02-Food from the heaven

It was not known how long Gaur was in the convoy, all he could remember before going to the land of dreams was that the military rations actually tasted pretty good in case if one was not choosy enough. This coastal country of Ecoid was blessed with a warm and humid climate all around the year, and as a result it was rich in all kinds of tropical products, while also holding a tight grasp of its nearby sea trade and fishing. So as a result the rations provided were actually comprised mostly of fish and fruits, though they were processed for instant consumption, they were still able to maintain their primal taste.

Gaur along with his 3 brother's once asked their parents to go on a vacation to the capital of Ecoid, but as in the case of most of the common household, they were turned down on the reason that they have a restaurant to take care of. So Gaur like every other child vowed to himself that one day he will bring his own wife and children on a vacation there.

But as fate has it, this rich country fell into sever civil war 8 months ago and the reason being the corruption of the government. The leaders of the opposing force blamed the government of focusing the development of tourist hotspots and leaving the rest of the country in poverty and bad facilities.

The odd thing in this case was that, this opposition party or terrorist group came out of nowhere and started catching momentum in the Ecoid community. Even their government was caught off guard as 67% of the defence force in the country turned against the government in a mere 2 months and this resulted in half of the country falling into the hands on the terrorist and the twilight zone in these parts becoming hotspots.

And as the terrorist gained more traction, the media all over the planet also started turning their eyes toward this place. The weird and sudden events gave rise to speculations, and some these speculations resulted in the curiosity, making many reporters go there and found out the reason. Numerous reporters have already disappeared in this civil war and Gaur has also become one of them.

The jail cell that Gaur was in had been refurbished, the beds and toilet that have been compulsory for a human had already been removed from this cell and the toilet water had already formed puddle just 2 feet away from him.

Gaur had long since returned to his senses, though most of what happened to him seems blurry, he didn't dare to force his memory. In this damp cell that only had one source of light and air, Gaur calmed down and tried to assess his situation Sensing the putrid water so close to him, Gaur just grumbled inside and didn't dared to make a complaint. He was a prisoner in a terrorist camp worrying over sewer water was the least of his priorities.

"The closest prison from what I could remember was Nerslow Gate near the city of same name, meaning 350km away from the twilight zone? How long was I out cold?"

What he thought odd was that, he didn't seem to remember any prison being occupied by the terrorist, but as far as he knew they had been mostly hiding in city residences along with the common populace. "They should also have many hostages beside me, and with the fortress like structure, I can forget about a covert rescue operation." Gaur knew that a place like this can't be hidden from the government eyes, and they have long since pinpointed this location, all they feared me be collateral damage a long range offensive may cost.

"May the gods have mercy on Dhruv's soul, but it seems like I may have hit a jackpot!!" He clearly remembered the words of the man who broke his nose. He may get a chance to get out of here and meet with the resistance leader. There was glee in his eyes, if only he could bring this news out. Gaur's face was no longer swollen like a pig, but as his blood started flowing from his nose again as his heartbeat accelerated.

"It really seems to be broken, I just pray that I don't get an infection." Thought Gaur while looking at the sewer water away from him.

*****

"*Thunk *thunk *thunk"(knocking sounds on the prison door)

"Here's your food." A grumbled old voice transferred to Gaurs ears as he opened his listless eyes again.

He didn't know how long it had been, though he had been able to keep trach of time by counting the no of times the rations he had been given, but before long he abandoned it, the fat that he had accumulated through his life was also slowly draining away. With the redness on his cheek replaced with grime and paleness. Due to sufficient time had gone by, a rusty beard has grown on his face. He didn't look like the man from before, even his parents may not be able to identify him in his present situation.

Gaur no longer held the hope of getting a chance to interview the terrorist leaders, all he hoped was to just go home, he has never been a strong man, his will had long since been broken. It would have been better if he had some neighbours, but he was alone and no one has ever even opened the door even once after he first found him in the cell.

He even tried to talk to his handler multiple time so as to prevent mental breakdown, but he never got a reply. In this period of time when he was mentally fatigued and depressed, he even thought of giving away his life, but as a coward he was, he never even once tried it.

Once these self-harm tendencies appeared in his mind, Gaur will placate himself with saying. "They have been giving me food on a daily basis, so there is still hope."

And as he said, food did actually come to him on a daily basis. The food in front him was the usual cereal bar and a water pouch, though they were the most basic kind of food, he still found it satisfying eating it. He was able to prevent his mind was disturbing thoughts as long as he chewed on cereal to take in all the flavours the cereal was able to provide.

He found it funny and desolate sometimes at the state he has come to. There was once a time when he used to write about how flavourless the experience in a certain restaurant was or how unsanitary the kitchen in the other was, but now here he was eating a bland cereal with the help of water punch while being surrounded by sewer water of his own doing.

"Karma I guess!!"

Eating his measly fill of a food, Gaur cuddled toward a corner as always waiting for the water in the broken pipe to go down, as that is the only moment he can relieve himself without overflow of his own excrement.

He scratched his beard from time to time, as there was nothing to do in here beside waiting for the moment he can relieve himself.

Maybe he will just die off some infection in coming days.

*****

"We have contacted a reporter from The Dawn, he will arrive here in 2 weeks." A thin man with red scarf covering his face, informed his captain. He had fervour in his eyes as he looked towards the anti-air cannons fitted onto the prison roof. These arrived 2 days ago to strengthen the air defence around the Nerslow city.

This anti-air cannon was not the lone one, the occupied military base had actually exported 5 of them toward their direction, but due to this young man's rank too below he didn't know where they were placed, the only exposed anti-air cannon was just this one standing atop the prison.

'Ion-bolt Mark3, it is claimed that the projectiles fired by it can escape to exosphere if fired against the gravity, add to it momentum prediction and auto targeting system, it became the most dreaded weapon to those in the sky.'

'Wasn't it banned…..?' This young man was someone who joined the "rebellion" just because he was a weapon enthusiast, he thought of getting a chance to come close to weapon of destruction. And his wish was granted only for a day before he was picked up by Nerslow camp's Captain to become his assistant of sorts. So instead of a weapon, he was handed a computer tablet and told to follow the Captain everywhere doing miscellaneous things along the way.

"How's it going with those in solitary cells? Has any of them died?" The captain questioned as he overlooked the shipment of rations coming toward the prison.

"Hmm 1 of them caught some infection and paralysed, before succumbing to death… as for the other 4, they are alive but seems to suffer from mental issues by now." The young man said after looking through the reports, he slid his hand and 5 different video feeds were telecasted to his eyes, in them beside a room containing a rotten body, the rest of the rooms had movement, though feeble people were still alive in those bad environment.

'*Sigh, I am lucky that I am not these guys.'

The captain turned around and looked at the projected video feeds, looking at those unclean bodies and animalistic actions of these people, a surge of disappointment and disgust appeared on his face. He ordered "Reform and clean these people before 10 days, their time has arrived."

"Yes captain." The young man saluted moved into the building while grumbling something.

"Hmph! The youths of today are so fickle; they are easily lead astray." The Captain smiled as he looked toward the man who was delivering the rations, he went out and hugged the man joyfully, while the delivery man just grimaced.

If Gaur was here, he would have known who this person was. This was the same person who had lead his capture and Dhruvs execution.

*****

It has been 7 days since he was let out of the prison and given a proper bath along with a makeover.

Well saying it a makeover will be a stretch, they just trimmed his beard and head to make him presentable, he was even moved to an open prison cell with proper bed and commode.

It really felt like 5-star treatment to him, and inside he was relieved. "Maybe, it was some mistake on their part." Hope was reignited in his heart, the only thing that he complained about in his heart was that, he still had no one to talk to. Although he got 3 new neighbours, they all seemed to be out of their mind and acted more animalistic than some tamed animals themselves.

Though Gaur was criticising them, he didn't notice that although he didn't act like them, he seemed to have trouble forming sentences or even words from his mouth, living in solitude with no one to talk to had greatly impacted his vocabulary. The journalist in him had long been dead and as he can't even talk properly, taking interview of someone was a long shot.

"Well who cares about them, at least the quality of food has improved." Though Gaur was speaking to himself, only broken words and sentences came out of this mouth, he didn't notice the degeneration in his vocabulary, as he was lost in the word of flavours this time his food comprised of meat soup seasoned with citrus fruits and fragrant spices.

"Hah!!! This is the divine gift from the gods…. It's the most beautiful and savoury thing I ever had the chance to eat… thank you for your mercy." Gaur rambled like a madman and was even calling the cook(who by the way worked for terrorist) a god.

"So this is the sanest one out of 4 of them?... I seem to remember his face." Are8 asked the leader of this facility. By their side the thing young man stood silently while looking at his stern superior and his colleague of the same ranking.

"Hmm! This was the guy that you yourself sent here 6 months ago, he is the oldest one here and as you can see, the sanest one too." The captain nodded while replying toward Are8.

"This won't do.." Are8 thought for a minute before saying." Well then let's just use them in another way, my men will bring the reporter from The Dawn tomorrow."

Are8 turned toward the thin assistant and ordered. "Place a bag over their head and send them all to sector 89 immediately." Are8 commanded the assistant with a cold tone.

As the assistant left to do his job, the captain spoke again. " So how long do you think will it extend the war?"

Are8 didn't had any commanding tone anymore, he answered in a mild tone. "This can put the pressure on the government for 6 months at most..... As for the nationwide internet jammers, it wasn't a problem from the beginning, we will able to broadcast successfully tomorrow."

The captain of the facility also nodded as if he agreed with Are8's prediction, he then activated sound distortion module on his belt and then silently looked toward Are8.

"*Sigh! 75% of the discovered deposited have already been mined, as for the cargo ship, it will arrive 23 days from now, you can move out then if you want."

"Thanks for clarifying it." The Captain said in gratitude. He was bored, most of the work had already been done, and all that was left was some mining.

"I leave with the cargo. You can come if you want."

"Nah!! This is a new experience for me, I will be around here for some time." Are8 declined instantly.

'Besides this is a great chance for me to advance, the radiations have already begun to increase my development quotient.'