Cover

“What a beautiful day it is – all bright and shining. Do you see that sparrow there? It looks so full of hope and desire, ready to lend flight to its dreams and kiss the sun”

“When we stepped out this day in the year 1947, we had already secured independence for our great nation”

“Just sprinkle some more of that salt and you’ll be ready to go”

Today was Sunday, the only day they got a chance to step out in the open. Smell the air, feel the breeze, inhale some life – Sunday was undoubtedly their favourite day of the week. The rest of their time was spent locked up like prisoners in the basement of a nondescript apartment in one of the worst localities in the neighbourhood. They did not all get along well, one could clearly tell they were not of the same background – differing ideologies, interests and philosophies, not the same mental or physical age, and not necessarily speaking the same language. Some had amassed considerable experience living in multiple locations over the years, while others had been happy to just have been ensconced in one place. But they were here together not so much as by design but more due to a cruel twist of fate.

“Maslow’s hierarchy of needs begins with physiological needs at the bottom, graduating to the self-actualization ones at the very top of the pyramid…”

“…But it pales in comparison to the great pyramid of Khufu at Giza – massive, magnificent, a true test of human strength”

“strength = 強度; 他誰有實力能移山”

With their purpose of life threatened by a much stronger force, this motley crew had been shipped off one fateful night from a faraway land – packed off together, old and young, sick and healthy, rich and poor. They travelled for over twenty days and twenty nights, an arduous journey that not all of them survived, and when they did arrive, things were not as smooth as they had imagined. With some greasing of the palms to avoid any mention of the questionable paperwork, they made their way to what was presumably a facility managed by their local handler. Here they met many more like themselves, some from their own land while some from this foreign land as well, all in search of a new life.

Every Sunday was their chance to shine, to interact with the outside world, something they would eagerly look forward to all week. They wouldn’t be let completely loose, mind you. The handler would ensure that they were kept under check - like the multiple occasions when he would deal out blows across their faces, including one this very minute

“According to Newton’s third law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction”

“There is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins”

“I wish we could use that time machine I was telling you about and just fly away from here. Dr.Secondae will have it operational by later this week”

“Deutschland ist weltweit führend in der Technologie - es ist kein Spiel für die Produkte, die wir Machen”

The handler asserts his authority by kicking a few of them while ruffling up a few others - he is clearly in no mood for mercy

“But unbeknownst to him, a hand slowly makes its way towards the ground”

“Is it a bird? Is it a plane?”

“Winter is Coming”

“This person: dark circles and eye bags – limited sleep; small satchel – doesn’t look very interested; unbranded pair of clothes and dishevelled appearance – must be…”

“How much for this?”

“Which, this white one? 50 rupees”

“Make it 30 and I’ll take it”

The handler flips the Sherlock before waving an okay to me. And with that, I make my first purchase at the second-hand book bazaar.