JUDGING BY THE COVER

Author: Leo

Author Introduction: What I am by profession doesn't matter, for I'm a writer, and a poet by choice, and by interest. Here breathes my passion, my hope, my dreams, and my world. Here I am fondly called by many as Leo, the poet, and my verses and occasional fictions spark at my blog, I Rhyme Without Reason. 

Story:

The sunlight fell through the open window behind her as she twirled the pencil in her hand absentmindedly.  Her eyes were closed, and a silhouette swam through her imagination. She saw him take the lead, and command her. She felt a rush as he directed her movements, and she knew he was right. She opened her eyes, smiling. It was unlike her to be distracted, that too at the office, but she couldn’t help it.

“Who are you? What do you look like? Where are you now?” Meghana whispered, hoping the answers would come from the silence surrounding her.

**********

Meghana wasn’t surprised when she looked at the clock. She had burned the midnight oil yet again, but there was no tiredness about her mind. On the contrary, she felt empowered, and felt she could accomplish anything she put her mind to. Yes, that was it.

As she changed to her night clothes, she recollected her quest. She had been at her deceptive best. Under her command, her faction had moved seamlessly, and surrounded the enemy camp. Once they were tricked by the impression that her team was going to attack from one direction, she had ordered the charge from the other, and overthrown them with relative ease.

Once again it was the same plan that had brought her the sweet scent of victory. It astonished her no doubt that her rivals never saw it coming.

“Amateurs, that’s what they are. No strategy at all in this world, they wouldn’t even have the push to reach to the top in their real life personas. I’m waiting. Soon it’s going to be all over. The world shall bow to the mind of the fabulous Fox,” she thought to herself.

The next time, she would be joining up with her clan. A battle would ensue, and she was sure victory would be theirs. She would be one of the leaders. She lay down on her bed, and continued staring at the ceiling, her feet tapping the mattress, eager to get back into the virtual world and dominate yet again.

**********

“Fifteen minutes? Do you think I have that kind of time? Oh no, you are sending someone over now,” she screamed into the phone, and slammed it down.

Five minutes later, one of the technicians knocked on the door, and entered. She looked at him, and got up from her chair. “He must be the new person,” she thought to herself.

“The system has stalled. I’ve tried accessing the task manager, but it’s no use. It just doesn’t open at all,” she told him.

He nodded, and checked the system quickly.

“Your C drive is having very little space. I’ll shift the documents that aren’t necessary to be in this drive to the other. Even the desktop is cluttered with too many icons and documents. Some free space for C drive should do the trick,” he told, continuing to work as he talked.

She let him finish, and gave him a courtesy nod as he made to leave.

“A ‘thanks’ wouldn’t hurt,” he whispered slowly, but quickly told “Nothing” when she enquired.

His file was on her desk, and she glanced through his resume once he had left the room.

“Arup Desai… interesting… from an office boy, to an IT technician… he’s worked his ass off I think. But he doesn’t have the skill set for further rise I think. The past will come to haunt him. Discontinuing his studies, big mistake… very big mistake,” she thought to herself.

Her mobile beeped, indicating a reminder.

“Fox going to be on fire tonight,” she read, and smiled. Yes, she was going to be the cynosure of the medieval world yet again. She was going to make it happen. And she couldn’t wait.

**********

“Spread out on the south side, the trap has been laid, the opposition has fallen for it,” she called out.

“Yes Fox,” her team responded, one by one.

She smiled. “Amateurs,” she told herself again.

When she reached her team, she was shocked. Their rivals had outsmarted them. They had stayed behind in large numbers and met her team, who were doing their best to hold their rivals off. But she knew they would soon be overwhelmed, and began to think of ways out.

“Fox, we need a new plan, please respond,” her team asked of her. But she was beginning to panic, and nothing flashed her mind at that moment. As she watched, her team was being cut one by one.

“Fox, take out the leader. Forget the others for now; look for the leader and take the player out,” Strider’s message came across. He was the leader of the clan, and she responded immediately. Looking for the rival’s leader, she entered the battle and began to fight valiantly.

Just as she took out the leader of her rivals, Strider and the other factions of the clan reached the village, and evened out the numbers. After the fall of their leader, the rivals strategy and morale seemed to have dipped, and though they fought with all their heart, their effort had decreased.

Fox saw that Strider’s calmness brought out the best in his troops, and after a long battle, the clan had won.

“Well done. Cheers to a successful quest,” he messaged.

Her respect and adoration for Strider had increased. As Fox signed out, she chided herself for losing her calm when her team needed her the most.

“Who are you, Strider? What do you look like? Where are you now?” she whispered again.

**********

It had happened again. Meghana stormed out of her room, and approached the new technician who had “fixed” the computer problem three days before.

“Mr. Desai, I am not having time to waste. I thought I made that clear to your reporting officer. My computer has got stalled again. If you would get it fixed properly this time, I’ll be kind not to report you. Come on. Hang up that damn phone call, and get it done. Now,” she barked at him.

Shaking his head, and keeping his composure, Arup told, “Chief AFP, be back in a while”, and hung up.

When he examined Meghana’s computer, the C drive was once again nearing full capacity.

“Ma’am, please listen to me. The problem will repeat as long as you keep using this drive for all your work. Documents, presentations, videos, music… all such things, please store it in the other drives, so this won’t get to full capacity”, he told her.

She didn’t hear him completely.

“What is AFP? I know AFK is away from keyboard,” she asked him.

“You are a gamer? Surprising to hear that, ma’am,” he told. “AFP is Away from Phone. It’s just a casual expression my friend and I made up.”

“I see. I think you are a new player. If you need some tips on strategy, I can guide. I’m the leader of my faction,” she volunteered, eager to show her high position in that world too.

“Oh. That’s good. I’m not new though. I’m the leader of a clan. What faction do you lead?” he countered, not masking his delight at putting her down in some world finally.

“That’s not important now. You lead a clan? Which one? What’s your screen name?” she asked, stunned that this technician was on a higher level than her.

“I’m known as Strider in the medieval world, ma’am. May I know yours?” he smiled, “I’ve transferred unwanted files to the other drive. You’re set.”

“Oh thanks, now I can get this presentation done. For the afternoon’s meeting you know,” she said, and began browsing for the file.

As Arup walked out, she stopped pretending to search for the file, and looked at him walking away from the cabin.

“So the book can truly not be judged by the cover. Great gamers needn’t be above my skill set after all,” she thought to herself.

Picking up her glass of water, she raised a toast to the receding figure of Arup in the distance.

“Here’s to Strider, and more successful quests in his command,” she whispered and took a sip for the future.

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