Silence filled Ishan’s garage, broken only by the rhythmic ticking of a digital clock. Amidst a chaotic mess of wires and circuits on his desk lay an old photograph—his mother, Sumitra.
With trembling hands, Ishan touched the 'Quantum Watch' strapped to his wrist. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept for weeks.
"The math won't be wrong this time," he promised himself, and pressed the button.
1. The Endless Loop of a Single Morning
A blinding flash of light made Ishan’s head spin. When he opened his eyes, he was back in his bed. The aroma of ginger tea wafted from the kitchen.
He rushed downstairs. Sumitra was gathering her office files. Seeing Ishan, she smiled, "Oh, you're up? Get ready quickly, drop me at the office on your way to college."
A lump formed in Ishan’s throat. He lunged forward and hugged her tightly.
"Ma... please don't go to the office today. Let's go out somewhere," he pleaded.
Sumitra laughed and pinched his cheek, "Are you crazy? I have a very important meeting today. Don't worry, I’ll cook your favorite meal tonight. I promise!"
2. The Cruelty of Fate
Ishan knew those words well; they were the same ones that shattered him every time. For the last 100 times, he had lived this exact day.
* Once he hid the car keys, so Sumitra called a taxi.
* Once he cut the power to the house, so she hitched a ride with a friend.
* Once he locked himself in his room, and she went out looking for him.
Every single time, at exactly 11:15 AM, a truck would crush her car at the National Highway turn. And every time, hearing that scream, Ishan would flee back into the past. He was trapped in a 'Time Loop' where death was a certainty.
3. The Final Gambit (The 101st Attempt)
On the 101st attempt, Ishan changed his strategy. He didn't try to stop her. When Sumitra drove away, Ishan secretly huddled in the backseat.
As the car reached that cursed stretch of highway, Ishan sat up. Sumitra gasped in shock, "Ishan! You? What are you doing here?"
"Ma, grip the steering wheel tight and don't hit the brakes!" Ishan screamed.
The same truck was barreling toward them like a messenger of death. At exactly 11:14:55, Ishan hit the 'Overload' button on his watch. A blue, translucent force field erupted from the device, enveloping the entire car.
The impact happened! The truck slammed into the car, but there wasn't a single scratch on the vehicle. Time seemed to stand still for a heartbeat. Sumitra’s eyes were shut in terror, but she was safe.
4. The Break and the Sacrifice
The car came to a halt. Ishan stepped out, smoke rising from his watch. He realized the loop would only break if he destroyed this machine forever. If he didn't, the temporal paradox would pull him back to the same morning once again.
Sumitra stepped out of the car, her body trembling. "Ishan... what was all this? Are you okay?"
Ishan looked into his mother’s eyes—the same warmth, the same concern. He unstrapped the watch from his wrist.
"Ma, I have lived this day thousands of times just to save you. But now I understand that it's not death we must conquer, but fear. I just wanted a new morning for you."
Ishan smashed the watch against a stone with all his might. It shattered into a thousand pieces. A brilliant blue light engulfed everything.
Epilogue: A New Tomorrow
When the sunlight hit Ishan’s face the next morning, he jolted awake. He checked the calendar with bated breath.
February 11, 2026.
The loop was broken. He ran downstairs. In the kitchen, Sumitra was preparing breakfast. She turned around and teased, "Oh, up so early today? Looks like yesterday’s little accident scared your sleep away."
Tears of joy streamed down Ishan’s face. He took his mother’s hand and whispered, "Ma, fulfill that promise tonight... your favorite Biryani." Sumitra smiled. Finally, Ishan had defeated time.
"If you held the power of Ishaan’s watch, would you brave the labyrinth of time for the one you love? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!"
No comments:
Post a Comment