Story: THE GHOST OF THE FUTURE
THE GHOST OF THE FUTURE
DEEP MUKHOPADHYAY
In Balaka apartment on the third floor, in a one bed room flat lived Mr Bhusan. He always kept to himself. No body had seen any friend or relative visiting his place. If he met any of the flat mates in the lobby he would simply say” , Hi or hello. Mr Bhusan had now become a hot topic of discussion. People saw a big lock hanging on his door. The man was no where to be seen. It was first noticed by Habloo and Bobby, two young boys who spread the news to every body.
Opposite the apartment, was a tea stall .The local people met every evening and gossiped. The people began discussing where did he work? Some said he worked in the IT sector. Some suggested that a complaint should be made in the local police station. Tamal babu interfered and said what is there to worry? He might have gone abroad on a long holiday . Another man named Chandan said that Mr Bhusan’s full name is Mr. Bhusan Sen. He worked in a BPO. A car would come in the evening to pick him up. Whole night he worked in the call centre and in the morning the car would drop him home.
They decided to check if the car still came to pick him up. Mr Bhusan had paid one year’s maintenance in advance to the building secretary. Going to the police station would not help. Besides why will the police come and break the lock for no reason?
Balai was a compounder in a chemist shop, near the apartment. He regularly came to have tea in that tea stall.He said he knew some more information about Bhusan Sen. You people will not feel the agony in Bhusan’s life. He told me he was going for a retreat to learn how to become immortal. He was not going to any ordinary magian or black magician. He was going to try an ultra modern technique.
The other flat owners laughed and said ,”Didn’t know we were staying with a lunatic.” Chandan said my impression also changed when I heard that Mr. Bhusan was suffering from cancer. His oncologist told him his days were numbered. So Mr, Bhusan thought he had to finish some necessary jobs. He made a will and gave his flat and bank balance to his nephew. I was also a witness to his will.
Bobby said ,”It is a fact that Bhusan uncle would die soon. Yet he was trying to stay immortal. Since he would come back after his death, why did he give away his flat and all his belongings to his nephew so soon? There is some mystery in this.”
The Sunday gossip at the tea stall, was going on in an interesting manner. Then all of them asked Chandan, will you be a bit explicit and tell us about this immortal theory. Chandan explained, that he didn’t fully absorb this matter very well, but he will try to explain. He said that after death good people go to heaven and evil sinners go to hell. Mr.Bhusan was not trying any of these. He was searching a way where one can live eternally quite easily and peacefully.
The people ridiculed him and said that “If heaven and hell were houseful , will he come to stay on the vacant flat in the fourth floor? Stop your nonsense.” Chandan said I knew you all would make fun of me but what Mr. Bhusan did cannot be rubbished so easily. Chandan said ,”After going into hiding, Mr Bhusan is now staying in the cyber world.” I do not have much knowledge of the computer or internet. Those who have knowledge of these , can get in touch with him. Whether he is alive or dead, you will not get to know. Mr Bhusan said “One only gets to live once. Man loves his life the most. That is why to conquer death, he has chosen this innovative method.” Once he was detected with cancer, he alienated himself from all his friends and relatives and led an isolated life.
After hearing this all the flat mates were dumbstruck. Habloo had a computer and internet connection. The two boys had good idea of the computer. It was easy as water to them. One only needed to type and click, then have the world of information before them. They had also made friends through the net . They knew animation too. The others gradually left the tea stall ,as they did not want to delve deep into this ,besides they had very little knowledge of the computer.
Out of sheer curiosity, Habulu told Bobby lets go and search google and yahoo we will definitely find Mr.Bhusan’s site. They were computer freaks. They even discussed that they knew about chat robots. One could chat for hours with them. The knowledge they shared had to be uploaded every day. The computer programmers had made such a programme, and given Mr Bhusan a cyber space. The memory chip contains every detail of the person. The brain of Mr. Bhusan as in flesh and blood and the brain of Mr. Bhusan in cyberspace are the same. He can recognise the known people like before his physical death. His likes and dislikes remain the same. Bobby told Habulu that he had studied a lot about virtual reality.
The boys head was full of cyber world and their applications. They decided to enter the site of Mr. Bhusan. They were very excited. They could see him, hear him but cannot touch him. Before leaving the tea stall, the compounder, told them ,” Before leaving the flat, he had given an address. He said he can communicate from there. He can also see his known people. Since the two of you are so enthusiastic to meet him you can have it.” He put his hand inside his pocket and took out a chit , on it it was written www bhusan sen.com.
After lunch, Bobby hurriedly left for Hablu’s house. They opened the site and found a simple form where one’s name, mobile number and e- mail address had to be provided to meet Mr. Bhusan. Hablu told Bobby that he is putting Bobby’s name in the user id as Mr. Bhusan knew him well. They decided to add Mr. Bhusan’s name in their friend list and switched on the web cam.
Bobby said look at the screen, someone is sitting on an easy chair. Oh my god! They exclaimed ! They saw Mr. Bhusan in three dimension. He looked exactly like the original Mr Bhusan ! They didn’t know how to start a conversation. At last they said, “uncle can you recognise us? We stay in your locality beside Balaka Apartment. We heard everything from our compounder uncle. We were very sad to hear about your cancer but hearing this innovative idea of staying immortal, we entered your site. In fact he gave us your web address. How are you now?”
Bhusan uncle said,”How can I not recognise you two? Remember you broke my window pane while playing cricket? You are Bobby and he is your best friend Hablu right?” I have to tell you one thing that I cannot disclose where I am living, nor I am alive or dead. No questions on this topic please.” Bhusan uncle further said,”Right now I am the first cyber ghost or cybernetic ghost you can say.”
Hablu was taken aback, he asked, Uncle you are a ghost at this moment? You don’t look frightful at all.”
Bhusan uncle explained, that common man thinks ghosts are dreadful creatures. They add their own imagination to make them ghastly. Only cyber ghosts, can have their existence in the future. People can easily become death less cyber ghosts. There is no restriction here ,one can travel around the cyber world easily. It is a hassle free world all the paper work are managed by robots. No body can erase one’s thoughts and dreams. You can make plenty of friends and chat with them for hours. This cyber world, is made by extremely talented people who invest a lot of time to make the software and then sell them for millions of dollars. In cyber world you will get millions of information . If you like them you may carry on or simply switch off your computer.
Bhusan uncle clarified, in your world , when you chat with a young girl, how can you be so sure that the girl is actually a seventy year old man? If by telling a little lie without doing any actual harm, you make a friend there is nothing wrong in it . In real world when a man dies, his friends and relatives lament for a few days ,then it is all forgotten. Out of sight is out of mind. That is why I did not want to keep any relation with the real world. If someone wants to keep any relation with me through cyber space , I will not mind. Whether I am alive or dead does not matter. Just like artificial hands and legs my life is also artificial. My brain is also artificial intelligence. With just a click of your mouse you can easily reach me.
Bobby’s curiosity was further enhanced, he asked him ,”Will you look the same all through your life? Won’t you get old? Your age will remain stagnant? Is it not against the law of nature?”
Bhusan uncle answered, These days every body wants to look young.People are doing cosmetic surgery to check their wrinkles, nose correction, teeth correction , hair transplant, skin polishing and many more things to look youthful. In fact body parts like liver, kidney, heart are also transplanted in human body. In case of bionic man, the case is different. My physical brain, my mind and my emotions is fully within me. One scientist has transplanted my brain into a circuit board. He has done neuro machine interface ,a very complicated process to give me this new life. You will not understand beyond this. It is a micro electrode technology. My scientist experimented on me and was successful therefore I am as you see me now. I cannot disclose the name of this scientist.
Hablu asked,” When you die ,how will people cremate your body? Your body cannot be kept secretly. Death certificates are required, how will your nephew get it to claim your property? It is very confusing.”
Uncle Bhushan said, “I have donated my body to a laboratory. They will utilise my body parts for their study. But on one condition they cannot disclose my death to any one.Not even to my friends and relatives.”
My death is recorded in a DVD so that scientists don’t get into trouble. All my creditors will get their money through bank transfer I have given bank instructions accordingly. If people check my data base they will know I am alive. Sounds interesting right?” If any one has any question they can talk to me directly just as you are doing now.”
Habul told Bobby,”Lets have some coke and chips I am feeling thirsty.But if we eat will uncle not feel bad?’’ Immediately Bhusan uncle said don’t worry we look at food and it fills my stomach. It is a virtual world. I can have any food in this world like pizza and pasta and many more. I can enter any international hotel or cafe. In cyber world nothing is impossible.
Hablu asked, “Do you ever fall sick like us? Your machine may develop a fault. When we fall sick, we call the doctor, or go to a hospital. Do you have a hospital in your cyber world?”
Bhusan uncle replied,” YesI thought about it and so I have built a fire ball around me . No virus can enter. If any programme gets in ,the web administrator takes care of it. Besides I have taken a lifetime maintenance contract. So you under stand that in cyber space there is only happiness no tension. Still you will not say that I am immortal? May be I don’t get the smell of flowers, or the comforting touch of some one dear, but I have defeated death.”
Hablu and Bobby saw Bhusan uncle getting up from his easy chair ,he waved them good bye and slowly walked away from them. A kind of darkness descended on the monitor. Evening was closing in . Bobby had to return home. The two friends were as if absorbed in a dream . There were sinking into the depths of knowledge. They said bye uncle, but there was no response from that end. Bobby thought to stay alive all along was indeed beautiful just as uncle was enjoying in cyber space .One can stay so freely without having to worry about the trivialities of life.
Hablu told Bobby look at the monitor, see the place looks so familiar. Oh yes! Its our locality. See the Balaka apartment , the tea stall where the compounder uncle and others are chatting. How did Bhusan uncle get this digital image? The cyber world’s mystery is indeed very astonishing.
The two boys were bubbling with excitement how did this happen? They checked and found no one in the tea stall. Then they realised it was an old footage. Seeing the tea stall, they realised that it was the image of the old tea stall by looking at the sitting arrangement. Sometimes old images can be presented in a new way. Uncle was actually joking wih us. Actually he still remembers our locality and cannot forget it so easily. Any way we have been glued to the computer for long, my head is feeling dizzy. Let’s go home we have our tuitions class to attend.
Hablu asked Bobby, “One question is going around in circles in my mind, is Bhusan uncle real or unreal?” Bobby told him why are you unnecessarily worrying about this. We have been chatting face to face with him .He looked so alive he never appeared to be so real when he was staying in the locality.
Hablu said even I am thinking like you. So many people disappear, their family members advertise in the news papers with their photos. Some return and some are lost for ever. Even police cannot trace them. Bhusan uncle is different from these people, though he is lost ,he gave his address to compounder uncle.
Anybody can find him on the internet. He does not have to spend a lonely life in Balaka apartment. He has many virtual friends now. May be he is getting instant chat messages like” Hi Bhusan? What are you doing now? Is everything okey? I see you are alive? You old dude!” Bhusan uncle would reply, “Hi Mr. Lal how are you doing? If you are alive, it’s alright then. Talk to you tomorrow. Okey bye dear.”
