KNOW WHERE

THURSDAY – 21July 2002.

I turned off my scooty to save fuel. A Bus next to me released polluted air which made me thought,” I wish I had a car."

Green light popped up.

I pressed the engine start button and turned my steering towards right.

It started Drizzling and a rainbow formed around big buildings. The world looks more beautiful when nature shows up.

I used my windscreen wipers for a better view ,wait! I am supposed to be riding a scooty.

God , I don't know how to drive a car.

I took a look at my feet terrified , three different pedals but which one is for what.

Relax Prerna Relax , everything gonna be alright.

I see my pet dog Tony standing in middle of the road barking at me.

"Tony move , Tony move aside" ,I shouted but he kept barking at me.

I turned my steering towards left to save my pet dog and dashed road divider.

I heard loud thump as I didn't dared to open my eyes.

I feel someone inserted their hand through car window and slapped me saying, "time up for your college you are already running late , get up Prerna".

I opened my eyes forcefully to see my mom's angry face.

"I told you already, I am not going to college today but to bank to meet Uncle",I said in sleepy voice.

She lifted me up holding my shoulder and pushed me inside bathroom.

I always prefer cold water. A bit of vibration traveled throughout my body as I pour some cold water.

I heard my mom coughing which made me to jump on spot and I ran to hall.

"Prerna , you are naked" ,said my mom closing her eyes.

"I am aware of it , you alright mom?", I asked her.

"It's just a normal cough dear , see no blood”, she said opening her mouth wider for letting me to see.

"Okay", I replied.

"Go back and finish your bath”, said my mom turning other side and eyes still closed.

"Don't be shy ,I am your daughter” I replied and came back to bathroom.

I wore my green dress ,I always wear this outfit when ever I have something important to do.

"Mom if owner uncle comes then give him the rent money, see you evening", I said wearing my white sneakers.

"Wait , wait Prerna, I made breakfast for you”, said my mom hurriedly running out of kitchen with upma plate.

I settled myself at dining table , and started eating upma looking at showcase as one of the Tony picture grabbed my attention.

"I miss you Tony , See even in my dream I am ready to hurt myself than to run over you with car. You are such a good Labrador, I love you" ,I thought to myself.

"You want more upma dear" ,asked my mom sweetly.

"No no no", I said with fear.

I finished my breakfast and took my bag and made sure everything is inside.

"I am warning you , don't miss meals and take medicine properly mom, see you evening" ,I said to mom making a unsatisfied face.

"Sure dear”, mom replied.

I reached SBI bank on my scooty and met Pratap uncle.

"Everything went well , they said our 250grams of gold will get us a loan of seventy five thousands", said my uncle with a dissatisfied face.

"Okay uncle forget about this loan , we will sell all the gold", I said offering him my back pack.

"If we sell this , we can easily make a Lakh rupees”, Said my uncle refusing to take my bag.

"That's the exact figure we need for mom's operation" ,I replied with a satisfied face.

"But , you will face problem during your marriage, with no gold",said my uncle with disappointment.

"If a man priority is just few grams of gold over a woman , then I don't want any marriage nor a man", I replied.

"Market will give a good price for gold during weekends", said my uncle.

"okay I will call you on Saturday morning",I replied.

"Yes, keep this bag safe for two more days ", he said carefully.

"Okay Uncle , Thank you and see you on Saturday", I replied and drove back to my home.

After entering through main door , I took off my white sneakers and walked into hall.

I surprised to see a middle aged woman , sitting on our couch seriously reading something wearing a grey saree.

"Do I know you?", I questioned that lady.

"She is my friend, Radha", My mom answered coming out of Kitchen with a glass of milk.

That lady slowly turned her head up , I feel like her face is very familiar and strange at the same time.

"She helped me to get back home while I was feeling dizzy at market" ,my mom said offering that lady a cup of milk.

“You alright mom”, I asked getting myself closer to my mom.

My mom nodded.

I noticed that lady has been going through my mom's colonoscopy test results.

I sat opposite to her.

"colorectal cancer , your mom needs a surgery asap", she said closing those files of colonoscopy.

I noticed that lady has been going through my mom's colonoscopy test results.

I sat opposite to her.

"colorectal cancer , your mom needs a surgery asap", she said closing those files of colonoscopy.

"Next week",I replied.

"I would like to see what medication she has been taking", that lady asked.

"Here you go", said my mom giving her medical receipts.

I threw a 'what's going on' expression on my mom.

"Wait , she is a doctor", my mom replied.

The word Doctor travelled to my brain through my ears.

A doctor is sitting right in front of me , all these days we used to travel , pay and wait a lot for an appointment.

I felt like she is a bit of camp fire for me during mid winter.

I got up and settled myself next to that lady.

"Madam these medicines we have been using since a year , in five days we have a surgery. Will everything be alright?", I asked her wiping my tears.

She smiled and nodded her head.

Me and mom exchanged our looks and smiles.

"I will cook lunch for all of us ,and mom for you it's time to take rest" ,I said getting up from couch.

"I know a bit of cooking as well", said that lady.

"Okay madam, come to kitchen" ,I said inviting her.

"Call me Radha" ,She replied.

"But You are elder", I said in a tone of respect.

"No body is elder or younger Prerna, it's just the time difference", She replied.

"I don't understand your logic , but gonna call you Radha", I said in a bit of confusion.

We went inside to kitchen, and asked her what she would like to eat.

"I usually eat fruits for lunch , but let's cook some lemon rice with a load of peanuts" ,she replied.

"Even I eat fruits every day for lunch , and I love to eat lemon rice with lots of peanuts as well" ,I said surprisingly.

She smiled and said nothing.

"Radha ,Will surgery go alright?, My mom is in third stage of colorectal cancer. Doctors said it's fifty-fifty chances." ,I asked her chopping onions.

"Mom will be alright if the surgery happens”, She replied turning gas stove on.

I saw a red wrist watch on her right hand ,it showed 2% on her watch screen.

"Surgery date is scheduled on next Wednesday , only few days left to arrange money”, I replied examining that watch closely.

"Some times you have to go through the hard phase dear", Radha said adding oil to the pan.

"Yeah , Everything happens for a reas... ".

Radha cut me and said," it's a lie, not everything happens for a reason. But accepting everything that comes to you, irrespective of good or bad is life".

I became a statue getting lost in thoughts nodding my head, because all these days I used to say this proverb when ever I felt low, but Radha gave me a different perspective.

Later we finished eating , it went like a family dinner.

I took Radha to my bedroom.

She straight away went and sat on my bed like she owns this room.

She said, “feel at home".

"That's my line" ,I said laughing.

She opened my cupboard drawer and opened one of my white pages book and started writing something.

As she kept writing, her red wrist watch started blinking, the percentage kept increasing 2%, 5%, 16% and finally it stopped at 18% as she stopped writing as well.

She closed that book and placed it back in my table drawer.

"Is mom sleeping" ,she asked.

"Yes" , I replied taking off my attention from her wrist watch.

I wanted to ask her out, there's a mall named phoenix nearby. But I dunno what Radha will say.

"Radha", I called her in low voice.

"Yes ,Why don't we go out and visit Phoenix mall nearby", she asked.

"sure" ,I replied surprisingly.

She grabbed my scooty keys from the same drawer and asked me to come.

I followed her and sat in the back seat of my scooty for the first time in my life.

"Sitting backside on your scooty for the first time”, Radha asked.

"Yeah" ,I replied placing my hand on her shoulder.

While we are close to the mall a street dog stood on road and started barking at us.

She stopped our scooty and smiled at that dog.

"See Prerna, you don't have to hurt yourself in order to save a dog's life , just use the breaks" ,she said and started scooty as the dog moved aside.

She know my dream , she know my dream. Who is she , how does she know my dream ,Is she a God, Is she a devil. A train of fears hit my head.

"Remember Prerna, middle one from the three pedals of a car is break" ,she said looking my shocked face in side mirror.

"How do you know about my dream , who are you!?",I questioned her removing my hand from her shoulder.

"I will tell you in a while”, She replied entering inside parking slot of mall.

I entered 100 in my keypad phone for speed dial and followed her with fear.

"Don't call police", she said smiling.

She definitely not a human , I thought to myself.

She asked me to sit at a table and she went off.

I wanted to run away but my scooty keys are with her.

She came back and sat opposite to me.

"I am You", she said.

"I am You", she said.

I said nothing but waited for her to correct grammar.

After a while , I broke the silence saying " come on ,what is I am you? ,Does that even make sense".

"Yes it does make sense, Prerna" ,she replied.

I saw her wrist watch blinking, it showed 52%.

"What is that Device, answer me who are you!? " ,I questioned her with loud voice.

"Okay relax, I am you from the future. It's a time travel to past" ,she replied.

"There's is no scope for time travel to come true, stop playing jokes" ,I said giving her a nasty look.

"In few minutes our new president will be announced , it's Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam ", she said looking at her wrist watch.

"If it's true then India is blessed ", I replied trying to have a look at her watch.

Is started blinking and showed 69%.

"It's has been officially announced that Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam ji is our eleventh president", we heard from a radio behind us.

"okay okay , I believe you. Now tell me what's that device on your wrist",I asked her curiously.

"It's a anti-spoiler meter, If I tell you things about future then it will reach 100% and suck me back to my timeline" ,She said watching her device increasing from 69% to 74%.

"Is time travel possible through a machine , like they show in Hollywood movies" ,I questioned her.

"No , it's a formula decoded from black hole",She replied.

I nodded like I understood even though I am a layman here , because if she understands then I will definitely understand, She is me remember.

"How did you decoded a black hole", I questioned her.

"No ,not me ,Black hole is an great theory that needs years to study and understand it properly, scientists are in trail modes ,they are just testing whether this works or not. This is a mission called "KNOW WHERE",. They choose me because I know where to go and what to do. Even I get a chance to see you. So it was a square between scientists and me". Radha said.

"I am you right , but I don't know what a black hole is" ,I questioned her grinning.

"Black hole in the sense....... The world will see the first black hole image in the year 2019 so you have to wait seventeen more years" ,she replied.

" It's obviously looks black, lol", I murmured.

"What? “Radha asked.

"Why are you here" ,I asked her.

Your order mam , waiter came with two sizzling brownies.

"My favorite” , I said grabbing one brownie.

"Our favorite” ,she corrected me.

"Okay tell me why are you here" ,I questioned having a bite.

"I want our 250grams of gold”, she said in low voice.

"what are you even talking, how will I save my mother if I give you all the gold I have”, I questioned her.

" Our mother " ,she replied.

"if you care then why you wanted to take away my gold" ,I questioned.

" Our gold ",she replied.

"Enough, I am not giving you anything, you are just wasting your time here , go back to your time line" ,I replied.

"I saved our mother by making her undergo a surgery involves removing the cancer and some of the wall of the rectum." ,she said showing me the picture from her wallet of mom lying on hospital bed showing thumps up.

"So”, I said with irritation.

"Now ,Our daughter is suffering from the same cancer just like our mother, I need this gold to cure her", she replied.

Her watch started blinking again and increased to 82%.

"You know , how much we love our mother , I can't give away that gold and let our mother die here" ,I said stopping my tears.

"You are a Perfect one, who responds to the pains and pleasures of others as if they are your own. Just think from my perspective one's, you want to save your mother because of love and I need to save my daughter because of responsibility”, she replied stopping her tears.

She made me think, I lost in thoughts again. I wanted to shout and tell her that I am not giving anything , but it's me the other side as well. I am sure my mom would have done the same , she might have let our grandmother die to save me.

"Exactly, our mother would have done the same”, Radha said.

"At least allow me to think privately ", I replied with hesitation.

She nodded her head.

After a while , she broke the silence saying, “taking gold from you is the only possible way from which I can save our daughter, but I wrote few possible solutions to save our mother in your note book".

"why only gold you wanted , wait till this weekend come , I can sale it in the market and give you the best figure close to one lakh" ,I said.

"No , no. Ten grams of gold in your timeline costs four thousands but in my time line the price is eighty thousands ". She replied.

"That's twenty times more money, which year you are from" ,I made my mouth wide open.

"Year 2030 and I need approx twenty five lakhs to save our daughter" ,she replied.

"You can easily make twenty with our gold”, I replied.

"Another five in my back account" ,she replied.

"Okay , I am gonna make one of the solutions you wrote in my book to come true and will definitely save our mom" ,I replied smiling.

"Ummm yeah" , she said in low voice.

"It's gonna be a win-win situation”, I replied

She smiled and said nothing.

"Can I see a picture of my future daughter " ,I asked with her.

" Our daughter " ,she said tapping on her wrist watch.

It popped up like a projector and showed a teenage girl stage performance. She looks beautiful, she is singing and simultaneously dancing.

"What's her name ", I asked her without taking my eyes off from video.

"Our daughter name is Radha" ,she replied.

"And you!?" ,I questioned her in confusion.

"I am you idiot, we both are Prerna",she replied.

I grinned like chimpanzee at my own stupidity.

Finally the video ended and her wrist watch started blinking and showed 91%.

"I am getting closer , we should reach home asap" ,she said in hurry.

"I am getting closer , we should reach home asap" ,she said in hurry.

We finished our sizzling brownies and headed back to home.

I handed her over the gold bag and didn't dare to wake up my mom.

She took the bag and said "Thank you"

"You have 9% of spoilers left , why don't you give me more information About future" ,I asked

That's what I am thinking as well, "India will lift the cricket World Cup in the year 2011 and Keep your lungs strong in the year 2019.

"Wait wait " ,I stopped her by looking at her watch which showed 97% ," share something of my future"

"You will marry your crush , but love is different, it looks beautiful when we see it from a distance but becomes sorrowful when we reach closer”, she replied.

Her wrist watch started blinking showing 100%

"Wait , does that mean I suffer after getting married!?", I questioned.

An inch sized black hole surrounded by a red border has opened behind her and sucked her inside it

"I am divorced”, her last words are terrifying

I wish I never asked her about my future. She was right , knowing future is a terrible idea. We should accept everything that comes to us irrespective of good or bad.

Every one wish they had a friend like themselves, it came true in my case. It's lovely to see me on both sides. Our thoughts match , our tastes match , our way of thinking matches ,our understanding matches.

A relationship should be like this in the form of compromises, we should feel the other person is us as well. The relationship bond should be like a mirror with a lot of care and never be broken, We should understand by thinking advance and act accordingly just to make each other smile. Compromising in the name of understanding will always be a peak level of relation.

I came to my bedroom hurriedly to see all the possible ways to save my mom and to find out which one will work. I grabbed my book from the table drawer and started reading.

I had no option other than betraying you, I am sorry Prerna. “Time can make a curse into a boon and vice-versa as well".

"What the fuck!",I shouted.

A good friend I thought a few minutes ago turned out to be my biggest enemy.

Did I just cheated myself?, Is future me is a selfish person?, Why did she lied to me?, Why can’t she just theft it over making all this drama?, Is it fair for future me to make present me to suffer for her wellness?, A ton of questions hit my head like a torpedo.

I wiped my tears. God , its okay I am accepting this , doesn’t matter it's good or bad. This is life. I wish my future me stays happy , and I pray for my daughter’s operation goes well.

I realized trust is the greatest emotion over love , we can love and un-love a person within minutes. But building trust takes lifetime. We may love someone unconditionally but still we don’t trust them ,Now I don't even trust myself, hating self is the worst feeling…….