New IF: Running Out Of Time (Prologue)
A desi speculative if set in colonial India.
Summary:
TIME KEEPS SLIPPING PAST YOUR FINGERS.
Attempt to grab it, and you shall fail. Try and preserve it and you will be dodged again. Embrace it, and you shall be rewarded. The Tantways of India, their ancient name now long lost by history books, used to weave time with their bare hands. The old ones listened for the Samay, the ancient fabric of the world that thrummed under your fingertips if you were patient enough.
That is, until the British found a way to cut it into hours and minutes.
You have grown up in this mess, and you remember it well—six years old and the feeling that the mangoes in the trees were infinite. You had two friends of your own, and you sauntered around the neighbourhood like you owned it. The Banyan Three, you were called, especially since you all hung around that huge banyan tree that grew near all of your houses: Sunny's bungalow with the spacious front verandah, Vin's house with the courtyard where you all played cricket and yours.
Of course, all childhood friends fall apart! The huge front verandah collected dust and the house is now vacant. You hardly remember how that courtyard looked. It's for the better, you have to outgrow some things and people.
The banyan tree is the last man standing.
At 18 years old, you have to face the real world.
The Samay University of Temporal Sciences has chosen you one of the many others to study the prized subjects that are above the 'common' folk who had discovered this long before Crown. The letter comes with sealed red wax followed by a family fight. No one can ignore the summons of the prestigious university, so you pack your bags and leave.
And though the banyan tree is a few roads away, the childhood friends reunite like three stars finally finding their familiar constellation. Are you hopeful? Angry?
Well, time does not care. It will watch this Banyan Three of yours burn.
The demo includes the prologue (~5.8k words, excl. code):
Features:
- promises made too young.
- a glimpse of the end (?).
- and childhood friends (meet sunny and vin, my babies!).