Category: magazine

In the year 2050, Rax found himself anxiously waiting on a deserted street in the vibrant heart of Delhi, the capital of the great nation of India. Unlike the cities of old, this metropolis never slept. Since 2035, a paradigm shift had occurred – companies, government offices, and malls had adapted to the escalating temperatures by opening at night and closing during the day.

For the first time in his life, Rax felt a nervous energy coursing through him. He was about to undertake something illegal: smuggling a Brain Booster. According to the law, an individual could use a brain booster only once in their lifetime. Rax had already experienced its effects but hungered for more, yearning for greatness.

The Brain Booster, an injection designed to stimulate brain cells and enhance memory capacity, promised not only heightened intelligence but the potential for extraordinary creativity, even the makings of a great scientist. However, its abuse came with a cost—neuropsychiatric consequences ranging from mood swings to serious mental health issues.

In this era, everyone had access to knowledge, courtesy of a nano-chip created by China that turned individuals into walking encyclopedias. Rax, equipped with such a chip, craved not just knowledge but the elusive spark of creativity that would elevate him to greatness. Unemployment rates soared, and in a fiercely competitive market, only innovation held value.

The cost of acquiring another brain booster illegally was astronomical, nearly a decade’s worth of savings. Rax, meticulous in his planning, orchestrated a diversion involving two unemployed men robbing a nearby mall. The police, diverted by this ruse, allowed Rax to swiftly obtain the coveted brain booster. Filled with pride, he injected the substance into his body.

Fast forward one year, and Rax’s parents found him deep within a jungle, lost in contemplation. Disheveled and unshaven, he seemed consumed by something beyond their understanding.

“Rax, my son,” said his mother, her voice filled with affection.

Rax opened his eyes, revealing a profound weariness. “What are you doing here?” inquired his father. “Why did you leave us? Why did you abandon your dream of becoming the greatest scientist in the world? What has happened to you?”

“Who am I?” Rax questioned, his gaze distant. “Am I Rax, Marvan, Sayam, Ashraf, Priyanka, or Angelina? I’ve had countless births, with myriad parents, spouses, and children. In my last birth, I was a doctor; before that, a writer, even a housewife, an actor, a soldier. I struggle to grasp who I truly am.”

His father, astonished, sought clarification. “What are you talking about?”

“Knowledge is a poison, Dad,” Rax replied solemnly. “I’ve witnessed my own deaths and yours hundreds of times. I can read minds, feel pain and suffering, foresee deadly world wars, earthquakes, and tsunamis on distant planets. I’ve witnessed mass extinctions and the rise and fall of civilizations. I know almost everything, present in every timeline.”

“Then share your knowledge with the world,” suggested his mother. “Become famous and rich.”

Rax’s expression darkened. “I’ve calculated every probability. If I share my knowledge, the world will spiral into war and destruction. So, for the betterment of mankind, I must remain silent. Allow me to spend my time searching for other possibilities. Please, leave me alone.”

And so, Rax, burdened by the weight of omniscience, continued his solitary quest for understanding in the unfathomable expanse of time.