It was time for dinner.
Param quickly washed up and went to the common dining room. The dining room was just a large room with three large cheap and disoriented tables. The chairs had fixed owners, and the children of the orphanage followed an informal hierarchy.
The smallest table was for the little kids, who would make noise more and eat less. These little brats could never finish their dinner without getting a scolding from Mrs. Purple.
The second table was for the kids who'd just entered their teenage years. These kids were a little more sensible and would occasionally help around in the orphanage.
The last and the largest table were for Mrs. Purple and the biggest kids who would soon leave the orphanage. They were also the largest supporters of the orphanage apart from the government after becoming independent.
Dinner was a warm and messy affair. The little snotty kids would never stop making mischief and teasing each other, the kids older than them would boss them around, and lastly the oldest kids would then control these little bosses. Of course, there was the ultimate boss of all- Mrs. Purple, who no one dared to offend.
But the golden time of these kids had just started. After dinner ended, all kids, whether little or big, all obediently gathered in the common hall.
This wasn't because the kids thought of each other as a family and wanted to strengthen their familial bond, but because the only radio in the orphanage was place here.
As the atmosphere contained electromagnetic noise, the radio stations had no choice but to send their signals through wires, by installing repeaters or using a much higher frequency to transmit their data. Also, as the electronic devices were based on large transistors, the radios were big and bulky. Of course, the more one paid the smaller the devices would become. However, why would the government spend a lot of money for a small orphanage in a Community?
The manager of the Stone Bull Orphanage, Mrs. Purple, treated the radio like her own child. She cleaned it at least six times a day, and didn't let the kids even touch it.
For Param who'd lived in the twenty-first century surrounded with technology, this was quite an amusing sight and couldn't help but feel disdain against the people of this world.
Mrs. Purple switched the radio on, and the radio started speaking.
"… the Civil Uprising rebels in the North Continent have launched yet another attack. Three of the Peacekeepers were fatally wounded and about twelve were injured…"
"… Trade with the United Ancient Empire, which is in the Western Continent and is the home of the Homo Sapiens, has decreased in the previous fiscal year. The Empire still insists for the Peacekeeping Alliance's co-operation to clear out the radiation holes in exchange for dismantling five nuclear warheads…"
"… The head of the Iron Body Martial School, Master Danny Jasper, will be starring in a new movie named "Beyond the Mountains". Appearing with him as his female lead will be the famous beauty and actress, Vedavati Kakku!..."
"… Only seven months remain for the Four Directions Martial Tournament! For those who don't know, let me inform you guys once again. The Four Directions Martial Tournament is a ranking tournament between the four countries to determine who the best Martial Artist is in the Mortal Stage! A fight between the heavy-weight Combat Kings… Who would miss that?!..."
"… the Tier I Purple Wind Community will be promoted this year into a Tier III City. Congratulations to all the residents! According to the rumors, many people are regretting over selling their properties so hastily, and prices of all estates have hiked up. So if you've already bought one recently, you are in luck!"
The radio was switched off, inviting boos of the kids. However with a single glare of Mrs. Purple, the mischievous brats immediately shut up and went to bed.
For the next few days, Param spent his time reading books available in the orphanage's library.
His eyes roamed as he quickly read the contents of a history book.
"… and at the end of the Warring Era, the Allied and the Central powers both attacked each other with their nuclear weapons. Within two weeks more than three billion people died. The radiations emitted from the explosions permeated the atmosphere and covered the sky in radiation dust, killing almost seventy percent of the survivors. The various leaders of the world monitored the world safely in their nuclear shelters, and hoped to quickly re-establish their civilization before the others…."
"… and the newborns were confirmed to be evolutions of Homo Sapiens, and were now called as Homo Luminous, owing to their shining neurons. The acknowledgement of these mutants officially started the Global Civil War …"
"… and with the help of True Master Bharat Maurya, the first Head of the Peacekeeping Alliance, the Global Civil War which had haunted the world finally ended."
Sixteen years were enough for him to familiarize with the world. To explain in short, its history could only be described in one word: Crazy!
In this world, the ancient and medieval ages were somewhat similar to the previous Earth. However, a major change occurred at the end of the Second World War, as it ended with a global nuclear fight, with nuclear warheads bombarding the lands left and right. The nuclear war lasted only two weeks, yet its devastation was so magnificent that it was recorded as a separate era, the Warring Era!
At the end of the Warring Era more than eighty percent of the population of the world gradually disappeared, and the majority of the survivors belonged to those hiding in the nuclear shelters. Each of them was previously a top-shot of their countries, yet now their life only consisted of spending their time inside a cage of concrete and metal.
At this moment a little snotty brat named Little Fairy ran up to him and pulled his clothes.
Param lazily closed the book and looked at the little girl about the age of kindergarten kids.
Little Fairy had an anxious face and she kept on moving her hands here and there as she spoke.
"Big Bwothew, Shistew Widdhi and Shistew Widdhi are being bullied!"