10th August 2020

A cabin hidden from plain view stood apart in the forest, the old man stumbled outside in search of food .

The forest had offered him food and shelter. But he felt lonely, as he counted the days left to live on earth . He was 95 years old and yet death seems to be holding back from approaching him .

Maybe it was his curse to live long after he lost everyone he cared about ,for trying to wage war against the fate by changing his destiny .

Yet he didn't regret his actions because it kept the ones he loved alive for a short awhile to his long years . But he realized the danger of changing fate and hence vowed the secret will die with him .

No one had ever managed to find him for half an century , Few more years he will die with his secret locked up for ever and that's all he wanted.

Only he knew the price that people would pay for his secret. And just when the old man thought no one would possibly find him. The stranger found him.

In his youth ,he was blessed with everything and as he gazed at the man ,he felt the same . A similarity between them called out to him and as he gazed at the stranger's face he realized the man looked haunted by his ghosts just like him.

He knew the haunted look meant the guy will risk anything to learn his secret , but for a man who had no loved ones or the fear of death . The stranger held no weapon that would let the old man reveal his long hidden secret

" You must be the one I am looking for, " the stranger spoke up, as if he couldn't believe he was yet alive .


" Yes I am ,but as I said to the last two people who found me . I won't share my secret and it is better if you learnt to accept fate, " the old man spoke up .

" How much will it cost, " the stranger asked him.

"It isn't for sale ,don't you think I could have sold it for much more than you can offer, if i had inclined to do so, " the old man answered back, and when the man simply took his phone and clicked a picture of him , he was shocked but also became aware he had more plans up his sleeve .

" Well how about the threat if you didn't tell me your secret then I will reveal what I know to the entire world ,imagine facing millions of people on your door front begging you to share your secret . It will disrupt your life and your peace .

I know why you choose to live hidden Mr Thakur , but imagine if the world finds out the renowned scientist had chanced upon such a invention ,do you think you can be hidden or what about your grandkids who live thinking you were long dead . Will the media and the government leave them alone. Won't they pester them if I let it out they know your secret , " the stranger spoke up, and the threat had its effect on Mr thakur ,no one had addressed him by the name for over half a century.

"You were misinformed , I don't have a family and I am not a scientist , " the answers barely left his mouth before he regretted it ,nothing about the man before him hinted at kindness . So he tried a different approach .

"Don't you have one person in your present you might miss," the old man insisted.

"I have no one, " the stranger retorted back, because it was the truth ,he was all alone .

"Okay I will help you , But remember there will always be a price you need to pay for changing the past. I learnt it the hard way , " the old man solemnly warned, but he knew the guy won't think twice before doing it.

"I understand," the stranger answered.

"What your name ?" the old man asked this time.

" Sanskar Maheshwari " the stranger replied.

Thakur let the man inside his cottage and saw the way the man face held a hint of surprise at the modernized house. He left his work ,inventions and even technology when he choose to live in hiding but never could he forego the chance of modernizing the cottage .

Then he went inside his room and brought in the necessary equipments after three hours it was finally done . He took in the signal jammer he installed that kept no signal or technology to find out about his whereabouts so far and he wondered how the man named Sanskar found him when he went to great lengths to remain hidden .

" Wear this and if you need to contact anyone ,this is your last chance, " the old man spoke up, as he handed over a weird looking helmet .

" How will it work ? " Sanskar asked, after wearing the helmet .

" There is no invention that allows human to travel through time , it hasn't been invented yet . But i have found a way in which our memories can be transferred to our younger self , what your younger self do with those memories is up to him, " thakur replied back , and he saw the way the man tensed up a little but nodded his head in answer .

" What date should I set ? " thakur asked .

" 20th June 2014, " the man replied back , and with the date set and everything ready ,thakur looked at the young man before him and wondered how to stop him from making such a big mistake .

" I changed the past and lost everyone I loved and I want you to think for one last time, " thakur tried again, but his silence was his answer .

" Why do you want to change your past ? " the oldman asked .

" To save her " was his answer and the old man wished he could do it without losing them in the end just like him .

And with a press of a button it was accomplished and the life of Sanskar Maheshwari took a drastic turn from the point onwards .

P. S : " The Prologue is up .Let me know your thoughts and feedbacks . Hit the votes if you liked it . "

Juanita Reid