Union: Episode 1

‘These two phenomenal human beings have proved the world that love conquers all, even technology! Please welcome our winners of Union: Season 1!’ cheered Ellen. Backstage things were running very different. Kori was busy checking her makeup and outfit but Rajiv had something else on his mind. For three years they had been with each other, just each other. Sienna came in to brief them.

‘Okay, so things are simple. You only talk about how this made you stronger and more in love with each other’

‘But they must have seen what all we did’ Rajiv said.

‘I am glad they didn’t’ retorted Sienna.

‘Very well then, all smiles out’

They were minutes away from the live telecast. As the last thirty seconds of the timer went down Kori slipped into partial blackout. Three years ago it all changed. Ten million dollars but was it worth it?

‘Are you good?’ he asked

‘Let’s get done with this mother fucking game!’ Kori exclaimed.

As the curtains rose, they grabbed each other’s hand.  She glanced at Rajiv and caught a glimpse of his wry smile. He was ready. She convinced herself she was too.

‘I think it’s great that you both have been selected to represent the country’ Arya remarked.

‘Yeah but its three years with just her’ Rajiv thought.

‘Think about it Rajiv. You guys got married recently. You don’t have children and I know it’s a little insensitive but your parents left without any inheritance. The prize money is grand and even if you lose there is enough for you both to start a good life together’ Samir listed all the pros of the contract that Union provided with them.

He was right about everything. He loved Kori and married her in good faith. She wasn’t one of those empowered women like all the rest. She liked cooking for him, doing his laundry and other jobs that women like Arya had completely disengaged themselves with. Kori was financially independent but heavily emotionally dependent.  She needed Rajiv. One of her colleague recommended that they sign up for this new unconventional reality show. Kori enthusiastically filled the paperwork, attended workshops with Rajiv and in three months they got their letter of approval.

‘But isn’t it absurd? In a world where only 3 out of 10 people get married, they create a reality show around married couples. Who will watch it?’ questioned Arya. She was Rajiv’s younger twin.

‘It’s not that Arya, the objective is to test love in all boundaries’ Samir remarked.

‘But aren’t people scared enough? Why to create another reason to dislike marriage as there not enough already?’

‘See that’s the point Arya, they are pitting nations in this. This is some kind of Olympics of love. Hundred and three countries are participating all over the world. It’s a broadcast of patience, endurance, perseverance and all the synonyms you would use to describe love. Say whatever you want to, love sells’ Samir responded. He was a hopeless romantic but with three failed marriages. Nothing about his life was bad; he just relied heavily on the alimony he got out of his rich, powerful ex- wives. Maybe that’s why they married him; he was the most harmless human being on earth.

‘I am shocked they got hundred and three happy couples’ Arya said while being completely glued to her iScreen.  Kori entered the house with bags full of groceries.

‘Babe we won’t need those if we are gone for three years’ Rajiv said.

‘I am not stocking for us, Arya would be staying here. It’s for her’ Kori replied.

‘Oh, thanks Kor, you’re the best!’ Arya said without moving her eyes.

‘Where are they shipping you off for three years?’  Samir asked

‘We have no idea’

It was Scotland. The location wasn’t disclosed to them until the very last moment. Their contract didn’t allow them to speak of their whereabouts. It laid special clauses that none of their family relatives would be allowed to contact them. Rajiv only had Arya as family and Kori was adopted. She loved her adopted parents. However, they had three other biological kids to take care of them. In all cases, no one mattered to both of them that they wouldn’t want to spend three years in isolation. After being driven for eight hours from Edinburg they reached a high security facility where they were to meet their manager.

Sienna was Union’s pro active supporter. The concept came naturally to her; she had researched individuals and reached to the conclusion that the mere feeling of companionship was fading away. As a result, broken families grew, crime rates increased, people fell in depression more often and the Aura-key medicine became the best selling drug in the world. Five year olds were prescribed Aura-key because kids were being born with inefficient dopamine- serotonin levels.  The world was indeed an inherently sad place. An algorithm was created by psychiatrists to find an absolute quantity of measuring patience. It’s imperative that two individuals who possess higher patience factor stand a higher chance of living with each other. Using this algorithm, workshops worldwide were held and people were subjected to other compatibility tests. Out of few hundred thousands, hundreds were selected and transported to what they could call the most ambitious reality show. Union was being funded millions of dollars already by consumer conglomerates.  They were sick of targeting independent individuals. There was an imperative need for change. Love was the change, or at least the power of it.

Sienna headed out of the facility, she changed into a bright coloured dress. Her participants came from India. A country she always dreamt of visiting but never really got the chance.

‘Hello, I am Sienna, your humanoid assistance and virtual manager’