Pragya Gautam
Renowned Writer & Lecturer, Govt. Senior Sec. School (Rajasthan, India), Email: pragyamaitrey@gmail.com
Translated by: Kshama Gautam
It was morning. Icey had arranged breakfast on the dining table. I came to the table for breakfast as soon as she informed me. Mom washed her hands, removed her apron and sat beside me. We all were surprised as dad was still at the farm. Icey’s television eyes got activated. She scanned the whole area from dairy farm to pasture but she could not spot dad.
“Dear madam, I am afraid, Uday sir is not at the farm and I am unable to contact him……please have your breakfast….” She said gently, lowering her blue eyes.
Mom was worried. It had never happened before. Either he would be at home at breakfast or convey the message through Icey. She tried to call him but his phone was dead.
“Have the wagons carried the milk containers? Where are the cows now?” Mom said, setting her eyes on Icey’s milky white face.
“No milking happened today, madam… A cargo van carried the cows out. The cows were climbed up by the farm bots only…Uday sir can be seen doing preparation of milking. He went out afterwards…” Icey showed the video on the virtual screen received from the CCTV to validate her statement.
Mom panicked. Her heart began to beat fast as she was surrounded by a lot of apprehensions. I had to leave my class to search for dad with my pet dog Giga. Giga was a little pink color. It was a cyborg. For mom, it was considered more trustworthy than I.
“Hey Giga, look…, do you know what to do? We have to find dad…” I took it in my arms and said while caressing its back. It nodded.
I left the house. Our colony was built on higher land. Lower and outer areas owned pastures and farms. after this there was an artificial pond. The area was not vast but was rich in production. My eyes were looking for dad, everywhere. It was still fog outside. The grass shone with bio luminance. Giga darted into the grass to hunt the mice. It was not handy in this practice however the fruit plants grown among the grass, were in great trouble because of its sudden attack. Their sensitive leaves began to whistle- wheee…….wheeeee…..
“Giga…., no….you should not eat these things…you may get infected. Look here….how many plants you have spoiled….” It came out when I scolded. Colorful grass leaves stuck on its body to make it funny.
At a little distance, our pasture could be seen which was desolated now. Robo shepherd was resting in his chamber. I went to the cow shed. It was locked. I went nearer to peep inside but there were no cows there. The empty milk containers were lying before milking machines. Giga ran and did its favorite thing which is doubtlessly sniffing everything. He started and became alert at any little sound. Then he ran to the little gate, towards the pond at the pasture and started barking. The speaker, hanging around its neck, said in a robotic voice, “dad has gone in that direction by his air car…”
“Oh, leave it…..how to go now that far…..come on Giga, let’s go home….” I spoke to Giga. But Giga did not show any interest to go home as it found here its female friend named Hyney. It was a tall bitch with a horrible face that lived at the farm. Giga was putting its all efforts to attract it. On the other hand, Hyney gave a heated look to Giga and turned its face away. Although Hyney was not as intelligent as Giga but it was proud of its looks and tall physique. It looked down upon Giga. I really pitied Giga for wasting its time to attract that female dog. Hyney did not deserve Giga from any point.
After wasting two hours in search of dad when we reached home, dad was already there. Icey had served breakfast for him but he was lost in his thoughts. He was not even aware of Giga and my presence. He did not utter a word when mom was scolding me. I had never seen my father so worried and sad like this before. I could understand his sorrow.
Before a few days everything was fine, we all were happy and content. My father’s dairy business was running perfectly. Like every other farmer, he was proud of his GMD (Genetically Modified Dwarf) cows. They were fifty and looked like sheep in size. They were able to produce a lot of milk on a little food. Moreover, they were intelligent and disciplined. They hardly disobeyed my father and never stepped out of our pasture.
This whole trouble started when, like every year, our village held a tech fair. This fair was held every year in the spring season. As the weather was fine in this season, nobody was puzzled to roam outside. We waited for this fair desperately. The reason was that no shop used to be virtual in this fair and we got a chance to touch and see the things.
My dad had to buy new instruments, advanced solar paint and new super food for the cows. I always kept my things in my head to save time. This time I needed a new smart jacket and a robo spider. And don’t ask about mom, she had to buy something from every stall. It was really boring to stop at every shop with her.
“Oh mom, your kitchen is already intelligent….there is no further requirement now…..let’s go to the games section ….I have to sit in the time machine….” I spoke irritably.
As we entered the fair, the first exhibition was of robo cows. In the display, the features of those cows were being shown. The robo cows were fitted with a machinery which made casein (milk protein). Genetically modified bacteria were used in this machinery. However, robo cows were sold in the fair every year but people do not like the taste of their milk. But this time the technology was well modified and improved. The bottles filled with their milk were beautifully arranged on the counter.
Blinking her eyes, the sales girl said to my father, “sir, you must taste it once….it’s delicious as well as nutritious. These cows provide flavored milk. We have mango, strawberry and chocolate flavors……”
It was tempting enough for me but mom and dad did not hear her and moved ahead.
“Mom, I also need one bottle of that flavored milk, please……” I spoke, pulling her shirt.
“No, this milk is of very bad taste. Once I drank by mistake and just felt like throwing…..” Mom uttered twisted her lips.
“But mom…., this is flavored…..just look here…..people are drinking…” I said sulking.
Dad reared actual cows and liked their milk only. He never preferred robo cows but as I was insisting, he returned to that exhibition. We bought a mango flavored milk bottle. The milk was really tasty. I made mom and dad taste it. AI sales girl read our minds at once.
“Please come inside sir, we have three categories of cows also….look here, these are yellow cows…..their milk contain high carotene and low fat…these are blue cows…their milk contain high fat and high milk protein…..and these cows are of green color…..their milk is rich in vitamins and minerals….we can give you good discount if you are interested…..the introductory package is of a very reasonable amount sir….” She spoke continuously.
Dad was impressed and so was I….how boring were our cows!….Only one type of milk…single taste and single color…
“Okay….what about their maintenance and food….?” My dad was curious.
“The maintenance is very low sir…..You have to bring them to our workshop only once a year. Every category of cows has different food packages which are available in all three flavors. You don’t have to do much…..only give it to the cows mixing with water…. The food already contains bacteria spores. The expenses are just half of the biological cows…..and the milking is very easy sir, it takes a little time…”. She was explaining excitedly and every word of hers was setting in our minds.
“And what about the price…?” Dad asked dubiously.
“The price is a little high ….but we have a lot of offers. If you have biological cows, they can be exchanged and thus you have to pay a little….” She spoke instantly, reading my dad’s mind.
“Well, I will call you shortly……” Dad uttered. It seemed as if he was equally excited to buy these cows.
We visited the remaining stalls and exhibitions in the fair and returned home but the robo cows were still on our minds. There was so much extra work and botherations with the biological cows. I was excited. Now there would be no further arguments between mom and me regarding drinking milk. I could drink two glasses of this milk daily.
Next day there was a meeting in our society. In our society, almost all families were farmers. They held a meeting every month in the club house of the society. Mr. Raman, president of the society, was an old man. He was a wise and experienced farmer. He was there in the time when the period of technology had just commenced. He managed very well with this robotic era. He was optimistic regarding the bright future of the human race.
I also had a chance to attend the meeting this time. Robo cows were discussed in the meeting too….”
“I found this deal profitable Raman sir. I have a lot of robots to work for these biological cows. I still need to give some time for their care. Expenses are also high. If I sell these cows, I can grow cash crops on that pasture……” My father kept his point.
“I agree with you, Uday but do look at the other side of the coin. If we replace all our creatures with robots, they would be in great peril. We already have lost the biodiversity of the earth…” Raman sir spoke.
“You’re right, I will not replace my cows with those robo cows. Instead, I will buy a few of them.
“Yes Uday, I know nowadays robo pets are in trend. Obviously, they don’t demand a lot of time and other things. I heard that scientists are working upon micro plants and artificial plants. And in that case our smart biological crops would be in danger. People don’t want a little botheration nowadays…” He added.
“If these things will continue like this sir, we will also disappear someday…….leaving robots and microorganisms on the earth…ha-ha-ha-ha!” Philip uncle although created a laughter saying this but his words scared all from mind to heart.
“Our chief himself is an AI, this is the reason we are facing these horrible things….” Aunt Martha also opened her mouth making her eyes bigger.
“No, no…the chief will not do such a thing as he has been designed for the welfare of the human race…..” Dad cut her short.
“Martha is possibly right…as the chief has updated himself twelve times so far. He is a changed person. with changed ideas now. We have to be alert…..”Raman sir, being an experienced person stated his doubts.
We returned home after the meeting. It was 7 O’clock in the evening. Icey offered coffee and snacks as we came. Dad had already taken coffee and snacks in the meeting so he apologized and went to his room. Icey prepared milk for me to drink. I told her that I would not take this milk from the next day as we were going to have new cows.
After a few moments dad came out of his room. His face was crimson. He called out to mom. Even he had forgotten that she was in her studio and giving class to the robots on human behavior. When Icey told her, he paced in the house restlessly and then went to his room and lay down on the bed. That day he did not even have dinner. I also did not go to him lest he should scold me. Mom revealed that he was ordered to exchange his cows with the robo cows.
It was not a big issue. Everything was done in the society according to the chief’s orders. Everyone obeyed him without any complaint. Everything would happen mechanically. Doubtlessly, it was necessary to run the management peacefully. But this time dad was planning to do otherwise. It was certainly a strange step. All knew what it meant.
Today, in the morning when they came to bring the cows, dad had a great argument with them. Our cows were intelligent and they could understand whatever was happening. When they were being boarded on the cargo van, a cow named Bansi, hid between Dad’s legs. Dad bent down and caressed it and it kept its head on his arms. I could sense that it was crying.
Dad was grief-stricken because in the meeting only he came to know that these cows would be killed and the food packets for robo cows would be prepared with the dried flesh of the biological cows. It was really pathetic to know about his own intelligent pet cows. After this incident my father immediately went to the dairy management office. But nobody was ready to heed on his point as it was the order of the chief.
The very next day new robo cows came to our farm. Dad did not even go to see them. I went to the farm with my mom after my class. In this package, we had eight cows of each color and there was a free shepherd robo with them. Also, there were food packets for a month to milk them. The new shepherd robo explained the manual of the robo cows to the farm bots. The work started. Everything was automatic. After that day my father never went to his dairy farm. He only went to have a look at his orchard and crops.
Many months passed after this incident. Dad was gradually becoming normal. Now he hardly scolded me for anything. We started going out once a week as always. Although the coordination between the chief and human community did not remain the same as before. Chief had issued such kinds of orders many times. People would talk about these things but they did not have courage to stand against him. They said that the chief had a strong network. Every city had a control room which was called a Chief House. Whole management of the city was executed from the Chief House. A lot of people were in the category who praised the chief for some gains.
Human community was divided into two groups. I was unable to understand all this mess but what muddle was happening around me would incite a curiosity in my heart. When my dad held a meeting with his friends, I often peeped into his virtual hall and tried to figure out the matters.
One day a weird thing happened. It was Sunday….we went to visit a newly built amusement park, at the outskirts of the city. Mom showed me the Chief House from the height when we were in the air car. My dad told us that Chief House was nearby. It was dusk when we returned. I wanted to have a look at the Chief House. I began to insist but dad scolded me instead.
“I hate this chief…..I don’t even bear to see his face….” My father spoke, churning his teeth.
“Uday control yourself…..we can’t keep our eyes closed from the truth….Mihi is growing now….if he wants to see the Chief House, show him….this is not the right way to behave with growing children…..” A teacher, rather than a mother, spoke from her mouth.
No personal vehicle was allowed to go in the air region, around Chief House. Dad folded the wings of the car and pulled them inside. Then he drove ahead towards the Chief House by road. About five kilometers away, it was built on a high artificial hill. It was certainly a magnificent building and surrounded by a lot of safety walls.
We noticed a weird vehicle coming out of the Chief House. It passed near us swiftly like an arrow. Then went up into the air and disappeared. It ran so rapidly that we could not see it properly. Giga began to bark restlessly then turned dismal.
“Oh God! What was that mom?” I was really scared.
“Who knows…..it might be some representative of the chief…..his special vehicle…..” Mom answered, thinking a little.
We felt a headache as we returned home. Giga was still horrified and was eating nothing.
“Giga, come on….see, your favorite cookies……..” I showed him the container of cookies to tempt it but he bent its head and began to whimper. I came near it and dabbed his head. The speaker on its neck spoke, “Mihi I felt like someone was threatening us…..who was he….?”
“It was no one but a fast running vehicle Giga….. you are scared of its sound…..” I tried to pacify it.
My dad was saying that dogs had sixth sense……they could sense a lot of things which we human beings can hardly understand. Giga must have seen something other than that vehicle.
“Might be……it’s a Chief House after all……it was possibly a part of its security system….we were a little closer……” Mom ended the discussion saying this.
In the morning, before leaving for his farm dad told us that he had a very strange dream. He dreamt that the chief had destroyed the human community…..our houses were desolated…..and robots were capturing them……
“After the incident of cows you have made a very negative thought towards the chief…..this is the result of this all….” Mom said to him.
It seemed like mom did not like to discuss this matter again and again….although she too was not feeling well from the night itself. I was also not feeling bad and strange thoughts kept disturbing me now and then. I could not complete my home-work last night.
I did not attend the next society meeting with dad as I had my exams. When dad came back after the meeting, I was taking an exam sitting in my virtual room. When I came out of the room mom and dad were discussing some serious matters.
“What happened mom…. Has anything gone messed up again….?”
“….Mihi…son, you focus on your studies….these all are political affairs…” Dad cut me short with a slight anger.
Later, when dad was busy, mom told me everything.
“Actually, these days a lot of people noticed strange vehicles and people around the Chief House. People are talking as they have different opinions……you know, everyone has one’s own guesses ….”
“What kind of thing are they talking about mom….?” I was curious as always.
“Some of them say that they are half robot and half human….and he will replace us. But a few people who are in favor of the chief say that these talks are only a rumor…according to them they are robo engineers….and they have come here from the central control room to update the control room and strengthen the security system…..” Although mom appeared apprehensive, she was strong and optimistic. I saw her worried for the first time.
“Oh mom…whatever it is……it is really serious and worrisome….” I said to her.
“We stay in a town where most residents are farmers……who are not free from their dairy and farm…..we are not updated with technologies like the engineers and scientists who live in A grade cities……how to reveal the truth…..?” Mom uttered.
“But mom, no one can do anything without the Chief’s instructions … not even the engineers and scientists of the A grade city…..” I said being a little serious.
“Mihi, today it seems as if you really have grown up…..”
“Yes mom, it’s my twelfth birthday next month…” I jumped in excitement and then we started discussing the preparations of my birthday.
It was decided that my coming birthday would be celebrated luxuriously with pomp and show. It was for the first time when my birthday was being celebrated on the farm. It was on the request of some of my friends from the city. The party was not going to be virtual this time. I was going to meet my city friends for the first time and they too were going to visit a farm for the first time. Mom packed smart plants beautifully to give them as return gifts. Alarm would ring when the plants needed water and manure. They produced sounds while being disturbed or in pain. They shone at night.
A lot of my friends who attended my birthday party had scientist fathers. When we were dancing, my dad was talking to them about the present situation. He came to know many new things then.
Our party was still going on, our farm was surrounded by the robo police. According to them we must ask permission for these kinds of parties. Now as the new instruction said, the human community could have only virtual celebrations. It ruined everything. We had to discontinue in the middle of the party. We saw off the guests somehow serving the dinner and desserts. The society meeting which was going to be held next month was also banned.
Now each message as well as matters of ours was first sent to the control room. There was no privacy in the human community now. All seemed furious at the chief regarding these negative changes but what they could do…..
Every day a strange instruction or order was issued from the Chief House and everyone had to obey it. One day Hyney was found dead at the farm. Now we were really worried about Giga. Mom and dad always looked horrified. I would often think about our former days….how happy we used to be…..
Months passed like this. Then a ray of hope penetrated the dark clouds of agony and despair. We received news that the team of scientists had a meeting with the chief and resolved all the matters. In this terrible situation this news was good enough to make us happy.
The inappropriate things on earth took a little time to be normal. And after this the folded secrets came into view and were revealed to everyone. On my mom’s suggestion, I wrote this important incident in my diary as a record.
The team of scientists that designed the chief was no more now. But a few students of those scientists were working with the Technical Advisory team of Central Chief House. These people were old and experienced. Only this team was allowed to check the system of chief. Dr. Akio was the leader of this team. These people had a meeting in a code language. Then they all together secretly reached Central Chief House. The reason behind this was a few decisions which were taken by the chief. The decisions were obviously dangerous for the security of the earth.
Although the security system stopped to enter yet they could enter as they had the emergency passcode. Finally, the team came to the chief.
Their doubts turned out to be true. The chief’s brain had been hacked from the Central Chief House itself. Now he was working on some other’s instructions. From the beginning they had this kind of suspicion. The chief was actually designed to work for the welfare of the human beings. It was impossible for him to change after updating but he appeared very insensitive towards the human race after the last two updates.
They did not find anything wrong after checking the whole system in the control room. Everything was normal. That meant that someone was directly affecting the chief’s brain by his brain waves.
Dr. Akio deactivated the chief and took the whole control in his hands. He only detected the presence of alien aircraft around the Central Control Room. The security system of the earth was now under control of Dr. Akio’s team. The alien aircrafts were destroyed by the specific weapons.
Later, the chief’s brain was redesigned by Dr. Akio’s team. Now everything is fine in our human community. But there were still some mysteries. People said that Dr. Akio had captured some aliens. Those aliens were still imprisoned in his laboratory. According to a few people there had been a compromise between the earth and aliens now and Dr. Akio had already visited their planet.
As soon as I come to know the truth, I will certainly share it with you.
Pragya Gautam is a Biology Lecturer in a Govt. Senior Sec. School (Rajasthan, India). Her Science background advances her level of thinking and provokes her to think out of the box. She is fueled by her passion of understanding various aspects of life. She considers herself a ‘forever student,’ eager to study various branches of Science and stay in tune with the latest changes in this scientific world. Her hunger for knowledge and determination has contributed to her success at her job as well as writing career.
