RJGK
"Nari!" I called. "Nari, I'm home."
I put my lunch container on the tiny table in the kitchen and walked on through to look for Nareesha Kumar, my beautiful wife, in one of the other three rooms of our quarters on Alpha. Our four children would be at school for over two hours yet, and I thought I'd surprise Nari by coming home early. My shift in Maintenance ended earlier than usual today because I finished scrubbing the halls in my wing ahead of schedule every week of the last six. When I finished early today, I was able to cash in my accumulated work points to get the afternoon off.
"Good work, Rajesh." Mr. Parker, doing a tour as maintenance chief, said as he signed off on time docs giving me the extra duty hours. "You've earned the time off, so go home and surprise that pretty wife of yours." He then went back to arguing with Alan Carter via the comm-post about the pilots not cleaning their Eagle spacecraft properly after use.
The real surprise was that I was by myself. I lamented not being able to spend the time this afternoon with Nareesha, but I could use the time by myself as well. Nari would probably be home soon since she was off duty and there was not much chance she was out shopping.
I smiled to myself, thinking of my childhood and remembering going to the mall in Houston every week. We always got ice cream because my father, Aruni Kumar, would tells us how as a child in New Delhi, he had ice cream once, and now that he was a respected Space Commission scientist his children would never be able to tell that story about their childhood. My father's connection to the ESA was how I ended up on Alpha right out of high school. He thought, since I displayed no ambitions or particular interests, that a six month tour cleaning floors and bathrooms on Alpha would lead me in the right direction. That was August 1999.
It has been a long, uncertain road to the present, and it is not one I would have chosen, but Krishna has watched over me and even given me my own Sita in Nareesha. She and the children are my life now, and we will survive.
I am not as certain my family's culture will survive, however. Nari and myself were two of the four Alphans of Indian decent, the only followers of the Hindu faith on Alpha. My own knowledge of India culture is limited to what I remember of my parents. That is why I decided that the things I do know of my heritage must somehow become part of the Alpha/Loki/Ceres culture.
We must bring the best of what Earth's peoples wrought to become part of the new culture we create. That is why I initiated the RJGK, or Rhim-Jhim Geetan Ki; which as the gentle reader can see is why we call it the RJGK. This year's will be the third annual RJGK, I can use the unexpected time to myself to tabulate the results that I have told all I would release tomorrow night.
The RJGK is a kind of quiz which has traditionally been for male contestants to identify lines from traditional Indian male solos. Since my goal is to make the RJGK an Alphan tradition, I have begun to choose lines from music of both genders and of all cultures, but still solos identified by contestants of either gender. The computer people of Alpha have assured me, when I asked, that for the duration of the RJGK, they could block the computer system archives from being searched by anything but titles, and the music would only be able to be played online---not downloaded to subsystem computers. This will help make it a game of resident skill and knowledge---not computer expertise.
The first year, David Kano complained that during the 11 days of the RJGK, computer access to the music archives increased one hundred fold, and almost brought the system to a halt.
"I'll be ready for you next year, " David told me.
Next year, and the next, and on into the future. The RJGK became the most poplar topic of conversation and AlphaNet traffic for the days of its running and for a week afterward---giving all of us something to think about other that survival. The first year I was shocked my small diversion had created such a stir with 37 people participating.
If the first year was a shock, the second was a near-death experience. I was inundated with AlphaNet mail for two months before the RJGK and had thrice the number of participants as the year before. Even Commander Koenig, whom I had no idea harboured musical interest, began the RJGK but had to drop out when a crisis involving one of his children occurred.
This year the participant numbers are only slightly elevated with a sharp increase in the number of Second Generationers becoming involved. Many of the kids were lurkers on last year's contest, and must have listened to archive music all year. One of them, Davey Kano, even set up Radio AlphaNet, playing a program of solos on the Alphan Intranet 24 hours a day with music from both the computer archive and personal CDs he borrowed. Since I have included solos of all ethnicities, including my own, Radio AlphaNet has begun playing songs in native tongues most of the younger generation has never heard spoken before. It has created an interest in the study of the languages of Earth, which some have met with disagreement.
Another unexpected side effect has been a drastic increase in original pieces written by Alphans. I have not included any of the original works as yet since the body of work is not large enough for significant variety.
The RJGK that I remember from my youth---and that seems like another lifetime---had already moved to the Internet so that it could reach people of Indian decent across the globe; but even that was a rigged, argument-filled contest that was frequently lacking in variety. The Alphan version overcomes that failing, and enhances the RJGK for the future. The door opening broke my reverie.
"Raj, are you home?" My loving Nareesha called from the kitchen. She must have seen my lunch container on the counter.
"In here, My Love. Just working on the RJGK."
"You came home early just to do that?" She asked, leaning down toward me with a wide grin on her face.
"Well not exactly, but there are some tabulations to do, and you were gone so I made use of the tmmmm...." My reply was smothered by her passionate kiss.
"I bet I can find a better use for the time." Nari said, pulling me from the chair. "The children will be gone for more than an hour, and the doors are voice-locked. Let's turn on Radio AlphaNet and forget about the world."
"I've already forgotten." The RJGK will wait until later.
"But why, Papa?" Asked my beautiful five year old Amit.
He is named after my long since gone, beloved father Amit Kumar. My father was one of the engineers responsible for our glorious Eagle spacecraft, and worked on the ill-fated Meta Probe vessel. Amit has his grand sire's aristocratic nose and his mother Nareesha's high cheekbones and slender face. He also possesses his mother's natural curiosity about the universe that lead her to the astrophysics department on Alpha.
Had it not been for Nareesha, seven years my senior, at Breakaway I might not have cared to go on living. So sure was I that I could not live parted from family, friends, and Mother Earth that I contemplated surrendering to the darkness. Nari became my friend and tutor in the faith. She showed me that this wandering asteroid we call the Moon was as much earth as we needed---so long as we held our faith.
After two years of friendship and tutelage in what Hinduism was really about, I began our courtship. Mamata was born while we still plied the depths of space. Ghasela, Sharhi, and then Amit were born since our Loki orbit.
"Why, Papa?" Amit repeated his question, when I did not answer swiftly enough to please him.
"When you run a race with the other children, do you want to be first? I asked him.
"Yes! I like to win races." He smiled broadly at me.
"When your teacher asks a question do you like to have the best answer?"
" I always know the answer, Papa." Amit responded smugly.
"When you are older, you will still want those things and others because it feels good to be the best at what you do. Mr. Carter is proud to be the best pilot. Dr. Russell is proud to be the best doctor. I am proud to be the best custodian on Alpha, but I would not be good at what your mother does. She is the best astrogation specialist on Alpha, and has the lives of dozens of pilots and passengers in her hands every shift. My job is important also, to the continued health and upkeep of the Moonbase."
"One of the kids said you were a Ja-Nittor." Amit looked down. "It sounded like a bad thing to be."
I could tell what the others said made him feel sad; perhaps for me and perhaps for himself.
"It is just another word for custodian or maintenance engineer, which is my real job title. The other children just learned a new word and wanted to use it. Pay no heed to it." I smiled at him.
"Yes, Papa."
Amit's words said all was fine, while his eyes still showed the anguish of wounded pride. No one wants to believe that those they love and respect can be held in contempt by others. He will understand in time that our tiny community of souls does not function that way. With few exceptions, Alphans do not hold their station above others, and we work together toward our common survival.
My children will one day perform some important role in our society and since we are permanent residents of Alpha they are already receiving training in the more technical areas of life. I should not worry about their future because they will go where Krishna guides. I am simply here to nourish their bodies and spirits for a short time.
Mamata, Ghasela, and Sharhi bounded into the room talking and giggling to find their little brother. He is the girls' favorite 'objet d' attention'. He loves to be the center of their play and immediately forgot our conversation as he is swept up by the girls' excitement. As they go to one of the bedrooms to play, I am left alone wondering if I am doing a good job of raising my children. They and I are missing the part of growing up with elder members of the family group. I will, if I am able, supply that to my children's children in the future because I intend to be there. The children returned to the family room to play so I let them have it and go to help Nari in the kitchen.
Before I reach the doorway there is a buzz from the comm-post and Davey Kano's face appears on the screen. I key the respond button to allow him to see me.
"Good evening, Davey."
"Hi, Rajesh. Just calling to check on the results of the Rayj-Gack!"
He smiles a mischievous smile knowing how I cringe inwardly when he makes the RJGK abbreviation into a word.
"I am all finished tabulating. You'll be able to access the AlphaNet page for the results by midnight.
"Great! How'd I do?" He has called twice a day for the last three days, and I have yet to reveal anything to him.
"Your name will be on the rankings at midnight, Davey." I smiled pontifically as he takes on an exaggerated look of dejection. " I do not have to explain the rules to you."
"I guess not. But not even a hint, Rajesh?" He pleaded.
"I guess I can tell you one little hint." I paused to hold the carrot before him. "You did make the top half of the ranking."
"The top half! That only limits it to about seventy-five spots!"
"Any more you must wait until midnight.
"Right. Thanks a bunch." He cut off the connection and I smiled to myself, thinking he's not a bad chap for a sixteen-year-old.
Nareesha stood at the kitchen workstation slicing vegetables for dinner as I began kissing her neck from behind. I noted she had requisitioned carrots and potatoes from hydroponics rather than the Doverian "dirt-grown imports" as she calls them. She has interesting prejudices.
"You may do that some more, my love." She cooed softly when I stopped nuzzling her ear.
"I thought you asked for help with dinner?" I began to run my hand gently up and down the back of her arm.
"I am willing to prioritize." She dropped her knife onto the counter, and turned to kiss me so hard our teeth touched. When we finally parted I nearly gasped for air. After more than twenty years together she still is driven by fiery passions. Some days I struggle to keep up with her.
"Is dinner ready yet?" Sharhi, my youngest daughter asked, showing notable impatience in her voice.
"Just a short while, Little One." I replied.
With one more peck on Nari's cheek, we finished dinner preparations, and when dinner was over the children cleared and cleaned the kitchen while I went to the family room to the built-in terminal. I once again had mislaid my slate device. A twelve-digit code later I was perusing the forty-seven messages in my AlphaNet account. Aside from the many RJGK requests like Davey's the only one of notice was from the Commander asking me to call him this evening. Now, while silence still reigned, was the best time so I requested Commander Koenig's location from the computer and put the call through.
"Koenig." The Commander's face appeared on my small monochrome screen as he gave his version of hello.
"This is Rajesh Kumar. You asked me to call you, Commander."
"Ah, yes. Raj, I have a couple of things I wanted to discuss with you and get your opinion." The Commander looked serious, but on what could he want my opinion? This was an unlikely turn of events and it made me extremely curious.
"Yes, Sir." I said.
"I've gotten some complaints, and I want to head off any further problems. I'm sure you know these RJGK doings have caused a strain in several areas. I know how popular it is, but I feel we need to prevent these troubles in the future."
What was he saying? Was he going to cancel the RJGK? My heart pounded in my chest, and I began to feel lightheaded.
"Before your deadline a few days ago, the folks on C-2 and at Dover let me know they were having trouble communicating with Alpha, and asked for my help. I don't like to step on people's toes or their feelings, but when we run into these situations...." His voice trailed off.
"Commander, I know there has been a lot of electronic traffic, but canceling the RJGK seems an inappropriate response. " I tried to speak as evenly as I could, and keep the pain out of my voice.
"Cancel? Cancel! Raj, no! You have the wrong idea. Hell, next to stargazing and sex, the RJGK must be the most popular activity on Alpha---and apparently on C-2 and Loki as well. They were complaining because they couldn't get their entries through. "
"Commander, I do not know what to say. I am sorry if anyone had problems or if the RJGK causes communications difficulty."
" It doesn't interfere with navigation or safety to any degree since those systems run through different frequencies, so the traffic just means text messages are a little slow. Never get in the way of people trying to have a good time! I just wanted to discuss extending it longer next year so the entries can get through. That and let you know I talked to Roy Parker and he agrees we can make do giving you fifteen duty hours a week to work on the next RJGK. He also recommended you be put in rotation for Maintenance Chief. For now, I'd like you to work with Computer Section during the next year and see if we can solve the bandwidth problem for the next time."
"I will be very happy to do all of that, Commander Koenig. I appreciate the honor you give me by extending all of these courtesies. This means a great deal to me." I was having trouble keeping the tears out of my eyes. I had moved from anger and heartbreak to overwhelming joy faster than my emotional stability could handle.
"We all appreciate your efforts. Your fifteen hours are being allocated through my command budget, which technically puts you on the command staff, so I expect weekly reports on progress, plans and so forth. You will also be given whatever time is required to come to one command staff meeting a month to report in person. I guess we should give you a title, or something, since everyone else has a title." The Commander scratched at his head, and tusslled his thinning salt and pepper hair as he spoke.
"No title is necessary, Commander. "
"Well you may not think titles are important, but I like to encourage respecting new ideas and sometimes those with the smallest minds only respect authority. And authority has a title. I'll think on it for you and give you some suggestions. Tonight I know you have a schedule to meet. Good night, Raj." He smiled broadly.
"Good night, Commander."
I cut the link and collapsed into a chair, stunned. The RJGK was legitimized just that quickly. I had no idea where it would lead, but my little hobby had become a working enterprise.
"Did I hear Commander Koenig's voice?" Nareesha asked when she came into the family room smelling freshly showered. I explained his call as succinctly as I could.
"That means you'll be on the same staff as I am." Nari said. "The Commander has four staff groups: the C-2 group, the Loki/Dover group, the Alpha group, and the System staff. Anything concerning all the areas falls into the System staff area. As Astrogation Department head I work with the whole system, and I also represent the Astrophysics Department on the Alpha staff."
She grinned and sat on my lap. It is about time they promoted you." She said as she kissed my forehead.
"I have never asked for promotion, but this is like a dream. I want to run screaming through the halls at the top of my voice. Or else find a dark, silent corner and huddle in a fetal position. I do not know which."
I stared up at Nari on my lap.
"Am I making any sense or do I sound completely mad?"
Nareesha took my face in her hands and kissed me. When she backed away slightly, hands still on my cheeks, she looked firmly into my eyes.
"You must not doubt yourself. It is perfectly normal to feel a little nervous about this. Anyone would, but you are making a contribution to the community that no one else could. I am very proud of you." She kissed me again. "I will put the little ones to bed so you can finish your contest. I will be in bed awaiting to reward you for your good work---in my own way."
Nareesha slid from my lap and disappeared into the bedroom area of the apartment while I began using the portable keyboard to organize the RJGK list.
By the time I was through, there were only minutes left before midnight and I sent the rankings out to all those who expressed an interest in the RJGK. I shut down all the lights and other equipment and headed to bed hoping it was not too late to receive my reward for work well done.
Created: October 99 - Updated: October 99