Nehaan

When he told me that he had found a way to hack reincarnation, I could hardly believe it. To begin with, what did he mean by reincarnation—was he again talking about that crazy notion that we all have lived and will live multiple lives? And what on earth is meant by “hacking” it? I mean, really, what does that even mean?

He listened patiently to my protestations and questions. He had, of course, over all these years of us being together developed a thick skin for my lack of sympathy towards his beliefs. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t as if I chastised him this severely every time he brought up something like this. On many an occasion I humoured him, I played along, like a good partner would. But he could tell my interest wasn’t genuine, at least not entirely. And then there were occasions when I had outright called him out on his half-baked ideas and notions—how much can one tolerate this kind of nonsense without retaliating? This was one of those occasions. When I was done with my rather loud and dramatic show of exasperation, he looked up from his desk, smiled gently as he always used to, and just said, “I have figured out a way for us to be together forever and forever.”

Together forever and forever? Hold on a minute. That was so sweet and romantic, but perhaps a tad bit creepy? I get that someone could love another person a lot, but FOREVER? Is that even something that is possible? And he really spent all this while trying to figure that out? Should I be flattered? Should I be worried? Should I be happy? I don’t know… a zillion thoughts rushed through my head. I didn’t know what to feel and how to feel it.

I finally said, “Could you please explain that to me once? What do you mean by “a way to be together forever and forever?”

“I mean just that. Now death shall not do us part.”

“Alright… and how would you make this happen? Do we have to die together or something?”

“Haha… that is very rudimentary, but yes, something like that. Look, I am sorry I can’t tell you more. The way all these things work, the more you know, the less effective this technique would be.”

“Now you just sound like that doctor who told me that a blood test had to be performed on me while I slept because if the bacteria knew I was to be tested, they would hide. You really believe that just because I know your “technique” it would become less effective? Come on, be objective, for God’s sake.”

“We can’t be objective about such things. In fact, we can’t be objective about anything at all. At the end of the day, it is all about perspective. Anyhow, I mean it when I say, I can’t or shan’t reveal the plan to you. My only question to you is: do you want to be part of an adventure that spans across lifetimes?”

“Lifetimes with you? Lifetimes with us together?”

“Yes, we will be different each time, but some of our essence would be the same.”

“And you really want to spend more than one lifetime with me?… I mean I am not being cynical or anything. I just genuinely want to know.”

“I believe we make a great team. Your cynicism keeps me grounded. Besides, I am really fond of you.”

“But there could be other people…”

“Who might be better suited? I know you think that, I have known that you have been thinking that for a while now.”

“No, it isn’t like that. I just want to understand you and what you feel about us.”

“Honey, we have been together for so long. You still don’t know how I feel?”

He chuckled after that last remark. I suddenly felt a knot forming in my gut—a familiar fear was rising again from the depths of my being. Before I could react, he grabbed my left hand and injected something into my blood. Everything suddenly started spinning. I was about to fall down, but he grabbed me and lay me on the carpet gently. I was mumbling to him, “Tell me the truth, how long have we been together?”

He didn’t say anything, he just smiled and stroked my cheeks. He then took out another syringe and injected himself. All I remember before everything went dark was him lying on the floor across me with his head over my belly.