Reality Check

Reality Check

Erica Thompson stared out of her cabin window. The grand opening of her art gallery was scheduled for tomorrow and she still hadn’t started working on her centerpiece. What was she doing? Frustrated, she left her office.

She walked around the city for a few miles, but in vain. If she failed to find the subject for her centerpiece, her gallery would be a disaster. It would be defining a body without its heart!! And right now, Erica’s heart beat faster than she ever remembered.

Finally, giving up, Erica decided to visit her paradise... her inspiration…

Erica opened the gates of the park. An empty road, lined with tall green trees, stretched in front of her. The dry leaves covered the earth, while the mist filled the air. The night sky posing exactly like it should, twinkling star lights over an ever stretching blanket of space. Erica remembered the times she visited the park with her grandfather. Chasing him around, or jumping in the mud, or purposely falling in the lake…..Erica smiled at these memories. She sat on one of the benches and smelled the night, the cold air relieving the stress from her nerves.

She spent almost 3 hours in the park, imagining, thinking, concentrating on anything that would stand out for her painting. She tried to see beyond what met her eyes. But the next day’s fear blurred her imagination. Afraid of losing everything, Erica left the park.

She decided to visit her restaurant. But tonight, the deserted street was packed with luxurious limos and modern cars.

“Erica?’, came a voice from somewhere.

Erica turned and searched for the voice. A woman in her late 30’s came strutting into view.

“Erica!! What a surprise? Did you come to see my daughter’s gallery? Oh! I forgot!! You must be busy with your own. How is it coming? I heard your centerpiece wasn’t ready yet?”

“I’m yet to start, Ma’am”, Erica replied. The woman put a face of surprise.

“Oh my!! You know, my daughter had everything ready weeks before her gallery and the masterpiece….” She waved a hand carelessly in the air. “Come, I’ll show you.” Erica refused, but the woman pulled her anyway.

She showed off each and every painting that hung on the wall. Erica could only smile.

“And here’s the masterpiece”, the woman showed proudly.

Erica looked at the painting and was stunned. The painting was of a woman, a woman who had lost everything…. everything she treasured. Face lit with streaming tears while the lips opened to let out the pain….. This painting was a stab at the heart.

“This is real, you know? She really has lost everything”, the woman said. Erica stared at the woman.

“Oh don’t look so surprised, she would have died by now?” the woman replied carelessly.

Erica’s voice struck in her throat. Is this what she was? Portraying a woman’s pain to the world to gain the spotlight?

Next day, Erica’s gallery opened. Her boss inspected her every painting. But-

“What’s this?” her boss asked.

“The centerpiece”, Erica replied.

“This? It’s a picture of burning trees?”

“It’s a picture of burning paradise”, Erica corrected. “Your paradise….. the one that was very dear to you….. the one which meant everything to you….. the one which defined you. This is the picture of that paradise getting burned and you are standing, watching….. but helpless… watching those memories burn… all your childhood burn…..”

There was a smile on her boss’s face while she said, “I’m glad that god has given you a heart”.

And yet, somehow, Erica felt heartless.

One Christmas Eve

 

Santa

Fish Bowl

 

Jack Frost

 One Christmas Eve

Dec 24th, 2070:

Nick woke with a start. He was sure he had felt the vibrations in the wall… Could it be a moon quake? Nick looked around in the dim light that was coming from the fish bowl. Everything seemed normal. The only thing that moved in the room now was the fish bowl. Standing on a wooden base, the fish bowl was rotating, casting a dim yellow light into the room. A red and white fish was plastered over the glass surface and tow toy Christmas trees, with two LED stars hanging on top was placed inside. Sensing Nick’s movement, the fish bowl had powered up.

The walls vibrated again, but this time it was coming from the room above. Nick grabbed the bowl and crawled up to the Observatory. He peered inside. Nobody… Everything seemed to occupy their assigned place. The telescope, the reading table, the space suit…. He looked up at the dome. It looked closed. Shrugging, Nick decided to leave. But at the same time the dome opened and the floor shook. 

Nick looked down at the fallen pile. The window wasn’t closed…. This man was stuck to it!!!

“Wouldn't mind helping me, would you?”, asked the man.

     

Nick helped the man up.

“Sorry about that…. “, the man said, straightening up. He looked at Nick and felt embarrassed at the entry he had made. He gave a small tight uncertain smile and said, “Thank you…” and patted awkwardly on Nick’s back. Nick stood transfixed.

“All right... Off you go then… off to bed”

“You are Santa….”, said Nick in an amazed voice.

“Right... uhhh….” The man started searching his pockets. He pulled out chocolates, umbrellas, scarves, marbles, balls, candy sticks…. The list was endless and then finally-

“There!!” He turned to Nick. “Now, mister …. Go to sleep….. OI!!!”

Nick had turned into a comet and dashed out of the window. The man turned the bottle in his hands and read its name and at once saw that it was not the “Dream spray” he wanted to use. Fearing, he had messed up things again, he bounced downstairs, placed few gifts, under the Christmas tree for little kitty and again with much difficulty, pulled himself out.
Rudolph rolled his eyes.

“What? The window is too small. Now, where did that kid fly to? Did any of you see?”

All the reindeer's pointed to the small orb in the sky.

“There you are… what do you mean by running off like that?”

Nick was jumping on his heels, holding his fish bowl. He pointed at a huge Christmas tree that stood, all bedecked with lights and jingles.

“Santa!!! It’s a real Christmas tree. I’ve never seen a real Christmas tree before. Look… All the houses and the streets and the shops are all decorated with lights and have music playing inside. And I can hear them, without my walky!!”

Santa looked at Nick. He hadn’t seen a kid getting excited over Christmas, since a very long time.

Nick ran around the Christmas tree and then again and again.

And all Santa could do was watch him. He remembered the times spent during his own childhood. The times when he would get excited at every Christmas, the times he spent wrapping gifts, and carried it over for Santa to deliver…. And the time when he became Santa himself!!! and then his first delivery…. Well, from then on he came to be known as the “Clumsy Santa”.

“All right, come on…it’s time to…. Gooooooo…..OI!! Young man”

Santa ran to catch up with Nick’s tiny feet. Goodness, how fast will this kid run!!!. Finally, Santa, caught up with him, and when he did, he had to grab hold of Nick to avoid his fall.

“Where…. are you… planning… to run off… now?”

“Everywhere!!!.... I want to see everything…”

“You… have to… go…home”

“But Santa-“

“No”, he pulled Nick towards the sleigh.

“Santa please…..” Nick pleaded.

Santa couldn’t refuse, especially after seeing the excitement filled in those little eyes…

“Fine, but you promise to behave?” Nick nodded excitedly.

Riding in the clouds, dropping gifts ... Nick was having the time of his life. There was nothing more he could have asked for…. He stood to look at the bobbing lights below, the way they went in and out of view… Santa took out his crystal wand and waved it once. The lights below started climbing up and down, imitating a flowing river. Excited, Nick requested for a few more tricks and then finally when he was done-. Santa stopped his sleigh in mid-air and watched the sky in awe. Nick had transformed the whole sky into a spectacular stage. The balls of lights splashed and spread out like fireworks. The Christmas trees skated in pairs while their stars formed a dazzling circle overhead that showered sparkles everywhere, and the bells played music to sync.

Santa laughed in surprise. All the reindeer’s turned to see him, not believing what they heard. It was a long time since Santa had really laughed. Santa turned to Nick and patted him, this time for real.

“Merry Christmas kid… Merry Christmas!!!”

Nick gave a toothy grin and said, “Merry Christmas, Santa…. Christmas here is just like what I’d read it in my books… except…”

“Except?”

“The snow…. What happened to all the snow Santa?”

Nick looked sown to search for a freckle of snow, but couldn’t find any.

Santa’s face fell. He turned his sleigh away from the moon and took Nick to an old cemetery.
Confused, Nick looked at Santa. He pointed to a stone that lay a few feet away.

Nick knelt and read the name written over the stone

“Frost?”

“Jack Frost, The man who brought snow into the world”

“What happened to him?”

Santa Shrugged. “Nobody knows… He was walking on a road one day, a wind blew by and then he was gone….”

“Disappeared? Why?”

Santa gave a long sigh. “People don’t need us anymore, kid. They can create whatever they want for themselves, now. We are just part of the legends now… people who used to be… ”

“But you are here? You still deliver gifts!!”

“For now, kid… for now”
Nick looked at the grave stone. He placed his fish bowl at the foot and said, “Merry Christmas, Frost”

Over the horizon a small light ray broke the night’s darkness.

“Time to go”

Nick climbed down the sleigh and pulled Santa along. But Santa politely refused looking uncertainly over at the window. Nick laughed and ran in, to wake his sister.
Rudolph rolled his eyes again.

“Is that the only thing you can do?” 

Beg,Borrow,Loot

Beg, Borrow, Loot 

 Mr. Francis relaxed in his chair, with a satisfied smile on his face. He had just invested in Bradley Corporation, one of the biggest corporations in the real estate industry. 
It was a lucky day when I had betrayed my friend, George, and acquired that printing office. 
  
A year and a half later: 
  
“What’s this? Where have you brought me?” Mr. Francis was seated on a sofa, with two men guarding behind. 
  
“You are at my house, Mr. Francis and you are our welcomed guest”. A man walked in and sat in front of Mr. Francis. He looked…. rich 
  
“Who are you?” 
  
“You don’t recognize me? ... Funny... Because I spent the last 15 years memorizing your face… still No? No problem, you will know in time…” He said with a smile. “Now, let’s finalize my deal before you go and disappear, shall we?” 
  
“Disappear?” 
  
“Well, your bar was seized, wasn't it?” 
  
“There’s been a misunderstanding. I don’t deal drugs.” 
  
“Well, the police seem to think otherwise. Moreover, seeing that your company went bankrupt recently, the police don’t need a reason to prove, you were dealing drugs” 
  
“My company’s not bankrupt. It’s been running successfully for the past 15 years”. 
  
An evil smile spread across the hosts face. 
“So you think. Your company suffered loss for the past 8 months, it had the least Sensex points… and to top all that, your CFO was looting you……” the host sat back on his seat. “But I promise to bring it back, don’t worry” 
  
“What do you mean?” 
  
“I mean….I bought your company. Thanks to your co-partner” 
  
“This is ridiculous”, said Mr. Francis shouted anger apparent on his face. 
  
“Calm down, Mr. Francis. Have a Cigarette… No? Good….Now, let’s finalize that deal. You handover your bar to me, in return, I’ll let you keep your house” 
  
“My house?” 
  
“Well, we had to clear out the debts of your company. Since, you lost all your shares in Bradley Corporation; we couldn't find any other way” 
  
Mr. Francis burned with anger. He jumped at his host, but was soon held down by the guards. 
  
“The deal…. Mr. Francis” 
  
Mr. Francis spat on the floor. 
  
The host’s jaw tightened. 
  
“Fine…” He turned to one of his guards and said, “Inform Roy to go ahead with his work please”.  Turning back, he smiled at Mr. Francis. 
  
Minutes passed. A phone rang. The host put the phone on speaker. 
  
“Mr. Francis!! Looks like people at the casino have suddenly become lucky. Everybody’s winning Sir… “ 
  
Mr. Francis looked at his host with wide eyes. 
  
“Computers can do wonders….” 
  
“Shut it down…now….” Mr. Francis shouted into the speaker.
  
Just then another phone rang. The host listened to the voice and smiled. 
  
“Bad news Mr. Francis, but looks like you’ve lost 36 billion dollars in one night…” he put a face of utter surprise. 
  
“Now, if you don’t want to lose anything else, can we close this deal please?” 
  
The host took out a document and placed it on the table. 
“Sign please”, he said. “It’s a document that states, ‘I, Lionel Francis, am willingly handing over the Francis Bar to George Raymond and his family. I will not interfere in the proceedings of this business from now on or forever’….” 
  
Mr. Francis looked up with surprise….. George Raymond…. 
  
“George……. Raymond….” , whispered Mr. Francis. He could see the anger in his host’s eyes. 
 “How-…. Who are you?” 
  
“George Raymond was my Father” 
  

 ~*~ 

Few years later: 
  
George Raymond And Family Printing Corporation created history from a place where a bar had once stood.

Beg, Borrow, Loot

Beg, Borrow, Loot

 Mr. Francis relaxed in his chair, with a satisfied smile on his face. He had just invested in Bradley Corporation, one of the biggest corporations in the real estate industry.

It was a lucky day when I had betrayed my friend, George, and acquired that printing office.

A year and a half later:

“What’s this? Where have you brought me?” Mr. Francis was seated on a sofa, with two men guarding behind.

“You are at my house, Mr. Francis and you are our welcomed guest”. A man walked in and sat in front of Mr. Francis. He looked…. rich

“Who are you?”

“You don’t recognize me? ... Funny... Because I spent the last 15 years memorizing your face… still No? No problem, you will know in time…” He said with a smile. “Now, let’s finalize my deal before you go and disappear, shall we?”

“Disappear?”

“Well, your bar was seized, wasn’t it?”

“There’s been a misunderstanding. I don’t deal drugs.”

“Well, the police seem to think otherwise. Moreover, seeing that your company went bankrupt recently, the police don’t need a reason to prove, you were dealing drugs”

“My company’s not bankrupt. It’s been running successfully for the past 15 years”.

An evil smile spread across the hosts face.

“So you think. Your company suffered loss for the past 8 months, it had the least Sensex points… and to top all that, your CFO was looting you……” the host sat back on his seat. “But I promise to bring it back, don’t worry”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean….I bought your company. Thanks to your co-partner”

“This is ridiculous”, said Mr. Francis shouted anger apparent on his face.

“Calm down, Mr. Francis. Have a Cigarette… No? Good….Now, let’s finalize that deal. You handover your bar to me, in return, I’ll let you keep your house”

“My house?”

“Well, we had to clear out the debts of your company. Since, you lost all your shares in Bradley Corporation; we couldn’t find any other way”

Mr. Francis burned with anger. He jumped at his host, but was soon held down by the guards.

“The deal…. Mr. Francis”

Mr. Francis spat on the floor.

The host’s jaw tightened.

“Fine…” He turned to one of his guards and said, “Inform Roy to go ahead with his work please”.  Turning back, he smiled at Mr. Francis.

Minutes passed. A phone rang. The host put the phone on speaker.

“Mr. Francis!! Looks like people at the casino have suddenly become lucky. Everybody’s winning Sir… “

Mr. Francis looked at his host with wide eyes.

“Computers can do wonders….”

“Shut it down…now….” Mr. Francis shouted into the speaker.

Just then another phone rang. The host listened to the voice and smiled.

“Bad news Mr. Francis, but looks like you’ve lost 36 billion dollars in one night…” he put a face of utter surprise.

“Now, if you don’t want to lose anything else, can we close this deal please?”

The host took out a document and placed it on the table.

“Sign please”, he said. “It’s a document that states, ‘I, Lionel Francis, am willingly handing over the Francis Bar to George Raymond and his family. I will not interfere in the proceedings of this business from now on or forever’….”

Mr. Francis looked up with surprise….. George Raymond….

“George……. Raymond….” , whispered Mr. Francis. He could see the anger in his host’s eyes.

 “How-…. Who are you?”

“George Raymond was my Father”

~*~

Few years later:

George Raymond And Family Printing Corporation created history from a place where a bar had once stood.