When We Sold Time
In 2084, time is currency. And a man goes bankrupt on his wedding day. By Muhammad Riaz
It was the day Arman had dreamed of his entire life—his wedding day.
The sky was clear, the sun warm but gentle, and the city of Neo Karachi shimmered with celebration. Streets were lined with neon banners flashing countdown timers — not for the ceremony itself, but for the Time Market's opening bell.
In 2084, time wasn’t just something you lived; it was something you traded. Every second was currency. People bought, sold, and borrowed years of their lives to finance dreams, pay debts, or gamble on futures. The Time Market was the largest exchange in the world, a global stockpile of human lifespans moving at the speed of light.
Arman had saved for years. Today, he was going to buy the most precious asset of all—time to spend with his bride, Zoya. They planned a long honeymoon on the floating islands of New Bali, a place where sunsets lasted for hours, and worries faded like mist.
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The Clock Runs Out
At precisely 9:00 a.m., Arman logged in to his Time Account. His balance was healthy—exactly 45 years and 6 months left to live.
The ceremony started at 11:00 a.m., but before that, he needed to secure the honeymoon time package from the Time Market. The broker's interface popped up: “Auction begins in 30 seconds.”
Arman’s heartbeat quickened. The price started low, but with every bid, the cost climbed. Twenty years for a month on New Bali? No, too high. Ten years? Still steep. His remaining balance ticked down as he raised bids.
And then the market crashed.
A massive sell-off. A Time Crash. Prices plummeted, panic selling spreading across the globe like wildfire. The seconds he had saved began to evaporate in real time.
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Bankruptcy of Life
By noon, Arman was broke.
Not broke like before—he was time broke. His account read: -5 years, 3 months.
Negative time meant borrowing from the future, but the penalties were brutal. Every second borrowed would be deducted from his life expectancy.
Zoya’s eyes were wide with shock when he told her.
“This can’t be happening. Not today,” she whispered.
But the Time Market was indifferent. It didn’t care about love, weddings, or hopes.
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A Choice Beyond Time
The ceremony began.
Arman stood before the crowd, feeling the weight of borrowed years like a shackle. His mind raced—how could he fix this? Could he sell memories, moments of joy, to pay back the debt?
Then an idea surfaced, reckless and dangerous.
He could sell time from their future together. Years they hadn’t lived yet, memories they hadn’t made.
The officiant smiled, and the crowd held their breath as Arman said the words.
“I promise to love you for all the time we have—”
Even if it’s borrowed.
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After the Vows
The crowd cheered, but Arman’s heart was heavy.
As they left, Zoya squeezed his hand and whispered, “We’ll find time, somehow.”
Outside, holograms flashed news: “Time Market stabilizes after historic crash. Analysts warn of volatility in human time economy.”
Arman glanced up at the digital sky where an enormous clock counted down. The seconds slipped away, but love—at least for now—felt timeless.
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About the Creator
Muhammad Riaz
- Writer. Thinker. Storyteller. I’m Muhammad Riaz, sharing honest stories that inspire, reflect, and connect. Writing about life, society, and ideas that matter. Let’s grow through words.
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