Authors: G.S. Luthra
“Layla stop it, stop!” Gudama shouted, finally ending her romance.
“What’s wrong?” she asked concerned.
“I need to tell you something,” he said rubbing the ridge of his nose, “I met Andy just a few minutes ago and he showed me data of your biology…you’re not of earth origin.”
Layla’s eyes froze in amazement.
“We’re not sure how you arrived here, but somehow, your genome contains both human and alien chromosomes.”
“What are you saying, I’m an alien?”
Gudama stared at her taking a deep breath.
“Andy discovered that you have the innate ability to mesmerize anyone with your eyes. This may answer
a lot of questions for you. Unintentionally you most likely have been swaying people uncontrollably for better or worse depending on your emotions.”
“So am I like Aphrodite?” she said sarcastically.
Raising his palm, Gudama gestured to let him speak, “There’s more. Remember you asked about this?” he said pointing to his third eye.
“Well, apparently it does more than I thought. In addition to giving me supernatural bravery and focus, it also mesmerizes people as well according to my mood.”
“Wow, so we’re both super salesmen, we should start a business together, she said trying to use humor to lighten the situation.
Stone cold, Gudama didn’t find her joke amusing.
“Ok so we’re both good at getting our point across, so what?” she said.
“Andy indicated we have been mesmerized.”
“What are you saying, we seduced each other?”
“I’m saying that maybe all this was a mistake, and that we should think about it.”
“How can you say that, you said it yourself that we control it based on our moods,” Layla reasoned.
“Yes, but when used, we persuade people.”
“So what, people do that all the time, we still meant it otherwise it wouldn’t have gone this far,” she said sniffling.
Gudama couldn’t answer.
“Do you love me?”
Gudama’s mouth fell open unable to create sounds.
Tears ran down her cheeks, Gudama struggled to form words. Layla broke down sobbing like a sprinkler system, she couldn’t bare the pain.
“Layla I -”
A slap across the face cut off Gudama’s speech.
“How can you do this to me, have you no soul? I gave you everything I have, surrendering myself completely to you, and now before our final vows of matrimony you do this?”
“I just wanted to-”
Another five fingers whipped across his cheek silencing Gudama again. Layla buried her head in her hands, drips trickling down to the floor. Gudama tried to comfort Layla.
“I love you,” blurted Layla from her depth of sorrow.
“I know you do,” Gudama said taking her hand.
“Then say you love me too and marry me,” Layla pleaded grasping his palm with both hands, looking deeply into his eyes.
Gudama nearly lost his breath.
Looking down, he struggled to gain his composure.
“Tell me you love me, say you’ll marry me,” she said holding his face.
“Layla please, I can’t do this!” he said retreating, “Don’t you see, this wasn’t supposed to happen. It all makes sense now. The favors from powerful people, women, the girl at the jewelry store, Princess, I have irresistible charms, and I don’t want to take advantage of that. I never wanted to marry anybody. My sole purpose is to dedicate my life for helping others, bringing peace and spiritual harmony to the universe.”
Folding her arms, Layla expressed anger.
“Princess, who is this princess?” she questioned.
Gudama let out a breath, “Princess Zayga, she’s the rightful heir to the thrown of Impheius.”
“Impheius, what is that?”
“A distant planet far away much more advanced that earth,” said Gudama.
“Where is it?”
“It doesn’t exist yet, it’ll form in about eight hundred years.”
Layla paused, processing all of the information.
“She’s your lover isn’t she?”
“No, no, I told you! Our relationship was strictly platonic to achieve a mutual goal. Together we destroyed a powerful dark force that threatened the universe. Afterwards her feelings changed,” he said leaning on a rock.
“What did you do?” she inquired.
“I’m a man of my word, that’s what I did. I came here, only here didn’t exist. So I traveled back in time to the earth I once knew to prevent this world from falling into the dark abyss I saw.”
“Congratulations, mission accomplished, now marry me.”
“I can’t do that,” Gudama said irritated.
“Why?”
“Because, I have to go back to make sure Princess Zayga is declared ruler of Impheius. Another threat exists that could potentially create galactic war. If Zayga is not crowned Queen, then all we have fought for will go in vain. I must go back to ensure her rule.”
“So what do you have to do to crown her?”
“Well, for one she has to get married,” Gudama said.
Layla’s heart sank upon hearing it.
“After we won the war, her father retained his rule and now wishes to pass the thrown. The problem is the bachelor he selected is the very man we fear will ruin everything. We have reason to believe he is possessed by a sole survivor of the draconian reptilian race.”
“Those slimy freaks, I thought you killed them!”
“Just the ones on earth,” he said.
“You mean they’re more of those monsters?”
“Don’t worry, in the future their race is wiped out, but we have to eliminate that sole survivor. If he breeds with princess Zayga, then a new unspeakable evil will be delivered to the universe that even a god won’t be able to stop. She doesn’t even want to marry him, but it’s all a big political gain.”
Layla struggled to keep her composure.
“Strangely enough, you possess the genes of both human and a hybrid species from Impheius. I don’t know the details, but perhaps I can find out,” said Gudama comforting her.
Layla stood motionless with watery eyes.
“Try to understand Layla, there’re others who need me,” he said.
“But you belong here, not in space! You’re human, earth is your home!”
“Layla, I belong nowhere,” Gudama said shrugging his shoulders, “I left earth in order to improve myself so that I could save it and ended up five thousand years into the future. Because of what happened to me, I don’t have a permanent home,
I’m just an outcast, a space traveler with no place. Don’t you see, if didn’t come back, everyone on earth would be dead, including you!”
Clenching her jaw helped Layla control her anger.
“I’ am dead, thanks to you,” she accused.
Gudama looked away displeased. Both of them remained silent, feeling each other’s psychic energy amplifying the voltage of the area.
“Take me with you,” Layla said breaking the hiatus.
“What, I can’t do that.”
“You said I have Impheius genes, so I have the right to go,” she said defiantly.
“Layla, do you have any idea how dangerous it is? I can’t put you at risk like that,” Gudama said.
Burning inside, Layla felt like a steaming pot ready to blow at a moment’s notice.
“What about earth, you’re just going to leave us?”
“Andy made robot replicas of me. They’ll continue my job while I’m gone. No one will know of my departure,” he said.
“One person will,” said Layla looking his eyes.
Gudama couldn’t say a word.
“Fine, you go do what you have to do, and then you’ll come back and marry me.”
Gudama let out a sigh, “Layla, I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep.”
“Gudama, you’re breaking my heart,” she said sobbing.
“Layla please, don’t do this.”
“You’re killing me Gudama, I feel like I’m going to die,” she said losing balance.
Gudama caught her and held her.
“Stop this Layla, I have to go, there are others who need me. Don’t hurt yourself because of me, I’m not worth it!”
“Why did you come here? I would have rather died slowly than go through this pain! Why would you go this far? Why would you make arrangements to marry me when you knew you had to leave?”
Gudama leaned on the rock with his hands facing away.
“Tell me!” she cried.
“I don’t know,” he said breaking the silence.
Layla couldn’t believe her ears.
“You don’t know that’s your response?”
Gudama kept quiet.
Infuriated, Layla marched up to him and turned him around. She punched him right across the cheek, followed by another from the other side, and finally delivered a blow right square in the nose. Gudama opened his eyes after her assault. She continued with repeated slaps all over his upper body. Her hands became sore, pulsing red after her fury.
Realizing she couldn’t hurt him, she tried kicking his groin three times followed by a few round house strikes only to merely bounce off of Gudama’s chiseled chest.
“I hate you! Don’t ever come back here again! I don’t want to see you ever again!” she screamed angrily.
She bolted away with hard strides as Gudama watched her walk to her car.
Taking a deep breath, Gudama placed his hands on his hips looking at the ground.
“Women, you can’t win,” he said shaking his head.
Leaning on the rock, Gudama gazed into the distance at the sun. He stared at the glowing ball of light trying to find some sort of answer. The sound of a starting engine caught his ear as he saw Layla drive away into the distance. Holding his chin with a hand, Gudama felt terrible yet at the same time knew he had made the right decision.
He casually let his forearm fall to the rock, noticing it created a crack all throughout the stone, toppling into pieces with Gudama falling with it.
Brushing himself off, Gudama took a few steps and turned on his antigravity belt. He flew away to give his final speech to earth at the celebration. A few seconds later, Layla drove back. She searched around calling Gudama’s name, but he was nowhere to be found. Wanting to apologize for her behavior, Layla turned her sights to the skies, watching the white clouds drift away on the beautiful sunset,
“No matter where you go, my love for you will always remain. It has no limits and will protect you throughout the farthest ends of space. When you complete your mission, I’ll be here, waiting for you. Don’t forget about me my love, come back to me.”
A tear fell down her face as the sun lit her face. Zooming through the skies, Gudama felt her energy.
Destiny Awaits
Billions applauded upon Gudama’s arrival at his global speech in NY. The conference was jammed packed with fans and cameras stretching all over the city from state to state, and country to country. Through his heroic noble deeds, Gudama had won the trust and hearts of the people of earth. As Gudama took the podium, he was amazed at the sight of seeing countless people all gathered to see him.
Placing his hand over his eyes he saw with his keen sight the flood of people extending all the way down the street. It appeared to me endless. The cool breeze delicately brushed his skin and gently played with his strong thick jet black hair. He took a deep breath taking it all in. Before Gudama began to speak, people roared their appreciation of him.
Several shouted their love for him, others yelled compliments that tickled Gudama’s heart bringing him joy as he slightly blushed. It is not known who or how it started, but soon a chant began, all of them reciting the name of Gudama. He had become more than just a man, he became a deity, symbol of strength, righteous, and honor. He had become their guardian.
Spirit lifting chants of his name from billions all across the globe filled Gudama’s ears. His head naturally titled up as he held his chin high, closing his eyes to better tune into the hymn of his name sung by the people. His face and body glowed in the brilliant sunlight making the whole scene surreal and otherworldly.
Voices filled the earth’s atmosphere with Gudama’s name being repeated continuously. The sun shined down on him giving him a divine appearance. Drums were even played by some people and music was soon heard, being amplified by a local group of musicians. Their beat was picked up and broadcasted all over the world. Gudama held his head high with eyes closed and chest sticking out boldly. His expression was that of nirvana, a bliss most dream about, believed only to exist in fantasy.
High up above in space, Andy, along with other races from different worlds, watched in contentment yet expressed a concern for Gudama’s new found status. While earth was celebrating, Andy was watching the ceremony with folded arms.
“Stay humble my friend, remember who you are,” he said.