A Chatroom Incident

Gopal was an addict. A chat addict. When he woke up he went to the chatrooms.

He hated real life. He could not relate to people.He felt ugly and rejected. He hated himself

He could however be somebody else in chatrooms

The chatrooms were a seductive place. They allowed him to live. They allowed him to be who he wanted to be. They took him to a fantasy world. He felt powerful in chatrooms. He could be anyone he chose to be. Anyone other than himself

One day he went to is favorite chatroom. He began to chat. He was using the handle 'Superman'. He met a girl. Loreanna

He chatted with Loreanna for a couple of days. She was single. She was from London. He told her he was from London too. He asked her to talk about herself and found out she was crazy about Soccer.

On the third day he asked her if she wanted to meet a famous Soccer player. Loreanna asked him who he was talking about

Superman: Have u heard of David Johnson? The Soccer Player?
Loreanna: No I havent
Superman: Well he is one of the up and coming stars of Manchester United
Loreanna: Why do u ask?
Superman: He is in the chatroom
Loreanna: Where?
Superman: Do u see the guy called Johnny? Thats him
Loreanna: Do u know him?
Superman: Well hes a friend of my brother. He introduced me a while ago. Do u want to meet him?
Loreanna: I donno
Superman: Wait let me ask him. He can be a jerk sometimes. He has so many girls fawning over him

Gopal has created the handle 'Johnny' himself and comes back after a minute

Superman: Ok Loreanna. He seems to be lonely. He said ok. Try to talk to him and see
Loreanna (to Johnny): Hiiiii! My name is Loreanna! Super told me to talk to you. Is it true? Are u in Manchester United????
Johnny: Hey. Yeah its true. Why? U like Soccer?
Loreanna: Oh my God ! I love Soccer! I watch all the games. I live and die Soccer!
Johnny: Cool. What do u do?
Loreanna: I am a secretary for Ladbrokes
Johnny: What do u look like?

Next Gopal found out what her phone number was, called her and agreed to meet her in London. He had practiced British accents and could fool anyone. But of course being in India he never showed for the date

Gopal wanted to see the effect of the rejection on Loreanna. So the next day he was there in the same chatroom again

Superman: Hi Loreanna! How did it go?
Loreanna: It dint
Superman: Why? What happened?
Loreanna: He asked me out and dint show
Superman: What a jerk!

Gopal comforted her and learned more about Loreanna's interests and hobbies. He was getting closer to her and found out she was unhappy at work. and would love to get out of London. Two days later he talked to her again

Superman: Hi Loreanna! Long time no see! How u doin?
Loreanna: Im ok. How bout u?
Superman: I just met such a great guy. U just have to meet him Hes from Portugal. He is just your type!
Loreanna: I donno. I cant do this anymore
Superman: No No try this guy. U will love him

Gopal has created another handle Portaprince

Superman: Hes this guy called Portaprince ok? I am asking him to talk to you
Loreanna: Uh huh

Portaprince: Hi Loreanna. Super just insists I talk to U. Let me just tell u about myself. I run a recruitment firm in Portugal. What about u? What do u do?
Loreanna: I work in Ladbrokes as a secretary. Recruitment huh? Do u recruit secretaries?
Portaprince: Secretaries? Of Course. Thats our bread and butter. Would u like to work in Portugal? The pay is better here. The hours are shorter than in England I can guarantee u
Loreanna: Oh How nice! I would love to get out of London!
Portaprince: Oh Portugal is a lovely change from London. U will just love it! Send me your pic and resume and Ill process it and see what I can get for u ok?
Loreanna: Oh my God Ok. Let me do it right now. Im so excited!

Loreanna sends her pic and resume. Gopal is stunned. She is beautiful

Suddenly Gopal is curious. He wants to see what she thinks of him. Maybe he isint that bad looking after all.

Portaprince: Loreanna u are the prettiest woman ive seen n along time! I am sure it will be real easy to place u. Let me send u my pic just so u know what i llok like. Did Super tell u I was from India?
Loreanna: No. But I love Indians. My grandfather lived in Calcutta long ago!

Gopal sends his pic (one where he looked better than he looked in real life) and prays she likes it

Portaprince: Loreanna? Did u get my pic?
Loreanna: No But I gotta go. Ill see it later ok?

Gopal is intrigued by why she left so quickly

Next day he cant supress his curiosity. He returns to the chatroom

Superman:Loreanna! How was he?
Loreanna: He was ok
Superman: Just ok? Did he tell u he had his own business and all?
Loreanna: Yeah. He runs a recruitment business. He took my resume and said he would find me something in Portugal
Superman: Did u send him your pic?
Loreanna: Yeah and he sent me his too
Superman: So? What did he look like?
Loreanna: Well hes ok. I guess
Superman: Oh cmon. Tell me the truth. What did u really think?
Loreanna: Well u want to know the truth?
Superman: Sure
Loreanna: I donno how else to say this but he is the ugliest guy I have ever seen. Butt ugly. Jeez! How can any guy be that ugly?

Gopal slumped to the floor. Never to chat again