Friday, March 17, 2006

Fiha Equation: Chapter 1

Fiha Equation

Original book: Fiha Shomikoron - Humayun Ahmed

The door and the windows are all violet colored.

Violet never really attracts him. Not only him, probably the color violet doesn’t attract anyone. However, the laws states that all restaurants should be colored violet. The intensity of violet will denote what type of food is available. Thus a light violet colored restaurant will only serve drinks, whereas a dark violet restaurant could be the best place for having a full meal.

He is standing in front of a restaurant which is light violet colored. He needs hot coffee. Not synthetic coffee; original coffee. All restaurants don’t serve original coffee. Will it be available here? Almost no one drinks real coffee nowadays. After all, what is the point in spending a fortune and drinking real coffee when there is hardly any difference between the synthetic and the original? Very few individuals can actually distinguish real coffee from synthetic coffee. For this reason all restaurants don’t have real coffee.

He felt a tingling of hesitation before entering the shop. He usually avoids public places. Most people recognize him instantly. They feel uneasy, and he himself feels uneasy as well. He can guess what will happen if he enters this restaurant. People will stop talking as soon as he enters. Ten percent people will keep on gazing at him; breathlessly. Twenty percent people will give furtive glances. Others will pretend not to notice him. When the time for paying the bills will come, the restaurant owner will appear with a most respectful and delighted look. He will say “It is our great fortune and pleasure that you have decided to visit our restaurant. If you can kindly write down how did you like our coffee, our joys will know no bounds”. So even if the coffee is disgusting, he will have to write—“I enjoyed your coffee”. Next time if he ever comes this restaurant again, he will see that they have hung his comment in a wooden frame, high above the wall from where all the customers can see it easily. It is really a funny thing! He has been forced to tolerate these hilarious acts for quite some time. Many people don’t believe in Gods, but they like finding Gods among themselves.

He pushed the door and entered inside.

Instantly the humming level went down significantly. All the tables are full. Two people from a cornered table got up and joined two others in a nearby table. This means he will have to sit in this emptied table. He will also have to drink coffee alone. He approached the empty table. Before he finished sitting, a large pot of steaming coffee appeared. It is of common knowledge that sometimes he visits public restaurants for drinking coffee.

The restaurant owner himself has arrived. He bowed his head so much in respect that his chin is almost crushing his chest.

“It’s pure coffee sir! Brought from the Mediterranean.”

“Thanks”

“We will be very delighted if you can kindly write down how was the coffee. It is our ultimate good fortune that you…”

“Long speeches will not be required. I will write down my comments”

“Can we take a picture of yours, sir?”

“No. I don’t allow photographs.”

He sipped his coffee. Without even looking, he realized that ten percent people are continuously staring at him. Some of them are not even moving their eyelashes. Is there any reason to stare like that? Not that his color is changing every second. He is not a chameleon, he is a human being. Even the chameleon that changes its color every moment doesn’t get this much attention. He produced a news paper from his overcoat pocket. This is just an effort to hide himself from the crowd. He always carries a newspaper just for this purpose.

“Sir, can I sit in your table?”

He descended the news paper from his eye level. A young lady aging 22-23 years is standing. She has a book in her hand. Probably some university student. She’s a university student and yet she can’t recognize him? How surprising! He felt really annoyed. This is another funny thing. If people recognize him, he gets annoyed. And if someone doesn’t recognize him, he gets annoyed, too.

“Sir, should I sit?”

“Yes, you can sit.”

The next few actions from the girl were amateurish. She pulled the chair with a heavy noise, and sat on it with a boom. She kept looking around with a girlish curiosity.

“Sir, will the waiter come and take orders? Or I will have to go myself? Is this a self service restaurant?”

He folded the newspaper and inserted it back in to the pocket. He has a rough voice. Further hardening his voice, he said whether a restaurant is self-service or not, it can be known by looking at its color. Why are you not being able to understand?

“I am a color blind. I cannot see violet and pink”.

“Oh okay. This is a self-service restaurant. You will have to go yourself for getting food.”

The girl got up and went towards the counter. She left a few books on the table. He frowned after looking at the topmost book. It says “Collection of Supernatural Stories”. The writer’s name is Arphob. Does it make any sense? A university student reading supernatural stories! Who knows how people feel interested towards logic-less subjects like these. He has a firm belief that both people who write and people who enjoy these stories should be sent to the lunatic asylums.

The girl is back. Her face is pale, and she is kind of embarrassed. She has no food tray with her. Sitting in her chair, she said “Everything is too expensive here.” They are asking 21 Lee for a mere cup of coffee.

“Don’t you have 21 Lee?”

“Yes I do, but I am thinking whether I should spend that much for a cup of coffee”.

In a grave tone, he said, your current way of thinking shows that you are using logic. I cannot understand how a girl who uses logic could read a collection of supernatural stories.

“There is a kind of logic in these stories, too. As you haven’t read any such story in a long time, you are not being able to understand it. Sir, please take this book and read it”.

“How do you know I haven’t read this kind of books in a while?”

“You are the great Fiha. It is not possible that you will read such books.”

“You know me?”

The girl smiled and said, “Why wouldn’t I know you? Am I not a girl of this world?”

“What is your name?”

“I am Nuhash”

“Are you studying?”

“No, I am a cataloger for the university library.”

“There’s plenty of coffee in the pot. You can drink if you wish.”

“Thanks, sir.”

“Nuhash was pouring coffee in a cup with utmost care. After that, she slowly started sipping the coffee. At the beginning, Fiha thought she had a normal face. But now he is thinking differently. She has the kind of face that creates affection, and this affection creates attraction. Thinking this, he frowned. What is affection? Affection is created due to certain elements. Does this girl have any such element? The girl finished her coffee, and started wiping her lips with a handkerchief.

“I’ve never had such horrible coffee in my life”

Fiha smiled. The girl is telling the truth. So there is a reason for this affection towards her—she has a charming simplicity and honesty within her. There is another thing—she is shy, but confident. Usually shy people lack confidence.

“Sir, I am leaving. Will you keep the book?”

“No. I don’t read garbage.”

“You don’t have to read. Just hold the book for a while. I will be delighted if you hold the book. Arphob is a very favorite writer of mine.”

Fiha used his roughest voice to say “I hate repeating myself. I told you once, I will not touch this piece of trash.”

All light disappeared from her face at once. Her eyes became wet instantly. It was obvious that she was deeply hurt at his rudeness. He could have been a bit less rude. As he is growing older, he is losing grip on himself. This is not good. The girl can have a favorite writer. That doesn’t necessarily mean that her favorite writer should be his favorite writer, too.

“Sir, can I go now? I am really sorry if I have bothered you.”

The girl is leaving the room. The way she is rushing, she will inevitably bump in to the door. And that is what actually happened. She hardly bumped in to the door.

Physicist Fiha wrote in big letters “I enjoyed the coffee.” He signed his name below the comment. Getting out of the restaurant, he started walking towards the commune office. He has an appointment with the commune principal Marla Lee. The appointment was at 11 AM. However, it is now 11:30. He is half an hour late. But Marla Lee will not be annoyed at this delay. He will smile sweetly instead. Marla Lee is a mentalist. Mentalist’s are never annoyed. No one ever heard that a mentalist has raised his voice or expressed that he is annoyed; in any circumstance. The one who have all the power in the world need not be annoyed.

Fiha said, I think I am a bit late.

Marla Lee smiled. The trademark smile of the mentalists. He stood up and bowed. His action was signifying pure respect and humbleness.

“I am pleased that you have come. I have prepared original coffee for you. This is not the tasteless Mediterranean coffee; this is the finest quality coffee.

“I don't feel like drinking coffee now.”

Fiha felt his mouth drying up fast. This happens whenever he meets a mentalist. The inner portion of his mouth dries up. The tongue becomes like paper. He doesn't know whether this happens only to him, or to all other non-mentalist human beings. He looked at Marla Lee with pure, deep detest and anger. The person is sitting calmly in front of him. He didn't even raise a finger, and yet he already knows that Fiha just arrived drinking coffee from the Mediterranean. Mentalists are taking out all information from his head, but he has no idea about what the mentalists are thinking. He doesn't know what's going on in Marla Lee's head right now. But Lee knows what he's thinking. They are mentalists. Nothing can be hidden from them. Using a strange method, they can retrieve any and every information from a person's brain. The process is telepathic, but Fiha doesn't actually know how it works.

Marla Lee said, Noble Fiha, are you deeply concerned about something?

You don't really need to ask me that, do you? Aren't you being able to read my mind like an open book?

Hearing this, Marla Lee smiled. Laughing he said "You are not right, Noble Fiha. We don't venture in to other peoples mind all the time. Entering someone's mind is like taking away his freedom. We believe in privacy. I can assure you that since you are here, I haven't tried retrieving anything from your head.

"You didn't try knowing anything?"

"No."

"Then why did you tell me that you have better quality coffee—not the rotten one from Mediterranean? You should not be saying this unless you've actually accessed my mind in order to know that I just had the bad tasting coffee of the Mediterranean before coming to you".

"Noble Fiha! I don't need to access your brain in order to say that. Currently the restaurants are only serving Mediterranean coffee. As a commune head, it is only natural that I will know what is available when. Do you find my explanation logical?"

Fiha remained silent, because Lee's words did seem logical to him.

While further reclining on his chair, Lee said "Let me tell you something." You know very well that mentalists can influence normal human beings. You entered my office with a lot of anger. I could easily decrease your anger by using my mental powers. Did I do that? No, I did not.

Fiha said, okay, let us drop this issue. Please tell me why I have been summoned. I don't have much time.

"You were not summoned, Noble Fiha. No one has that much audacity. I myself would go to you. However, you told us that no mentalist should venture within 1000 yards of your house. We consider your wish as our command. For this reason, we don't go to you even if we are in desperate need. We humbly request you to come to us. I hope you will forgive this minor audacity.

"I hate lengthy and unnecessarily humble sounding sentences. Please tell me what you want to say."

"I will, but before that, can I please bring coffee for you?"

"Okay"

The coffee came almost instantly. Marla Lee himself poured coffee from the pot. The coffee was of best quality, undoubtedly. The whole room got caffeinated with the nice smell. Marla Lee extended a cup towards Fiha and said "Mentalists are being the centre of hate for lots of human beings, without much reason. You are not a regular human being. You are Noble Fiha. It is said that you are the greatest of all Physicist. If you start thinking like regular human beings, what will happen?"

"Let's not talk about this. Let's get down to business."

"Let's finish the coffee first. Then we will talk business. Although the things that I'm telling you might seem pointless to you, they are actually not. At least not to me, that is. Fiha, I see today's newspaper in your coat pocket. Have you read it?"

"Yes, I did".

"In that case you must have noticed a particular news. Angry mob killed a 20 year old girl and her 4 year old daughter. Their crime—they were mentalists. Dear Fiha, there are lots of examples of mentalists getting killed by angry mobs, but you will never hear about the death a normal person caused by a mentalist."

Fiha lowered the cup, and said with a calm tone "I have finished my coffee. Now tell me why you have asked me to come".

"I've heard you have solved the four dimensional time equation?"

"From where did you hear that?"

"It will be wrong if I say I heard. Actually I am assuming this".

"On what basis?"

"Well, you have been working on this issue for quite a long time. You researched a lot on this. We know your work pattern. When you start something, you don't look at other things. When you're done with the work, you roam around happily. You visit public coffee shops, you were colorful clothes—all these signs have managed to convince me that you have solved the equation."

"If I have actually solved the equation, what is your interest?"

"I don't know much about science. But as far as I know, a lot of money is required in order to test your equation. Theory is one thing, and the engineering of the theory is another totally different thing. We want to look at the applied part of the theory. We want to assure you that money is not an issue".

"I am glad to know that. But I am sorry to inform you that I could not solve the time equation."

"You could not?"

"No I could not. You can enter my brain and check yourself, if you really want to."

"Tsk tsk. What are you saying? Your word of mouth is enough for me. Can I offer you some more coffee?"

Fiha stood up. Marla Lee came with him up to the doorway. With his sweet tone, he said "Thanks a lot for taking the pain to come over. Noble Fiha, will you accept this little gift from me?"

Marla Lee offered him a large, brown packet.

"What is in there?"

"Coffee Beans. First class coffee beans. I took a lot of trouble in order to manage this for you. I will be very happy if you accept it.

Fiha took the packet. But it didn't seem that he was too happy to get the gift. He would be really happy if he could throw this packet in to a dustbin. But that is not possible. Mentalists will know about it instantly, and the results will not be favorable.

"How about giving this to the library girl? I did offend her to some extent. She will definitely be happy to get this gift. I can also borrow the Supernatural story book from her. It wouldn't matter much if I read a story or two", thought Fiha.

Fiha communicated with the library. The communicator in his pocket instantly established communication with the library. Fiha didn't need to give his identity. His particular communicator frequency is known by all.

The director answered with a frightened voice "What is the matter, sir?"

"Nothing much. I want to talk to one of your catalogers."

"Can I know her name, please?"

Fiha frowned. He could not remember her name. He didn't try to remember her name in the first place, which is causing trouble now. He never burdens his brain by storing unimportant information.

"I can't remember her name. She's young. She likes Supernatural stories and she likes drinking coffee."

"Sir, are you looking for Nuhash?"

"Oh yes, she's the one."

"Sir, I am calling her. Please wait a minute".

He kept his communicator on. After about 80 seconds, he could hear the director's voice again.

"Sir, there is a small problem. The girl went home. She did not inform anyone before leaving. I came to know from the catalog section that for some unknown reason, she cam there with a very heavy mind. She tore a book in to pieces. It was called "Supernatural Stories Collection" by Arfob. Then she went home. Sir, am I talking too much?"

"A bit, yes."

"I beg your pardon, sir. The girl stays in the 118th room of the general residential area. I am sending someone to get her."

"That will not be required".

"The girl does not have communicator facility. If she did have it, I could have connected you with her right now. I am really, really sorry."

"No need to be sorry".

"Do you want to leave a message for her?"

"No, Thanks for your help."

Fiha turned off the communicator, and started wandering aimlessly. He walked on with long strides, but not towards home. For some reason, he is not feeling like going home. He has a synthetic fur hat on his head. The hat is hiding his face; or at least that what Fiha is thinking. "I need to throw away the coffee packet, and the dump site needs to be a trash can". Suddenly Fiha threw the packet. He has a great aim; the packet hit the bull's eye. The dustbin shaked a bit, confirming that it has gladly accepted the coffee beans.

To be continued....