Workshop Exercise-I - The Plot

We start the first edition of the fiction workshop with a plot by The Fool. The Fool (TF) hardly needs any introduction to people in blogosphere. His blog - LuciferHouse Inc – is one of the most popular blogs among personal blogs and his fiction is well-read and loved. He has, I think, for the first time curbed his zany inventiveness and given a down-to-earth plot for this attempt.

Since the idea is to work out on specific skills, kindly do not deviate from the plot line. The central storyline has to closely adhere to the outlined plot and the main characters need to act true to the characters outlined by TF. Without more ado, let us get to the plot.

Plot by TF

This story has 2 characters Meghana and Arup.

Meghana is in her early thirties and unmarried. She is a vice president at a company and reports directly to the CEO. She has done MBA from a top B-School. She is very career focused and aggressive. She prides herself on her strategic thinking and considers herself above most people she works with.

Arup is a also in his early thirties and is a senior IT technician at the same company. He had to discontinue his studies due to family pressures and take up the job as an office boy. After that he has managed to get a degree and IT qualifications through correspondence.  This has helped him get into the position of an IT technician. He is very sincere, dedicated and friendly person who has a solution for every problem.

Meghana often interacts with Arup for her IT issues. But does not give him much thought, considering him more a part of the office infrastructure. He is always friendly and helpful but stays focused on his task.

Meghana plays a MMORPG (Massive multi player online role playing game) in her free time. It is a  strategy based medieval war game and suits her aggressive nature. She is the leader of a faction that is part of a bigger clan. The clan is lead by one Strider. She is extremely impressed by Strider's leadership skills and the strategic thinking he applies in the game. Possibly she even harbors some hidden romantic feelings for him. She considers him to be the only one matching her in intelligence. She places him even above many of the corporate top honchos she has interacted with. She does not know his identity and thinks he should also be in a senior corporate position.

Then one day she discovers that strider is none other the office technician Arup. This makes her re-evaluate her views on office hierarchies and her assessment of people.

1. Everyone is requested to end the story at the point of her discovery that Arup is strider and her thoughts on the discovery. The story should not proceed beyond that point as part of this exercise.
2. The story should have a sense of completion in itself and should not be left hanging
3. Only Meghana and Arup should be main characters. 
4. Few minor characters can be introduced if required. 
5. There should not be any other strong plot element other than the one mentioned here.

After-word

You may have signaled your participation but, if you have not after the ground rules of this edition have been set in place, do so on the concerned thread by the 14 of Sept 2012, so that we know that you are in agreement. Network with me (C. Suresh) so that you can receive the email address to which you will mail your introduction and post. The post shall be carried in this blog. You are required to post in your blog either a link to this blog or your entire post with a link to this blog and give accreditation to TF for the plot line. The judges’ decision shall be final and the winners will be required to give the plot line, critique every entry as well as declare the winners of the next edition. Though it is not obligatory, we do request everyone to take the time to read and give constructive criticism on as many posts as they can possibly manage.

LET THE FUN BEGIN.