A/n Hello all. Sorry this update took so long. Had to do some thinking on it. I've also been quite uh...distracted...with Constructing Love ;)

I made an attempt at writing some Hinglish (Hindi+English) dialogue here, but my Hindi really is quite rusty so some butchery may have been committed. Do pardon me.

Please, enjoy.

(Oh...and comment!)

14:10 Yesterday, Univille, SD

"Myka, love, do you still have that original manuscript of 'The Time Machine'?"

Myka's actress-possessed face stared back blankly at Helena.

"Bollocks, right, sorry Vidya. I'll just be right back." Helena apologized before heading up the stairs to Myka's room. She returned shortly after brandishing the document in question in purple-gloved hands.

"Helena, what is that supposed to do?" Artie asked curiously.

"It's quite interesting actually, Arthur. Very few are aware of the fact that the time machine I built is actually a bifurcated artifact."

"A bi-fuh what?" Claudia asked.

"Bifurcated dear. It means that the artifact is intimately connected to and affected by the actions of its other half. In this case, the actual time machine is bifurcated with this here manuscript."

"So how does this book work? Will it get me back to my body?" Myka's voice asked softly.

"I'm sorry, but it won't get you back to your body right away. This manuscript only becomes active when a travel cycle has been initiated by the time machine. While time travel is in progress, anyone who touches this book will actually be physically teleported to the location of the time machine in its present time."

"Okay sooo...how is that going to help us?" Pete questioned.

"Well Peter, I figure if we can get over there right now, we can ensure that Vidya's body and the machine are kept in optimal conditions for the switch to happen seamlessly when the time runs out."

"And that will happen when the twenty two hours and nineteen minutes are up, right?" Pete continued.

"Precisely, Peter. That is exactly what will happen."

"Ok so who's going?" Pete asked excitedly.

"Oooh pick me pick me pick me!" Claudia begged, raising her hand excitedly.

Myka's body swayed and she stumbled. Helena caught her just in time; she was more than worried now. "We have to hurry. Someone's tampering with the machine."

14:15 Today, Mumbai, India

"Jaane kyoon har khushi
Ab lage nami thi
Hairaan hoon daffatan
Kyoon teri kamee thi"*

Music from a recent Bollywood flick wafted in from the corridors, through the open door. Karan rushed to determine the source of the sound. Coming down the hallway was the afternoon janitor, listening to the music on his portable radio as he made his way down to 14A. Karan exited the set and approached the young man.

"Suno, 14A saaph hai. Actually, tum ghar jaao, saara set clean hai." Karan tried to convince the man that the set was already cleaned.

"Lekin, Karan sahab.." The man interjected.

"Kaha tha clean hai na? Please, ghar jaoo." Karan insisted.

"Theek hai Karan sahab." The young janitor finally conceded, and made an about turn, heading in the opposite direction of 14A.

After the man had disappeared around the corner, Karan returned to 14A to find Dr. Samar attaching electrodes to monitor Vidya's heart rate.

He ran his fingers nervously through his thick dark hair.

"How's she doing?" he asked anxiously.

"It seems as though once there's enough power running through that grid there, she'll be fine. Her vitals are good' she's stable."

"She's not fine, Akira! Look at her! When I can see her standing and talking and hear her laughter then I'll say she's fine."

"Karan, please. Calm down yaar. Now is not the time for you to freak out. Put on your big boy loongi and let's figure this out."

"Ha ha. Not funny Akira. How do we figure this out? Where do we even st - FUCK WHAT WAS THAT?" He whispered loudly as the power dipped and came back on.

"Shit!" Dr. Samar exclaimed, running back to Vidya's immobile form and skating to a stop on her knees at the young woman's side.

"Her heart rate is going a bit haywire here!" she informed him, keeping her hand on Vidya's wrist to check her pulse.

"Okay, it's going back to normal now.' she continued after a bit, "But we can't have that happen again….if it does I can't say-"

"Akira! Look!" Karan interrupted her, pointing to somewhere behind Vidya's body. She backed away and bumped into him; both of them staring now at strangeness unfolding before them.

The Time Machine adopted a bluish glow and a thin strand of light seemed to extend from it's time dial. The strand seemed to be getting brighter and thicker. As it reached about six feet in height, it intensified to one final bright glow before disappearing completely. In it's wake were three people. Three strangers.

*The song is "Tu Hai" (the unplugged version) from the movie Besharam. It's just been on repeat in my head for like the past week. I think it wanted to be a part of this story.