A faded pale-blue washing machine was first thing he noticed
as he opened the door of his not so small store. It was not in use from past
couple of years and was placed close to the door. He came there to create
something useful out of the clutter of unused things and to spend his afternoon
lazily or somewhat productively. Ahmed viewed the dusty, dingy and gloomy area
which had the cluster of items. A wooden bed with a broken leg was standing
near the wall, on its one leg a dented bucket and a mouse trap were hanging.
Three lamps of different sizes, non functional table fan, his child’s tricycle
as he has out grown that age, a medium sized drum which has a hole on its side
were lying on the floor. A huge wooden box handed over by her granny as an
ancestral furniture was lying in dusts as his wife considered it ‘An old
fashioned item’, two card board boxes one above the other were hoarded on it
blocked his view to the rest of the room. He took small steps removing cobwebs,
moved in between all those precious junk which they have accumulated over the
years. He saw an old monitor piled on the CPU, keyboard was slanted on the
monitor, a small stool of no use was put upside down on the monitor, a radio
whose knob was missing was set in between the rods intersecting its legs, a
small metallic container out of which scratched CD and tapes were peeping were
positioned on the radio by a skilled person. On the top of pile of old
magazines and a few books with two fuse bulbs were set on the radio. He was
amazed as well as amused whether all these items could be stalked again in the
same manner if removed. His thoughts were distracted by the flattering of a
bird on the window. The broken window pane allowed the free movement to the new
tenants.
Although he took a few small steps back even then the bird
screeched and flew away. Two tiny black spotted balls in the shelf seemed to be
the giant obstacles in his plan to create the best out of waste by constructing
a rotating fire pit out of the perforated tub of unused washing machine. He
planned to give it to his eleven years old beloved wife on the Valentine Day
because he didn’t have enough money to buy a pleasant gift from town market.
Monetary predicament gave way to creativity! He took out a screw driver from
his jeans hip pocket and unscrewed the bolts on all of its sides very slowly
without disturbing the unborns. While he slowly lifted the plastic body of the
washing machine leaving the tub behind, one of the eggs from the nest slipped
into the tub. He removed the cover, stalked it on the cardboard box as it was
the only place vacant in the store, took out that egg and placed it back on the
not so well knitted twigs. Removing the agitator he noticed one more egg in the
tub of the same size, same color and same shape. He put that also back thinking
he might have not noticed the falling of the other. To his utmost surprise
there was one more egg, a replica! He had to stop placing eggs in the nest as
it couldn’t hold more or the bird couldn’t rear more or both. His surprise
transformed into confusion as he started filling the dented bucket with spotted
eggs.
The perforation of tub converted air energy around to
produce a 3D photocopy, an identical copy of object that touched the embossed
penny sized bottom. As soon as the object was taken out it produced the replica
by changing kinetic energy of air into potential energy of the object by
creating thin layers which are joined together to get desired shape and size.
The negative charge is generated in the tub which broke inert nitrogen gas
molecules of the air to combust hydrogen gas and then rapidly combine with
carbon dioxide to form a new compound nitrochyoxide which had a unique property
to give the same physical properties like texture, color, shape etc. of the
object removed from tub and its by-product nicra that sounds more like a name
of cute girl than a chemical compound was utilized to give the desired chemical
properties of the object from protein to choline. Not only the outer appearance
like color, texture, size, shape but also the inner composition like albumen
and egg yolk with each and every minute detail of original work was replicated
in 3D photocopying with a light speed hence the
human eyes couldn’t grasp duplicating process.
Unaware of all these chemical reactions happening in the tub
but fully aware of his financial problems which were raising their heads like a
cobra after he lost his job in recession time as Senior Marketing Head in Kore
Moto Corp., a leading company in Auto Sector. All his savings drained out slowly
and gradually and he had to take loan to meet his family daily requirements. He
was clenched in the strong jaws of not the poverty actually rather credit
system of banks offering lucrative offers before taking loan thereafter forcing
to pay high interest rates on loans which were almost impossible. In despair of
non loan repayment he was disheartened. He came into present when he found
there was no space left to place egg in the store. Everywhere in the store on
the wooden box, in the huge drum, on the upside down stool, in between the
radio knobs, on the pile of magazines and on the space between two bulbs and even
on his child’s tricycle seat he had placed the tiny eggs. His head spin on the
thought of standing in a huge nest filled with hundreds and hundreds of eggs. He
was physically as well as mentally tired. He took a handful of them, walked in
the open towards the kitchen, crossing not so big compound of his house. He
asked half sadly half confusedly to his wife Nargis to roast them or to toast
them.
Although he had a bath in the morning, however to remove
dirt and grime that had accumulated on him during his new expedition in the
store, he went into the bathroom. Till he cleaned himself, his obedient wife
prepared the delicacy. She plated the unshelled boiled eggs on the lettuce
leaves, garnished them with a small sized broccoli floret in the centre and
finely cut zigzag edged tomato, looking more like a flower on the sides, above
it she sprinkled some grinded black pepper and a mixture of canola oil and
lemon juice on it to satisfy his eyes as well as his tongue. A good meal to
calm appetite along with tensions!
“Beautiful n Delicious!” Ahmed praised her after eating a
bite that was too small for his mouth and a smile appeared on Nargis’s face.
“Like me!” She winked a little to make his man happy.
“No. Not at all.”
“Eh!”
“More than you!” This time he winked. Both of them burst
into laughter.
No sooner than did he finish all the nutritive islands with
trees and flowers on his plate than an idea hit his mind to sell this delicious
dish in the Saturday Night Market. There was only six hours left to start. He
gave necessary commands to his wife to prepare more salad, boil one bucket of
eggs and he went out to make the necessary arrangements for selling the product
in the busiest market of the town.
In less than half an hour from commencing Ahmed’s whole lot
was sold out. He rushed back to home, collected more eggs, asked his wife to
cook more and to prepare more salad as quickly as possible. He returned to the
selling point with the freshly prepared food to earn some more marginal profit
from ‘Colorful Islands’ on plate. The couple worked enthusiastically, repeating
the process to make their newly invented dish a ‘HIT’. While counting money he
felt the utmost fatigue gripping him that have accumulated over the constant
working hours i.e. gathering eggs, selling them, collecting money and overall
organisation and winding up on closing of the market. Satisfied he placed them
in the built in safe, returning towards bed he looked at his wife in red sheer
nighty that was sleeping on the other side. Her loose curly hair were falling
on her face which was glowing like a full moon behind thin layers of scattered
clouds even after all those physical weariness. Her face was as fresh, pure and white as EGG! At this very moment
he realised that his tiredness had crossed all boundaries, now he must take
rest. He was about to close his eyes then he recalled that today was Valentine
Day, needed something special like every year for his wife; this year to construct
a rotating fire pit idea had to be dropped in order to obtain 3D photocopy of
eggs and the money making thereafter. His mind was so much occupied during the
whole day that he forgot what he should not forgot. Now, when he had ample of
money to buy gifts for his beloved, he was left with no strength to go to
market to purchase some chocolates of her favourite brand or a decent dress for
her or just a fire red rose. He came closer to her, removed a curly strand of
hair from her forehead and planted a kiss assuring himself that he would buy a
decent present for her tomorrow morning.
“Only one!” His wife’s passionate voice astonished him.
“I will buy more gifts for you.” He said which surprised her
wife.
“O, you are such a lovable darling!” She locked him in her
soft arms and whispered “Actually, I said only one kiss!”
He shocked, she rocked!
Soon, the olden golden washing machine evaporated the financial
crisis in his life like the camphor exposed to air. By selling the best quality
eggs at the cheapest price; in the town, he became famous as ‘Egg Guy’. He
repaid his loans and constructed one study room for his son. One sunny
afternoon, while cleaning the tub, the soap slipped from his hands as he lifted
the egg to clean that emboss point. Soap hit 3D conversion switch. What a
coincidence! To his little surprise, now soap cakes were produced in spite of
eggs. On the sufficient production of soap cakes required for the whole year
even if they used them liberally. Now the town better knew him as ‘Soap Guy’!
Soon he was bored of soap business, a saturation point came
when he couldn’t make more money whereas he yearned for more and more. To find
out the technique to produce the 3D photocopy of the desired object, he passed
the egg on the same path on which it had fallen some days back, followed by
soap which fell from his hands accidently. He repeated it uncountable times
till he got the correct time calculation between the removing and placing of
the object in order to change the previous object with a new one to be
photocopied. Doing this for long hours, bending at stretch into the washing
machine without any break caused severe pain in his lower back although it was forgotten
or rather washed away in the wave of happiness of his new discovery.
Earlier in the town he became popular as ‘Egg Guy’ and now
he was better known as ‘Soap Guy’. Whenever he was fed up with the business or
faced some problem that couldn’t be overcome or noticed a decline in sales, he
started a new business by changing the object which resulted in his changed
status as ‘Pen Guy’, ‘Chocolate Guy’, ‘Ball Guy’, ‘Tomato Guy’, ‘Spoon Guy’,
‘Lady Finger Guy’, ‘Lipstick Guy’, ‘Bread Guy’, ‘CFL bulb Guy’, ‘Mouse trap
Guy’ and so on…….
Although he was making good profits but his greed
intensified for more and a little more. Prolonged bending and sitting resulted
in dull back aches which he ignored like the dust on the computer screen. His
fatigued body needed more rest than what he was actually taking. To make more
money might be more than what he required to live a happy life; he yearned to
start a business with good profit like selling petrol or wine or something that
can fetch really good returns to him. Moreover he was tired of all these
businesses with marginal profits. He repeated the same trick with that of egg to
produce the replica of petrol, but totally failed. Other liquids like diesel,
kerosene oil, milk, fruit juices, soft drinks and even different branded wines
he experimented to get the desired outcome but he couldn’t get desired results.
3D photocopying could be done to only solids and not to liquids as in liquids,
the molecules had greater freedom of movement and lack the binding force like
that of solids which resulted in structural rigidity and resistance to change
in volume and shape. These two major essentials for getting a 3D photocopy were
missing in liquids.
Several years passed even then his daily routine was the
same, bending into the tub to collect 3D photocopied objects. One summery afternoon, he stooped a bit more
to pick the object, all of a sudden, he felt piercing pain in his back. He
shuddered. A few coins slipped out of his shirt pocket which was bulging due to
his profit making. The back pain was so severe that he paid no attention to the
chinking of coins. He sat down on the floor of store which was not cleaned
since couple of years. ‘Dirt keeps thieves away’ was his motto. Every time his
wife wished to clean it, he stopped her by making this or that excuse. The ache
was unbearable even then he couldn’t call anybody for help else his richly
secret might leaked out. And then thieves or robbers might loot his washing
machine which was otherwise worth throwing in the dustbin. To relieve pain he
lightly pressed his left palm on his back. With age his eyesight became poor, he
glanced the area with blurred vision. He found that instead of getting rid of
any item from the store, there were two more additions after his discovery of
3D photocopying - one was used tyre of his son’s bike and other was his busted
football. Smartly rather very smartly, he buried his new discovery of 3D
photocopy washing machine in one of the silent corners of his heart and didn’t
reveal it even to his life partner. He could have become famous overnight with
his photo on the cover page of all the leading magazines and newspapers. All the
main channels showing exclusive coverage at prime time about him and his
washing machine but, surprisingly this was not in his top most fifty desires.
His wish was to make more wealth from it and become the richest person of the
world. Then if the whole world came to know, he would be delighted.
Moving his left arm, using the full sleeve of shirt, he
wiped the sweat drops on his forehead. He could easily afford air conditioners
in this dingy dainty store and could work comfortably in hot climate without perspiring.
A fan, a table fan at least he could have here. But no he was miser as well as
smarter to keep everyone far off. He made a little space by moving the junk
aside, lied down and closed his eyes because of pain or fatigue or both. In
less than a minute he was fast asleep.
When he woke up, he felt that pain radiated towards his
right arm. Instead of taking proper medication and rest, he returned to his
work. He bent down to pick the objects which have fallen accidentally from his
pocket. Using his left arm he searched for the coins. Taking out more coins
than that which had fallen in, elated not only his mind but soul as well. His
body shuddered with a burst of perspiration around his arms, upper lips and
groin. He paid no attention to the freshly increased salty wetness on his body.
Although a bit irritated he was though in the ecstasy of joy for the production
of coins from his magic machine he forget the increasing pain. He realised that
he was a big fool who was wasting his time and energy on trying making 3D
replica of liquids instead of trying on coins. He kept collecting the coins
till all the boxes and utensils were filled.
Late night, when he was entered the bedroom; his wife
complained “Today is Valentine Day. You didn’t give me any special gift, not
even a rose! Earlier you used to celebrate whole day with me; watching movie,
dinning out, shopping and what a wife can desire of…..Sweet Nights!!”
“At that time I was not that busy now I am!”
“If you were so busy then at least you could have pluck a
crimson bottle brush flower from our garden which is in full bloom these days and
wished me.” She taunted.
“I am hell tired.” He felt the intense pain arising in the
shoulders while lying on the bed. “If you like the flower so much then why
don’t you go and pluck one for yourself?”
He retorted, hiding his aches which would only add fuel to
the fire.
“I am talking about your time, your attention. In the past
month you haven’t attended any social function or late night party or watched
good movie neither on TV nor cinema hall or gone to amusement park for fun.
“I was busy.” He didn’t have the strength to fight with his
tigress.
“Busy in what? Getting older fast! Huh?? She pointed at grey hair in his head,
stooping back and sullen eyes with dark circles under them.
“In making profits.” He said opening his eyes forcefully
fighting with pain or sleep or both.
“What will you do with it?”
“I do not want it for myself. I am earning it for you and my
son, Rushwan.”
“We have repaid the loan, constructed a decent house and
saved sufficient money for the future. I have wardrobes full of clothes and
jewellery.” She turned around and opened her wardrobe to show him and a blue
colored top slipped from the above shelves on her. She caught it. The falling
of that piece disturbed the alignment and all the stacked tops in front row
fall on the ground. “My wardrobe is over flowing with clothes. It can’t hold
anymore. Moreover if you don’t have time to look at me then what is the use of
wearing all these clothes and jewellery? For me your time, your company, your
one glimpse is more important than all these materialistic things.” She
gathered them from the floor and folded them.
She closed the cupboard, turned around and found him asleep.
She sighed.
Collecting coins made him richer as well as greedier. He
replaced the coin with the highest denomination currency note available.
Constant bending to pick the objects from tub without doing any regular exercise
caused a little bend in his back and his speed of doing work slowed down. He
had to bend a lot to take out something from the tub and he worked at a snail's
pace still could make more than enough money from that magic tub. He was
working his butts off! He moved less out of store to avoid useless arguments
with his wife.
More days passed till one day Rushwan entered the most
prohibited area of the house, the store as his father had not come out to have
his meals from past two days. On his mother repeated requests he arrived here
otherwise he disliked this place because of it untidiness and his father’s
abusive screams. In childhood days one day while playing his ball came in this
direction, Ahmed scolded Rushwan so heavily that he never dared to go near it.
Even now that shouts were fresh in his mind and he was bit scared because his
father shouted at him if he ever did this. He covered his face with the
handkerchief as of irritating odour and dust. In dim light he could only view
two feet one with slipper in it and other without it hanging outside the perforated
tub. The upsides pose left him in bewilderment. He must have fallen in it
because of losing his balance on excessive bending for picking up something
from the bottom of tub, Ahmed’s son assumed. He took the body out of not only
tub but also from dark and dingy place. His father was dead already. With the
help of his neighbours the son cremated the body.
On returning home he decided to clean the store, the
dirtiest place of the house and washing machine and each and every part of it.
He was shocked to see one more corpse just like his father in the machine; his
father never revealed him the secret of 3D photocopy. He buried it, found more,
buried that too and found one more. All accumulated wealth drained in the
cremation and burial ceremonies till he was left with no money. In rage, he
buried the washing machine along with the replica.
