Chapter 49

February’ 2004,
GCP, Nassau County, NY.

“Come on in Aryan,” Malcolm uttered welcoming him in his home. Much to his surprise, Aryan couldn’t believe on what he heard from Malcolm and it was utterly delusional to him.

He was then having a premonition. There was no way Malcolm would know about his true identity yet he seemed to have something that’s gonna scare the heck Aryan thought. Did he know everything? How should I be answerable? I lied to his face every single time and he trusted me naively for every fabricated story about my life that I told him. How should I look him in the eyes and talk?

Dear god, what is your mechanism? The dynamics of life? I never believed in you but the very first time I made a call, when I uttered the prayers all through my heart asking you to save my father, you didn’t attend to them yet I kept believing in you because of my love. What are you trying to do now? I have been hustling through all this while and what are YOU, trying to do? Whack it up? I have one question legend; do you attend to only those people who would be devoted to you? Don’t you intend to care for all the people in the world equally? I feel you are being partial just like any other human being but then again why are you being so called god?

“Sit down boy,” Malcolm motioned his hand unto a couch, “we are expecting a guest, till then make yourself comfortable. I will be right back and the coffee is on its way”

Aryan believed that the creator of this universe was a very strange person to be understood. He had compelling reasons for his understanding, the conversation he had with his mother long ago. He questioned her, ‘who writes the life of a person?’ She replied with ‘the god’. Momentarily he had to ask her, ‘if a person commits a mistake then it is only because of the same god who had written his life to be so, isn’t it?’ She replied, ‘very true’. He questioned her instantly, ‘so why there is a heated contention of being driven to hell or heaven when you are dead? Don’t you think that a person on which they have no control over is being made to suffer because of it? Don’t you think it is ironic that the person is going to hell, as they say, for the mistakes he never understood why he had committed but only did it because the god had written his life for it?’

His mother shrugged it off on anymore of his questions. Only later he had to realize that god seemed to be scarier than the one who usually is believed him to be. Aryan thought that he was the real businessman, scaring one to death if they don’t devout themselves to him. Yet they call him god. Ironic, utterly ironic, He said to himself, A wise man once said, “… but if a universe is really completely self-contained, having no boundary or edge, it would have neither beginning nor end; it would simply be. What place, then, for a creator?” that explained everything. Should one really believe in god?.

---

Aryan continued sipping his coffee only until he had seen a man in his mid-thirties walking on his way into the hall along with Malcolm. Aryan mildly spilled the coffee on the table soon after he took a glimpse of the profile.

“Aryan, you know him. Don’t you?” Malcolm squinted, “don’t worry young man, you don’t have to be apprehensive about anything. I understand how tough it was for you, I really appreciate your decision, you earned my deepest respect yet again hereafter for all the odd life you have had been in till this point in time”

“Justin…” Aryan scarcely voiced out any more words, “you…you…” and looked composed once in a blue moon.

“It just seems that it’s been years since we had seen each other, doesn’t it?” both of them walked close to each other real quick, “I know it was you, I knew it” Justin said and wrapped his arms around Aryan’s shoulders. He could not carry himself from the emotional state, few beads of tears just evinced from the lacrimal sac but as Aryan felt cautious on his ambience they quickly disappeared.

“He knew it Aryan,” Malcolm joined in the state of affairs, “He knew it very long back, probably on the same day when I visited the company for a sponsorship. For various reasons, as he says, he opened up on the matter just a day before the success party in the university… Justin,” Malcolm moved close to both of them and placed his hand over Justin’s shoulder, “tell him everything. Aryan, let’s get our backs some rest”

They were all seated, each one on a different couch. A silence prevailed for a while, the other two intended to give a minute for Aryan before they proceeded to talk about anything with him. Aryan laid back on his couch, pressed his palms onto his face while Malcolm and Justin looked at each other with a grin. Aryan sighed for some water and Malcolm handed him the bottle.

“I have never ever thought that I would be meeting you again Justin,” Aryan constructed words for his feelings, “you have no idea, how grateful I feel right now. I am more than happy to see you”

“I see it buddy,” Justin said, “in fact we both see it, don’t we Malcolm?”

Malcolm sighed with his eyes, “We sure are seeing it”, he replied.

“You know Aryan, the visiting card that I had given you,” he paused, “it has the hologram if you remember, I am sorry to tell you but that is enciphered with a numerical digit. Which means, the card has a specifically ordered number giving me the license to register the identity of the individual who holds the ownership of card”

“So, when Malcolm had shown the card, you did what? A scan to check the identity of mine” Aryan completed the elucidation, “fair play dear”

“Hahahaha! Some things are just business” he bust a gut, “you know why I am here?”

“Did you expect me to know about your presence,” Aryan said, “you were quite a package of surprise to this morning?”

“Oh sure I am,” he leaned towards the glass of water to quench his thirst, “we have something interesting for you. When I said Interesting, I mean a game changer. Wanna hop in for a game?”

“Only if you wanted to play it my way dear,” he looked through narrowed eyes, “I like challenges, you knew it, don’t you?”

“I pretty much know you well handsome,” he smiled and looked at Malcolm who engaged in looking fixedly at both of them.

“So the bottom line of me coming right here to this place is not to surprise you with my visit but to let you know that,” he paused; turned his pate towards Aryan and continued, “Me and Malcolm had made our mind to entrust you with a new entrepreneurial venture”

“Sorry what?” he was bolted out of the blue, “I made no sense of what you just spoke” he said.

“Yes Aryan, you heard it right,” Malcolm continued, “Justin has decided to run a small business, a start-up in the automobile industry and he would like to consign it to you. You will be the co-founder and CEO”

“Wait what?” he guffawed, “I am the CEO of the company where there are no resources for it be established. Let me make it clear, we need people, high skilled labor with work ethics. It is tough to get ’em. Did I make it look condescending?”

“You never talk condescendingly. You are very pragmatic and whip-smart. That’s what I like about you” Justin answered him, “and resources? You don’t wanna draw to a close on them. I have people for you, as you’ve cleared it out. We do have skilled workforce”

“Well it looks like the day is going to offer several thunderbolts,” he raised his shoulders, “if that’s true then I am greatly honored to be a part of the mission. Just out of curiosity, I would like to ask how many and where did you get them from?”

“There are ten people,” Justin said and got up from his seat, “you know all of them”

“Seriously Justin?” he squinted, “you are reading my mind, do you see it? Is it them? You know those who I am referring to”

“Seems like telepathy hasn’t died yet,” Justin said, “you are right, Steve and team, your group at the University”

“My goodness, I knew it,” he slapped his palm with his right hand, “but they are recruited by JAPMI, aren’t they?”

“I am from JAPMI, am I not?”, he retorted, “I will make sure they would get their professional work ship certified from JAPMI but they work under your arms and they, under your leadership will help this bird fly high. You know what I mean”

“Well I see it vividly” he smiled and looked at Malcolm.

“You both talk less and work more through your eyes, isn’t it” Malcolm commented, “well that explains about everything of Aryan past achievements”

“What’s next?” Aryan enquired.

“Before you talk more, let’s get your famished bellies some brunch”, Malcolm stood on his feet and guided them to the dining.