Time Loop

By Sumeet S. Navalkar

Weltri attempts to ascertain some facts by travelling to the future, but when he returns, events in his present take a different turn. Did he change anything in space-time just by the act of time-travelling? Or is it something else?

Swayam wants to travel to the past along with his prospective bride, Rupa, to check whether those very similar dreams that they both have were really some events of the past or just a weird coincidence. And when they do travel to the past, Rupa is attracted to a man in that timeline...

Suresh is Weltri’s reincarnate who has waited long in this lifetime for his past-life wife, Pranayi. Will he ever be able to find her especially when he has no idea if or where she might have taken birth or whether she remembers her past-life? There is nothing he can do to find her, and he has accepted that his wait has been futile, but he still has his time-machine. What good will a time-machine do when what it can do is only to take him to the past, but not reverse time?

Swayam’s father, Nimish, is the least known person from the famous Weltri’s family. But he is so only by choice. He has the brilliance of his father and the logical mind of his mother. But will he be able to change his past and marry the right woman; if he does not, then Swayam may never be born...

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Point Six Technologies Pvt Ltd
• Release date: May 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9789356672581

Sumeet S. Navalkar

Sumeet Navalkar is a Bachelor of Science. He was drawn to the whys and hows of science right from his childhood and has ended up making use of the concepts of science in most of his stories. His first story, written in 2004, was a sci-fi, after which he also wrote a few fantasy stories. Most of his later stories are a mixture of sci-fi and fantasy.

Book preview

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The Present

The Beginning:

…W ithout matter, there couldn’t have been gravity, and without gravity, time would lose its meaning. So we can say that matter matters as far as the universe is concerned. Without matter, the universe can’t exist, and without the universe, time can’t. Time is just the by-product of mass. And if we know how to manipulate mass…

Weltri left the words hanging and smiled indicating the end of his lecture. He was at the Annual Science Professors’ Conference—held once a year in July or August—and like others, he was talking about his research. A few agreed with his views but many didn’t, and there was a scattered applause from the physics section of the audience. However, an attractive professor from the biology section applauded enthusiastically. Weltri wasn’t sure she really understood all that he had said, but when he looked at her now just to see her reaction, he was quite content with what he saw.

Right at the start of the conference, when the assembling professors were looking for their seats, Weltri happened to notice her. She was a tall, thin woman, a little shorter than him. Sharp nose, thin delicate lips. There was immediate attraction. And after a few more lingering looks at her, she too had noticed him, and reciprocated with intermittent glances of her own. Weltri was a tall, handsome man with a charming smile; the smile was something that she noticed only later when he was talking to his audience, but even without it, she had already been drawn to him. He was a physicist and she a biologist, yet chemistry seemed to have struck spontaneously between them.

It was late evening, and the conference had ended, though dinner remained. It was a buffet, and that was when Weltri could go over and talk to her because the dinner sections fortunately didn’t have the subject sub-section.

Hi, said Weltri tentatively.

My name is Bhunari.

I am… he started.

Weltri! Bhunari instead completed his introduction.

He smiled. That was going well, he thought.

Well, I knew your name too. I listened to your lecture, Weltri said.

I listened to your lecture too. It was interesting, but frankly, I didn’t understand much, she said smiling in embarrassment.

That’s OK. It was meant for the physicists, and I am sure those physicists who don’t agree with me, didn’t understand it either, Weltri joked. I too didn’t get some terminologies in your lecture, so you don’t have to worry about not understanding mine. I liked the idea and concept of your lecture. I am interested to know more if you don’t mind sharing.

About me or my lecture? said Bhunari, seeming genuinely confused but the mischief in her eyes was apparent.

Now that you ask, the first alternative it is.

This introductory conversation went well. In fact, it went in top gear—fast. It was so mostly because of Bhunari. It was like when a high tide suddenly rushes in bringing down all inhibitions of the low tide just before it. Weltri’s life was so much involved in the inanimate world that this little flirtation with flirting seemed like romance. He just hoped this was the start of one.

Indeed, it was, on some level. After that day, the initial communication between Weltri and Bhunari started with messages, then it metamorphosed into calls, and finally they started meeting. Their colleges were not very far away from each other, and they started meeting in the evenings—some days at first, then mostly daily. Almost four months had passed since the conference and during this period, they had become very good friends. Both were aware that there was something more to this than just friendship, yet neither had spoken directly about it though at times there had been some allusions to the more-than-friendship part like a bit of flirting and sometimes a quick hold-and-release of hands. Weltri wanted to be sure. And Bhunari had decided she was going to wait for Weltri to speak.

One weekend, Weltri made himself ‘at home’ at home, and started thinking. Weltri knew what feelings Bhunari churned in him, but he also knew that romantic excitation of his senses would last only for a part of the entire span of a relationship. He understood and showed interest in all her work and research. He liked to hear and talk about her science. But he also knew the other way round was not as easy. She tried sometimes to show interest, but soon gave up if Weltri’s talks in and on physics got more technical. He always noticed that, but there was nothing much he could do about it. He was passionate about physics, and it felt important to him to share some things with her. This was what he was worried about. He could talk to her about a lot of things, but not about this subject which was also very dear to him. Also very dear? That meant his mind had already accepted her to be a very dear person. But he had to be sure. Would he eventually marry her? He had to be sure before opening up to her. He had to be sure. ‘Time is just a by-product of mass.’ He had to be sure. He had to be… As if in a trance, he got up. He got hold of his folding ladder, unfolded it, inclined it against the wall, and climbed up to his attic.

Six months later:

Six months ago, Bhunari heard from Weltri what she had been waiting for. Happy—that was the feeling. They were now officially a couple. And life was as lively as it really should be. College, lectures, research, evening dates—repeat. It was that smooth. Sometimes though Weltri wished she could understand more physics. But he smiled at the thought. He had no regrets.

We have new neighbours, said Bhunari.

Oh, said Weltri.

Yes. First timers in this city. They relocated from their native place.

How are they?

Seem to be good people, but it was only yesterday. So… she shrugged.

Yes. OK. So you will gradually know.

*

Weltri, you remember I told you about our new neighbours? They have a daughter, three to four years younger than us. Fresher, sort of, Bhunari was saying.

OK. And…? Weltri asked.

She’s looking for a job. Do you have a vacany in your college?

What kind of job? enquired Weltri.

Oh, yes. I forgot to mention. She has a doctorate in physics, and she has aspirations to become a researcher. We don’t have any vacancies in our college right now. So I thought of asking you.

Wow! Now that’s a coincidence. In fact, I have asked our department to find me someone who can help me in my research.

Good then…

No. No. I mean we will have to interview her.

Yes. That will be fine.

I mean we have to follow the protocol, said Weltri. We have to interview all the applicants and then decide. You can tell her to apply. I can help, but it will only be limited help. She has to top the interview. If her marks tie with someone, I can push her name. But that’s all I can do.

I understand. I will tell her to apply.

Yes. Thank you.

"Huh? Why are you thanking me?"

If she is selected, then you helped me find someone.

"Helped you find someone? You know how that sounds?"

No, I didn’t mean that.

I know, Bhunari said and giggled.

Pranayi came for the interview. She appeared to be a simple girl, of average height and with a sharp intelligent look in her kind eyes. Weltri, as one of the interviewers, smiled at her acknowledging that he knew her. She slightly nodded at him with a nervous smile. The interview began. Personal information. Done. Technical round. Done.

Pranayi, said Weltri, you have applied for the position of a researcher. But if you join, you may have to teach as well. It depends on a few factors. We cannot guarantee that you will only do research here. Is that OK with you?

Well, replied Pranayi, frankly, I would like to focus only on research, but I understand, and I am ready to teach, if need be.

Weltri smiled. After the usual we-will-get-back-to-you formality, the interview ended. Weltri wasn’t required to push her name in any way. She had topped and was alone at the top of the list of applicants. She was intelligent, and Weltri was impressed by her eccentric yet logically sound replies to the questions they had asked her. Two days later, Weltri’s department contacted her, and she was asked to join.

Pranayi is hired, Weltri told Bhunari when they met.

Great!

"Now, can I thank you?"

No need. Pranayi will thank me, and I don’t want gratitude from either of you when I have basically done nothing.

Weltri smiled at his girlfriend.

Sir? Pranayi knocked on the door to Weltri’s laboratory. It was her first day.

Yes, Pranayi. Please come in. Sit, said Weltri, gesturing towards a chair.

Sir, thank you for this opportunity. Bhunari told me…

No. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t have to. You were selected entirely on your merit.

Thank you, sir.

"First of all, no sirs and madams in my department. Those words are only for the students, and if I could, I would stop that too."

OK. Understood, Weltri sir… Er… Sorry, Weltri.

Good, responded Weltri warmly.

Do I have to teach the students?

No. Nothing as of now. And the probability of any of us having to teach is quite low unless someone resigns and we don’t have a replacement. So, don’t worry about that. It’s just that you should be prepared for such a thing.

Days passed. The routine was the same, almost the same, for Weltri and Bhunari. Work, evening dates—repeat. The routine was almost the same, but Weltri had found not just a colleague, but also a good friend in Pranayi. In fact, a very good friend. She was someone with whom Weltri could not only talk physics, but also discuss it. Before her, Weltri had two categories of people in his life: colleagues with whom he could discuss physics and friends with whom he could talk about everything else other than physics. But Pranayi was a friend with whom he could discuss physics. No doubt, Pranayi became his best friend in a hurry. In the first few days, Weltri had realised that Pranayi was brilliant, but she came without the arrogance that usually came preloaded with a sharp brain. She was kind and patient with all her juniors. She was a good colleague. She was frank, but wasn’t blunt to the point of being rude. A good-natured person and a good friend. She was perhaps one of the best persons Weltri knew, perhaps better as a person than even… Weltri brushed off that thought. He respected her and that was all it was, he told himself.

A few days later, Weltri was at a gift shop looking for a birthday gift for a friend. He was looking around admiring the soft toys, pens, cups, small message diaries, and every time he saw something he liked, the person that came to his mind first, that he wanted to gift that thing to, was Pranayi. He hadn’t realised it consciously though. But then it happened too many times not to notice. He was out there looking for a gift for a friend, and the first person that came to his mind was not that friend, not even Bhunari, but Pranayi. A thought, he never knew he had the ability to think, came to his mind. It was as a reflex thought, an involuntary thought. That thought wished for a breakup with Bhunari, a cordial breakup, without hurting her or himself. If only that could happen… If only Pranayi and he could be togeth… Weltri had to shake his head hard to jerk himself out of it and stop that thought from continuing. He decided to leave the gift shop and just then his eyes fell on a calendar and he realised it was 9th December. That meant that one year ago on this day, he was in the attic. And that meant tomorrow was their anniversary. He had told Bhunari about his feelings on 10th December last year. How could he have forgotten? Obviously, he loved his girlfriend, and the weird thoughts from a few moments ago had no place in his mind. Half an hour later he was out of the shop with two gifts, one for his friend and one for Bhunari. He was grateful that he had not succumbed to the urge of getting something for Pranayi.

The next day, Weltri and Bhunari celebrated their anniversary with a cosy dinner. Pranayi did not haunt his thoughts. He was still in love with Bhunari.

*

To be convinced about of his love for Bhunari did not mean Weltri’s mind had side-lined Pranayi. His friendship with her had not changed even a bit even after he felt his thoughts in the gift shop had been weird.

Pranayi, Weltri said. The two of them were having lunch in the office canteen. What do you think about time?

Time is a very enigmatic thing, Weltri, said Pranayi, placing a morsel back on her plate. I don’t claim that I really understand it.

Yes. True. Enigmatic.

I believe about time, said Pranayi, something that is in disagreement with the mainstream science. I believe that time existed even before the universe came into being.

Why?

We cannot calculate or know what happened before our current universe came into being because our current physical laws collapse at the singularity of the Big Bang, but that does not necessarily mean that time did not exist at or before what we call the start of the universe. We just don’t know.

I too have contemplated along those lines, Weltri admitted.

I believe that if mass was concentrated at one point at the start of the universe, then so was time.

Yes. Exactly.

Maybe mass and time go hand in hand, speculated Pranayi.

Time cannot exist without mass? Are you saying that? Weltri had said those very words during an earlier Annual Conference.

Maybe. I don’t know. But yes, possible, she said as if thinking aloud.

And if we find a way to manipulate…

Matter? Then we find a way to manipulate time, Pranayi completed her senior’s sentence instinctively.

Weltri looked up at her, surprised. He stared at her for quite some time with a foolish smile on his face.

What? Pranayi asked.

Nothing, Weltri said. Never felt anyone would complete my thought especially when I really haven’t discussed the theory with you.

17th January: One year, one month and one week after Weltri had expressed his feelings for Bhunari:

Bhunari called up Weltri just before his office hours came to an end. They had decided to meet, as usual.

I can’t meet you today, she said.

OK, said Weltri, noticing she did not sound like her usual self. But what happened?

Nothing. Just don’t feel like it.

Fine. Take care. Call you later, Weltri hung up, but he wondered what had happened.

He called her up that night.

What happened? Everything’s OK? he asked as soon as she answered the phone.

There was just silence on the other end. Weltri waited for a few moments.

Bhunari? Are you there?

Yes. I need to say something, she said finally.

Yes?

I no longer want to continue.

Continue what?

Continue our relationship.

What? Why? What are you saying?

We need to break up.

Bhunari, what is it?

I can no longer feel interested in physics.

OK. Fine. Then don’t be interested. I won’t talk to you about physics. Is this an excuse you are giving me for the breakup?

That’s the reason, not an excuse, Weltri. I tried to change myself, to feel curious because you are so passionate about it. I tried to like it, but I can no longer do it.

"I said don’t do it. I still don’t understand why break up over it?"

Because I have been doing it, and now I am tired of it.

Did I ever tell you to show interest in physics? Did I ever expect you to?

No. But I did it so you would like me, but I can no longer continue this way. I am sorry, but I can’t.

"And I am telling you not to, you hear me, right? Physics? Are you even serious? Is it logical that you want a breakup because of physics?"

Not everything is logical. Some things are meant to be taken emotionally.

Seriously? You are the one who wants a breakup and you are talking about emotions? Weltri blurted out. He was hurt but also exasperated by the way this conversation was going and the premise on which it was taking place.

OK. I accept it’s all my mistake. But I cannot take it any longer.

Who’s talking about any mistake? Come on…

Wait… Weltri, I will try to explain it to you the way you will understand.

Go ahead.

"I tried to change for you so you would like me more, but in the process, I started