The Great Silence

The novella "The Great Silence" depicts a dystopian scenario where the internet and all digital networks abruptly vanish, plunging the hyper-connected world into chaos. Set in Neo-Seattle, it follows Arvind Singh, a software engineer, and his girlfriend Vibha Jha, a graphic designer, as they navigate the immediate aftermath: frozen screens, lost communications, and societal breakdown. The story explores the profound impacts on daily life, from disrupted work and entertainment to severed family ties and knowledge gaps, leading to economic collapse, violence, and mass migrations. As civilization fragments, Arvind and Vibha flee to a rural settlement called Confluence, where survivors adapt through analog skills, bartering, and community bonds, forging a sustainable, low-tech existence that emphasizes self-reliance and human connection over digital dependency. Decades later, the narrative shifts to future generations grappling with the legacy of "the Fall." Arvind, now an elder, witnesses his grandson Kael and peers rediscover buried servers, unleashing digital ghosts of entertainment and knowledge that threaten to erode their hard-won resilience. A schism arises between those enchanted by the old world's allure and elders advocating caution, culminating in a crisis that forces a "Second Choosing." Ultimately, the community integrates select technologies sparingly, achieving balance and honoring the lessons of overreliance. The conclusion reflects on a quieter, more vivid world illuminated by human spirit rather than screens, where true progress lies in knowing when to embrace or reject the past's echoes.