PERFECTION IS AN IMP - KARNO GUHATHAKURTA

PERFECTION IS AN IMP
By Karno Guhathakurta


Rebirth
One would think that in an era where minds can actually create, or co-create the ‘ideal’ to make for an even better and promising future, there could exist a sense of liberty and independence whilst doing so; but the past is never far behind.
The past is always recurring, and in this case has brought upon an invisible shadow on newlyweds, RAVE-E1 and NILUFERs’ most awaited day, casted by both their parents.
“She’s Muslim. She has many disapproving traits. ”
“He’s Hindu and not of our culture and beliefs.
Their marriage, however was a joyous occasion with both sides bringing life to the event, whereas now a strife has begun between the families, their castes and culture, and all for an unborn child.

The new adda
This is Calcutta, 3000 AD, the future, as most would call it. A time where everything of ‘the old days’ has been registered/preserved/recorded in the Indian Museum on Chowringhee. Ironically enough, a signpost has been placed right outside the museum by the Municipal Corporation that states, “The Old is Gold, but the New is You”.
An era has arisen where a civilization thrives on its latest technological inventions and conquests, deemed fit for the individual consumer. In a world thriving on the idea and production of an ideal being or the utopian individuals’ life, Liberal Eugenics has only stirred positive reactions.
The human brain accompanied by technology has paved the way to a future our forefathers would talk about during the regular adda sessions under the neighbourhood banyan tree. The people of Calcutta still have the same Calcuttan characteristics of taking their morning cha out to the ol’ Banyan tree and drawing up conversations which would go on for atleast an hour or so, forgetting the fact that they would have to rush home immediately after to catch the next Jet Shuttle to reach their workplace on time.
During these morning sessions, talks about economic stability, welfare and the ideal life of living it in one’s own ways and wishes from the olden days would be placed into a much futuristic context, which being their present .
“..But you know what Robi-2; I don’t think it is anymore the case about the MEGHO-T trying to change the economic scene of BE(i)NG-ALL [Bengal] to an air-tight nodule flourishing in ONLY her crafts and handlooms... then, then what is to be happening to our children. Will they also be having to work here, or they are to be going out and building a better future. We’ve done and spent enough to make them in accordance to an ideal future...”
- “...exactly, and how is my son to experience the R-ONaldoNO-006 if he has virtual access to only East Bengals’ skipper, the year 2000’s Baichung Bhutia’s shooting skills. I mean, to be an ace, you have to clone the future.... hey! Is it too late to do that? I mean, you have these pirated DNA’s floating around everywhere, and what with the World Wide Web[WWW] losing out to UFO [Universal for All], you’re going to get the actual thing at cheaper rates. Just two quick taps on the UFO tablet and you can order and get your goods delivered within a quantum second...”
“But Robi-2, it is nonetheless pirated, how you would know whether he actually got R-ON-006’s DNA....”
-“Aah, hush re Chon-droid. I know these things. I’m the one who told Steve Jobs, the thirds’ Indian consultants’ niece to request him to change Apple into the BetApple. It’s a much faster operating system... ‘chhe’ if only I had thought of this when I was telling the doctor to insert the serum for ‘football skills’ for my son. I should have had thought ahead… ”
“Okay okay, you are indeed a ‘driod of the future’. Satisfied?”
But what if the WWW is secretly an alliance to UFO, and makes ‘beings’, such as you, purchase dummy products in order to incorporate into their minds the crime that is piracy, inquired the automated voice of the Banyan Tree.
Silence.
“Damn old Banya-a-an”, retorted Robi-2.

Liberty
Well, the story begins from here.
To the extent of even making the perfect human, Mankind has not wasted any time and effort.
From the basics of making tea in the mornings with one’s individual choice of flavour, to being virtually present and intelligible at a seminar or conference while catching up with friends at the local space café’s - ‘Liberal Eugenics’ as it is coined up is the solution for all to-be parents in concocting the ideal child of their own.
This ‘ideal’ ideology has also brought hope in the faces of RAVEE1 and NILUFER, who have been married for over a year now. They were going to be part of the new age of parents-to-be wherein they would be able to enhance the qualities of their child, and so they were highly elated by just the thought of it.
When RAVEE1 found out that his wife was going to have their child, he immediately started a ‘before born’ diary which consisted all the necessary planning that they had to make pre, present and post the birth; and likewise NILUFER joined forces with her husband to make everything perfect. They didn’t even want to know the sex of their child intentionally so that they could get surprised on the ‘main’ day.
- “Maybe the sixth sense.”
“Maybe what the sixth sense?”
- “As in, maybe the child should have that ability.”
“And make us vulnerable and look foolish in front of him?”
-“…maybe really big lips.”
Joking and debating against body parts such as a sharp nose like NILUFER’s or a big one as RAVEE’s, or about belief systems and mind sets the child should possess, became a fun activity in their 3 bedroom apartment on 142X-DLNO Higher Ballygunge Circular Road.
The couple knew about all the tiffs their parents were having, but didn’t want to pay much heed to them. This was their child, not anyone else's.
After much thought, they had come to a conclusion and decided not to disclose the news to anyone. They didn’t let their distinct backgrounds ever get in the way of decision-making. Everything was discussed on a more practical level and noted down in the diary that RAVEE1 had bought for the baby. They always believed that the best way to handle things was to do it rationally and with a clean mind and heart, and this policy kept them happy and satisfied. Right from their marriage to this present day, their exuberance was very much apparent. With NILUFER entering into her 8th month, they wanted everything to be just perfect. Despite knowing that they themselves weren’t ‘perfect’, they were trying to make everything right for their child to grow up into being the epitome of the new world.
Well, everything not entirely perfect.

The Beginning
“Aaaah…raaaveeeee…aaaaah…!!
-“You’re going to be fine NILU…just bear with the pain for sometime more… please…here-here, hold my hand.”
“Mmmmnnnnh…Oh god!!!! Aaah!”
The operating room was filled by the sound of NILUFER groaning and the doctors and RAVEE1 trying to calm her down. She was due any minute. Both husband and wife were scared as well as excited to view the birth of their first child. NILUFER was still a week ahead of her normal expectancy date, but her water broke on that day causing both the couple to rush to the hospital and get NILUFER operated.
Suddenly they heard people shouting from outside the room. RAVEE1 and NILUFER looked at each other and immediately knew whose voices they were. All RAVEE1 told his wife, “I’m sorry, I’ll be back in 2 minutes”, to which she nodded and let go of his arm.
He opened the door to see that his parents and in-laws were at terrific loggerheads with each other and weren’t even giving the other set of parents to butt into what they had to say. They didn’t seem to have noticed RAVEE1 at all, let alone trying to reason with them, and continued with the ruckus.
He couldn’t take it anymore. On the one hand, he was praying for his wife and unborn child and for his parents to understand that, and on the other, to shut them up so that he could hear himself talk to them. He was now getting scared even more for NILUFER – “what if this upsets the baby’s entry..what if something happens to NILU because of this…” His mind kept racing back and forth from the hall outside the operating room to NILUFER and his child, when suddenly the door opened.
The doctor came out, and was looking directly at RAVEE1 for a few moments. RAVEE1 was staring right back at him with his mouth wide open almost as if expecting a difficult piece of news. Then the droid nurse who had been attending NILUFER emrged from behind the doctor with a little baby girl in her arms. She came close to RAAVI1 and presented to him his daughter.
RAVEE1 still stood stationary in his place, now mouth-shut with a shy grin on his face and eyes constantly looking back and forth from his wife and daughter. He was holding onto something he and wife were longing for many days and here he was, holding her in his hands.
As soon as the grandparents caught sight of the baby, they stopped shouting and rushed towards the doctor and hurriedly asked him questions of what enhancements she had received, while constantly rebuking each others’ faith.
Nobody said a word. In fact, the doctor even gave the grandparents a puzzled look and went back inside. The answer to this lay in RAVEE1 and NILUFER’s smiles which did not die down.
(end)