On A Collision Course

Slowly, he approached Kubachu.

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“Thari, it is so good to see you! They said you were killed. Oh, what a joy to see you in these dark times,” exclaimed Kubachu as they embraced.

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Similarly, Thari could not contain his joy at hearing his name, the sweetest sound to ones ears. It had been so long since he had heard it out loud. Maybe he had indeed crossed over to the other side where the soul doesn't identify by name.

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‘How have you been?’ Kubachu inquired.

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‘I've been up and about and almost died too. Who said I was no more and why?’

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“You see, in battle the truth is usually the first casualty. That information might just have been the tool to drive your platoon into battle.’

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‘What?’

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‘A lot has happened since you left. Moves from both sides of the political divide. There are cracks in our leadership; one pulling to an unknown future and the other preferring the known past.’

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‘And whom do you think is right?’

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‘None. Time is but an illusion. One with the sole function of ensuring that mankind can be organised in groups and feel like they are moving forward by interpreting change in a linear mode.’

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‘That's a bit absurd,’ Thari thought, ‘No wonder they call you mad’

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‘When you are happy you don't think about time. When you are content you don't worry about tomorrow. There's simply now.’

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‘How do we sort out this mess?’ Thari cut him short.

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‘Are you not paying attention?’ Kubachu replied.

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‘The story I told of the damn king… Don't you know about the butterfly effect? A butterfly flapping its wings in one end of the world could derail a train in another. Our tiny actions can do so much if applied right and sometimes our biggest moves amount to nothing.’

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‘I just want to understand the truth so I can know where to apply my energy.’

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‘The truth and the lie often have something in common, they both appear as stories. Most times we don’t want the truth, just a story to believe in, identify with, share with others, dwell on and most importantly to provide us with a sense of meaning and belonging.’

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Kubachu paused to catch his breath before continuing.

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‘No single truth exists. The truth exists from one's own perspective. You can only see a picture as big as the number of eyes you see it through. You can only experience another's perspective by being in tune with their flow and it will cost you.

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‘What? I don't understand. I don't have a lot.’

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‘Not that worthless paper you call currency dum-dum. The purity of the moment… its cost is life. What you call time and honesty. When you spend a moment of your life with someone in honesty, you will get to see their truth.’

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Okay, thanks…’

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‘I fear the darkness will consume us before daybreak,’ Thari said.

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‘Fear not, just flow. The fear of loss will cost you great gains and the desire for gains leads to losses. Be calm. Be silent.’

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He interjected as Thari was about to shoot his next question.

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‘Do you remember the third most troubling issue before you got here?’

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‘No.’

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‘What about the second?’

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‘I've faced a lot on my journey coming back home.’

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‘But the phase where you are going away was relatively easy, right?’

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‘Yes kind of. Where is this going?’ Thari asked, a bit frustrated.

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‘Bear with me. It is an analogy I want you to learn. The journey of life is full of hikes and descents, and if the journey away was a descent, coming back definitely had to be a hike.’

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‘Oh! That's an interesting way to put it.’

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‘It is and you probably think that your journey has ended. But it can only end when humanity is extinct, not even when you die because your genes live on. And you might be thinking but I don't even have offspring...But which tree have you ever seen wither because it lost a leaf?’

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‘Huh? I definitely need what you’re drinking.’

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Kubachu passed the bottle with a smile. Thari prepared his taste buds for bitterness and took a sip.

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‘Flavoured chai?’ he asked incredulously. ‘I wasn’t expecting that. Is this what you’re always drinking?’

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‘It is. But I know it always seems like I'm drunk. It's a necessary image to portray. I have to give all the option of doubting me. It is called suspension of disbelief, the intentional avoidance of criticism, critical thinking and logic when facing something unreal like a work of fiction. Were it not for that perception, I would have been persecuted long ago.’

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‘There’s more than meets the eye, huh?’

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‘A lot, yes, a lot.’

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‘It is a beauty to see something I explained come to life.’

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Thari was looking puzzled.

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‘You've spent a tiny fraction of your life here, in this moment of honesty and you have had an opportunity to pick through my truth. Understanding why I do what I do is seeing through my eyes.’

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A few minutes passed in total silence before Thari spoke.

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“Do you know what this means?” Thari asked as he reached for the notebook from the train. He flipped over to the page with the strange symbol.

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‘Where did you get that?’ Kubachu asked, his face simultaneously showing signs of excitement and shock.

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‘I came across it on the train while coming here.’

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‘Damn. So they are here already.’

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‘Who?’ Thari asked, puzzled.

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‘It's one of the symbols used by a sect called The Nomads. It is rumoured that they appear where there is potential for total chaos. In chaos, they believe there is an opportunity to build better. If a Nomad is on the island, cracks in our leadership are deeper than we can perceive. And just so you know, Nomads don't have blindspots. If you have that, they probably wanted you to have it.’

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‘Nah, I don't think so. Don't underestimate my abilities.’

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Kubachu laughed.

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‘Okay. You should keep that book out of sight though. The kind of knowledge that the Nomads possess is forbidden in most places, including here. You've probably heard of the story that I ventured into an alien ship right?’

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‘Yes. Tell me about that.’

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‘Well, it’s just a story. I met a Nomad and I saw the world through their eyes. My life changed course that day. Most of what I share is derived from their wisdom. From what I see, it's like you are on a collision course with one.’

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Thari mulled over that revelation.

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‘As for the symbol, I don't know what it means. I've come across it but I haven't had the opportunity to learn its meaning. Open a blank page. I should have a pencil with me somewhere…’

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He patted himself and removed a pencil from one of his coat pockets. He then took the notebook and started drawing something that resembled a symbol. When he was done he showed it to Thari.

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‘This is Vine, named after a plant species with a similar name. It grew so fast, you could see it expand. It is a Nomad symbol. It represents all that can be created by human hands and how these innovations and knowledge can spread so fast no matter how hard we try to contain them.

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As Thari retreated to his mind to take in all what he had been told, he realised that the fire was slowly fading. He was tired as well but he knew that if people thought him dead, showing up at his place would likely not go down well.

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He prepared a place near a shed where he could take a nap as Kubachu also retreated to the corner he had made his abode. Perhaps daybreak would be more revealing.