The Boss was sitting right in front of me. For the first time in my life, his face was not in the shadow. He looked hideous. He stood up and offered me a seat. I chose to stand. I could not afford a wrong choice now. He said, “So Eden. As you are the only one who has successfully chosen right for two consecutive games. This could be your third one. You just have to choose right.”

“Okay, so what’s the choice about? Give me the options.” I said nervously.

The boss went towards the window. He called me there. He said, “Look outside the window.”

I was really good at this, observation was my cup of tea. Looking out the window, I saw what he was trying to make me see. I observed every small thing. It was dark and I could see other buildings. He pulled me back in but I wasn’t finished. Now he asked, “What was Priyanka Chopra, the Indian actress holding in the advertisement on one of the buildings?”

I didn’t know the answer. Loss of this round was imminent and then I’ll be condemned to serve The Boss forever. I went through my photographic memory. It was no use. I didn’t quite finish seeing out of the window. This was a trick. I said, “There was no advertisement board outside.” The Boss frowned. He said, “Congratulations, Eden Hex! You did it again.”

The Second Chance

I was so relieved and happy. Now the boss said, “As promised you have two wishes. Ask anything.” I asked the unexpected, “I want everything the way it was. I wish I hadn’t met anything related to the paradox and never want to come back to the paradox ever again and the second wish is I want to remember all of this.” The wish was granted…

I woke up in my old hideous life with my over loving mother and my irritating sister. My life wasn’t what I wanted it to be but I was happy and that’s all that matters. The moral I got out of my Paradox encounter was that you would get what was promised to you when your time is right and you are not supposed to go for shortcuts.

Stay tuned for more crisp…