The choice was between traveling across Space or across Time. Both were possible for the nouveau-riche couple. The year was 2937 AD. Vihaan and Ahana chose time travel again.
Space still had its risks. The masks, the gear, the breathing in made-up environments, the high speeds, the gravity adjustments, the distances so far away from Earth. Ahana didn’t like the idea.
Time was easy. All it needed was to go to another dimension. Vihaan and Ahana had done it before. Ahana had an avid interest in ancient Mughal history. On three occasions, they had visited 18th century India. This time she wanted something else.
So when they landed in 19th century America for their annual vacation, it was a new experience.
It would have been another regular vacation except for the last day. They went on a nature walk near Menlo Park. They had followed all instructions. But on that day, it got late. It was dark. They had their return travel planned later that night. While getting back, Ahana forgot her flash light.
Well, that was a serious problem. Because the government regulations prohibited leaving anything behind in the past. Time travel was still strictly regulated. No shopping from the past was allowed. Likewise, all objects had to be brought back at the end of the vacation. The authorities did an audit on every returning family. They didn’t want vacationing families disturb anything in the past.
Ahana forgot to bring the flash light back from her vacation. It would have serious consequences now. The port of entry authorities filed a complaint. There would be an inquiry now. The tour company’s license for time travel vacations would now be suspended. They would charge Ahana and Vihaan a bomb. A legal suit for negligence claiming major damages was likely. The nouveau-riche couple’s wealth was in serious jeopardy.
Someone would have to go back and find the flash light. And do it fast. Vihaan and Ahana rushed back with the government regulators on the very next day. They reached New Jersey while it was dark and guided the search team to Menlo Park. They went to the exact location at the exact time.
But it was too late. They didn’t find the flash light. They returned empty handed.
That was because on the day after Vihaan and Ahana had left, a young man had gone for a walk. He had found it. He had picked it up out of curiosity. He had never seen anything like that before. He took it home at once. By the time, the search team came to find it, he had broken it apart.
His name was Thomas Edison.
***
Light Up the Future is part of the collection A Bend in the Road.