The era when humans were wanderers and hunters had come to an end. Now, humanity walked a new path—the Path of Control and Understanding: a civilisation.
But what did building a civilisation really mean? Was it a necessity for evolution, or did it mean a world where the backward and feeble could live alongside the strong?
Neither.
Even if they were, the ideas behind them were nothing but Utopia now. Therefore, a new idea or justification had to be put forward to spread morale among the hearts of civilians. This needed to be convincing enough for followers, woke enough for alphas, and radiant enough for dark dwellers. The set of conditions and qualifications required would drown any philosophy to the brim. The only answer may seem as if there is no answer...
As if by design, an idea exists. It may not appear appealing to believe in and may sound deviant, but in theory, it meets all the required qualifications.
The idea, unadorned, states that a civilisation was built to control wild human instincts and impulses.
What makes a civilian different from a serial killer, a murderer, or a terrorist? His impulses.
A civilised human controls his emotions, living under constant pressure from society—a blade hanging over his neck that may fall at any time. This chronic fear prevents him from ever looking up to see if there is even a blade at all. Dreams of an ideal society—and the belief that it can be achieved—are among the lesser illusions.
But what about those who laid the foundation of Society? The high and mighty who hold most of the world—the true marionettists behind the shadows, controlling this Act.
Why do solutions to problems always end in hierarchy? One could say it is human nature—that this is how we evolved. But what about the catalyst? Independent creatures seeking dominance?
The way of the world was rhythmic. It was owned by those who shaped it. There exists a vast expanse of the world that remains invisible to most civilian eyes.
Organisations set up for intelligence are just the tip of the iceberg. Powers and authorities beyond them exist—unwavering forces deciding the fate of the world. Until they were questioned and shaken to the core.
A will of its own, unhinged, that trembled the world. The Event that led to the Revolution, the byproduct of which was a community that came into the light—individuals who had built their empires in the shadowy world.
And the many other changes that took place in the world all traced back to a single incident—the Event that triggered the domino effect.
Late in the morning of the year 2018...
CH 01: Sleepless
"That should do it."
"Who knew… maybe I was just an overworked corporate labourer." Shree was stalking the length of a rural roadway between far-spread golden fields of wheat, divided by a seasonal canal running alongside it. "The much-needed break is here! Finally, I'll be able to enjoy myself in this remote village, far from the tantrums of the city…" *yawns.
To relieve his heavy shoulders, Shree stretched himself, almost tilting to the left.
Crack.
"Man, it is amazing here."
The morning wind drifted past him, carrying with it the scent of soil and ripened grain. It brushed against his face, cool and almost rebellious. The wheat followed its lead, bending in unison, their soft rustling blending with the faint murmur of the canal. It was peaceful—almost too perfectly so—like a scene that had settled into place and refused to move forward, a backdrop against which the pacing of time felt stagnant.
Shree slowed, not consciously at first, but enough for the rhythm of his steps to falter. His gaze lingered on the fields, then the canal, then the empty stretch of road ahead, as if something within him had begun to notice details he couldn't quite name.
"Yeah… this place really—"
A faint tightness surfaced in his chest, subtle enough to ignore for a second, like a passing discomfort that should have faded on its own. But it didn't. It stayed, pressing inward, quiet yet insistent.
Gasp.
His breath hitched slightly as his hand moved to his chest, fingers curling against the fabric as though trying to grasp something just beneath it.
His heart…It was a Stroke!