Time

Time, its the one thing that is running out. We never seem to have it when we need it the most. No one knows that more that Eshaan. He tends to get late, most of the time. By no fault of his, mind you. For him time just flew by, he always managed to find that all-important video to watch on youtube, or that one forum to comb through or movie to ‘research’. Poor guy, there wasn’t enough time for him to do everything. 

Today was no different. He was late, as usual. Not a good day to be late. You could see the urgency in Eshaan’s movement. As he hopped across the room and tried to wear his clothes. He tried his best not to get late. But he received that 'cat surprise' link from Akshay, which dominoes to an hours worth of youtube watching.





Eshaan managed to send a text to Aura. Hoping that would buy him time.

“Sorry, might be late. Will b dere in 5. traffic.”

Aura, knew as she read the message. He was lying and he is going to be late. She was disappointed. He had promised, he knew the consequences. Well, there is nothing to do but wait. She waited for the 5 minutes. Eshaan was a no show. She hailed a cab. Just as she was about to get in, she felt somebody tapped on her back. She turned around. It was him, Eshaan. Her eyes lit up. “You are on time! ” she exclaimed. “How?” “I wanted to give you a surprise”. Eshaan replied as he gave her a hug. She felt that his jacket was wet. “Why is your jacket wet?” “Amm it was raining”. Eshaan replied. Aura checked the sky and road. There were no clouds nor was the road wet. Before she could shoot another question Eshaan dragged her into the movie theater.

Some seconds later a cab screeched to a halt at the theater entrance. Eshaan got out, he hurried paid the driver. He had his phone glued to ear and was scanning the crowd for Aura. He was very late. And very very dead. “Not today, not today” he was muttering to himself as he kept trying to call her. Not available. “Are you looking for a girl? ” the security guard asked Eshaan. “Yes” Eshaan replied. “she would be wearing a red jacket, her favorite color. Has long jet black hair, usually, she ties it up. And blue eyes.” The guard paused, trying to make sense of the information he got. He replied, “Yes, I think I saw her leaving the theater.” 


Eshaan knew she left. His tardiness had cost him another relationship. He decided to walk home. The sky cracked and it began to drizzle. “What timing,” Eshaan muttered as walked into an ally for shelter.

“Psst.. hey you.” Somebody whispered. Eshaan looked and saw a man. He was wearing a suit. He looked misplaced. He looked a little like Albert einstein. “Me?” Eshaan asked.

“Yes you dummy.” the man replied. “Would you like a time machine.”
“Already have one ” Eshaan replies pointing to his watch.
The man didn’t look amused. “This is the real deal, son. See.” He handed him a clock with dials around it. “All you have to do is set the time and spin the dial once around.”

Eshaan examined the device. It looks well crafted. “How much ...” the man was gone.
Eshaan looked at the device in his hand. He wondered, what if it was really a time machine.
He could test that theory. So he set the time and spun the dial. A second letter the device lit up. It was so bright that Eshaan had to shut his eyes. When he opened them it had stopped raining. He still was in the same ally. He checked his watched. It was five fifty. He was to meet Aura in 10 minutes. It took Eshaan a minute to realize he had just traveled back in time and now he had a chance to make everything right.

He rushed to the theater. As he reached he began looking for Aura. This time he found her. She was going to get in a cab. He walked up behind her and gently tapped her on her shoulders to get her attention. The rest is history.