The Earth
It was the year 8672 on the planet Earth. The planet had changed a lot during these years. Humanity had made huge advantages in science and technology especially in space science. Bharat, also called India till the 23rd century, had led the way rediscovering the hidden knowledge of its ancestors. Led by able leaders, the nation had looked into itself, analyzing the ancient texts like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
A detailed study of the ancient temples, forts and buildings in the nation had been made discovering astonishing technology used by the ancients. What was once dismissed as myth was now taken seriously and analyzed in a scientific method. Sanskrit had been declared the national language of Bharat in the year 2406. The following year the education system had been revamped. The gurukul system of education was reintroduced creating responsible citizens in the country.
Merit was given the highest importance. The skill of person was recognized early, and the education revolved around honing that particular skill in the person. For example, a person with a talent for knowledge in the Vedas was taught the Vedas. A person with talent in pottery was taught pottery. Birth and status didn't matter anymore. People were taught what they were good at.
Laws that favored one section of the society to the detriment of others were done away with. Laws that encouraged division in the name of caste, creed, gender, religion etc. were scrapped. Uniform Civil Code was implemented bringing everyone under the purview of law. People could no longer escape using loopholes that were meant to divide and break the unity of people.
This had meant that happiness quotient of the masses increased as talent and merit was recognized, governance became efficient and corruption free, and the fruits of these reforms were enjoyed by the masses. Wealth increased and the land became prosperous surpassing the once recognized superpowers of the world in wealth, technology, medicine, innovation and social security.
Buildings were renovated, new ones constructed, displaying the wealth and grandeur of the nation. There was no slum or a broken-down derelict building in the country. Even the lowest level workers lived in houses that made the elite in other countries jealous. Each adult in the society had an income that was twice that of an average officer grade employee in other countries.
It was into such an advanced nation that the banished Princess of Amba Puram had arrived. Mounika took a deep breath before opening the door. There were two women clad in a Navy-Blue Saree and white, starched, Cotton blouse. They carried a long staff in their right hands which appeared to be more ceremonial than an actual weapon. Most probably they never faced much problem from inmates. Besides, who would think of causing trouble when the authorities seemed to be providing five-star facilities in prisons and rehabilitation homes?
“We have orders to present you in the counselling room.” The women on Mounika’s left said.
“Sure. Let’s go.” Mounika followed them. They went through corridors that had been painted artistically using oil paint. It gave a cheerful, bright look with all the multitude of colors used as per the themes portrayed. It would lift the spirits of even the most pessimistic person in the universe. She had to agree that these humans did have a different approach towards life.
“What are those wonderful paintings? Who is that gifted artist who came up with those masterpieces?” She couldn’t help asking raising her hand to touch them and see if they had been freshly painted.
“Don’t or you will get shocked again. Visitors are not allowed to touch those paintings.” Replied one of the women. “They were done by school children as part of the “Mana Sanskruti” program launched by the government to paint these walls to portray our culture. A nationwide campaign was launched, and children painted these walls whenever they had time. Each school was given a theme and a portion of the wall was allotted to them. The result is for you to see.”
“Great! We (royal we) really appreciate the initiative to create awareness in the children as well as bring out their skills. You must be really lucky to have such a wonderful ruler. You are not so bad after all, though you are far too primitive.” Mounika complimented them though she failed to notice the tinge of red in the lady's cheeks. She wished to see this human monarch who thought so much about his people. “Can we (royal we) meet your Ruler? Who is your monarch?”
“Enter!” one of the women said opening a thick steel door after typing the unlock code and scanning her palm. Mounika quashed her questions entering the room that looked like a conference room. There was a long table shaped like a horseshoe with chairs arranged neatly all along the length of the table. A small mike had been placed before each chair. All the chairs were comfortable, cushion chairs that could adapt automatically to the person sitting in them. Two emergency exits were placed in the two corners of the room. A man of 30 years sat in a chair at the head of the table as shown below:
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A chair had been placed opposite him where Mounika had to sit. If it made her nervous, she didn’t show it. She walked with the air of someone who was used to ordering people around and getting her own way. She sat in the chair with the grace of a queen. She looked at the man clad in a grey suit that fit him perfectly. Most probably it was designed specifically for him. He had shaved, making him look younger than he actually might be. He appeared to be in total control of the situation. His dark black eyes seemed to probe her mind trying to unlock the secrets hidden in it.
‘Interesting,’ she thought. Was he a mind reader? Had the humans progressed so much? Perhaps they were not as primitive as she had thought. She tried reading his thoughts but found a barrier. What? Why was she unable to penetrate the mind of a mere human? She tried again but couldn’t fathom his thoughts.