Semitam poenitentia virtus potestas

(When repentance is the path and hope is the ability)

BY ANA SHARMA

“And there were we, with skyscrapers meeting skies filled with blessed water, land full of grass and growth, men with men in harmony and harm, miracles happened, the unscrupulous unveiled and justice got its way no not by us but by this long tortured soil we call home - earth. Revenge or revolt, it’s your way, but for me it was indeed revenge taken by this unique, lonely planet amongst the seemingly infinite universe. It was the home from the hostile regime of entropy out there, which we took for granted. Hence, it showed its wrath, with fierce fire filling the skies with ash and dust, oceans gulping our splendid cities.”

 “Ahh Ah rrrr What happened then?” Asked Ella 

“Then? yeah, it did not stop there….” (awkward silence)

She looked from the visor protected window, wondering without blinking. Still, quite submerged in thought, suddenly heard a sound - “Ella, Ella, what are you staring at?”

She didn’t respond, rather, she appeared perplexed. So was Kibou. Scared because he was intelligent, but not potential- He calls it “intrinsèque naturel défaut” of this hoggish créature.

With her two glittery eyes, little silver bunches she asked -” can’t we travel back in time to teach those dumb, dof people how to use your giant brains?”

There was silence…. with a quivering voice he said “It’s long, you now better go to bed. (pause) No one can reverse that.”

She slept, escaping in her fancy world with the window of the chamber overlooking the blood sky in void…….. (strange silence)

His eyes were red too, but filled with tears of guilt………. he kissed her and withdrew there in the Extravehicular Mobility Unit, for his another child in ICU. 

She was waning from intolerable fever, on a ventilator irreversible. Dolorous, he touched her dry, cold skin, speaking of the atrocities perpetrated on her by those noxious beings.

He inquired “how are you going through now, dear?”

Followed by silence

“Love he said, I meant not to hurt you as you are my child now. Here, I brought some paracetamol, and calamine lotion (referring to make you feel better. You know I miss our colorful days, full of buzzing bees and lots of crisp nuts and nuggies, lush tender fruits, garden- fresh vegetables, I yen for petrichor so much (pause) as dull and samey it appears to the core, dreary job at that monochrome lab full of disgusting odors of chemicals you see the bell pepper tastes like paper!” (deep silence)

“I ever hated it, loth it!” (Kibou snivels)

“And I tell you this… they aren’t permanent fixated houses without your familiar smell, but you don’t have to worry at all. You are unparalleled and don’t take it as terrible. I have used hydroponics and bio engineered plants to adapt to these dynamic harsh environments.”

Loo blows….. (silence)

and he went back

“Ella, have your lemonade. I am sick of this AC winter, oh gosh again! This snot and ann nn na n nd (Sarah sternutate) that dumb doc is all for money as he does not dares to change those prescriptions ages old. You know my great grandma was a better curer, lucky I was to have her with me-- damn not again you disgusting pale mucus….I hate more than anything even the worst than our biggest blunders!”

“kvetch”- Ella mumbles, “at least you have them in good shape I wonder of Mrs. Bhatta.”

“Hey kibou, there’s someone for you on the door, come fast he’ll die without gas…”

“What’s up, Kibou?”

“What’s up? You know it all, don’t tell me what happened now?”

“You gonna run…”

“Why? Is it a marathon going… and I won’t if it was, because I am sick of everything, got it!”

“But Kibou it’s it’s the incubator”

“What? Sarah get the central hospital’s morgue, I engineered their indoor atmospherics and you might get compensation.” (Kibou yelling)

“Shut up you…….”(Sarah yelling)

(Pause)

“And you know all those ancient plants and species from grandma’s lullaby; it’s all there!” (assistant at door)

“You know I am not in the mood for a joke! (Kibou yelling) I mean, really?” Tears of joy rolled down from his ill-tempered face, so now he could answer Ella what went wrong.

Tonight they were in bed, Ella waiting, staring, this time at Kibou’s red face, hoping for an answer…

Then he starts..

“You know (while looking at the dark dense day outside) here we are ‘’, he waved outside, but Ella looked hopeless at Kibou’s face…. He expected it and also understood her innocent gesture but tried………..”.that there lived our ancestors full of ambition and avidité, they spoke of themselves as the wise man, an animal of culture capable of creating masks, facades so beautiful, perfect as seemingly flawless. They grew chubby so their brain ”

“And thennn”(Ella asks curiously)

“Oh, you quickly-witty! Yeah so they dug earth, painted our skies black and red, (pause-Kibou sighs ), stole everything and left us nothing absolutely nothing, just barren lands!” (sighs)

Silence followed

And the next morning..

The man (at the door) was in 1000 watt shock, and Kibou grabbed the EMU with a good hearty laugh while…

“Mom, are you nuts, stop it!” (Ella shouts)

“How dare you call me that… wicked girl” (Sarah in anger)

“You are wicked just stop asking me for that lemonade, it’s awful” (Ella shouts)

“Oh you horrible creature.. I I will not..”(Sarah in rage)

“Yeah, I am witty and now you drink it cos you must know how terrible a cook you are….”

“Damn….. Why do you never listen to me?”

“Never! because I am going to be a state judge not cuckoo like you and those ancient mine scroundals!”

(Pause)

“And because things can’t be undue, but I can stop it! Did you get that?!” (door slams) 

“Well , they said right. Life is strange,” Kibou says with a smile of certainty with renewed energy.