Showing posts with label Science Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Science Fiction. Show all posts

Thursday, December 27, 2018

BookSpotlight: Vyom by Tripti Bhardwaj

An excerpt from Chapter 1- Vyom: The Sky of Success:

‘For Vyom, its aim is paramount and we’ve been striving to achieve it, every day, every time, every moment,’ Chancellor Jaywardhan Rathore was declaiming about a memorable day in Vyom Hall of Vyom Institute. ‘We will die protecting our world, our country and our people and endeavouring a true victory. Victory of peace over war, of truth over falsehood, of trust over treachery, of hope over despair, of courage over cowardice and of unity over every weakness raising hindrances to a better future.’ He gestured to a man in uniform, who had a powerful physique, sitting next to him. ‘I heartedly welcome my dear friend, Major General of Vyom’s army, Sagar Mittal, to our institute to celebrate this great moment.’
Vyom Hall was witnessing the presence of professors, scientists, officers and all groups of students: Buddha, Shukra, Vasundhara, Mangal, Brihaspati, Shani, Arun and Varun. 


Jaywardhan continued, ‘A century ago an organization named Vyom, the sky of success was founded with a sole aim. For achieving it we must realize our duties, our responsibilities towards our world and country. We must feel that the people we live among, their safety is our prime duty, their happiness is the source of ours. Today is a glorious day for all of us, as a family, as a team.’ 
Everyone perked up.

Jaywardhan Rathore in his early fifties, with a set of rectangular glasses and black-white moustache, had an efficacious personality. A gentle person of firm determination. He’d started his career as an Assistant Professor in Vyom Institute. His hard work and passion brought him to its highest post. 

Vyom Institute was a spacious-green campus, had forty main multi-storey buildings, Bhavans, with three wings each, and a head office. All the bhavans were scattered forming twelve concentric ellipses, Parikramas, around the head office. A group of smaller structures collectively known as Sanrachana situated between the sixth and the seventh parikrama included canteens, auditoriums, arenas, stadiums, sports clubs, guest rooms, cyber cafés, etc. Vyom Institute was more or less constructed like the solar system, eight planets replaced by forty bhavans, the asteroid belt by Sanrachana and the sun by the head office.  

Tonight the entire campus was sparkling with decorative lights and streamers vying for attention. Open corridors and courtyards were adorned with shimmering curtains, flowers and rangoli, embellishing the ambience. Everyone was savouring the rollicking festival to their heart’s content. Colourful water, dancing at melodious music, was jetting out of the fountains making every feet move rhythmically. But Jaywardhan’s heartbeat had gone out of rhythm. He was in conversation with someone in the Chancellor’s Cabin through his wireless single earphone, a concerned look on his face, ‘What? But how did he branch out, Ali?’ 

Ali’s voice came from another side, ‘I’m working on it, Mr Chancellor. But he’s scheming to get DTM’s system for sure.’
‘You take care of yourself. He must not come to know that you work for us.’
‘Don’t worry,’ said Ali. ‘I’ll keep you updated.’
‘Vyom farewell.’ Jaywardhan disconnected his earphone. Ali’s words had set him thinking. Murmuring to himself, he paced up and down his cabin. 
His thoughts were distracted as Damini Rathore, his wife and a scientist, elegantly dressed in a beautiful cotton-printed sari and tying her black hair in a bun, entered.She asked, ‘Did Ali get anything about Vikrant lately?’
‘No, no-thing. Everything is...’ Jaywardhan looked away. ‘Anyway, it’s time to go to the hall.’
‘What’s the matter, Jay?’ Damini looked straight at him, his expression troubling her deeply.
‘I’m fine. You don’t worry,’ Jaywardhan’s voice grew weaker.
‘So it’s definitely about him, isn’t it?’ Damini turned him towards herself, sensing his inner turmoil. 
Jaywardhan removed her hand from his arm. ‘Vikrant’s ambitions are exceeding, Damini. If we don’t stop him now, he will ruin everything.’ 
Damini stood still, great anxiety enveloping her face.
Jaywardhan took a deep breath and motioned his eyes to a framed painting hanging on a wall behind his chair showing a range of red mountains with the sun floating on a river. ‘I’d made a promise to sir and I will keep it at any cost.’ 
A tiny flashlight on a sapphire metallic belt tied on his wrist blinked green. Coming out of his memory, Jaywardhan saw a name on a small screen fixed into it, touched the screen and said through his wireless single earphone, ‘Yes, Yash?
Assistant Professor Yash Chauhan’s voice came through it, ‘Mr Chancellor, the celebration is about to begin. We’re expecting both of you.’ 
‘We’re coming, Yash. Vyom farewell,’ replied Jaywardhan, taking a quick look at Damini.
As Jaywardhan rang off, Damini spoke, ‘But our.....’
‘We’ll talk later.’ Jaywardhan made for the door. ‘You’re coming, aren’t you?’ 
After a momentary pause, ‘I am,’ answered Damini.
Vyom Institute, a part of Vyom Organization was situated on Niketan, one of the eight islands collectively known as Vyomdweep in the Indian Ocean. Vyom Organization primarily worked for the national security, had its headquarters in India’s commercial capital, Mumbai and its offices in almost all the countries of the world. Every year, new batches of twelfth pass students who desired to be a member of Vyom Institute were called in Vyom Headquarters. They had to pass a rigorous but transparent multilevel selection test, Vyom Eligibility Entrance Test- VEET, and show their skills, capabilities and determination. If they passed all the levels, they were welcomed in Vyom Institute.


Blurb:

Vyom: the sky of success, a global organisation, promotes international cooperation and strives to establish world peace. One of its parts, Vyom Institute primarily works for the national security and provides its students the skills, knowledge and training to fulfil the responsibilities to their country.
Vyom Institute faces challenges when its ex-member, Vikrant Kapoor, desperately searches for the Royal Weapon which had been hidden in the past.


Vyom's submarine, Mandakini, is attacked. Manasvi -55, a chip connecting two time machines, is stolen from Vyom's Museum. World's two advanced humanoids stand against each other.
Chancellor Jaywardhan Rathore and his team find themselves in a deep trouble created by someone present among them. To get the answer what the Royal Weapon is and reach it before Vikrant does, five students from the institute, Prithviraj Malhotra, Kanak Singhania, Samrat Chopra, Kabeer Khan and Aavishkar Arora, journey through time. They encounter unimaginable situations in their quest which lead them to Ananyaakashganga, the Royal Weapon's Haven.
A fierce combat is fought where a brother leading an invincible army finishes a 700-year old unfinished business.
A teacher is murdered.
A father wishes his son to be dead rather than cursed.
A tablet unfolds a way to the ultimate destination.
A time machine is chased.
A mask reveals a horrible carnage.
An armour becomes the reason of its bearer's defeat.
A code deciphers a warning for the enormous destruction.
Welcome to the world of VYOM.



About the Author:


Tripty Bhardwaj is a scriptwriter, an anchor, a newsreader and a teacher. She is a Master's degree holder in Physics and a Bachelor's degree holder in Science as well as in Education.

She has worked with Doordarshan as a scriptwriter and an anchor in the shows 'Geet Bahaar' and ‘Geet Gunjan' for two and a half years and as a newsreader in an agricultural based show ‘Krishi Darshan' for three years.

Tripty has always been a voracious reader of a variety of literature especially science fiction, mythology and thriller and mystery. Being a creative and self-motivated writer, she always tries to formulate her writing in a meaningful and logical manner. She successfully turns her framework of mind into simple and understandable language.


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Friday, October 3, 2014

Blogadda Game of Blog; Team By Lines: Chapter 20





CHAPTER 20


Cyrus came out of the Dutta Mansion and almost bumped onto Aryan Ahuja who had been eavesdropping at the door. Instead of being ashamed at being caught red handed, Aryan appeared elated to meet Cyrus.


“I can’t believe my luck. I always wanted to meet someone like you,” said Aryan, whose face had lit up with a happy smile. He had the same goofy expression that would brighten a follower’s face on beholding his idol.

He had believed every sentence uttered by Cyrus. Whatever he had heard had reinforced his belief in the person himself.  He had followed Cyrus closely online through his blog ‘The message from beyond’. Aryan by then had assumed that the blog was a veil to hide Cyrus’s true self as well as a tool to create awareness about aliens. The blog was an encyclopedia of knowledge about aliens online. Many Alien fanatics like Aryan were ardent followers of the blog.

Cyrus stopped and read every thought running through Aryan’s mind. He knew the man who stood in front of him was one with a pure heart. He needed many more such benevolent souls in his crusade against the gray aliens. He understood that Aryan was bubbling with questions. He had the answers. Shekhar and Jennifer were quick to believe his discovery. May be he can help in re-awakening Clariota.

“Yes Aryan, I will answer all your questions. Will you come with me?” said Cyrus, and Aryan almost jumped when he heard the answer to a question he had feared to ask. But he happily nodded.

What happened next was all a blur to Aryan. All he remembered was that Cyrus had touched him near the crown of his head. When he opened his eyes next, he was inside a chamber that had pristine settings. The walls, which had texture like shiny velvet, were the sources of light. There were plants that looked like common houseplants but something about them seemed different.  The large room had the appearance of a meditation chamber. A serene sound like that of cascading water was wafting in from some invisible speakers.

Aryan eagerly looked around for the source of the sound and stilled a moment when he noticed that it was coming from the vicinity of the plants, which were swaying in harmony with the music.  How was that happening? Aryan wondered.

“They are playing musical memories. Those ferns used to grow near a waterfall. We make them play the remembered music aloud. It increases their life span and also soothes the occupants of this hall,” said Cyrus, answering Aryan’s thoughts.

“Please sit, Mr. Aryan Ahuja . I will answer all your queries. Something tells me that you are going to be very useful to me. I know that you heard every word that I spoke at the Dutta Mansion. And I can sense that you hate being so transparent in front of me.  I know all the questions that you want to ask but you can ask them one by one. But before that I want you to promise that whatever I tell you will not be used for material gains. It will be used only for the greater good,” said Cyrus, his face acquiring the calmness and serenity of a highly evolved soul.

“Of course Sir, of course,” said Aryan, with a vigorous nod.

“The danger that I was talking about to Clariota at the Dutta mansion is real. It is imminent. We assume it will happen within few months. The good news is that we have unearthed the secret scrolls, which were hidden inside the chambers of a temple of the Sumerians. We believe it contains the secrets of the Anunnakis or the gray aliens. The scroll though old had survived the ravages of time which in itself speaks of its authenticity. We have a special set of peacekeeper alien scientists trying to decipher the codes at this very moment. But we can’t rely on that alone,” said Cyrus with a sigh.

“I have read that the Anunnaki’s were able to harness the earth’s energy using curious stone circles erected throughout southern Africa. That there still exist numerous gold mines across the terrains that are millions of year old and continue to baffle scientists .They might have been a technologically advanced civiliaztion,” said Aryan Ahuja, eager to know more about the Anunnakis who were mentioned in the tablets recovered from the ruins of the highly developed Sumerian civilization.

“Yes, they were. And all those mines are testimony to their craze for monoatomic gold or galladium. It has led them to war with various planets spread across the Milky Way. They were intelligent enough to recognize that  Monoatomic gold had miraculous properties. It has the ability to stop the aging process, and increase the capabilities of the brain. It helps the person who consumes it in specified quantities to sense evil or become telepathic. It even helps the person to time travel using the enhanced sense of mind power to peek into the past or future. What we peacekeepers have as inborn ability, they acquire using this magical mineral,” said Cyrus.

“Are they then a danger to the peacekeepers?” asked Aryan.

“No. We exist in a different astral plane to that of the Anunnakis. We become visible to them only if we allow them to see us. They don’t perceive us and are unaware of the danger that we pose to them. It is the same case with humans too. We can co-exist with you without your knowing that we are near you. Humans can see us only if we intend so,” said Cyrus.

“So is earth home to all the peacekeeper aliens or have you come to earth to on a mission?” asked Aryan.

“No… the earth is not our home. We once lived in a planet called Phaester Osiris in another corner of the Milky Way. Our ancestors sucked out its resources without replenishing them and our home planet split into pieces, forcing us peacekeepers to become wanderers across the universe. We are now volunteer peacekeepers and strive to help souls in danger.  We monitor all the planets that have life. But now, the same fate awaits earth in not a far future. The danger that the earth faces from the grays is just the beginning,” said Aryan, and stopped talking, as he perceived something.

With the sound that resembled a splash, a turquoise blue dome entered the chamber like a flash of lightning. The dome that was spinning like a top abruptly came to a stop at the centre of the hall. It then opened like a flower. The creature that emerged out of it was completely in agreement with all the pictures man had painted of aliens since time immemorial. It had gray skin, eyes that resembled huge dark goggles and had legs and hands that were eerily thin. It was almost thrice in height to that of a normal human being.

Suppressing an involuntary scream, Aryan grabbed the arms of Cyrus in an act of seeking refuge. Cyrus patted on his arms and asked him not to panic. While he watched, the alien shrunk in size and then morphed into a human shape. It was a lean man who appeared to be in his mid forties.

“Hail the master!” said the man and sat in a chair as directed by Cyrus. He seemed in a hurry and his eyes flitted between Aryan and Cyrus as though asking whether he could speak in front of Aryan.

“Speak Haides, be assured that Aryan is a friend. He needs to know. I believe the news is urgent. You preferred to travel instead of using the messenger balls,” said Cyrus.

“Master, they have changed the dates. The deterioration of the ozone layer has sped up things. They arrive in not three months from now. They arrive in seven days,” said Haides, and then fell silent. Perhaps Cyrus had warned him to shift to telepathic communication. Cyrus appeared calm but the silent communication that followed between the two seemed profound to Aryan. Haides seemed to be one of the spies that Cyrus had mentioned at the Dutta mansion, the ones who were in charge of collecting data from the world of the gray aliens.

“Only a miracle can save earth now!”exclaimed Cyrus at the end of the silent discourse.  Aryan sank back onto the chair he was sitting understanding the despair in Cyrus’s voice.

The silence that reigned in the room was ominous!


Read CHAPTER 21 

   “Me and my team are participating in ‘Game Of Blogs’ at BlogAdda.com. #CelebrateBlogging with us.”                                                          


Monday, September 22, 2014

Blogadda Game of Blogs:Team By Lines- Chapter 10



Read the earlier chapters by clicking the links. CHAPTER I CHAPTER II CHAPTER III CHAPTER IV  CHAPTER V CHAPTER VI CHAPTER VII CHAPTER VIII CHAPTER IX

CHAPTER X

Tara sat on the living room sofa, flipping through a magazine. She was not reading a single line as her eyes were fixed on the closed study room door. She liked Jennifer, but her possessive heart was stirring up the green monster of jealousy. An hour had passed since Jennifer and Shekhar had gone into the study. Roohi had slept after a merry story time with Cyrus. Cyrus too had retired to his room. Tara eyed the door again and let out an involuntary sigh.

What was it that they had to discuss under closed doors?

Just for a minute, she thought about eavesdropping at the door. But she loathed treachery.  She took a deep breath and tried to calm down her wandering thoughts. Jennifer was still unmarried, but she had never felt anything romantic between them. Jennifer had been distracted at the dining table and she was staring at Shekhar a lot. The moment she had left them in the garden to check on Roohi, they had escaped to the study. Whatever existed between them must be purely platonic. Her Shekhar was a devoted and faithful lover. Wasn’t he?

“Tara, Can I speak to you for a moment?”

Tara turned hearing the question and found Cyrus standing near the door of the guest bedroom.

“Of course, come here Cyrus, take a seat,” said Tara, relieved that she got a reason to distract her devious thoughts.

Cyrus sat on a chair next to the sofa and sat staring at the floor. It was as though he was lost in thoughts or as though not able to decide where to begin.

“Cyrus…What is it? What do you want to tell me?” asked Tara with a smile, after minutes ticked by and Cyrus failed to utter a word.

Cyrus looked at her then and the pain reflected on his face surprised her.

“What happened Cyrus? What is it? Tell me,” asked Tara, her eyes wide with concern.

“You don’t remember anything? You don’t remember me?” asked Cyrus and Tara sat stunned.

Until the moment, their family friend Aditya had requested her to allow his student to stay for a few days at her house, she hadn’t even known about Cyrus. But she had to admit, he seemed familiar. Yet she was clueless as to how or where she had met him. She had stirred her cauldron of memories, but had been unable to remember anything. There was a strong pull she felt whenever she looked at Cyrus. As though, there existed an invisible thread that bound them. As though that thread might break any moment because she was striving hard to get away.

As if her silence disturbed him, Cyrus shook his head and then hunkered down onto the carpet near her.

“Tara, Remember… Try to remember. You have forgotten all your promises, all your vows. How can you do this to me… to us?” asked Cyrus, grabbing both of Tara’s hands.

Tara stood up freeing her hands and glared at Cyrus.

“Get up this moment. What is this nonsense? And what do you mean I have forgotten my promises? I don’t even know you?” hissed Tara.

“Tara..Tara… Relax. Let me help you remember,” said Cyrus and took hold of her hands again.

“Try now Tara. Look into my eyes. Don’t you remember anything?” asked Cyrus, removing his glasses.

Tara looked into Cyrus’s eyes and in the depths of his gray-green eyes; a million memories began to wake up. Caught in the web of those memories she didn’t notice that she had moved nearer to Cyrus and that he had taken her in his arms.

“What the hell is happening here? What is the meaning of all this?” screamed Shekhar, who had just come out of the study along with Jennifer. Tara and Cyrus flew apart. Tara had a dazed look and Cyrus looked impassive.
“Shekhar, cool down. You are over reacting. Tara will explain,” said Jennifer, holding onto Shekhar’s arm. Jennifer feared that he might launch himself at Cyrus.

“What do you mean she will explain? This bastard, we gave him a place under our roof, considered him like a brother and this is what he gifts us back. You scoundrel, I’ll kill you,” hollered Shekhar. Tara’s silence and Cyrus’s wooden looks was infuriating him further.

“Mr. Shekhar, you are misunderstanding me. I didn’t do anything wrong. Your wife and I have a few old scores to settle. You can ask her. And I don’t wish to stay here anymore. The purpose of my visit is fulfilled. Tara… Remember!” said Cyrus and stormed out of the room, leaving Shekhar and Jennifer staring at Tara with their eyes wide open and mouths open in the shape of an O.

Within moments, Cyrus came out from the guest bedroom carrying his suitcase and laptop bag. He gave one last look at Tara who had become as pale like a ghost.

The door closed behind Cyrus with a loud thud and startled Shekhar and Jennifer out of their trance. Unable to digest what had happened, Shekhar floundered towards Tara.

Tara’s eyes flitted between the closed door and Shekhar frantically. Then she swooned and fell in a heap onto the floor.


Read: Chapter XI here






“Me and my team are participating in ‘Game Of Blogs’ at BlogAdda.com. #CelebrateBlogging with us.”