The System Hangs

There wasn't much. He saw a shred of paper rising from its perch on the ground, making a beautiful curve in the air. Nothing else.

Soon, the urge to cross the road got more urgent than anything else. But Abhi didn't know how to. Where the dust wasn't dense, it was hard to see. But it was there all the same, sticking into him like needles.

Never before had crossing the road been such an adventure! He started to walk with his hands outstretched.

* * *

At the end of about six hours, Abhi had explored the larger part of the now alien locality. Owing to his experience with hostile clouds of dust, he had kept clear of polluted parts. This is not to say that he was uninjured. A couple of times when he had grown careless, the dust had taught him painful lessons. But on the whole he was less hurt than he had imagined he would be. His progress had been slow and the hope of things returning to normal was fleeting now.

The frozen world had lost its charms. Abhi no longer knew what he was looking for. He hated the deafening silence.

And then, when he would have given anything to see motion, and when he thought he had had his stock of surprises, he saw it at last. Motion!

It was a man. Dressed in what might have been the uniform of the 'MIB'.

The man hurried towards him, making his way through, around and even over (why didn't I think of this, Abhi thought) the dust with more expertise than Abhi had been capable of. He was talking into some sort of a walkie-talkie that was held in his hands.

As he neared, Abhi could hear what he was saying.

"Yes, I have located the centre. It is in fine condition.... intact.... well... almost.... more or less. That's enough! I know my job. I'll keep in touch."

The 'man in black' put the radio back in his pocket and grinned apologetically at Abhi, and said, "Everybody else seems to know my job better than me."

Abhi was quiet. The man moved uneasily.

"Sorry for the inconvenience." The man said.

"Who are you?" Abhi asked in a tired drawl.

"I work in the 'Reality Maintenance Department'. I am a technician."

With mild amazement gripping at him, Abhi said to the man, "I am baffled and I am tired. I would really appreciate it if you are a bit more elaborate."

The man grew calmer and seemingly started to understand Abhi’s plight. Abhi noticed this.

"The system is hung." said the man, "Something is wrong with the ‘Reality Engine’. We don’t know what, but my colleagues are working on it."

"The ‘Reality Engine’ "?

"That’s our guess. It couldn’t be the generator. The generator went through a thorough maintenance check a little over a week ago."

"There’s an engine that runs reality."

"Yes, of-course!" the man seemed surprised at such a question. Then, collecting his wits about him, he said, "Pardon me. I am just a technician. I am not acquainted with the way you perceive things."

Abhi decided not to pursue the matter further.

"Will things ……… the system, get back to normal." Abhi asked.

"It will have to. Our jobs depend on it." Replied the man, the nervous strain back in his voice.

Abhi, after a thought, quickly asked, "Am I central to the universe?"

Obviously, Abhi’s questions were getting too ‘technical’ for him. He was, after all, ‘just a technician’. But he tried his best anyway.

"You are a free mind." Said the man. "Reality is what connects you to other minds like you. Right now, each of you is isolated in his or her personal universe."