The Answer
Prelude:
The seven immortals, or the sapta chiranjeevis, are characters mentioned in ancient Hindu literature. These immortals: Sage Vyasa, Kripacharya, Parashurama, Vibhishan, Hanuman, Ashwatthama, and King Mahabali are believed to be living on Earth for a long time (King Mahabali however was banished by the fifth Vishnu, Vamana into patala). They are known for their peculiar characteristics: Hanuman’s bravery, Sage Vyasa’s knowledge of literature, Kripacharya’s knowledge of archery and politics, Parashuram’s skills of warfare, Vibhishan’s compassion and administrative skills, and Ashwatthama’s drive for righteousness fuelled by his rage towards his cursed immortal life.
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Once upon a time, there existed an unbreakable rule of the universe- mortality. Everything born or created had to meet its end. Even the most magnificent of species that walked the Earth couldn’t find a loophole to this rul, until the Homo sapiens emerged seventy thousand years ago. In a millennium, they transformed from insignificant animals living in the corner of Africa, to the terror of the ecosystem. And yes, they were the ones to beat mortality, but not by their intelligence or by science but due to their good deeds- their “humanity”.
Today, there exist seven such deviations, the sapta chiranjeevis (the seven immortals) who have been on the Earth for thousands of years and will continue to do so until the planet ceases to exist. Ever since they received this boon, they have been Earth’s counterparts in witnessing humans write their and the planet’s history. Even though they had supernatural powers in their eras, in the times of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, their only power immortality.. They tried their best to save humans from the jaws of death during wars, epidemics and natural disasters by using their experience, but they failed to meet the exorbitant expectations of humans.
Humans came with a bag full of problems of which, the latest wasClimate Change. Earth’s temperatures were rising, glaciers melting, and the ozone hole reappearing, all at an alarming rate. Climate change was about to engulf Earth when a man came up with a solution. He claimed akashvani-the voice of God from the sky told him the solution to climate change. He called his new innocation ‘The Answer’. Theoretically, it was just carbon capture technology magnified to the extent that it could absorb the excess carbon dioxide of the whole world. It could easily go wrong as claimed by scientists,but the situation required an urgent solution, and the government had no choice but to adopt it.
Unfortunatly ‘The Answer’ turned out to be a bigger threat to the world than climate change. Trees dying, air freezing, people complaining of headaches, even an occasional death. The immortals had to assemble and save the humans with all their might this time.
Parashuram was pacing thinking about how the sapta chiranjeevis should’ve met earlier. Sage Vyasa and Kripacharya were busy discussing the recklessness of the government for disregarding the advice of so many experts and listening to one man who promised to change the world. That’s when Hanuman decided to speak up “Respected brothers, we have been on the Earth for so long and seen harmony disturbed so many times. We can get the humans out of this” One could sense the doubt in his usually unflinching voice. “we just need to figure out the science behind this ‘Answer’ and somehow reverse engineer it to find what needs to be rectified.”
“Well, if you want science just read these hundreds of articles analysing theories about what went wrong from newspapers around the world,” Ashwatthama said, irritated, thrusting a stack of newspapers on the table.
“They all say the same thing! The absorber liquid has been malfunctioning and capturing excess quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the extent that plants are unable to perform photosynthesis. And since it is a greenhouse gas, the atmosphere is unable to retain any heat from the sun causing sudden freezing.”
“So, does this mean that this stupid ‘Answer’ has reversed climate change and created a bigger problem than climate change?” roared Parashuram. The warrior sage had murdered his mother when he was just a teen. He had filled lakes with blood of kshatriyas who abused their power and taken revenge for his people. But he did not care for anybody anymore. He was ready to kill humans the moment they committed the tiniest mistake, and this new problem was a major blunder.
“Yes, that is exactly what it means Parashuram, but you cannot kill everyone you see with that axe now. We do not possess supernatural powers anymore. Remember?” said Sage Vyasa. He was done with the humans too but still felt like it was his duty to produce solutions out of his wisdom.
“Then what do you suggest dear sage, we do nothing? Just sit here and watch the Earth freeze?” Ashwatthama snapped.
“Ashwatthama! If you talk to your sage Vyasa like that one more time, you will be banished from these meetings. After all you are cursed into living forever with your flaws unlike us,” Hanuman said, staring into Ashwatthama’s eyes with utter fury.
They were fighting like animals! Everyone was at each other’s throats. Even the mighty Immortals were proving to be of no use. I was tired but finally sure of what had to be done.
I put on my revenge dress and donned the diamond set one of my children had made for me so lovingly. I finally decided to appear in front of the immortals.
I stood at their door and knocked. Everyone turned to me, their mouths opened. It didn’t surprise me that my appearance startled them. “Hello, gentlemen. I am here to help you with your little problem. I am disappointed that you were not able to figure out anything despite your extraordinary experience on this planet,” I said.
Who are you ma’am?” stammered Sage Vyasa after a long pause.
“Were you eavesdropping on us the whole time? This is outrageous!” added Kripacharya.
“Did King Mahabali send you to help us from the patal lok?” asked Hanuman
“whoever you are,we can manage. Go back to where you came from and allow us to continue our discussion,’ added Parashuram.
“Is that what you were having Maharshi, a discussion? All I could hear was bickering. No one seemed to come up with a solution. I can understand humans doing these things but beings like you doing this is just stupidity. And to answer your questions,No, King Mahabali didn’t send me. And I haven’t been eavesdropping on you. I am an irreplaceable part of your body. I am Carbon. In different forms I have resided on Earth long before your existence, which makes me the oldest here. You all will cease to exist once Earth perishes but me. I will live long after all of you are gone. So, don’t you dare insult me!” I said this with all the hatred I had been holding in for too long, anger that had reached the brim the moment humans installed “The Answer.” “Although humans blame me for all their problems, I am here today with an actual answer to your problems.”