Sitara Tales

“According to relativity, nothing can travel faster than light.” – Page 176, A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking.

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“Boy, the universe sucks. If only things could travel faster than light, perhaps I could go back in time and change something.”

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Six years ago, she was hit by a car. The rest of her life would be in the confinement of a wheelchair. It was all in that moment: that one moment in time. All she wanted was to turn back time and not have run across the street.

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“Maybe you shouldn’t have said the universe sucks. Can you fathom how much energy goes into making the Universe? It took me 13.8 billion years to get here and I didn’t make it this far to hear a moderate-looking exotic creature who supposedly has consciousness say there’s something wrong with me! Something’s wrong with you! Your understanding…”

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She turned pale.

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“So, you wanna go faster than the speed of light?”

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“I haven’t got eons, yes or no?”

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Being crippled was a nightmare. But hearing things? Hearing things in her head? Was she on the verge of madness? Terrified, she covered her ears. She had no room for isolation left in her heart. Her legs had done enough for her. Her mind simply could not give up on her.

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“Go away! This is just my imagination!”

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“Oh honey, you’re not imagining this. Just answer me. Saying no isn’t an option!”

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In utter despair, convinced that she was indeed mad, she desperately shrieked in an attempt to drive this alien presence away,

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“Yes!”

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The walls around her collapsed. The roof melted into the sky. Instead of trees and roads and blue skies, she saw a dusk sky – glazed with greyish salmon clouds. The showstopper was an enormous swing ride.

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Her jaw dropped and the voice spoke again,

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“Get on it”

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She was paralyzed – with fear. An anxious uncertainty overcame her thoughts. By now, she had realised that she was no longer in control of anything around her. She had pondered on countless occasions, was anything ever in her control? Six years ago, it wasn’t. Neither was it now. If there was something that was indeed in her control, it was her thoughts. Like a cloudy sky revealing the charismatic constellations, her mind begun realising that she was faced by something grand. This wasn’t paranormal. This wasn’t supernatural. This was sheer enchantment. She was with the creator – and she was with the creation simultaneously.

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“How? You’re smart enough to make the Universe, can’t you see I’m paralysed?”

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“Get. On. It.”

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And with that said, her wheelchair tipped forward, and she stood!

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“Now, get on it”

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She sprinted to the seats. Fastening the buckle, she felt apprehensive about her decision. Was this an illusion? Was this mystic power alluring her?

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The swing ride spun. She wasn’t confined to her wheelchair; she was free.

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“And now, you are spinning at 50% the speed of light. Open your eyes! See how everything appears shorter? Marvel at my wonders! You’re now at 90% the speed of light. See anything? Those numerous tiny points? Those are the other seats. Relativity has taken over!”

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“And now, you’re at the speed of light!”

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Still. It felt still. No movement. Specks of light dotted all around her, all still.

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“Those lights there, they’re photons. You’re riding with them! You’re one of them. You are matter. You are energy. Your mind manifests its thoughts as energy. Your demands release energy. I am not oblivious to them. I see. I feel. I react. It’s merely a play of time that you have been oblivious to my powers. It isn’t always in your control. Neither is it in mine. You see, you can’t really turn back time. I am the Universe and I can’t even go back in time for me. I really wish I hadn’t banged so you wouldn’t be here to question me. So, don’t question me. I can’t reveal everything.

 

Accept me as I am.

 

Explore me.”