"It's been years since I'm stuck in here and I will never regret my life here"

It was in the year 1985 when I was in my final year of the PhD programme in Physics major when I met the true meaning of my life.

Living my days in a tranquil way with no one to care and wait for me at home, I had become a machine - a wireless one.
In the morning, I would listen to constant lectures on Unclear Physics from DV Sir. During the evening, I would teach some college students to pay off my living expenses and at night I would work on my "Time Escape" thesis. Struggling day and night to fight for nothing maybe. I had befriended many students and teachers in this University of Brainstorm but none could be so attached to me or make me feel that way.

On 6th June 1985, DV Sir called me to his staff cabin. I remember what he called that day.
"Listen Jane, I have seen you working hard day and night since the first semester but ever since your parents' death you have become a bit detached. Although research is important, life has more colours to it. It's more interesting than the concept of science and extends through the artistic and innate universe. I am not a great consolidator but I can see you trying hard lost in endless work."

I remember each and every word he spoke that day. I finally responded unfeeling to it, " Yes Sir, life is interesting if we have the knack of time and escape the most critical hit. The frame of reference followed by all is not the same, so are the bands beyond the Visible region."

He frowned a bit and spoke, "Well said dear, but remember Escapists are ones who can never rejoice the taste of accomplishment or defeat. It's just a defence and better be used as one. "

"I agree. But why did you call me Sir? "

"Ah! See, I'm forgetting, I am getting old no doubt. Well I have decided that our research team will be having a short day trip to Astrophysics Society of Time and Space for exploring tomorrow. Just inform Annie, Star, Frank and Jocelyn. "

"Roger that! ", I smiled at him like a daughter would smile. He smiled back.

During the afternoon break, I confided in the info to the group.
" Seriously! Tomorrow? We will be going!", Annie almost fell from the chair.

" Yea..Yeah. " , I was taken aback by her absolute excitement.

"Oh my, my dream to visit there would finally be fulfilled.", She stretched her hand away from the notes she was reading.

Jocelyn tittered.

"Hey Grumpy Dude, You made my day finally with the news. ",Frank smirked and laughed.
My teammates were my closest friends. And they are the only people I could confide in my true thoughts most of the time.
" I'm not Grumpy. It's you who is an idiot! ", I revolted.

Others laughed while Frank and I continued to fight with words.
" STOP YOU TWO! Are you both kids? And Frank, you are the worst, pulling her into your charms. Don't you dare transform her.", Star yelled.
"huh! Hey Dude. It's our business. ", Frank remarked and snapped at her words.

Everyone went silent while they faced each other fuming in rage. It felt so awkward that I diverted the topic to the astronomical place and others continued the same. We discussed the place a bit more until the next class commenced.

Next day around 6 a.m., we met in front of the college gate. My teammates had arrived already but there was no sign of DV Sir. We waited until DV Sir's grandson came in running.
He ran in our direction and screeched as he reached here.
"Huff Huff, Who is Jane here? ", the kid perspired and spoke.
" I'm Jane Rose. Is there anything you need? "
The boy nodded.
"Gramps, oops! DV Sir won't be coming with you all. He had given the tickets for you all to visit. Actually he is occupied with work today. "
I took out a candy from my pocket and handed it over to the boy.
"It's okay. Have it. It's your reward. "
The boy smiled and kept the candy and left.

"What now! Shall we go by ourselves and enjoy?", Frank spoke finally.
" But how? I mean are you sure you know the route Frank? ", Star asked out of sheer disbelief and sarcasm.
"But I have a car and a navigator. So it won't be a problem. ", Frank shrugged.

"Hey Rich guy, don't flaunt too much. God knows when that navigator might stop working. Annie knows the route. She had researched it well. So trust her and let's go. We are already delayed by an hour.", Jocelyn finally spoke.

We all got into his shiny bright red car. Frank drove as we chatted and sang. It was a bit windy although it was summer time. We crossed through the unrepaired TMG road, the wealthy Steins street. Frank whistled and all of us clapped and sang. After a long time I was finally enjoying myself with them.

We soon left the city behind and reached the deserted country roads. We were in the middle of a very desolate hilly area when the engine started to make a funny noise.

'Screech Screech'
"Ahh, Shoot! ", Frank yelled as he hit the front window.

He tried to restart once again, he pressed on the accelerator but with no success.
" Bad luck", Annie said.

"See! That's why I tell you not to flaunt your riches. Your car is as dummy as you. ", Jocelyn yelled.

"Are you an idiot! What can I do if it suddenly breaks down? If you know so much why not try to fix this? ", Frank retorted staring at her, fuming in anger.
Star and Annie tried to calm them down.

It was still windy and was almost forming like a storm. The area where the car broke down was unusually desolate.
Frank started to work on it but with no success. I and Annie went in search of shelter while Star and Jocelyn waited outside the car.

After searching for a while we finally saw a faint light in the small woods. We followed and saw a house. A very simple and neat one as if freshly built and painted.

Annie knocked while I started calling, "Hello! Is anyone there? "
There wasn't any response. On the second knock the door opened automatically. We went in and called but no one answered. The rooms were beyond empty and neat to be an abandoned one. Maybe this house was only recently previously occupied.

"Hey Jane, don't you think it's a bit weird. This house has almost nothing. The interiors look as if freshly painted. And there are only 5 rooms as if it's recently built to accommodate us."

"Nah, you are overthinking it Annie. It's good that we found this house in the midst of nothing. It's better we head back and tell them before it starts pouring cats and dogs. "
"But still... Yeah, you are right. We should tell them. " , She tried to say something but stifled the thought within. I couldn't care more since we were helpless and we needed a shelter that badly.

We headed back and came back with our group. Jocelyn and Frank stopped to quarrel finally and we entered the room.

"Wow! pure white without a stain. Even if I spend so much money I won't be able to gain such a spotless room. It's perfect. Although it's a bit small, it's still beautiful. "

"Seriously! Rich guy, you are complementing. I have to believe that. ", Jocelyn acted in shock.
Annie was quietly analysing the house. Somehow she couldn't get rid of certain suspicions.
"Hey you two quarrel birds, keep quiet for a while will you?", Star commented as she glared at them.
"Ugh!Girls", Frank let out a faint whisper.
Only I heard that though.
Finally the atmosphere went quiet.

We finally unpacked our luggage. It was raining hard but the room was unusually warm. It felt like a smart room that automatically adjusted to the temperature. The ambience was perfect and as I entered my room I plopped onto the mattress. It was plump and comfy. I slept in for a while because of the weather. It was extremely soothing and I felt a faint touch on my head patting me off to sleep, just like mom used to do before.

After a long time I had a comfortable rest. I woke up very late but as soon as I stepped out of my room, I was bewildered to see the white paint dripping down from the top. I shouted to alarm others but in vain. There was no one who I could reach out to. I searched every other room but none responded. I recalled Annie's intuition and fidgeted at the thought of losing my only friends who were left with me.

With every minute passing by, I panicked and my heart beat profoundly against the roof of my chest. But finally I found the key. The key to the ultimate problem.
The paint seemed to drip and flow in a particular direction. I followed the mystic flow. Following that, I saw a massive white marble door in front.It was in white marble on purpose to hide the hidden room. I turned the marble door knob and tried to open it. The door creaked open and thrust into an entire new panorama. In it I saw paintings and portraits all coloured and at one corner I noticed a brush moving automatically. I stumbled and approached it out of curiosity. On it was something engraved.

"Ah, what was written, if I'm not wrong it was engraved 'Time Escape'."

I snapped and was shocked to see my thesis name written over it. As if it had known my research, mainly the concept of Grandpa's diary which had stated it once and was the starting point of my research. I focussed on the portraits and had received a further blow. The incidents which had happened ever since the car broke down were all carefully painted and on each capture and there was time stated. As if it had the power to control time. I took the paint brush. As to how I was able to take hold of it has always been a mystery. But I had tried my best to change the timings and surprisingly my guess was right they were chained inside the painting. Finally I drew another scenery and changed the possibility of ever coming here but in the process, after finishing the drawing, I was chained down inside an unknown force of time forcefully- a punishment for altering time through portraits and manipulating them.

With that the house disappeared completely and my record perhaps was completely eliminated. For a while, I was thrown into a seamless white blank canvas. I already had no one but I felt happy. After seeing their sufferings at being trapped inside , it was better for them to leave. They had their family, their parents to take care of , their family waiting at home. They were more needed in the society than I. I thought and smiled to myself. Although whatever I was facing was completely unscientific, it was not my place to complain.

As these thoughts crossed my mind, A brush and the canvas came onto my hand. The brush drew my long lost feelings of homeliness. My mom, my dad, my old home, my favourite park. Everything which I had wanted to go back to before.

My long lost desires.

The bleak world was filled with life. Flowers bloomed, birds chirped and the small pool where fishes swam in the shimmering of the sun. Mom was in the kitchen cooking and dad working in the fields. It was puzzling, but at the same time it was too hard to believe. My heart was filled with warmth. After endless misfortunes one after another, my fortune was rewritten. I had really escaped the time. But why me? I asked myself.

"I'm the creator of this canvas. Do you remember my diary? ", a hoarse male voice spoke from behind.
I turned back, " Grandpa? Why are you here? But still why? ", I gasped.

"Because only one's true desire can wield this escape brush. It was invented and lost into this canvas world. But with it you can live as much time as you want here until you get bored. It's the alternative reality of what your world would have been if you had what you desired and surprisingly only you deserved the gift. Everyone who stopped by this place was tested, your teammates as well. But none could pass this test. You can recreate the world as much as you want or let it flow with the time of outer space. Whatever it is, it's your choice, but there is a price to pay for each use. I had taken trials for all. Enjoy the unreal world, my child. My wish is fulfilled and I will be leaving. "

Tears stained my face as I bade final farewell to Grandpa. Although there were many questions and mysteries left unsolved, but to this, I wanted to find answers on my own. Grandpa must rest. He had already struggled enough in his escape quest.
Grandpa smiled at me and dissipated with a final blow on a frail wisp of flame.

But I didn't use it anymore. I wanted it to go with the flow. I wanted to begin my life here once more and without being an escapist. Make friends and live a normal life with my parents in this new procreate life.