A New Revolution

The news spread like wildfire across all the communication mediums. My company was all over the news for its latest invention, being termed as the ‘New Revolution’ in the history of mankind. Newspapers, radio, TV, internet and the people; there was hardly anything else that was being talked about.

I get up from my bed to start the day, limping slightly when I walk. The limping is not due to any injury, but because of a hollow bone in my foot, not allowing it to be as strong as the other one. Nobody could understand the reason for this deficiency which I was born with; except me. It was a reminder for my vulnerability, so that I do not commit the same mistake again.

My name is Krishna. Interestingly, I was known by the same name the last time I came on Earth as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. And this time I am born as His tenth and final avatar – 'Kalki'.

I turn thirty-six today and it was by the end of this day that I had to begin my role as Kalki. I had been given the same time in my previous birth too, when Mata Gandhari, grief stricken at the death of her sons, cursed for my downfall. Having already witnessed the massacre of my family and countrymen; I refused to don that role and be a part of the extinction of mankind. Thus, here I am; to complete my unfinished task.

The world has been living in a negative aura. Even the advancement in technology has failed to offer a solution for the deterioration in our health. The most dangerous epidemic to catch the world and which has astounded the scientists is known as Knavish and Nocturnal Syndrome; abbreviated as 'K.A.N.S.'

Its symptoms include immediate negative changes in the moods of its patient; from happy to sad, calm to annoyed, loving to hateful, caring to rebel. One cannot judge when a person would have a mood swing and cause harm to others, making humans doubt each other. The disease turns a person nocturnal leading to sleep deprivation. Such is its effect and the frustration caused by it; that helpless people prefer to commit suicide, resulting to a steep rise in death rates.

Scientists are of the opinion that it may be because of an advanced system virus which has found its way to human cells from computer chips; a deadly result of evolution in artificial intelligence and virtual reality. They are yet to reach a firm ground and deduce any cure for it.

This is where my role begins. I own a scientific research and analysis company which has a team of scientists who have worked endlessly towards finding a cure for it. We have been able to find a perfect antidote; which will not only clear the patient from the virus, but also remove the effects that it has made.

We decided to treat a handful of people first, and after they get cured; their stem cells would be used to treat another set of patients and so on. My database system has randomly selected a list of winners from around the globe who will be the first to be cured from K.A.N.S. The world is now elated. Finally, they would be freed from the dreaded disease.

Everything is working in sync. My invention is now ready to take its leap and achieve what destiny had written for the entire mankind; a prophecy which was written so long ago that it now looked as a fable to all. What the world does not know is that I have added my own formula to the medicine; which, in addition to ending the disease; will also take their lives away, starting my first phase as Kalki.

I reach my office where my best employees, Radhika and Parth are waiting for me having made all the preparations as per my instructions. “Krishna, we have done as you said. We are going to break all the records for tomorrow’s headlines!” Radhika exclaimed excitedly as we entered my cabin.

Parth remains silent as always. He knows there is more to me than what meets the eye but will not say anything, unless I ask him to. “What are you thinking Parth?” I allow him to speak his mind.

“Krishna, I am of the opinion that it would be better if we gave the medicines to the younger generation first as they have a better immunity and stronger resistance than the ones you have randomly selected. The results will be quicker and since they are healthier, we will have better cells which can be given to the older generation leaving fewer chances of any shortcomings.”

Answering Parth has never been easy for me. “What if our medicines do not work as desired? We will have more casualties than before and losing the younger generation in the current scenario would be taking a very big risk.”

“You will not initiate a work if you have the slightest of conservations. But what you are reasoning is correct as we cannot risk the future.” He was not satisfied and knew I had not revealed my true intentions but did not probe any further.

“The two of you can never reach a consensus on any matter. I wonder how both of you have stuck together all these years.” Radhika would often get irritated by our discussions terming it as ‘unending philosophical debates’.

“That is what gets us going, Radhika.” I tell her with a wink. “I think we should now get going and start the process. We will have to educate them about the precautions and other instructions as required. Have they been assembled in the hall?”

“Yes, they are waiting for you there. We are ready to go!” she said with a gleam in her eyes. I have always admired the enthusiasm she has for everything; especially if it is related to me.

I see the winners seated in their chairs talking animatedly with each other, probably to get a hint of what might happen. There were all sorts of faces; some confident and excited while some reticent and nervous. Amidst them, a calm and soothing boy, not more than ten years in age; catches my attention. He seems least bothered about what might happen to him, as if having a clear belief that this very moment lays the correct path. Sitting quietly in his place, he looks around scanning his neighbours, trying to study their psyche. Realising someone is observing him; he looks at me and smiles. I nod in reply.

Reaching the podium, I started my speech. “I welcome you all to my laboratory and thank you for believing in me and my project. As we all know, we are facing severe health crisis and with your help, we can save every human from K.A.N.S. So are we ready to begin a new revolution?”

A loud cheer and instant claps from the audience echoed throughout the room. I sensed this was the right moment to disclose my motive and identity.

“Before we begin, I want to be honest about myself. It is true that I will free you of the disease. And in addition to that I am also going to take you away from this negative world.” A pin drop silence followed and nobody could fathom what I said. Slowly, small murmurs converted to collective shouts and noises.

“I will relieve you of all the pains and sufferings that you have gone through in this materialistic world. I am taking you with me to our original home. I am the 'Kalki' avatar.”

“The Kalki is just a theory. If there was anything like it, God would have come to save us when the evil started reigning this world, when we started to live in fear for our lives and wellbeing, when His followers believed and worshipped Him. He would not wait for these sufferings to happen to His children, or at a time when we question whether there is any God.” said a person.

I knew I had to give a lot of explanations to prove myself. “The Kalki era could have started after the end of the great Mahabharata war. I thought I made a huge mistake by not doing it and that is why I returned again; to amend my past, to lead us towards the brighter future. I did not want Lord’s own children to suffer because of my incompetence.

“You might question as to why I returned as Krishna and not in a different form unlike my previous births. I was said to be the complete avatar of Lord Vishnu, but as you see I was not really complete then. This birth had to be taken to prove my worth as Vishnu’s true incarnation.

“I was given a choice by Lord Vishnu to end the life on this planet at that very moment, which I refused, believing that I was incapable to witness any more deaths. But now I know why it happened. If the world had wound up then, I would not have justified my birth as a human. Although I was hailed as the King of Kings or a God, I did commit many sins during my term on Earth. If I did not pay for my own sins, how could I defeat the sins and evil in others? The time was not right.

“All of us live with our past. All of us allow it to shape our future. But some of us know how to shrug the past. I think that is who I am. I had to face the brunt of being ‘Ranchhod’ – the one, who runs away from the battle; the one, who did not lead his army in times of need; the one, who does not save his followers. I have overcome all of it to realise how difficult it is to lead a human life.

“The evil is at its peak, which is an indication for the beginning of my work. My role is not to destroy the Earth and its inhabitants. Rather it is to destroy the negativity and vices and transform this very place into the golden era – Satyuga.

“I have individually chosen you because without you I cannot do anything. You are the chosen 108 souls – the First Souls who laid the foundation of the entire universe. You are the direct descendants of The Almighty. All other souls, beings, animals, plants, matter, substances; everything that you see was created by your imagination.

“The medicine which you will be given is a chemical which will be used to create your clones. A part of your soul would be transferred to these clones in a similar way to how I was created from a part of Lord Vishnu’s soul. This will enable them to live here normally in your places just the way you used to live, in order to curb any rousing suspicion.

“Your role is to reach our home, recognise your true potential and spread the positive aura on Earth, enabling your creations to defeat the evil within them. I will be staying here in human disguise to continue grouping the remaining people and lead them to where we all belong.

“Eventually, we shall destroy the negativity and turn the Earth from Kaliyuga to Satyuga. That is when you can come to live here once again.”

I transform to my ‘Universal Form’ or Vishvarupa – the one that reflects everything and the one that is made of everything; the same form I had projected to Arjuna during the battle of Mahabharata.

Having seen my true form; the souls realise who they are and what their roles are meant to be. I look at the boy I was observing earlier to ascertain if his young age has not restricted him in understanding my objective. He has the same calm and quiet demeanour, reflecting as if he is the smartest and knowledgeable amongst all present. A small ray of sunlight coming through one of the windows enlightens his face in golden. ‘Karna’, I speak in my mind and let out a smile. He looks at me and nods in reply.

During the entire incident, Radhika and Parth were confined to the corner of the stage. The astounding look on their face was asking so many questions. I send all the other souls in a temporary trance so that I can clear their doubts.

Radhika is speechless. She runs across the stage and gives me a tight hug, tears welling through her eyes. “I do not care who you are and I do not know if I will ever meet you again but there is something which I have wanted to tell you from the day I first saw you. The only feeling I have for you is unconditional love and I will continue to love you wherever you are.”

She looks the most beautiful person in the world right now. “I love you too, Radha. I have always been in love with you.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me? Why did I have to…” she stopped midsentence to realise I called her ‘Radha’; her big eyes looking into mine. “Yes, you heard it right, you are my Radha.” She gave a smile which I will never forget.

“Parth, you do not have to wait for my approval every time.” I call him letting Radha sit on a chair nearby.

“You said you have selected 108 souls but the list has names of only 106 people. Have you missed out the other two?”

“My dear friend, my mala cannot be complete without the two closest beads beside me. Who other than my best employees; who have been with me always, can earn that place?”

“But how can I be there? I do not even know if I am capable enough.”

“Never doubt yourself Parth, or should I say 'Arjuna'? You are the only one who has followed me blindly; a quality rarely seen or heard. I am giving you the most important work today; of leading all the souls to our home. This time I want you to be my 'Sarathi'. And I believe you are the only one that can lead them towards it.”

The first phase has been successfully achieved. I have sent the First Souls and kept their clones here in their places; recovered from K.A.N.S. I now move onwards to the second phase to eventually bring back the peace on this Earth that it rightly deserves.