Dear Sir,
You have raised some very interesting and important points.
Both your questions are valid. You might have noticed we have questioned the concept, the description and the mathematics of GR. One fact that may interest you is, the planetary orbits are not elliptical as it never closes, but spirals due to the movement of the star. The orbits are circular around the star (geodesic curved path, as you say), but appear elliptical due to the same reason. Over the years (over 26000 years for the Sun), the spiral closes in a chain of another bigger spiral at the galactic scale (dolana gati - as the star completes its rotation around galaxy). This leads to another bigger spiral (manwantara). The stars and galaxies are intermediate between quarks and the universe - the two extremities. These extremities move in closed loops - the quarks forming protons and neutrons and the universe forming kalpa. We have given reference to observations that prove blue-shift and galactic collision. Thus, the expanding universe theory is myth. Actually, the universe is revolving around its own axis like stars. Just like we observe apparent atichaara and vakra motion of planets, where they appear to speed away or close in, we are observing galactic red-shift and blue-shift.
Space has no physical existence, but is a mental construct (buddhi nirmaana), as it is 1) the interval between objects (sarva samyogina) and 2) the primary base that connects everything (aadhaara shakti prathamaa). What Einstein called space is really alternative symbolism for the interval between objects and the geometry of space is actually the geometry of objects that determine the boundary of 'space'. One major overlooked fact is that while the other fundamental forces; i.e. strong, weak and electromagnetic interactions are intra-body phenomenon dependent on the ratio of mass/energy of the particle, gravitation is an inter-body phenomenon independent of any intra-body factor, as here the body behaves like a point particle. Further, while the other forces behave as monogamous pairs, gravitation is polygamous. Thus, graviton will never be discovered and standard model (with its extension quantum gravity) must fail. Just like tidal forces push away other bodies, the bow shock effect of planets and stars in the universal background structure creates eddy current type areas in their path. You must be aware of the interplanetary super-highways (IPS or bhuta-shakti pravaaha maarga called patha). These are of 5 types: rekha, mandala, kashya, shakti and Kendra. Their interaction (pravaaha dwaya samsargaat) creates 5 types of eddies (aavarta): shakti, vaata, kirana, shaitya, gharshana respectively. These determine the movement of bodies in space that otherwise move at a fixed velocity due to inertia. These motions are perpetual. Hence no coffee breaks till the condition of maximum entropy (pralaya), after which the process reverses and repeats again and again.
You must note our definition of space, time and coordinates in the essay. Time is not a dimension in the same sense as the other three space dimensions, which are invariant under mutual transformation. We can exchange any of the space dimensions with any other without disturbing the structure, i.e., the interface between the external relational space with the internal structural space. But such transformation is not possible with time. Thus, we describe these as: being (situation leading to its creation; or as you put it, motion - the substance of existence), becoming (its creation itself; or as you put it, time), growth (due to addition of other molecules, which, along with the two other factors following, can be in the three spatial dimensions), transformation (as a result), transmutation (due to the same effect - incompatible addition), destruction (change of form as a consequence; or as you put it, duration - the instance of existence). The motion transformations are perpetual (due to inertia) and deterministic processes. The duration transformations are action induced by the freewill of a conscious agent.
Regards,
basudeba