Ominous cloud in heaven, Part-1 The problem:

When everything was going according to cosmic rules, naturally a thick fog of inactivity descends. To stir the pot, an ominous cloud, also chose to descend, over Brahma's residence. Maybe, out of respect and to follow the pecking order. 

The clueless Brahma, searched in all the four directions, with visual and audio direction finders. He even double checked their functions by calibrating them, against a standard source. So far so good, but still, he could not clue in, on to the source of disturbance.

The next option was to call in Chitragupta to investigate the phenomenon of the hovering cloud, over his residence. Chitragupta, who had been watching its formation, growth and movement, was not surprised to receive Brahma's call. In fact, he was actively surfing the electromagnetic waves, expecting this very, any-moment-call.

When he entered the premises, Brahma was intently looking at a floor to ceiling image, showing the entire universe. Chitragupta could see lines crisscrossing, like multi-level fly overs, on the surface of Earth. He had once experienced what it costs to miss a turn, only to end up doing an hour of additional travel. He had named them as, ' to everywhere and to nowhere fly overs’. When he narrated his ordeal to an Earthling, he got this sarcastic advice, "Read and heed signages on the road or stay at home". Chitragupta almost wanted to shout, that he was using a driverless cab and it must have gone blind and deaf. Fearing another wisecrack, Chitragupta, just moved on. 

From the changing facial expressions, Brahma inferred that his protege was re-living some bad experience.  Brahma, turning his attention back to the problem hanging over his heads, asked, " Do you know anything about this ominous cloud hovering over my residence?"

A deep, contemplative look at the Floor-2-Ceiling image, projected in 3D, gave Chitragupta, some options to explore, clues to follow and then reply. Brahma, not wanting to be a distraction, quietly slipped into his meditation schedule.

 Chitragupta's mind raced, through the crisscrossing lines, carefully noting the zones prone to flare up or already firing flares. A look at his Master, in deep meditation, guaranteed some more time for gathering additional points. Brahma liked his presentations to start with bullet points followed by oral explanation and not the other way around.

He finally came up with a brilliant idea, thanks to the F2C image. Brahma’s eyes opened and fell on the bright and shining face of Chitragupta. The look confirmed, that a solution has been worked out and ready for presentation. He signalled Chitragupta to proceed.

Chitragupta went up to the F2C image and pointed at some of the locations, where the crisscrossing lines have left thick nodes. The confused look on Bramha's faces, gave him the opening and quickly seizing the opportunity, Chitragupta dropped the bombshells. “The ominous cloud hanging over your abode, has come from one of these nodes” Pointing them out he added “From here, it is difficult, to pinpoint the origin.”

Curiosity and heightened confusion took Brahma to another level of worry. He imagined a fiery spiraling object, programmed to impact on his cosmic engine of creation, is probably on its course. The cloud could be the smokescreen.

On the spot, he decided, " Then, let us to go down to these spots, to dig deep and put an end to this cloud phenomenon." He did not share his doomsday fear with Chitragupta.

A few moments later, they landed in knee deep snow. Before they could get their bearings, a barrage of whooshing firetails shrieked overhead, in a perfect, lazy arc, in opposite directions. With a knowing smile, Chitragupta said, "These are missiles, packed with destructive potential and are not being let loose to welcome us.

The ground beneath them shuddering with the impacts, Brahma asked, "If not to welcome us, why this show?"

These missiles are being fired at each other. Two countries are at war, over a parcel of barren land, where nothing grows!

Then why this war?

Chitragupta calmly replied, "It is a manifestation of All I want is mine syndrome. Better let us move to another node and see what is transpiring there.”

To Brahma, the scene at the second node, did not look much different from the earlier one, but with some exceptions. He saw huge ships and ugly looking metal birds lining up on the top deck and a single grill shaped thing making relentless, sweeping motions, in tune with the lapping of waves. A mesmerising sight but for whom and for what, wondered Brahma!

Chitragupta had the answer, "The neighbouring nations have been fighting each other over decades. Notice, these fleets belonging to two super- nations, are standing by."

Why don't they intervene and stop the fights?"

Another knowing smile appeared on Chitragupta's face and he answered, " These two super-nations are bound by the Hedging the bets syndrome. They wait and watch and at the end, will reap the benefits out of this on-going conflict."

Speechless, Brahma asked Chitragupta to take him to another node.

In this zone, fierce battle was taking place, relegating the first and second node activities to the bottom of the rung. Metal birds flew and hurled shrieking missiles, ground-based projectiles arced and thudded into the ground. Metal elephant like contraptions, shook, fired, collided and burst into flames. The warring nations were pounding each other, as if there is no tomorrow. Dazed and deafened, Brahma managed to shout over the din," Chitragupta, in the end what will be left to rule?"

Chitragupta had an answer to suit the question and the situation. He calmly said, “This is a classical Confront and perish syndrome. Nobody expects to come out a winner."

 Brahma asked, "Then why fight? Are wars not destructive?"

 "Whoever started the war could not end it, and whoever retaliated would not allow it."

Continuing, Chitragupta elaborated, "The world economic order, the brainchild of super-nations, works like this. If you feed the hungry, they become strong and pose threat in the future. If you feed war, more people become hungry, more lands become barren, more industries spew out destructive devices, more jobs get created at home and more power accrues to kindle, nurture and encourage some more wars. This is their “Tornado doctrine."

But explain how this helps the opposing super-nations?

Therein lies - The convenient compromise syndrome. They never fight face-to-face, encourage wars from the sidelines, yet allow each other to derive benefit from that same doctrine. 

Brahma felt, the ground zero visits did not result in any resolution on the ominous, hovering cloud.

Chitragupta, putting it in proper perspective said, " It is the famous ‘who will bell the cat syndrome’. The ominous cloud has been sent by the poor and the voiceless to draw your attention, to their plight. Among the creations, why they alone should suffer the conflicts and wars, is their anguish"

Taken aback, Brahma came down heavily on Chitragupta, "Why did you not share these pearls of wisdom at my place itself? Why should you drag me, through these nodes or war zones, or by whatever name you call it?"

Unfazed, Chitragupta replied, " Once in a while, it is better to get in touch with the reality of the situation, personally. Then only, your response will be proportionate."

Brahma got the hint. Chitragupta had said whatever he wanted to say, without saying it really. He envied Chitragupta's observer role and for a fleeting attosecond yearned for a reversal in the roles.

Sensing that the timing was perfect, Chitragupta asked, "Shall we return home?" During the journey, Brahma quietly started working out schemes as countermeasures to end this madness, he had just witnessed. Though, Chitragupta appears to have a better grasp of Earthlings psyche, he was worried whether it would diminish his importance as the Creator. Since, Chitragupta had not come out with a solution to disperse the ominous cloud, he decided to task him with this work, attaching all sorts of urgent, very urgent, top-secret tags, to make him feel important, and keep him at arm’s length, for the moment.

Back home, saddled with the task of finding a solution, Chitragupta decided to bask in ethereal light and imbibe the heavenly scent. Somehow, he felt this process would rejuvenate his grey matter and come up with a lead. As was his usual practice, he kept watching his feet, while walking and in addition started to hum an earthly tune, he had picked up amidst the din of crashing shells. He could not but appreciate the fusion of rhythm, harmony and melody supported by a soul stirring voice. Though, his eras could not distinguish it as a male or female voice, he felt enchanted and so started humming while walking.

While this was happening, Brahma had another problem to deal with. The creeping doubt whether Chitragupta is hiding some vital information, to keep him in the dark. The moment, the word dark cropped up, he instinctively looked up and was relieved to see the ominous clod still staying in station. Almost, he made up his mind to call in Yamadharmaraj and brief him to keep an eye on Chitragupta. Realising, it would be counter-productive - to spy on your own emissary, he discarded the idea. Feeling helpless, he wandered into the exquisitely laid out garden, hoping for a revelation about the cloud.

As bad luck would have it, exactly at this setting, Yamadharmaraj appeared besides Brahma, wading in, like an ugly duckling to muddy the water. Getting disturbed, Brahma shot him a look which would have fried any mortal, on the spot. Luckily, exactly at that instant, Yamadharmaraj turned his face to look at a floating golden bird. This act further incensed Brahma, who was trying to decode the relevance and timing of the appearance of the cloud. Being ignored, Yamadharmaraj belatedly understood his unwelcome presence and promptly departed, wondering whether Chitragupta knows anything about Brahma’s reticent behaviour.