final story

Solving a problem

Z, is a twelve year old boy. He is the wittiest of all his friends. He plays pranks at his friends but at the same time he is very helpful. There is no one who is not fond of him; he has many fans right from the age of his little sister to grandparents.  But his biggest fan is his grandfather. His grandfather is also is best friend and teacher. Being his best friend and teacher, it is needless to say that his grandfather is the person who knows him best. One thing that his grandfather knows is that even though Z is witty and sharp, mathematics is something that even he runs away from. No matter how interesting or fun his grandfather makes it for him he just can't be bothered with it. This worried his grandfather a lot. "How should I make him memorize all these formulae?" wondered his grandfather once.  Just then grandpa realized that if Z remembers one formula he will be able to figure out the others as well. That day Grandpa sat down making a game on the formulas and equations so that it becomes easier for Z to understand. After all it was the big day tomorrow. It was the day of the test.

After Z came back from school grandpa made him sit down and play the game. Z was tired from being in school and then coming back home to endure this torture. He didn't show any interest in the game. Grandpa was a little disappointed at Z's lack of enthusiasm, which made him angrier at Z. Z's inability in understanding made grandpa snap at Z. Z upset with his grandpa's sudden change in behavior ran out of the room straight into in his bedroom and onto his bed. With tears of frustration stinging his eyes Z drifted into a deep slumber.

Someone was shaking Z awake. He didn't want to wake up, scared of what might await him. Then somebody said, "Wake up lad, how long do you plan on sleeping?"

Z winked one of his eyes open slightly to see who it was. He could see his grandpa's face. Z turned around and shut his eyes again saying "Five more minutes' grandpa."

"Who are you calling grandpa?" said his grandpa. Worried that his grandpa is still annoyed with him Z sat up straight ready to apologize for being so incompetent. And in place of his usual grandpa he saw a man with the exact same features as his grandpa wearing a dhoti and angavastaram. It couldn't be his grandpa thought Z. His grandpa was a thorough pant shirt person. Why would he be in this attire? Now when Z looked around him something was not right, he was lying on a bed made out of hay. Z didn't know what to make of it. Again the man said, "Wake up boy."  "Where is this place?" asked Z ignoring the man. "You are in India of course", said the man in a tone as if the most ridiculous question was asked to him. "What part of India is this?" asked Z scrutinizing the mud house with leaves for windows. It was the man's turn to ignore Z's question this time. He got off the bed and walked towards the other side of the room where a huge terracotta pot was kept with a lid on top. He picked up the lid and poured some water into a cup made of leaf. He gave the cup to Z and gestured him to drink the water. After what seemed like an eternity the man spoke and said, "I am Aryabhatta, a mathematician by profession." The cup was about fall from Z's hands but he managed to retain his grip. For a second he thought he was dreaming. He was sitting in front of the great Aryabhatta. Z couldn't contain his excitement and asked, "Are you really that Aryabhatta that invented the pi?"

"Ai, ai my boy I have yet to make it public. It is still in the testing stage", said Aryabhatta with a slight nod of his head. "But wait a minute how do you know about it? It is not out yet', said Aryabhatta with a skeptical look.  Z was in a fix he didn't know what to say. He was doubtful if Mr. Aryabhatta would believe him or not. Then he thought the better of it and started, " I know all of this because maybe I am from the future." Z explained his story to Aryabhatta while the latter listened patiently. Aryabhatta could see the confusion and desperation in Z's eyes. After Z finished relating his story Aryabhatta spoke, "Friend I know how you came to this world. I was outside doing my daily chores when I was this blinding light and a bam. When everything cleared up you were lying on the ground with this box tightly clutched in your hands."Aryabhatta then took out the box from under the bed. It was no extraordinary box just a plain simple geometry box. Z took the box from Aryabhatta and flipped it open. The box was empty there were just grooves in there for the other material to rest. Aryabhatta seeing Z all helpless decided to help him a little more and said, "I can help you." Z's head jerked up. Aryabhatta said, I know people who can help you go back to your world. This box is very important." When Z gave him a questioning look embarrassed Aryabhatta told him that while Z was asleep Aryabhatta had taken the liberty to examine the box. "This, my friend", said Aryabhatta pointing at the box "will act as your transportation device."

"For starters I can only give you this", Aryabhatta went to his desk and brought something clasped between his hands. Aryabhatta gestures Z to open his hands and put the pi in them. Then he said, "I can only help you right now by giving you this. It will come in use at some point of time." Z got excited as it meant the beginning of his new adventure. He thanked Aryabhatta for helping him through his quest. Then as instructed by Aryabhatta, Z opened the box ready to be swallowed by the whirlpool of light.

Z could feel himself lying on grass and sand. He was about to get up when he heard noise.  Then a sturdy looking man came and stood in front of him. And then in a rough voice he asked "Who is this boy?" Z didn't dare move a muscle. "Whoever it is take him to the court", said a man coming from behind the sturdy man.

Z was been dragged by the sturdy guy, suddenly the man stopped and pushed Z to the front. Z could no longer pretend to be unconscious now. He opened his eyes. Z was surprised at what he saw. He felt like he was in a movie with royal sittings on both sides of the corridor and a stage sort of a structure where a man was sitting. Z's attention was at the man sitting on the throne. He somehow seemed familiar. Z took a few steps towards the stage where the man was sitting and then he realized. The man on the throne had an uncanny resemblance to his grandfather and Aryabhatta. Before Z could grasp the situation he blurted out, "Who are you?" Judging by the reaction of the people sitting around the court Z immediately knew it was not a much appreciated question. Almost instantly he was nudged by the sturdy man to keep quiet. The man said, "We found him lurking outside the castle my lord, he looked a little suspicious so we took him in."

Z shot the man an irritating look. The man on the throne noticed it and said, "I am King Nabonassar and this is the kingdom of Babylon", spreading his hands as a gesture. "Now, tell me, who are you?"

"I…um I am Z", said Z. "And where are you from?" asked the king. "From the future, said Z in an unsure voice. As soon as these words left his mouth, the whole court burst into cackles of laughter. Even the king gave a smirk, then he asked, "May I ask what you are doing here then?" Z irritated with the initial humiliation said, "I come here in search of something", reluctantly. The king's demeanor changed immediately. "What are you searching for boy?" asked the king. "I don't know", said the boy. There was another round of loud murmurs in the courtroom. "You can't possibly believe him your highness. He could easily be a spy from the neighboring country", said a stout looking man beside the king. Z scared of the unknown allegations screamed, "I am no spy. I don't even know what you are talking about." The king ignored him and ordered for him to be put into the dungeons. He said that Z's punishment would be decided by the council the next morning. No matter how much Z shouted or begged no one paid any heed to it. He was thrown in to the dungeon by the sturdy man. In the dungeon there was only a cemented bed and a candle. Z sat on the bench venting out his anger tossing the pi from one hand to another, when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Z, wondering who it was, stood close to the bars. The source of light became visible and so did the person carrying the light. It was King Nabonassar. The king came to stand in front of the dungeon, at an arm's length from Z. Then he spoke, "Aryabhatta informed me of your arrival, but I never thought that you would be so young." Angry at the King's denial of awareness about his arrival Z said, "If you had known of my visit then why did you refuse to acknowledge me?" The king conveniently ignored Z and said, "My task here is to give a riddle to solve. This the only way I can help you in your quest to go back to your world."

"What is the alternate of the dot, which if shifted between numbers has the power to change their values?"

"The only dot that is there between numbers is decimal. Is the answer decimal?" asked Z.

"Decimal", said the King "is the dot. But the question says alternate of a decimal." Z started running his brain trying to figure out the riddle. All of a sudden there was glow in his pocket. The box was glowing. Z opened up the box and found something in there. He waited for the glow to diminish before picking up the object. It was a ruler. Perplexed at the new addition to his box, Z turned around to face the king with questions ready to be asked only to see the King walking back up. "Hey wait", shouted out Z behind him. Without looking back the king said, "Don't push yourself over it. You have the whole night to think about it. I will come in the morning to see if you have the answer ready and also to answer some of your questions" and left.

Z lay down on the bench struggling to find the meaning of the riddle. He also remembered his grandpa. His ever so patient grandpa but the last time his grandpa had seriously lost it. He remembered the good times spent with his grandpa. How they used to play and how easy and fun his grandpa used to make it for him to understand math. Every new thing was like a game. His grandpa taught him how to do BODMAS and how to convert division into decimal. It was a lock clicking. It all made sense to Z now. The system of writing something upon something can also be converted to decimal. Again the box started glowing. Z opened the box and found a compass lying next to the ruler along with a upon/by sign. Relieved upon finding out the answer Z decided to catch up on some sleep.

Chirping of the birds woke up Z. He propped himself up on his elbows shaking the sleep away from his eyes. "I take it you have found the answer", said somebody. Z tilted his head toward the bars to see the King sprawled across the floor right outside the dungeon. "Uhuh", replied Z. "The answer is the division symbol by", said Z. "Correct", said the king. "I presume you have a lot of questions that need be answered?" said the king. "Yes", replied Z looking at the box. King Nabonassar knew what Z wanted to ask and told him that the contents of the box will keep increasing as he keeps solving the puzzles. The addition of new things means that he is closer to returning back. Every place he goes he needs to collect at least one item that goes into the box otherwise he won't be able proceed to the next country.

"And what about these?" asked Z pointing at the pi and by symbols. "You will know what to do with them when the time comes", said the king in a calm voice. It almost seemed like his grandpa's. Z could feel his eyes tearing up. With everything known he was ready to leave for his next destination. Z opened the box before the light could suck him up he waved a hand at the king and thanked him for all his help. Before his departure the king warned him to be a little conspicuous of what you say. With that Z disappeared.

Z's next stop was a desert. The temperature was hot enough to melt him. He started walking in hopes of finding a shade. Z walked for what seemed like hours without being able to find any relief from the scorching heat of the desert. Finally he spotted something. Only the top pointed part of the structure was visible which meant he still had to walk a lot in order to reach that place. But now, which each step he seemed to be getting closer to the pyramid. At last, he reached the pyramid. There was a person standing at the top of the stairs right outside the entrance of the pyramid. Z had been to two countries and saw different styles of attires but he never saw a man wearing a dress. The man standing outside was wearing that. As Z approached the man to ask him about the clues for his next task the man spoke, "You are Z, I assume?" Again the man was a replica was his grandfather.

"Yes, I am", Z replied. "You took your time arriving here", said the man. "Where are we?" asked Z. The man told him that they are in Egypt. He also told Z that he has Z's next clue which was in the pyramid and Z has to draw out a pyramid in order to enter the pyramid. After saying that, he turned around to leave. Z was about to ask him about the material, and just then his box started glowing. Z opened his box to find a paper, pencil and protractor. "Where did they come from?" asked an astounded Z. The Egyptian man gave him an all knowing look and said "This is a magical world my friend. You just have to know what you want and you will get it" after that he went inside the pyramid and the doors shut behind him. Z remembered his grandpa's classes. He sat down on the floor to make the pyramid, he never thought that his grandpa's lessons will come so much in use. He marked the angles and drew the lines, everything that he was taught and with the precision he was always asked to take care of. Z finished making the pyramid. It was the first time he made a correct pyramid in one go. The minute he finished making it the paper vanished and in place of that was a cut out of a triangle. Z picked up the triangle and made his way towards the door. The door opened itself and welcomed Z in. Z saw the Egyptian man again, this time he was standing in front of a tomb. "Congratulations", said the man as Z came nearer. "My grandpa taught me this, so I knew", said Z. "Very well", said the Egyptian, "This is your final clue before you go to the last destination of your quest,

A prime number that is a double of one step after the number that is neither prime nor composite. The number, which comes in between positive and negative integers."

Z knew the answer to this riddle very well. One thing that Z was proud of, were his arithmetic skills. He had most fun playing with numbers. Z said out the answer "Two". The Egyptian impresses at his quick answer smiled at him and gave him a nod. Z took out the box to have a look at his latest acquisition. It was a number two lying on top of everything else in the box. "You just have one more location to go to before you can return back", the man said to Z. "How will I know, how to get back?" asked Z in a scared tone. Yet again Z was told to wait for the correct time. Z left for his final country where everything will be over.

Z fell on top of a stall when he arrived. The area where he landed was pretty crowded. There were rows of different stalls from cloth to gems to food to toys. In fact the stall he landed on was a toy stall. The owner of the stall was standing with his hands crossed over his chest glaring at Z and the menace that he had caused. Z got up to apologize but right then a man came charging towards him and dragged him into a cave. Before Z could ask anything the man said, "You are in Greece, my friend", removing his head. This time the man in this alternate world was a younger version of his grandpa. Z knew that he is the person who will eventually help him find answers to the final clue. "So, you are the boy everyone has been talking about", said the man. "Do you know all of them?" inquired Z. Of course I know them. All of us are men with similar interests", replied the man in an astonished tone, as if the possibility of otherwise was ridiculous.

"Will you give me my next clue?" asked Z. The man nodded in response. "Just show a little patience my friend" said the man and started walking deeper into the cave. Z followed him inside. They reached a fork; the man took left with Z one step behind him. After walking for five minutes the narrow path opened into an open space. Z was taken aback by what he saw inside. It looked like a laboratory. There were man and women busy working on the blackboards, on their tables with abacus and Rubix cube. Aware of Z's next question the man said, "These people that you see at work are currently experimenting with formulae and equations, trying out their feasibility. Curiosity is highly valued here. Also, you will be given your last clue here." He gave Z a chit that said –

 What is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet?

Z didn't know what the answer was. He couldn't even make guesses. Earlier everything that he was asked, he knew about them but this time was different, he had no idea what the answer could be. As he was thinking over it, the man left him alone and went his way. Z decided to take a stroll; he thought it might just help him open his mind. The first person he came across was a short man wearing a frock, his eyebrows creased and eyes focused on the slate lying in front of him, his hands moving at the speed of lightning on the calculator. He was clearly too busy to be bothered with a person hovering over him, so Z moved on. Next he came across a lady. The lady was lost in thought in front of the chalk board she was working on. The board was full of Pythagoras Theorems. Z guessed that the lady was probably working on solving more equations with them. The lady seemed to have noticed Z looking at her. She raised an eyebrow at him. Z introduced himself to her and told her about his quest. The lady appeared to be fascinated with his story. Z also told her about his latest clue. The lady told him that even though she would like to help him by telling him the answer, it is something that he should find out on his own. Instead she gave him an additional hint saying that the thing he is looking for is a symbol that is used in Pythagoras Theorems which resembles a zero. Z began counting all the symbols that could possibly come in Pythagoras theorems, "Alpha, beta, gamma, delta" and it clicked to him. He said out the answer aloud, "Theta". He didn't need a confirmation. The box started glowing, marking the end of his eventful journey. He opened the box and the symbol of theta there. The box was finally full. Z jumped with joy.

"Not so fast Z", said a voice, "You still have to solve a puzzle before you can go back." The man came into view, but this time he was not alone. There were others coming close behind him. Now that all of them in sight Z saw Aryabhatta, King Nabonassar and the Egyptian man along with the man. "Take out the contents of the box Z", said Aryabhatta. Z quickly removed everything that was inside the box. He separated the symbols from the rest of the materials. "Your last tack is to arrange them in the correct way", said King Nabonassar. Z spread the symbols on the ground and got on with his work. It seemed familiar to him all the symbols. He had seen it many times before.