay in the woods.

Two things happen, after any terror strike. First, likeminded worms from other terror outfits come out, waving different colour flags, to express solidarity and support. These comrades- in-arms are ready to offer a lend-lease programme – with munitions, technology and even able-bodied worms to swell the ranks. If they are foreign worms merrier the camp becomes.

Jostling for attention, the fledgling, home-grown version  of worms from the woods, (victim and sponsor) comes out in support. They shamelessly deliver sermons and eulogise to downplay the cross-border terrorism. They try to score bullet-points and badly needed exposure, to go up in the ladder of terrorism. These are attempts with certain aims. To address survival, financial crunch, and as a sure-shot means to move on the road to get ‘designated’. These home-grown versions, certainly have vision! Here, Imaginch had a doubt. How, the ‘designated’ outfits garner support and generate more revenue than the sponsoring nation?

The remorseless terrorists enjoy the aftermath of a terror attack, with a great deal of electronic and print media attention, focused on their heroic acts. They feel elated and encouraged by the epithets and upgrades, elevating them to the status of freedom fighters, from the ranks of mindless butchers. Their facsimiles do more electronic rounds than that of genuine freedom fighters, who never got it in their lifetime!

If at all possible, these media houses would have gone ahead, to pin gallantry medals on these ‘heroes’, conveniently forgetting that these worms are nothing but terrorists and their avocation is nothing but terrorism.  What the media attention achieves? The terrorists celebrate it by firing volleys of bullets in acknowledgement. Do terrorists worth the wasted print and pixels?   Imaginch fumed at this travesty steeped in hypocrisy!

 Second, the worms that jump on bandwagons (vocal, activist types) and worms with opaque vision (blind supporters) bravely come out from their quantum state of being there but actually not anywhere! The worms that jump on bandwagons, reside in individual glass jars. Going around, inside the highly polished inner wall of this protected domain, each worm admires its own reflection. Failing to comprehend the reality, it gets carried away by thinking that there are many more of its ilk, in action, with it. Truly, a narcissistic world, these worms that jump on bandwagons live! 

 Ring-side view or not, the worms with opaque vision refuse to see anything that is amiss and fail to do anything. Terrorism and terror funding, going hand in hand, right under their very eyes does not look bad. Forced to sit on this bullet edge, their dilemma is - to be patriotic or show loyalty to the inimical ‘friends’? Somewhere down the line, they have developed a malfunctioning conscience with an acquired opaque vision syndrome (AOVS).

Meet the faint secondary, 'sporty' peacenik worms that stay in the woods, lurking besides the main rainbow. This kind of worms, indigenous or foreign, often break cover, to bask in televised 15 second glory. Imaginch focused his attention on the indigenous ‘sporty’ peacenik worms, who miss no opportunity to seek humane treatment for the terrorists. In their sympathetic view, shooting without compunction and using fellow humans as Kevlar vests, is nothing but a minor human aberration.  

If these worms are from a political outfit, they try to exploit the acts of terrorist, to legitimise their sympathetic relevance- a pole vault patriotism. At the polling booths, this sportsmanship gets rewarded with empty ballot boxes. But the game goes on.

The other type of peacenik worms, wears political garb, grabs available mikes to dispense profound wisdom. Unfortunately, these scholarly analyses turn out to be jokes at home, and fail to tickle the audience, abroad.  Whatever branch they hail from, these ‘sporty’ worms would go after popularity rather than confronting the aided perpetrators. The who is who - the nation or the terrorists, is the catalyst to energise these peaceniks.

Imaginch wondered ‘what would be their response, if terrorists attack them!’ The attack would not happen, as these peacenik worms are under heavy security envelop.  Since they are safe from such terror attacks, they counsel vociferously to wave an olive branch and book a seat at the negotiating table to meet with these perpetrators. 

Unfortunately, these home-grown peacenik worms don't realise that the terrorists or the bullets they fire will not make any distinction, at the time of an attack. Imaginch boldly decided to shame them as humanity humiliators. He fumed, why not dismantle the security envelop and safeguard the public. This will definitely save many lives instead of a few?”

Now, Imaginch understood that all these worms, without distinction, are predators. They terrorise or lend support to the ‘heroic acts’ of terrorists. In case of the yet-to-make-the mark peaceniks, it is a way forward to grow, by hanging with the seasoned. He debated on this question – which type of worms are dangerous? The disturbing answer that came out was - Worms that stay in the woods, at home, as they bring complex dimension, in tackling the menace of terror.

Worming their ways into the hearts of academics, they have found ways to reach the courts and stall the firm handed dealing of terrorists and terrorism. In the name of activism, the combating response - swift or slow is decried in equal measures, with paralysing public demonstrations. Yet, they do not have time or artificial tears to shed for the victims and their families and to condemn the mayhem.  To give these worms company, media houses too ignored the existence and sufferings of victims’ families.

All these infected worms, vehemently deny the existence and the where abouts of terrorists because they view them as freedom fighters and martyrs. Are only those in uniforms duty bound to lay down their lives, so that all these selfish worms could enjoy freedom, protection and be opinionated? Imaginch wanted to urge the academics and activists - wake up and answer, is it not an irony, since it not personal?

Amid all these manoeuvrings, what do the terrorising worms, that enjoy the limelight do? Designated or not, as per their SOP, plan another attack with wanton impunity, spread the disease of destruction and inflict sufferings. There is one thing that is common between the worms in the woodworks and the worms from the woods – both proliferate, infest and never perish, but destroy the very shelter that housed them.

What do the families of victims do? The burden of tragedy makes them to turn over another page of life. Why there is no public outcry, demanding economic boycott of the sponsor as cost for its transgressions? Are they satisfied that the band-aid type ex-gratia or insurance payouts announced, would compensate and mitigate the sufferings? The world does not give a damn about the victims - buried or burnt. Why the worms in the woods are not forced to cease, desist, deny shelter and act against terrorists?  What prevents the sponsoring nation from doing it, helplessness?

 No. The sponsoring nation gets to play the victim card (themselves being sufferers) to get sympathy and strategic importance card to get funds to tide over financial collapse. Why would it close the well-established supply chain and forgo the profitable business model based on terror and terrorism?”

We all live in the world of victims, perpetrators, sponsors, sympathisers, and importers/exporters of terrorism. Imaginch could add nothing more. Has he become a cherry picker?  No, thanks. He does not fancy meeting a worm in the fruit!

The miffed Judge

Dripping wet and feeling pangs of apprehension, I swiped on the face and accepted the judge's call. He sounded tired and a trace of rejection seeped through his voice. 

The judge simply said, I had a fight with the Registrar, for refusing to publish my suo motu verdicts.

This electrical shocker stunned me. I asked, "Why would he and on what grounds?

The judge replied, "I can understand the why, but the grounds really shook me like an earthquake."

I asked, dropping my tone in to a sympathetic scale, "on what grounds?"

He called it as " Invitus et non-sollicitatus" extra judicial activism. Have you ever heard of this?

Yes. In one of the lecture classes and we students termed it as non-sollicitatus , meaning we did not want it.

I did not tell him that the Registrar meant that he reluctantly rejects the unsolicited judgements.

The judge: But I did not hear it even once.

Me: Probably, the intention of the Registrar was to rectify the situation.  Usually, the judge would direct a kill-stare at me, but he badly needed my shoulder to cry on.

I asked him,” why you called me and what I have to do with this?”

Counsellor, Let us talk, meet me in the court.

I wished for a miracle - a walkable distance stretching beyond the orbit of Mars. That distance might have appeared very far even for a miracle to reach. End result- the miracle let me down and my feet walked me for the talk.

He said, “You know, all these suo motu cases were argued by you as pro bono. Why should I alone wallow in misery for this highhandedness.  Ok. Is there a foreign word for highhandedness?”

Me: “Judge there are.  "Superbia" is pride and arrogance.  "arrogantia" roasts you with presumption and disdain.  "nimis manus" conveys the idea of overbearing or excessive control. Having dealt with this Registrar for long, who else would be a better person than you, to judge what he implied about the verdicts?”

Good or rotten, the apple does not fall far from the tree. The rotten ones have worms too! That old owl of a Registrar, how dare he...

Me: “Judge, please stop right there. You are about to step into a probable libel suit there. “

The judge with a faraway look replied like an automaton, “Unless this issue is resolved, how can I take suo motu cognizance of that libel suit, you mentioned, and appoint you as a pro bono counsellor?

I understood his "status mentis" and murmured to myself how do I tell him - To go back to doodling or wood carving or any other engaging activity to calm down? Will he understand that I meant well for his "tranquillare" or "lenire" or "quietare"?

The judge is known for his instant teleporting with teleprompting skills. The talk is that he does so to unsettle an opponent. Whatever it is, I am only nervous to receive his calls and not in person. The binding equation is rather strong - the only suo motu judge and his unfortunate pro bono counsellor. 

Suddenly he spoke, " You feel as though I am making noise about a legal language? Let me tell you something about noise: The type 1, from those who, with third or fourth generation getting educated in private schools/ foreign universities, wake up and make political noise on the richness of a language, which is not spoken by all. The type 2 noise comes from persons following same modus operandi, to sing praises of a particular tongue in which neither he is proficient nor has visions for future generations.

The type 3 noise maker is the one who tries to ride two boats, into a language controversy - points out all fingers on the neighbouring state's dismal performance questioning the failure percentage. This noise maker conveniently forgets that his state has a ‘no retention policy'. 

The type 4 noise maker does all the above, but tries to establish, with archaeological diggings, that his tongue and cultural roots predate the world of languages with antiquity. His 3nd and 4th generation study abroad, to probably to understand the antiquity as medium of instruction. 

In turn, he has ignited the desire in society to dig and find the antiquity or mediocrity of their beloved language. But there is one thing they don't vocally state but imply - future generations be damned or doomed.”

This lengthy speech left me speechless, literally and verbally. In confusion I asked, “Judge where are you going with all these? Why are you worried about the noise and what it has to do with your tiff with the Registrar?

Judge: “I am going back to my question of foreign words used in verdicts, denials and dismissals. By using a foreign language to reject my sound legal verdicts - suo motu or not, is the Registrar not making a silent noise?”

I felt a lightning bolt striking twice at the same place. To say, stunned by this outburst is an understatement or is it litotes? Still, the relevance to the Registrar's reluctance eluded me, like an eel fish. How am I going to ground him ,on his own repeated usage of foreign words?

As per his own words, he has no legal standing for presiding and dealing with cases, without they being filed and so on. It eluded my limited legal Latin vocabulary, why the Registrar has not used “Ultra vires” an apt phrase instead of “Invitus et non-sollicitatus" when both mean, more or less - plus minusve, to acting or done beyond one's legal power or authority! I felt lost in the woods of Latin words. At this point, I decided to end the session for the day. at the Judge, “May we reconvene, at a mutually convenient time, tomorrow?”

The judge surprised me. “Let us switch the language and meet for a “Voir dire”, so to say, 'to speak the truth'. How this works for you, counsellor?”

I vaguely recollected this legal term, with French nativity. Jury selection depends on it. The competence of a witness to testify, also can be examined with this tool. My doubt- is he trying to test my competence or the lack thereof?

To pass the competent test, I said, “Judge, usage of Latin, in the chambers of law, is as old as the Roman laws. It adds richness to legal pronouncements. Clarity and precision, stability and unchanging nature, is ideally suited for use in legal terminology. Reduces ambiguity and potential for misinterpretation. Its continued usage is a matter of tradition and legal professionals, are reluctant to abandon them entirely. 

A language is a civilisation's gift, that has endured, persevered, flourished and floundered. This does not mean the language too should flounder. English and other languages becoming the dominant language in legal practice, could not do away with this prejudice. For example, suo motu and pro bono did not be native because you are fine with using them!"

Counsellor, hold your horses there. When I am dealing with our penal code, why are you bringing in Roman and French horses? 

I sensed this travel will never go anywhere and I did not remind him that the French horse was from his stable. Politely informed the judge, a recess would be in order to tether the horses and refresh our minds.

I took this time to reflect.  My lecturer spent an hour to explain why Latin, Greek and French words got into the legal system. In his baritone voice, he intoned, “The Romans gave us the template to build upon, for the legal systems and naturally a few Latin words, came along. This language being precise and unchanging in its meaning, lent a regal voice to pronounce our legal proceedings. Not to be left behind the Greek and French languages also offered some choice words. 

Now let me introduce a few of the most often used words in court proceedings. This will help you to be in the same page as the law, which you all will be practicing.”  Some took serious notes, and I didn’t.  He was an erudite scholar, which I started to appreciate after leaving the college!

Each imprisoned in his own thoughts, we went to a nearby brew house specialising in one of a kind of coffee. The joint looked empty of patrons and a lone man, standing in front of the counter, was chasing daydreams with a napkin. The moment he saw us he appeared to be having two minds - to run us off or simply vanish. Concluding both to be impractical, he beamed a plastic smile at the judge. Without further exchange, he disappeared behind a curtain and reappeared with two steaming cups. I presumed, it could be the one-of-a-kind brew.

Yes, it turned out to be just that - burnt coffee seeds, cogitating with a little engine oil, condiments and some undeterminable ingredients. The judge took to the drink like fish to water.  Moments of silent exchange between the judge and the daydream chaser came to an end and the judge announced the recess to be over and back to where we let off.

Instead of the adjourned matter under discussion, the judge started a new ,unpublicised story. Years back when he was a lawyer, this coffee shop owner was implicated in civil suit. I argued his case, pro bono, and won. That time, the old court was functioning nearby, and he had a healthy business going. Tides turned, the court moved to a new premises drying up his business. For old times’ sake, I visit the shop whenever possible. He thinks I had something to do with the loss of business. That is why the lukewarm welcome I get, alone or in company.

Masking my sarcasm I asked, “Why you remembered this old story, now”

The judge’s sharp look conveyed annoyance and he said, “If only I had forgotten, then I should try to remember it. Did you ever wonder, why my cases always involved you as a pro bono counsellor?”

Fearing another lengthy story about him rescuing a greasy joint in a suo motu case, I kept my counsel to remain silent.

The judge provoked me to say something. Throwing caution and reprimands to the winds I blurted out slogan like responses.

 Judgement reserved with foreign words is Law in regal clothes.

Judgement without foreign words, is like peacock without its vibrant plumage.

Judgement reserved with or without foreign words is Law in darned clothes.

Should I bid adieu for suo motu cases and pro bono appearances? Mentally I started the process of filing a ‘habeas corpus’ and a ‘writ mandamus’ to be on the safer side. I took an ex-parte decision not to wait and leave the judge alone, to fight with his Latin, Greek and French demons! However, from a corner of my heart oozed empathy for this arbiter senilis.

At that point in time, a thunderous noise broke through to my mind. Postponing the debate which alerted me - conscious or subconscious type, I hastily audited the safety of my limbs and faculties.  Now, once again the thunder was trying to get admitted through my front door. Cursing silently, I opened the door and came face to face with the judge. Not only his presence but his invitation for a stroll in the park set me on fire. 

Reading my face, the judge asked " did I interrupt any romantic dreams?"

This last statement confused me more than his opinions.  Incredulous, I asked, " judge why you made such a statement?"

Calmly he said, " Look at you. Does the Latin lexicon, you are holding offers clues to daydreams or is it sub Judice to comment?"

Then only I realised that I might have fallen asleep, reading and thinking about the learned judge (not clear why). 

I agreed for the walk in the park, to clear my mind (and send off the judge), if he would be kind enough to come inside and wait for me to freshen up.

Everyone has a story:

A train journey starts with passengers competing to occupy overhead luggage space, and then their reserved seats. Like the crowd in panick, diving in to a bomb shelter, the inanimate things called luggage get dragged and pushed, amidst passengers squeezing by to occupy non-existent space. Jostling and unmindful shoving of fellow passengers, with dear heavy or sharp-edged luggage comes to an end later than sooner. Restriction on weight of luggage or self-regulation by passengers is still buried below the horizon.

Can you imagine a train journey without the aisle walk of vendors and their trays.? You can't miss the evasive measures, of passengers sitting on either side of aisle, to protect their shoulders, from trays training their sharp edges to leave a painful reminder. 

Welcome to the audio chatter, intermingled with ringing of cell phones and belted out music (gone out of volume control). Pity be upon those travellers, who need a bit of silent space. The travel is thrill for some and ill for some.

This traveller has managed to climb the ladder of age, nearing the eighties. In the bargain, he encounters difficulties with certain frequencies in the audible and visual fields of his bodily functions. This restricted him to signals from the front and back rows from his seat. Not a nosey traveller but felt happy, to pass time, to gather whatever sight and sound came his way. 

Train travel invariably fills the compartment with stories, if one is eager to hear or plain bored or no story of own to tell. This traveller had free time and a journey to complete. He was all ears, or whatever percentage of it was at his disposal.

The first snippets of a story was about a taken for a ride episode. A family entered the compartment, as the train started to inch forward. He has heard phrases such as just in time, neck of the moment and the like. But nothing prepared him with a phrase for this occasion. After a breather, the male member of the group fumed and narrated his experience in booking a ride. A few got unilaterally cancelled after acceptance. This resulted in frantic hunting for another ride which ate into considerable time, effectively shortening the time to reach the station. 

Finally, when on the move, he and his family spent anxious seconds, fighting the raising blood pressure, watching the backed-up traffic, mentally willing the signals to turn green on the road and stay red for the train they are trying to board. All through this turmoil, they had refrained from urging the cab driver to step on the accelerator. 

The nearing the eighties traveller delved into his ordeal, of the same day. Taking no chances, he had booked a ride well in advance and left early to the station. The vehicular traffic was moving without any hold up, on the road. For some unknown reasons, the cabbie kept the speedometer climbing. Battling with backed up traffic, on a regular basis or the traffic free road must have given the cabbie’s foot an incentive to press the pedal all the way down. 

He remained silent, with a sense of unease, and ticking off the familiar landmarks on his mental list, enroute to his destination. The cab reached the station and his beating heart started slowing down. Unable to hold his tongue any more he asked, “I did not indicate to hurry it up, why did you drive so fast?’

The answer stunned him – “Am I not travelling in the same vehicle? If you had told me not to hurry, I would have cancelled the trip at your doorsteps itself.” He praised himself for not calling the cabbie a reckless driver!

After a brief interval, it was the turn of a discourse on a heavy subject. Regret and its effect on the mind. It perked up his interest. Two friends in the front, on left side row, had the field alternating between them. 

If you had used the medial orbitofrontal cortex region, you would have avoided the emotional tub and dip to end up in this goofed up wrong decision. The angry tone implied a deep friendship. 

I am regretting it now. Why should you rub salt, now in the wound? The reply had shades of hurt.

Yes, I would say again. You allowed the neurological process to overwhelm, without striking the needed response and behaviour. For forgetting the experience from the past happenings, you are now left with regret.

You know, I am a sensitive person. I know regret is a negative emotion and leads to anxiety, depression, and feelings of helplessness. You will say. accept regret, avoid self-blame, root out its cause, learning, practice self-compassion and manage the negative impact and move forward. Be assured, I don’t have a doctor’s prescription for anxiety, depression and the like. Happy?

The topic was dense, pseudo-medical and confusing. He mused, maybe they have some medical background or rehearsing for a presentation or writing a paper as a project work. The near 80-year-old, wondered, whether his weak audio system is suffering with auditory hallucination!  He regretted lending his ears to this conversation. 

To pass time, till the next story gets aired, he looked through the window. He reminisced about the regrets he had collected, but somehow manged to dispose them of, without this medical knowledge. Before he could travel farther in his memory lane, a vendor called his attention back to a serving of hot soup. Now he became aware of two children engaging their parents in a shouting match and on closer look he knew why? A vendor with ice cream stood watching with anticipation of the children winning the shouting match!

He did not wait for long. This conversation started coming from the back row, on the right. Just a fleeting thought crossed over in his mind - how come the symmetry? First it was in the left and front row. Now from the right and back row. A coincidence, beating probability? Weak in mathematics, he let the thought slide along with the scenery rushing by.

It was a story about backstabbing and fight back. He was curious to know why travel tends to loosen tongues? From the one-way conversation, it was a sales rep pouring out his angst. Being aware of the world of reps, he understood targets, sales figures, projections and the dangling incentive ‘carrots’, even without the aid of sliced pie or snaking curves or scatter graph.

He pitied this lot, leaving home for a week or two, bunkering down in hotels, railway stations and managing to survive on variety of foods and beverages. Their constant companions being a travel kit, laptop and one or two cell phones. They clock more travel under their belt and long walks under their shoes. It was time for a listen-in.

Can you believe this, Mr. X could stoop to such a level?

............... (.)

I know, he was your best friend and all. But that does not mean I am wrong.

........................(.)

How can you say that? He not only hijacked my hard-won order but went behind my back to get it on his books.

............... …………(.)

How does it matter to me, that he is way behind in getting orders? How it matters to me if he is losing his touch and placement?  It is a rank bad and stinking act to pull a stunt like this.

...............................(.)

Listen, this is interesting. I led him to believe so and so company had agreed to place orders worth in lakhs. I left the contact details in plain sight. He snooped around and took it to the higher ups to prove his mettle as a rep to reckon with.  Lo and behold, when the bosses tried to contact the said so and so company, they denied any such intention. You know what, I had a quiet laugh and he had eggs splattered on his face. You know two can play the game.

...............................(.)

Though he would have loved to hear the conversation at the other end, the Bluetooth was the spoil sport. He could not blame it.  The rep hung up on the call and probably to get busy with his spread sheets.

Part-2 Yama presents his project

Too many technical bullets pinging inside his heads, proved to be little too much and Brahma decided to avail a break. He looked at Yama and said, “I am taking a break at this point. If you have any urgent issues, deal with them and come back. Then you can present on your IRRAG project.”

Yama did not have any pressing issues except this.  Chitragupta was told to take as long as needed and disappear if you have to whereas in my case he could give me only a brief break. The only mention of appreciation, which included Chitragupta also, received was that ways would be found, to master the complex problems.

 Miffed and with time on hand, he utilised this it, to model his presentation, more or less on the lines drawn by Chitragupta. Not knowing how Brahma would react, he felt apprehensive. On the positive side, Brahma’s might offer similar helps to him also. His probing questions to improve the clarity and direction would benefit him and the project. Yet he could not avoid butterflies doing sorties in his stomach.

 Brahma had received loud and clear the disgruntled brainwaves from Yama. In a conciliatory tone, he addressed, “You might have felt letdown, when I pre-empted and declared that you had found what you wanted to. Taking it in the right spirit, you did not show resentment. Sensing a show down, you diplomatically intervened and pacified us to cool down to carry on further discussions, under conducive atmosphere. Rest assured, it is impossible to find you wanting under any circumstance.”

 As if nothing has happened, Brahma indicated his readiness. Bringing the butterflies , on sortie runs, in to the hangar, Yama he began:

“Even cursed souls would feel at home, if provided with modern facilities. The cave-dweller mentality has vanished a long ago and now, some of these souls have become sophisticated, inventing cutting-edge technologies, expanding realms of science, medicine and the universe, authoring revolutionary theories backed by mathematical equations, that run into pages. Quirk of fate or cosmic glitch, these cursed souls have residence in the hall of raging fire. In the modernisation drive, the scarry torture chambers will be redesignated as soul reformation cellular centers.

The IRRAG project is the corner stone and two pronged. In the first step, modernise the hall of raging fire by constructing individual cellular units with computerised climatic control. Feed the biodata of the assigned soul, and the rest is automatic, like hands free driving. The population of ordinary souls and de-entangled souls will be happy and no hassles.” 

“How this project will control the crowd of 'entangled souls at the gates’, which nowadays, seems to be growing and unruly?”

 The second step of this project addresses this. Instead of a conducted tour through the hall of raging fire, the entangled souls will be made to walk through a hot canopy-enclosure, of considerable length and get disentangled. Then onwards, further processing proceeds smoothly.  Each soul needs a specific treatment. This bio-data based operation is entirely left to the computers, for execution. 

A backup awareness programme /campaign, will be regularly conducted at earth, to emphasise that the quantum mechanics applies only to living beings and not to souls, that have to pass through YamLok.  At this stage the souls seeking entangled pairs have two options - hold on and wander in the empty space or relinquish, enter YamLok to complete the life cycle. Ultimately, the wandering souls also have to come to YamLok to reside.

Brahma was literally levitating from his seat. He was astonished, as Yama has been skillfully hiding behind the facade of ......why??

The concept looks simple enough. Then why your face is showing lines and ridges?

I am also facing technical problems, in the form of multiple options. The problems and solutions are becoming more complex.

Is it not better to have options? Suppose you have a problem in the first line and find the solution in the second line. Likewise, solve all in two steps. End of matter. 

Not so, for the super intelligent scientists, we are dealing with. Initially, they also do the same. Then comes a peer review. This group, populated by similar intelligentsia, do postmortem reviews, suggest embellishments. This back and forth comes to a stage, where below the first line many more lines, with confusing symbols get added and the last line ends with the same answer arrived in the original second line. 

Exasperated Brahma commented, “This looks needless and ridiculous, to say the least. Anyhow, tell me why the symbols confuse you?”

Two reasons. One, each symbol, again stands for another string of symbols and calculations. Two, it really beats me how in their tiny mind-space, these people keep, remember, retrieve and use them to confuse the others in the end.

For a moment forget the symbols and move on to highlight areas of concern. We will try to butt our heads and find a way out. This statement of Brahma had the desired effect. With the secure knowledge of backing, Yama proceeded to…..

Yama what is the first option, is it not infra something?

Yes, it was. But during detailed discussions, all sort of options fell in a heap on the table. Along with the scientists, Chitragupta too lent his idea to enlarge the scope.

What did he do?

Confident about his project, getting off quickly, he inserted his maser idea as an option.

But was he not telling us, that it has many unresolved issues?

Yes. Unfortunately, he floated the idea took place before the maser technique was discussed. 

Simply, that option could have been kept aside at that point. One option closed.

But the super intelligent scientists adamantly refused to drop the option. Argued that an option once considered should not be discarded, suggesting working around the problem is the solution. As this exactly gives them with an opportunity, to research and present another paper, of course after peer reviews.

Are these people so strong willed that you two could not prevail upon them? Now do you understand why my predecessor cautiones about cosmic surprises and smart species!

Now back to the discussion. What else are the irritants needing redressal?

The scientists are veering some more and have come up with a layered thermal concept. 

Do one thing. Tell them to build a working model and demonstrate their layered thermal thing. Obviously. If I correctly guess, they would split hairs to get the funds from us. We will give. Also advise them that we would like to personally witness a live demonstration.

Suppose they don't fall easily for this, then what happens?

A negotiator does not dump all his inducements at the same time. The important concession is revealed, when everything fails.

After offering so much. What else is left to negotiate with?

Me and my plan to build a new facility here ....

Whether the scientists will be happy or not, Yama felt very happy for three reasons. One, effectively Brahma had taken over the project, by heavily investing in it. Two, his solutions were simple- one liners or at the most two or three lines. Three, no peer reviews and several more lines of symbols and calculations to be tackled.

Yama, apprise me after achieving break throughs in your negotiations. Forget not to take Chitragupta along, he might fish out sharks without lure. With this passing comment, Brahma left the place. As he walked away, he became aware of something disturbing. A passionate and impromptu panel discussion started among his heads. The hot topic, being himself, worried him.

The front head pointed out a bias - Chitragupta being his protégé enjoyed more leeway. The head at the back refuted it by saying Yama also enjoyed a closeness. The left side head aired a worry about Brahma spending more time in YamLok. Will this not be construed as a domain tress pass? The right head short stopped further discussion - like among his four heads, there is no distinction and earmarked domains for the Trimurthys.  Don't expect or create a conflict.

Part 1 Chitragupta presents his project

Brahma thought about the affair of “The matter rests with the souls”. He did not favour a conditional re-birth option and was unwilling to convince these misguided souls that their disrupted microtubules is the reason for entanglement.  He instructed Chitragupta to take up the task, of releasing them from the bondage.  The ever ‘hedging-the-bet Chitragupta’ diplomatically suggested ‘the pyro therapy’ and shifted the responsibility on to Yamadharmaraj. His protégé even went to the extent of voicing  a veiled threat of possible fall outs, had I granted a re-birth option or failed to pin the blame on the disrupted microtubules.

As a follow up, he spent some alone time on “Bahama leads an excursion”, to reminisce on the trio’s experiences, on earth. Yama might have felt letdown, because I had pre-empted and declared that he had found what he wanted to, whereas in the case of Chitragupta, I had to promise not to reveal his secret. 

For some reason, when I enquired whether he had come across   any other quantum phenomenon, Chitragupta, uncharacteristically, raised his hackles, and almost rebuffed me saying, “I tried once and we ended up with ‘the entangled souls at the gates’, if you want, I have a cartload of information on quantum molecular vibration, gravity and so on, to unload. Want to hear?”  Sensing a show down was imminent, Yama quickly intervened and pacified, “Let us all go back in peace and discuss our experiences under conducive atmosphere.”   

Deciding enough is enough, Brahma decided to call in Yama and Chitragupta for a formal discussion on their pet projects. He knew both are eager to know about his trip to the banyan tree. He also wanted to share with them, the interaction he had with his predecessor. His thoughts, of now or in future, got interrupted by the arrival of Yama and Chitragupta.

He asked, “Chitragupta, “Why, so many of this “Astro-marine-arium...” inscription sprouting are all over the place? What is it about?”

“A reminder to myself to keep actively working on this very complex project. After a time, the mind returns only gibberish as product of my thinking. A late-night flash of, divide and progress occurred. This public display helps me to stay in focus, on one issue at a time.”

Brimming with Interest, Brahma questioned, " How does it help, to stay on track and solve problems, one by one?"

“Simple. When an issue gets resolved, at that location, I turn the inscription upside down. Did you not notice it?”

"Ok. ok. Now will you give me a synopsis of whatever your idea is?"

"Gladly, but here and there a patch of grey area, is still out there needing some more illumination.  The project hangs on three threads. First, designing an antenna to receive, enrich and re-emit maser beam to any distance. Second, set up the laboratory for the planned species creation. Third, finalising the design parameters for creating the astro-marine species. Presently, the scale up is on the back-burner.  I hope now, it is clear why numerous inscriptions have appeared. I am all ears to hear your view, as it occurs.”

Knowing all, Bramha kept looking interested. Earlier, he had promised that Chitragupta’s secret would remain so, with him.  He asked, “Will you explain, part by part?”

“Masers have exceptional sensitivity and can handle multiple tasks, at short and long range. Galactic distances are no barrier for these waves. The function of antenna will be to collect, emitted masers from dead stars and black hole regions. It is free and inexhaustible source of energy. I chose this microwave frequencies rather than lasers working in high frequency ranges.”

Brahma said, “Good thinking. Go on.”

“The critical part is the design of suitable antenna. The ‘data-packet scientists, when consulted were speechless. Even in their wildest imagination, they have not thought about the way I wanted to do. According to them, working with a maser source on ground is child’s play whereas to harness it from deep space might be possible only for avatars. They said, the deck is stacked with cards of failure. Finally, they agreed to sleep over the problem and get back, with a solution. To drive them in the right direction, we had left them with certain out of the box suggestions.”

Getting more involved Brahma asked, “Anything I can do, to push them along? Life extension, boons, just you name it. What is next bottle neck?”

“The laboratory is shaping up well but have to find some talented nerds cum biologists cum gene-editors to work on the creation of the new ‘astro-marine’ species. This creation part is currently under my active thinking, maybe I need to put up many more inscriptions.”

Brahma already knew, what was going to be Chitragupta’s explanation. He said, “Take as long as you want and disappear wherever you want to. But find solutions to obstacles. The project is too good to fail.” 

Brahma decided at this point, to reveal his role as a messenger, to his predecessor and why he was told to visit the banyan tree and the experience he gained over there, before Chitragupta disappears, to dwell upon his technical difficulties.

“My successor, for all practical purposes is still a mass of cloud of consciousness and evolving. My predecessor directed me to deliver this personal message to the One in cloud-form - the cosmos is bound to throw up surprises. The evolving species will be getting more and more wiser and smarter. Literally, he impressed upon me to caution my successor, to be on his toes.

Why was I asked to visit that banyan tree? Obviously not for the panoramic view, the green leaves and branches spreading like a beautiful umbrella. I understood, that he was pointing out to the deep deception, hidden in plain sight. Thousands of tiny fruits, each protecting hundreds of seeds, is a fruit full of story.  Did you ever wonder, with so many fruits and seeds, there hardly is a forest of banyan trees, why? The banyan tree is an important lesson for all forms of life. You both would do well to draw valuable insights, use them to advantage, to advance. You may not ask me, but have this question in your minds. What about ‘you’? If I had not been receptive, how would I be educating both of you, now?

Chitragupta mentally said a ‘thank you’. Being a protege certainly has its perks - Brahma was willing to help going, to the extent of granting life extension and boons. If Brahma had asked him why the maser from dead stars, when it could be produced in the lab itself, he would have replied – wanted to do it a bit differently as his intention is to take it beyond the laboratory. This clarity looked great in his mind, but the complexities involved, needed much more than wishful thinking. The super intelligent scientists fooled the earth-based antennae to transmit and then got the deep space probe to reject and divert the data packet to Yamlok. 

It is not a mean, human feat. Likewise, he hoped that they would find ways to master the complex problems of his project. He remembered his moto. "Better move on own power rather than riding someone's chariot, except that of Brahma.”  Chitragupta had many more inscriptions to put up and then turn some of them upside down. Permitted to go, he quietly left.

Brahma looked at Yama and said, “Let us take a break at this point. If you have any urgent issues deal with them and come back. Then you can present on your IRRAG project.”

Brahma leads an excursion

Brahma, after dispatching Chitragupta and Yamadharmaraj to deal with the problem of entangled souls, was feeling unsettled. He appreciated Chitragupta’s tact in refraining from alluding to his multi-mode information handling prowess, when the three of them met.  How did he refer to it, yes like a 4-way traffic!  Desiring a change, he decided on a visit to meet with earthlings. This time he wanted to take Yamadharmaraj also, along with Chitragupta. 

Yama and Chitragupta were equally surprised by the sudden announced that Brahma had planned. Each had some specific things to look out for. Would Brahma permit this digression and agree, if fully briefed? Each mulled over this dilemma, in his own mental space instead of discussing it, among them. 

But the problem got resolved on its own, when Brahma asked them if they have any other interesting thing to do, on earth. Both said, "Yes, we have." Before they could explain, Brahma agreed and said, “Let us go.”

Reaching earth, Brahma started looking around. This action did not escape the attention of the ever-alert Chitragupta, and he signalled about it to Yama. Yama did not catch the meaning of the subtle hint. To prevent him from inadvertently blurting out, Chitragupta pantomimed, with his upright index finger he made a rotary motion indicating a panoramic view - With four heads, why look around?’ Yama understood the point.  and Brahma broke into an applause, appreciating Chitragupta, for being observant and unafraid to share it, albeit clandestinely.

 " Now, let us take a deep dive and meet with the marine creatures that live longer than the mortals on earth."

This was an unexpected turn in the tour. Having come with Brahma, they had no choice but to take a dip in the ocean. They could only wonder, what is the need to get close to marine creatures! Why this deep dive when he has enough headaches, in the form of humans? 

Brahma in the lead, they dived and reached the ocean floor. Marine life, lighting up its own presence and way was a spectacular sight, which they normally enjoyed watching, during deep space travels. Coming face to face, for the first time, this beauty in the creation, left them speechless. The followers had a doubt, was Brahma teaching them a lesson, in the depth of an ocean or planning to birth a new species of astro-marine lineage?  

With the receiver tuned in to their minds, Brahma captured every thought, that they came up with. The exotic idea of creating astro-marine species excited him.  Getting the project, along with researchers to work on it for free, added elation to that excitement. 

Being immune to competition during his tenure, he decided to reward Yama and Chitragupta with an exclusive laboratory, for their work.  Though eager to know what sort of circulatory, respiratory and reproduction systems, they would come up with, he realised that he had no choice but to wait till they came for a review. 

This mental mapping was an unexpected diversion to his true intent - to meet and greet his predecessor, who has the cosmic duty to be among the marine life.  All the three of them stood in front of Brahma's predecessor, in reverence. Since Brahma had explained to them about the sanctity of this occasion, they remained respectfully silent till the end. 

A look from Brahma signalled, "Time to move." They wanted to ask, "Where to, but did not" and ‘what transpired between the guru and disciple, but did not” as anyhow, Brahma would have already read those questions from their minds.

The next stop was on Earth's surface. Brahma told them to take some time and pursue their own agenda. Though, he might be already aware of it, to be on the safer side Chitragupta revealed his quest to find about QULATE. Yama joined by expressing his desire to understand about IRRAG. 

Acronyms being not given a place in the dictionary he referred, Brahma asked them, “What these words mean?” For once, without calling head or tail, both said in unison - QULATE stands for QUantumised LAser TEchnology. IRRAG means InfRared RAy Gun.

Perplexed, Brahma asked, “What for you need them for?” Now the duo started a blinking session in earnest, searching for a suitable answer to fill the silence. Not wanting to brow beat them, Brahma himself supplied the answer - O.K. Both of you want to try new technologies, at home. Go ahead.  Care to tell me how you came across this relevant information?

In unison, the duo replied, “We received a spurious data packet, in one of our systems. At first, it made us to wonder how did it breach the security barriers?  Stunned by this brazen attempt, we retraced its path to a source on earth.  Against all odds, a deep space probe rejected the transmitted data packets, sent through deep space networks, owing to a technical glitch.  The agitated army of binary bits, decided to take matters on ‘0’s and ‘1’s, mysteriously strayed into our system. 

Heads spinning wildly Brahma asked, “Is your narration over, now? I get the message how you came across the information on new gadgets.” The duo persisted, “You must hear the end of the story. A super intelligent team of scientists somehow duped the antennae on earth to dump his willingness to sell the technology, into our domain. Probably their ancestors are doing time with us!”

Brahma remained silent but kept nodding his heads. Taking it as a good sign, the duo boldly enquired, “When we go after these tech gadgets, what would you be engaged with?”  

“To the place, where a very old banyan tree stands. My predecessor specifically asked me to climb to the top branch and to look down from there to imbibe the serene beauty of branches, spreading like an umbrella and supported by aerial roots. He said it would be a heavenly experience. I am all worked up now.” So, saying, Brahma just disappeared.

Unbidden, Yama started explaining about his concept. “When, the entangled pair-seeking souls float through this IRRAG cubicle, the entanglement ceases to exist. Obviously, the efficiency depends, surprisingly on a crowd of electrons, hopefully of the unentangled type. Much depends on the scientists who misdirected that data packet to land in our hands. 

I am confident, all of us can work together to achieve the absorption and re- emission thresholds and efficiency.  Once mastered, this technology will solve the problem before the admission phase, at Yamlok.”

“How about your QULATE? And why are you after it? What was that confusing thing about some inverse square and fourth root law, you were murmuring about?”

“Yama, initially I had no specific purpose in mind. Now, I have an interesting project to work with. This gadget might be of use, in a life-or-death exigency; I foresee that as a possibility in the project. The inverse square laws also govern your IRRAG.

I plan to tap into the astrophysical masers emitted by dying stars and regions around black holes rather than the difficult to work with star light. The data packet mentions about successful lab trials with two different antennas. In my mind’s eye, a radically different design goes like this. Build a shaped, dual function panels. 

It is an adaptation to simultaneously receive, amplify and re-emit the fortified laser beam. The beauty is, the emitted laser is cool but efficiently produce high temperatures, in an absorbing object. 

No doubt, elements of complexity exist in the design. Let me see, if some more crazy designs emerge, satisfying the inverse square and inverse fourth power law requirements. It only needs a suitable harnessing technology, and I hope our go to scientists do not get scared. If that happens, well I have squandered away time in a useless pursuit.”

After prolonged discussions and assurances, the duo came to, where Brahma said he will be. Both were eager to share their details about their technology shopping. Brahma looked at Yama and commented, " It appears, that you have landed a solution for the troubling ‘souls at the gates’!" Yama started thinking, “why did he say ‘landed’. Is it because he had climbed down from the banyan tree?"

He addressed, “Chitragupta, still want to keep your thinking under wraps? I know all about it. Don't worry, I will play along. Did you find any quantum connections during this visit?”

The last question from Bahama raised the hackles and Chitragupta managed a comeback – “I tried once and we ended up with ‘the entangled souls at the gates’, if you want, I have a cartload of information on quantum molecular vibration, gravity and so on, to unload. Want to hear?

Yama intervened, at the speed of lightning, to avert a likely, heavenly clash. He has had enough of them picking up issues. He said, “Let us all go back in peace and discuss our experiences under conducive atmosphere.”  As he finished, he realised that he had breached the barrier of free speech, expecting an adverse reaction.   

Nonplussed, Braham enjoyed the brevity, and in a sense felt happy to have brought them along. Finally, he asked, “Are we ready for the return journey?”

Yama and Chitragupta kept wondering “what Brahma’s predecessor would have told him? What did Bramha experience on the banyan tree? Will he share it all, after reaching home? Tuning out, Brahma had already gone in to deep meditation and did not hear the hush-hush puppies.

The matter rests with the souls:

Not a moment passes without a bullet being fired. Not a moment passes without missiles being fired. Not a moment ...., 

At this moment, Chitragupta entered, unannounced. Brahma understood, his protege must be bringing some disturbing information and so the unannounced entry. As a matter of fact, Chitragupta did not breeze in, on his own errand but with a s.o.s, from Yamadharmaraj. Though, why could not he come in person remained a mystery.

Unable to bottle up his uneasiness, after sending Chitragupta, Yamadharmaraj himself rushed in to meet with Brahma. Chitragupta asked him, “Why did you not do so in the first place? Are you expecting to get some free suggestions from me, on this s.o.s? 

Brahma quietly observed them , listening to these verbal vibrations. He asked, "Yama, what is troubling you?" 

Yamadharmaraj replied "Whatever you were thinking about, a few instants ago!"

“How did you come to know that?” Then Brahma realised that he had left his thought jammer in sleep mode. To manage the slip up, he said, " Forget it. I have already sensed the contents; you would be sending in this s.o.s"

While Yamadharmaraj was trying to understand this exchange, Chitragupta was chuckling to himself, “How easy it is for Brahma to turn the table on Yamadharmaraj!"

"The rate of release of souls from earth is alarming. Our processing units are getting overwhelmed. To cap it all, there are spurious bugs, causing system outages." Yamadharmaraj highlighted his problems.

Chitragupta became instantly alert. The technical glitches are coming home to roost - he had prevailed upon and got the 'Ghost Particle Pulse' systems installed for trouble free processing. He never expected, the nerds who had installed the system, to blindside him like that. He needed to focus hard and divert attention away from his system and somehow tide over the crisis.

Maintaining his calm, Brahma asked Yama, “you care to elaborate or leaving it to me, to unravel and understand?"

"Sorry. I got overwhelmed. The s.o.s is about two mysteries. One, why so many souls have gathered at the gates? Two, why suddenly the systems go down with spurious bugs?" Yama answered.

"Chitragupta, care to share your views on these mysteries?", Brahma asked.

Chitragupta expecting this question, had already completed a run, through the labyrinths of his neural networks. He almost missed the clues, as his mind was parallelly processing some other issues, which Brahma had raised.

"The number one problem is the unprecedented crowding of souls, at the gates. I had analysed this occurrence and had discussions with some of the souls. It appears that they all of them have read and partially understood the spooky phenomenon of quantum entanglement"

As if he did not know the answer, Brahma asked, “What are you talking about? Tell me, what could be the connection between reading and crowding of souls at the gates?"

Chitragupta sensed the trap. By mistake he had discussed about this subject of entanglement with Brahma, to pass a few moments peacefully. At that time, he had assumed that Brahma appeared to be distracted and not paying his full attention. To prove him wrong, Brahma had just sprung the trap.

Chitragupta replied. " During my talk on this spooky thing, I failed to realise that whatever information falls in your ears, it automatically gets disseminated in the universal consciousness" He hoped that this reply will loosen the trap a little.

Brahma brusquely asked, "Then?" 

Not knowing head from tail and wondering where all this discourse was going, Yamadharmaraj started praying silently for a less confusing solution.

Chitragupta continued, " These souls, believing in entanglement, have decided to meet with like-minded souls. Maybe they could not find the right pairs and are milling around in a state of confusion."

Yama, hard pressed for finding a solution, was not in any mood to attend lectures. He asked, " Do you have any worthy suggestion regarding these anxious souls? Do tell me, why your much touted Ghost Particle Pulse systems shut down without provocation?"

This was a direct attack. No doubt there is a genuine issue. But why should he take the blame, when the systems were under the control of Yama?  Thinking of a safe answer Chitragupta replied, " Yama, remember you had to replace the original set of nerds with a fresh crop of brighter nerds. What I heard from the 'ghostvine' points out to a breach of protocol - these nerds were also browsing research papers on teleportation, entanglements and multiverse. How am I to know, whether they have migrated portals, taking the source codes along with them? How can you blame me, now?"

Yama persisted with an accusatory tone. "Chitragupta, why did you not anticipate these malpractices and ghost-lighting of nerds using available loopholes, while routing your so called tamper-proof GPP systems?"

Not to be out-blamed by Yama, Chitragupta joined issue, " When explaining the architecture of my much-touted GPP system, were you not counting on the nerds to absorb the nitty gritty and make it easy for you to manage the show? What they learnt in front of you; they managed to practice it behind your back!" If you can, point out what part could I have played in this?

Instead of coming up with solution, the meeting of minds was getting degenerated into an acrimonious verbal duel, creating fresh problems. Deciding enough was enough, Brahma asked, " Chitragupta, you are aware of the entanglement and know about your GPP system. Why don't you suggest ways to address the problems your dear friend Yama has encountered?"

"The souls are suffering with a false opinion about their eligibility criteria for a quantum entanglement. They do not know that a medical condition has corrupted their conscience carrying microtubules. The result- we have a large crowd with false hope."

"How to deal with this issue?"

"I have a suggestion, if you promise not to get angry, I will explain."

" You mean, Yamadharmaraj becoming angry?"

"No. I mean, yourself should not become angry with me."

"Chitragupta, I don't promise but I am willing to hear"

" Will you consent and personally convince them? Project for them the images of their disrupted microtubules and thereof their corrupted consciousness. There lies the solution for the problem of crowding souls at the gates!”

Brahma had to grudgingly admit the logic in Chitragupta’s suggestion. "What about your GPP system and source codes?"

Breaking his silence. Yama expressed a doubt. "What if this insight does not convince them?"

"Then, an option can be given - take a rebirth and once again go through their previous life experience, of course with non- defective microtubules"

Brahma working on the implications said," First of all I should be able to do it. Secondly, if they don't get convinced, then what happens?"

Chitragupta continued, "They have ceased to live, but their quest for quantum entanglement did not. Our position is clear - no rebirth and no entanglement. The choice is theirs"!

Not to be left out, Yamadharmaraj asked, “What about your pet system failure? Should I ask the nerds to shake the motherboard?"

Chitragupta gave him a lightning stare. “Yama, you don't know what you have. Tell me, right now what you are twirling/rolling in your hand? “

This comment stung and Yama looked at the glowing baton in his right hand. He also remembered Brahma had warned him once, not to bring it along, as its glow was distracting.

Brahma, enjoying this verbal-venting between his assistants, gave a pass on the glowing baton to spare Yama, for now. He asked, "What is special about the baton, which Yama did not know?"

"The baton is the key to the system, that has crashed. Insert the tapered end of the baton into the communication port, marked with a glowing ghost symbol, and twist the baton once, clockwise and thrice in the anticlockwise direction. The baton will blink twice. Presto! System boots up and ready to run."

The look Yama received from Brahma said it all, without saying anything. Yamadharmaraj glanced alternatively at Chitragupta and the baton. He was at a loss to understand how and why he missed the importance of the baton given to him, along with the GPP system. He took leave and hurried away to restore the GPP system to operational status.

Brahma along with Chitragupta proceeded towards the gates, to convince the entanglement seekers.

"Why did Chitragupta choose such a time to discuss about entanglement? How in heaven this information on entanglement has spread its tentacles, to tie up the departed souls? In my long, lifetime, I have never faced such a scarry, spooky problem. It beats me hands down.” Mused Brahma.

“In no time, Brahma would throw the ball and the problem of entanglement back to me. How am I going to confuse the entanglements to untangle?” Chitragupta rued his folly- of speaking, uninvited. He set his mind on finding a way out.

He did not get much time. On the way to the gates, Brahma stopped abruptly and declared, "Chitragupta, I will not agree for a conditional re-birth option to these misguided souls. There is large implication in that option. Regarding their disrupted microtubules, I am reluctant to educate them, as I very much doubt whether they will accept the demonstration and quietly disperse. This leaves you, fair and square, with the souls and the task of releasing them from entanglements. I know, you have already worked out a solution, silently."

For The One who handles a 4- way traffic and processes millions of information streams, without mix up, deactivating the “entangled" souls ....is he kidding me? Chitragupta could only shake his head. Chitragupta felt deflated as he had so many options to discuss. The mind reader has once again had his flawless homework on hand to effectively prevent any possible, lengthy explanation.  He could only murmur, "Then, why at all this walk and talk up to the gates?"

Without answering, Brahma continued, " Of all the options available in your mind, could you not pick up the one that would succeed?"

Chitragupta had no choice but to wrap up the issue. "Considering all available options and their possible fall outs, I safely recommend "the pyro therapy."

"What would it take, I hope not with some riders, in the form of concession?"

"Not at all. A guided tour through the hall of eternal fire is all it would take.  Yamadharmaraj would happily do it, to get rid of his problem."

"Then, let me call him and explain. He might show some reluctance. But if the situation warrants it, has he any option?"

Chitragupta was a little upset with Brahma. He had cursed the scientists, irritated them by referring to entanglement as a spooky phenomenon. He had collected references as to how to destroy quantum entanglement, with no bar on distance. At least would Yamadharmaraj show interest to hear what he has to say? Feeling letdown, he decided to wait for another opportunity. In whatever form it comes, he would find a way to use this spooky action phenomenon.  

He ambled along to the processing Centre. At least he could find out whether Yamadharmaraj had got the GPP system up and working.