The message of the ominous cloud: 268

The words ‘preventive strike, life-extension, offset by mutual human destruction, self-destructing weapons and lab grown mini blackholes’ kept on reverberating, non-stop. Chitragupta’s solution to disperse the Ominous Cloud hanging over his residence, appeared elegant when proposed but the how and how soon to implement these countermeasures, all by himself, worried him.  Eager to contribute, each on of his head came up   with different approaches. Added to this, he himself has these doubts- after getting life-extension how these brainy people would co-operate? Just simply keep quiet and enjoy the bonus or try to make selfish gains or ply both the sides against each other to gain upper hand or become a de facto ruler!

Finally, he decided it would be better to involve Chitragupta rather than frequently looking up at the cloud and suffering neck-pain. Chitragupta promptly appeared as soon as he received the message, which made Brahma to wonder whether he has been anticipating such a call, all along! Brahma simply said,” Solve the problem as you see fit. But do it fast.”

After handing over the charge to Chitragupta, he decided to take some time off and actively searched for a geographical soft spot, on Earth. Has this choice something to do with the previous trip with Chitragupta? He did not know, why on earth he wanted to visit only the Earth and not to any other of the countless number of planets! Having decided, he wanted to make it worthwhile - he retrieved the plan to study the dynamics of existence on planet earth, which was languishing in cold-storage. 

Spending considerable time, to the point of suffering four-headed headache, he concluded that taking either Yamadharmaraj or Chitragupta or both of them along, appeared to be a bad idea. He loaded Yamadharmaraj with stacks of issues, to prevent their internecine quarrel, to allow Chitragupta to solve the issue of Ominous Cloud.

Desperate times need desperate measures. Unable to narrow down the choice of spots to be visited, Brahma decided to consider suggestions from Yamadharmaraj and Chitragupta.  to maintain a tight seal of secrecy, he withheld the real purpose. For no reason, at this point, he remembered Chitragupta’s words- “Nothing can be hidden below the deepest point in Ocean or kept above the farthest distance in space.” Though the example of space and Ocean, in the same breath, appeared little incongruent, he let it slide as it added only an element of anxiety to his plan. Really a simple ruse – to ask each one of them to name   places they would visit and not willing to visit. It set off a series of raging debate, on merits and demerits, among his heads. In the end, the splitting headache greenlighted the “Nothing can be hidden below the deepest point in Ocean or kept above the farthest distance in space.” Choice of Chitragupta. To avoid further escalation, it sweetened the choice with a tag - worth the risk.

Chitragupta could have easily got down to earth for this task but the better facilities available at home tilted the scale. Another important factor happened to be the availability of an extensive data bank and unfettered access to it; he had already managed to install a backdoor entry, during a system upgradation. He got busy to identify and bring the susceptible candidates to his residence.

In another location, Yamadharmaraj was getting ready to tackle the stack of issues, dumped in his shoulders. Seizing this opportunity, Yamadharmaraj wanted to impress, the biased Brahma, with his issue solving capability, given this chance! The stack of issues beckoned him like an exploding supernova. Going through the first issue, he discovered a connection to the second issue. Marking that spot, he perused the complicated second issue which landed him in the middle of the third issue. 

Undaunted, he travelled through the connecting issues, as pointed.  Though he had used all the page markers on hand, he found, to his utter disbelief, that he was back at marked passage of the first issue. Thinking that he might have missed a clue here and there, he started afresh, from the beginning. This time, he could not understand why the first issue forged a link with the seventh and not with the second as noted earlier. Continuing with the fresh lead, he found himself pages deep in the nth issue. 

When he thought that he had finally arrived at the destination, he was looking at the fourth issue, once again. Yet another attempt, from the beginning, ended in the same fashion but the route the hop-skip-and-jump routine took him was different.  Exasperated, he called an end to the session but the stack of issues kept moving along, wherever he went. He ascended to the surface of the ocean, all the while thinking how Chitragupta came to this knowledge and why he did not forewarn him? The lapping of waves and blowing of salt-laden moist wind did not merit a second glance. Fixing his aim at a point in the sky, he took off creating all sorts of speeds, shredding theories of Earthlings, to bits and pieces. Somewhere from his recollection informed him that the scientist of Relative reference frame would be beaming a smile!  

At the same time, in another part of the universe, precisely on Earth, Brahma prepared himself for a dive to reach the deepest trench in the ocean. Why it was called a trench and not a canal – Chitragupta did not explain, and he did not ask! Cautiously, he kept on diving deeper and deeper in to the ocean depth, which he could have done it in less than a zeptosecond (one trillionth of a billionth of a second, a decimal point followed by 20 zeros and a 1). Simply he wanted to spend quality time with the various life forms, that had emerged from his laboratory. A chance to assess in how many ways these organisms have mutated as he wished to verify Chitragupta’s statement, regarding humans in the la ominous cloud affair! He hoped, the ominous cloud would have vanished, by that time he finishes his sojourn.

Out in the depths, photosynthesis stood down in favour of chemosynthesis. The chemiluminescence slowly gave way to bioluminescence, as the depth increased. The size, shape, colour and techniques these marine creatures exhibited, though as the creator he was fully aware of, held him fascinated. At the trench, the deepest point on the ocean floor, he sat cross-legged, imbibing the serenity and play of constantly moving bio-luminescent rays of light. Then and there he decided to have such an arrangement of moving bio-luminescent rays of light installed in his abode. His heart had started to swell with pride, for having created such wonderful creatures. The sight of a fully encased indeterminate form, sitting cross-legged, on the ocean floor, drained away his euphoria giving way to indecipherable confusion.  Had he failed to see in the dim light or got distracted by the play of bioluminescence all around?

As he continued watching, a hoard of light emitting creatures surrounded the fully encased indeterminate form. In quick time the points of light arranged themselves to display a message. It simply said “How do you like this place? Soon you may have to sit beside me” Brahma understood that the first part of Chitragupta’s statement that nothing can be hidden below the deepest point in Ocean, has come true! Having come so far, he decided to test the second part of that statement.

He mentally plotted the course to navigate, by giving a wide berth to blue super giant stars- fortunately not many in a nebula-, transiting by the darker fringes of nebulae. He knew all, but why give a chance to some rogue star, hellbent on a collision course. He regretted the omission of a super shield, in his kit bag. For most of the travel, he felt as if stuck stationary in a spot, but knew it to be an illusion created by the vastness of space.

For most of the travel, he felt as if staying stationary, but knew it to be an illusion created by the vastness of space. He chuckled to himself and admired the Astronomers who have intuitively understood the vastness and emptiness of space. 

He knew, Chitragupta had made a small unforced error. Actually, he should have said, nothing can hide beyond the limit of space instead nothing can hide above the space. Pardonable confusion and failure to distinguish between space and beyond the limit of space. After hearing Chitragupta's words, he did not want to stop with a surface visit to Earth and modified the itinerary to serve a cosmic purpose.

He knew what awaited him at the end of this journey. Not the one to alter course midway, he continued onwards. Finally, he saw a huge nebulous object, spanning billions of light years, bathed in soft glow and hanging at a distance. The beauty was beyond compare even for him. A strange sense of serenity permeated all around. As expected, the cloud split and displayed the cryptic message, " You have some more cosmic time; your successor in the making."

Brahma got his confirmation on the original edict of the cosmic order. With epochs to go, he resigned himself to suffer, his current duties.

Chitragupta was impressed by the luminaries who had responded to the call. He had compiled vivid holograms to drive home the point, instead of a lengthy audio version. He had spent considerable time sequencing the holograms to maximise the impact. At the end, if clarifications were sought, he was ready with convincing arguments.

The first projection showed a typical, multi-level R & D facility in action. Here, he had played a hi-tech trick - each one of the gathered luminaries would see his / her image doing the work they did in that environment. He had included a heavenly background score to sharpen their attention to details. 

The second projection showed them jumping up in joy and excitedly patting colleagues' backs, after sharing a breakthrough. The heavenly music gave way to a heart-throbbing beat. The faces in the audience broke into broad smiles, re-living the glorious moment. 

The third projection took everyone to a mass production facility, ending with the product getting packed for delivery. Here, Chitragupta had cleverly used sounds of machineries and human voices to add depth to the content. Each and every one of the invitees got tele-ported and looked transfixed at the activities, depicted in front of them.

The fourth projection was horror personified. Chitragupta hoped to let loose a tsunami of guilt, sorrow and despondency and to reduce them to mere human wrecks. Large-scale devastation, loss of life, a sea of refugees in view, with each one of the responsible inventors/manufacturers finding himself/herself standing amidst the ruin. As expected, this really shook the very foundation of their collective conscience with guilt and repulsion. When the projection ended, sobs, cries and wailing sound punctured the silence. Chitragupta allowed time for this agony of awakening to seep, pool and overflow.

Having completed a blitzkrieg, he dangled the life-extension lure and demanded them to change focus to produce self-annihilating armaments. He gave them a mandate that such cutting-edge technologies also should expire as soon after the first batch reached a war zone. Chitragupta did not anticipate what followed next. Instead of standing ovation, the entire assembly, unable to speak, stood up with bowed heads, sobbing and nodding acceptance.

Yamadharmaraj’s struggles with the stack of issues did not lead to any solution. On the other hand, a mound of pending issues of departed souls made him antsy. At one point in time, he wanted to seek Chitragupta’s help, to deal with one stack or the other. He dismissed the thought when it struck him that as Brahma’s preferred go-to entity, Chitragupta cannot be drafted to assist.

Chitragupta had a leisurely walk, after dismissing the assembled luminaries and packing them off to earth. A rare interlude of serenity devoid of pressing issues. He eagerly awaited Bramha’s arrival at his abode. He had good news and in turn would like to hear his travelogue.

Back home, by force of habit, Brahma looked at the space above his abode. He was surprised, out of his skin, to see Chitragupta, ambling along without a care in the universe, and noted the magical disappearance of the ominous cloud. He could guess the tangential answer Chitragupta would give, “What appears, shall disappear.”

He called both Yamadharmaraj and Chitragupta to let them know, that the ominous cloud had a message for him and that was why he suddenly felt like going away for some time. In addition, he wanted them to know that only to divert their attention elsewhere, he gave them some work. He said, “Yamadharmaraj, the stack of issues you were left with have no solution. So don’t think that you have failed!” 

He looked at Chitragupta and said, “You did what you had to do. Remember, the war fronts, we visited. If your solution works out, more time would be spent in innovating than destruction!”

He continued, “Chitragupta, your ‘Nothing can be hidden below the deepest point in Ocean or kept above the farthest distance in space’ is incorrect. I met my predecessor in the depth of the ocean and looked at my successor taking shape, in a different moulid, in the deep space. A New Avatar to oversee the changing order in the cosmos!

Ominous cloud in heaven, Part-2 The Solution: 267

What Yamadharmaraj saw, blew his mind off its base.  Facing one direction, Chitragupta was chanting ‘If present shapes the future, then what shaped this present?’ Changing directions, he intoned ‘If future influences the present then what influenced that future? ‘Continuing, he murmured, ‘I am not what I want to be, then why I want to be what I am not?’

He had never seen Chitragupta, looking completely unhinged like this. This state of Chitragupta, deeply worried him, as he had never seen such an inexplicable and odd behaviour. As he was not privy to the nature of the problem, to understand the situation, he failed to guess, it was just a process of loud thinking. Unerringly, he came to a wrong conclusion.

Not knowing what to do, Yamadharmaraj did the safest thing - quietly walked away, wondering what bug had gotten into Chitragupta’s mind!  Pushed by his impulse, he decided to rush and inform Bramha, of his erroneous conclusion.

Brahma stood still for a moment, after hearing the message. Without pausing to think through, He decided to hurry along with Yamadharmaraj, to the spot where Chitragupta was exhibiting this odd behaviour.

What he saw, with his own eyes, puzzled and troubled Brahma, at the same time. He cast a compassionate glance toward Chitragupta, which incidentally broke the chanting spell. Opening his eyes, Chitragupta could not believe that Brahma himself, had come to visit, in the company of Yamadharmaraj.

In no time, Brahma understood that there was nothing wrong in Chitragupta's mind, except a deep philosophical awakening. This being a heavy subject, he gently told Yamadharmaraj that he would take over from here. Yamadharmaraj understood the subtle message, and left the place, a bit annoyed.

Touching Chitragupta’s shoulder, Brahma asked in a genial tone, “Any solution in sight?"

"Yes. More or less." Replied Chitragupta. This cryptic answer did not sit well, in the troubled mind of Brahma. He asked, “What do you mean by this?"

"I am just there but not sure of it yet", replied Chitragupta, vacantly gazing with a faraway look. This upset Brahma, and he almost decided to take Chitragupta to task. At this instant, Chitragupta came to the present and said, "The clue is so nebulous and right now the solution, is looking opaque. Will you please give me, some more time to think?  I will elaborate on it, a little later."

Brahma took the hint and returned to his favourite garden, hoping he could beat Chitragupta in finding that elusive solution. But in the end, it was Chitragupta, who came up with the solution, and met with Brahma, who was still furiously pacing, like a whirlwind.

Without any preamble, Chitragupta started speaking. “Let me elaborate on the chant, ‘I am not what I want to be, then why I want to be what I am not’ like this.  The leader of the warring pack wants to become the ruler of Earth and starts machinations to encourage and increase regional conflicts. These multi-front regional conflicts are then used to ignite wars in different zones. The aggressor meets with a defender and both vows to finish each other. One started it without knowing how to end it and the other fighting with determination, not to end it!

For the chants, ‘If future influences the present then what influenced that future?  ‘If present shapes the future, then what shaped this present?’ my explanation goes like this. The above-mentioned wars of, aggrandisement, ego-trip or trips of megalomaniacs, will definitely spill over into the future also, standing testimony to - present shapes the future and future influences the present.”

“Ok. But you have not come to the solution- from where and why, the sender of this ominous cloud enters the picture?”

“The answer is in the question itself.  Is there a war without destruction and suffering! Natural disasters such as earthquakes, drought, excessive rains, epidemics and pandemics affect whom the most? The answer is people who have nothing to do with these occurrences, is it not? These affected people themselves have decided to add another brush stroke, on the picture, depicting the theatres of war!”

“How? Care to explain this in detail?”

“Sure. I am just coming there. Among the people, who have sent the cloud, are some top-notch inventors. Relentlessly, they have been pushing the envelope of creativity. To show the world that they are what they wanted to be, embarked on, an unchecked invention spree of editing genes, creating table-top stars, mini blockholes, machines and mechanised humanoids able to mimic human brain in all its complexities. Unfortunately, these top-notch brains failed to foresee that their own inventions would become their nemesis, and such inventions would become the tool of destruction.”

Brahma could not take it anymore and asked in an agitated voice, " But these humans have been endowed with superior thinking capabilities and why should they want to wreak havoc on themselves and others?"

Chitragupta calmly replied, “A quirk of DNA. These people became what they wanted to be: an exception to my first chant.”

Sensing the trap, Brahma decided to deflect the conversation and said, “In creation, the human genome didn't have any such scope. Then how all these are happening?"

Chitragupta was ready with his point and replied, " None could have anticipated that the genes would undergo mutation and become self-learning to create more and more potent inventive powers. In effect, sitting in a room, a human mind can pin-point the exact location, where the Creator is residing."

Though, Chitragupta had deftly used general nomenclature, without naming him for muddying of gene pool, yet it unnerved him to know that a human mind might already be absorbing all these conversations. Brahma asked the next question, "What about the war mongers? Are they not showing animal like predator tendencies?”

“It is very easy to explain. Some of the genes, here and there, decided to follow their own abundant wisdom. They underwent rebellious mutations, bypassing a streamlined process. This accounts for the crop of aggressors, ego-trippers and megalomaniacal trippers. exhibiting ferocious animal like predator tendencies. They are our war mongers.”

“Chitragupta, so far you have only managed to draw circles around the problem, without hinting at a solution. I am beginning to see a cloud of doubt forming in my mind and taking position next to the ominous cloud. Don't you have any idea at all, about what has to be done now?”

Chitragupta, once again started to mumble strange sounding words. With nowhere to go, Brahma stayed rooted at the same spot, frequently looking at the ominous cloud for any visible change. 

Clearing his throat once, Chitragupta said, "I have found a way out. You can exploit the same gene that have been mutating."

Wondering, where this is going, Brahma asked, " How"?

During mutation, the gene had ignored to tinker with and retained this one trait without altering it. It is a weakness called self-first selfishness. 

“How that can be exploited, now!"

"You can grant a small extension to their life span, restricting it to only to the selected few, who have been affected and are in the crowd and appealing.”

“Would it not amount to showing undue favoritism? Moreover, Yamadharmaraj would be besides himself, when his system has to store more undeleted records.” Brahma voiced his doubts.

“No doubt, it would be an odd brush stroke, in the overall picture. Anyhow, wars will offset this imbalance, to some extent. Secondly, you can think of giving him some sort of additional perks on the job. Extensions and concessions work like magic on Earth. I am sure, here too they will produce the same effect!

“O.K, what about the wars that are likely take place in the future.” 

“We can prevent them by employing our own pre-emptive strikes.” Replied, a non-plussed Chitragupta.

Becoming curious, Brahma asked, “How that would be possible?”

“We use the life-extension granted innovators, to create lab-grown blackholes. These mini blackholes will suck in all the projectiles that are fired, in the battlefield, and obliterate them in zeptoseconds. When the stockpiles of armaments are exhausted, a point of no return looms large, the wars end as damp squibs. Though, fresh attempts will be made to manufacture more lethal weapons. As long as the life-extension granted innovators are willing to make good use of the grant, they will be willing and ready to come up with more and more powerful lab-grown mini blackholes. In this way, we could effectively   turn the tables on the aggressors! Now, instead of mutual human destruction, they will be busy in destructing new weapons and their new technologies!” The incredulous Brahma asked, “Is this your original idea?"

 "Yes" blurted out Chitragupta and after a pause added, "No, no. It is from mythology, where arrows, spears and tridents, with magical powers, have been used. I just modernised them with bullets, grenades, missiles and mini-blackholes!"

This lengthy explanation left Brahma speechless. He did not fail to notice the sneaky trick played by Chitragupta, using ‘we’, ‘our’ instead of ‘you’. Having done his bit, Chitragupta murmured something and left the scene. In the midst of suffering ‘ballistic missiles-hit like headache, Brama began to understand the import of Chitragupta’s plan. Worrying about how and how soon to implement these countermeasures, Brahma hurried home. 

Ominous cloud in heaven, Part-1 The problem: 266

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.