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.