Today is the day the college term ends. The pangs of separation were spreading everywhere. Those who share the pain of unfulfilled wishes and dreams. Some will not wait for me. Further studies are under discussion. Enemies become friends. The sight turns into a platform for mutual hugs, apologies and confessions. The day when everyone realizes that a beautiful time in life is coming to an end. Krystal slowly walked under the tree. Farewell to all. where is eva You will be busy saying goodbye. Anyway, let’s wait. She sat on that tree. A place where he and Eva used to sit and talk. All will be missed. What stories and jokes she remembered. Crystal I was looking for you. Crystal looked back. It was Eva. Eva had come closer. They looked at each other. “We’re all going to miss it, aren’t we? This tree, the leaves, the wind.” Eva stopped. “Um..” Krystal hummed. “You mean you’re going to Bangalore, Eva?” Crystal asked. “next week.” Eva said. “By the time the result comes, I want to look at the things of higher studies.” Eva stopped. “Are you Crystal?” “The family has already started marriage plans. You know that I am not very interested in higher studies either?” Their stories continued. The college campus was slowly becoming empty.
Crystal and Eva hugged each other. With a whimper, they bid farewell to the college campus. Krystal came home. He shared the details of college with dad and mom. After dinner at night, Crystal went upstairs to her room. No sleep. Call Eva? No, she will sleep. Something moody. The door to the crystal terrace opened. They come here at night. She started walking on the terrace. Such a walk at night is common. As she walks, she casts her eyes towards the endless expanse of sky. It’s a charm for Crystal. She felt that there was something special about the sky today. Like nature is preparing for something. All the lights in the surrounding houses were off. The starless sky reminded me of a painter’s blank canvas. The mind calmly turned to emptiness. There you stayed in the distant sky with her eyes fixed on something. She saw something shining like a crack in the sky. Crystal stopped walking and stared at the light. It was moving. She felt it coming forward. A little fear crept in. She realized it was coming towards her. The size of that light was increasing as it approached. Nature is silent. A light breeze was blowing her face. Her hair was flying.
That light was slowly coming towards her. Touching her, it was shining in front of her. Crystal was looking at the light, moving as if in some world. That light was slowly changing form. A human figure stood before her. A man wearing a light blue t-shirt and blue jeans. A little gray had begun to appear in the lazily styled hair. She seemed to be about fifty years old. She was scared. No voice came out to scream. Krystal took two steps back. Don’t be afraid. He laughed. Putting her curiosity to rest he continued “Hi.. I’m Richard. Richard Stevensen.” He extended his hand. “Hi…” Krystal shook his hand as if on impulse. “I come from twenty-seven years in the future. That is, from the year 2050.” He continued. Krystal Ima stared at him. “Crystal you are my wife. That’s why I came to Crystal’s past. Just to see and leave. That’s all.” Crystal stood motionless. Lips are dry. Then he slowly came back to reality. I don’t understand anything. Krystal said with a shudder. “Shall we sit for a while?” Richard said. Richard sat in one of the two chairs.
“Crystal sit down.” Richard pointed to the chair. Crystal sat in her chair looking at Richard. Richard continued. “Yes, it’s hard to understand. Crystal is now in 2023. For me, Crystal is gone. I’m about to happen to you. I married Crystal on May 25th, 2023.” Richard continued. Crystal was listening to him like she was in a fiction movie. “I’ll tell you now. I’m coming from Australia. I just came to see something. It’s also a test for one of my friends. I have to go back quickly. My wife and daughter don’t know anything about this.” He continued. “That is my wife Crystal and daughter Anne.” She looked at him in surprise. He laughed. “That means you and your daughter.” Krystal’s face was covered with beads of sweat. Richard took out his mobile phone from his jeans pocket. held out to her. “Look at my wife Crystal and daughter Anne Richard. That’s…” he continued. You and our daughter. Crystal’s eyes lit up. Me and my daughter. She said in her mind. She counted. Forty-seven-year-old me. A bit fatter. Hair is cut short. He is wearing a light blue top and white pajama. With daughter. Wearing a gray sleeveless top and black shorts. A smiling beauty with sparkling eyes and a slightly long nose. She felt that she had a good image of her mother.
A house and surroundings that have never been seen before. Touching Annie’s photo, she asked with a hiccup, “How old are you now?” “Twenty-three. Four years after we got married, Crystal and I decided we didn’t want a child. Look at this photo.” He showed me the next photo on his mobile phone. “Me, Crystal and our daughter Anne Richard.” She held the phone tightly so that it wouldn’t fall from her trembling hands. He bought the mobile back. “Just wanted to know something.” Crystal explained in a way. “When you say that it has reached from 2050 to 2023.. How is that? I am completely confused.” “Time travel. Didn’t I tell you earlier. It’s also an experiment by an Australian friend of mine. He used me for this. With my consent. Then I felt the need to go back twenty-seven years and meet my wife. He’s a scientist. Her name is Alfred Felix.” Richard said. “Time travel. I’ve read about it. But…” Crystal said slowly. “Yes. Alfred is brilliant. His experiment was a success. That’s why I’m standing here now. Science has come a long way, Crystal.” Richard said. “I am also at the pinnacle of wonder to be able to see you twenty-seven years later. He sent me for an hour.”
A beeping sound came from Richard’s right wrist. “Looks like it’s time to go. Here he has a chip implanted.” Richard held up his right wrist. I am getting his message. Richard rose from his chair. He came close to her and tapped her gently on the shoulder. “I have to go. Your journey to the future has just begun. Then everything will make sense. Bye.” Richard raised his hand. Suddenly a light enveloped him and Richard’s form was hidden in it. It slowly turned into a ball of light. Suddenly it rose into the sky at the speed of light. As it went up, it got smaller and smaller and then disappeared like a crack. Krystal looked up at the sky as if in a magical world. There was silence all around. She didn’t feel like staying there for long. Krystal walked back into the room. Sitting on the bed. Is everything that happened a dream or reality? She stood up. Entered the bathroom. He washed his face in the wash basin. He looked in the mirror and stopped for a while. Came back to bed. What year is reality? 2023 or 2050? What just happened? Who would believe it? She turned off the light. After thinking about it one by one, at some point Krystal drifted off to sleep. She opened her eyes. Looked at the clock. It is eight o’clock. Slowly got up. Walked to the terrace. Eyes shot to the sky. What happened here yesterday? Everything as before.. Pallu brushed. Wash your face. She went downstairs. Again shared the details of college with dad and mom.
As the days went by.. in the morning while sitting for breakfast, Dad brought up the subject. Mummy was near. “You know, you don’t have any interest in higher studies, it’s better if you get married. And now I have a good idea. The boy is a software engineer. He is now settled in Australia. He is twenty-seven years old. He has sent a photo on his mobile phone.” Dad held out the phone. She looked at the photo. Richard. A photo of an Australian friend with messy hair, jeans and a half-sleeve shirt with his hand on his shoulder. A smile appeared on her lips. Something is written under that photo. She looked carefully. With My Friend Alfred Felix. Crystal’s face was once again smiling. “What’s your opinion? It’s enough to think about it. We need your opinion. If you agree, they say that the wedding should be held on May 25 this year.” May 25. The date Richard said yesterday. Crystal understood. “Ah, and the boy’s name is Richard. Richard Stevensen” Crystal thought to herself as she looked at the photo. Richard Stevensen, wife Crystal and daughter Anne Richard. As Richard said yesterday, the journey to his future has begun.
Content Summary: Malayalam Short Story ‘ Time Travel ‘ written by Satyan Menon