Competitors?

PART 2: The rich and the poor

Three decades had passed. The world had changed in many ways.

The Great Soviet Union had dissolved. The mighty United states of America had first been hit by the World trade center attack, then by the Sub-prime crisis. And the King, Michael Jackson was dead.

Meanwhile, technology had greatly moved ahead. Google had revolutionized the web. Facebook had taken up the mission of connecting people. Amazon had transformed the marketplace. SpaceX was supporting International space station modules where astronauts and cosmonauts worked together everyday. And everyone had gone bonkers about Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Perhaps the only thing that hadn't changed was that Saudi Aramco, an oil and gas major, was still maintaining its enviable position as the world's most profitable firm.

After an early retirement, Bill had settled down in Staten island, New York city. He had made millions as a Software entrepreneur with Berkshire Hathaway as his biggest client.

Vladimir had spent away most of his savings carelessly on casinos and drugs, living in Goa, India.

One day, Vladimir became very ill as he became engulfed in the second wave of the Covid pandemic had hit the region. He had to be admitted.

The situation in India at this time was dismal and war-like.

Dearth of Oxygen cylinders, life-saving medicines, ventilators and other necessary items were being reported. Some Doctors were dying from the disease after receiving a heavy load of the virus from their patients. Others were reportedly fleeing from their jobs to save themselves. It was said that the medical system was on the verge of a collapse.

Crematoriums had no space to burn the dead bodies of those who had died. The steel in the inner lining of the electric ones had melted away due to the sustained heat it had been subjected to while burning one dead body after another without a break. Open fields were being used to pile dead bodies on wood and burn them in masses, the photographs of such scenes being highly published in media. Charities were now asking people to donate for wooden logs for the dead. Those who could not afford a proper cremation were dumping their departed ones in the water of the Ganges.

Meanwhile in the United States, on a cloudy New York Sunday morning, Bill was being chauffeured in his Ford. He was going back home from the funeral of someone close who had died of the pandemic. His secretary whom Bill had desperately tried to save by getting her the best of healthcare and who had been kept on the ventilator for forty days before the doctors insisted Bill to allow on pulling the plug to save other patients.

Just then, after years of not hearing anything from his Russian friend, Bill got a WhatsApp message from Vladimir on his Iphone. As a tech-savvy Software CEO now, he actually went ahead to confirm the mail was real on his Samsung phone. Just out of habit. He immediately arranged for Vladimir's admission paying with his MasterCard. He wanted to visit Vladimir too and made up his mind to go to India despite his wife reiterating that there was a travel warning for the country.

In the evening, Bill called his night-time driver Dopinder, a day-time NYC cabby recommended for the job by a once junior officer from Special forces. Bill asked the driver to drop him at the John F Kennedy airport. As the car started, the Bang & Olufsen audio system came to life and started playing a song...with a haunting...shrill tune. As the male vocals began singing in a foreign but familiar language, Bill froze as he recognized this as the same song Vladimir's cassette player was playing the first time they met.

"Christ! Dopinder, this is Hindi, right? What does this song mean?", he questioned.

The driver smiled briefly and answered, "It has a different meaning for everyone. For most Indians settled abroad, it is about remembering their homeland. For my wife Gita, it is a song about global harmony. Personally, it has a rather spiritual meaning for me...that though I may have become attached to worldly items externally like materials, belongings and relations...inside my heart is still where it belongs.".

Bill reached the airport and boarded his Lufthansa flight. Next day, he reached Mumbai. Bill took an Ola cab directly from the Chhatrapati Shivaji airport to visit the hospital where Vladimir had been admitted.

On the way, he stopped by a a small florist shop. The owner only had two rose bouquets left. He offered Bill a bouquet with ten yellow roses. Bill bought the other one with five white roses instead.

Upon reaching the medical center, Bill became surrounded by a horrifying dance of death; people struggling to survive, people dying, people mourning. He reached Vladimir's room. He looked as the later was lying unconscious, breathing with the help of a ventilator. The pulse monitor was beeping slowly, indicating a weak heart beat.

The doctor told Bill, "We were waiting for you. His condition worsened overnight and he had to be put on ventilator. I don't think he is going to make it due to his co-morbidities. Do you wish to continue or pull the plug?".

Bill replied, "Doctor! Is there any way we can revive him? Any equipment you got? I am willing to pay more."

The doctor gave a grim look and said, "No.". He then started walking away to attend to other patients.

Bill asked softly , "What can we do then?"

The doctor stopped midway before proceeding and replied, "Pray.".

Bill briefly reminisced the moment he was rescued from falling off a cliff...many many years ago. He tried to collect himself, choking as he said...

"Vlad, listen to me. We have a new dangerous peak, a new Mount Crown to conquer today that is challenging us globally soldier. In the United states of America, we people have an unfailing faith in God. We have even put the phrase 'In God we trust' on our bloody currency notes. We never give up on our faith. I can feel...ever so subtly...that there is hope..."

The pulse monitor's beeping became slightly brisker...perhaps by just a number or two. Bill didn't even notice it as he got up from the chair and commanded...

"Give me your hand!"