Epistle 52: The Art of Manipulation
A/N: Hey there everyone! :D :D Here is the next update! :D :D
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6th December, 2004:
The art of manipulation is perhaps the most complex yet simple source of destruction.
These aren't my words because you know that I'm never good with all these around-the-bush topics. Just like all the philosophy I've been learning in these eight years from my singular source of information, Ranveer decides to give me one more quote to join the rest. Honestly, I'm still wondering from where he comes up with all this stuff. I know that the teenage years are the golden years of self-discovery, but Ranveer is a specimen.
Ranveer just finished with his exams, so he's finally got some free time on his hand to relax a little. Not relax, exactly, since he's got his driving license now. Well, Papa decided that Ranveer would not do the household work anymore since it takes up too much of his study time and it's very difficult to shuttle between the house and the college. So he decided that Ranveer could take on the job as a part-time driver, but just for me.
There would be a hike in the salary and all, and it would help him commute easily as well rather than get stuck at all the peak-hour rush of the trains and face more trouble. As expected, Ranveer refused the offer at first, saying that it was much more than he deserved, but Papa knows how to deal with him now. So after three days of careful explaining and making him understand, Ranveer finally took up the job.
Though from what Papa confessed later on, he told Ranveer that he wanted someone to be with me and take care of me at all times since you know how... ah, adventurous and reckless I can get at times. And I think that's the only reason why he actually accepted the job as being a part-time driver. So that he could be Papa's eyes and ears on me and could take care of me at the same time.
Seriously, I'm at a loss to understand my father and Ranveer at times. But never mind that, they love the mysterious aura that they've created around themselves so I don't like disturbing them out from it. It's what makes them happy and apparently (how they put it) good at what they do as well, so be it.
Er, sorry, got deviated from the point. Where was I? Ah yes, the art of manipulation.
So Ranveer and I were sitting by the pool-side today (God, how long has it been since we last sat by the pool behind the house), and I was playing in the water. The weather was pretty warm for a December morning (but come on, this is Mumbai! It's always hot!), and the sun was decent as well to enjoy a little in the pool. Now you know how Ranveer is always uncomfortable with water, so he just satisfied himself by dipping his feet into it. Well, he even did that much because Baa wasn't at home. Otherwise... Well, I don't need to tell what was to happen.
We were just talking about some random things here and there, more along the lines of the two of us gossiping about all the news that we would get about the other "special" high society kids that were, well, not so special at all. In our house, all the women love keeping tabs about the other kids and their achievements and the similar crap because we must always be ahead of the competition in outshining them all. I don't understand why Maa enjoys this kind of madness because it is downright disgusting.
Anyways, Ranveer and I were just discussing how one of the "rich-class brats" (who had also co-incidentally eloped away), returned back home after eight months, duped. It was a rather sad affair where the society typically wagged their tongues and tore apart the dignity of the girl, and Ranveer and I had overheard a rather heated conversation of over twenty women at our house discussing the girl in question as though she was some kind of a curio for sale.
I needn't tell you how disgusting and humiliating it felt to hear people demean the said girl so much, and it's been something that's been bothering both Ranveer and myself. So it became the topic for our afternoon's lazy hour. We were just discussing about how sad and unfortunate it was that the girl fell for the wrong guy and got duped of all her savings and everything when Ranveer used the quote I opened today's entry with.
I only looked at Ranveer curiously, before Ranveer gave me a sad look.
"It's a brutal truth, but it is the truth," he said as I now leaned across the edge of the pool wall right beside him.
"What do you mean?" I asked him, heaving slightly.
"Don't you see it, Ishaani? That guy manipulated her to the extent where she had no sense of right and wrong at the end," he explained patiently, while I clicked my tongue at him.
This was the exact kind of stuff I didn't believe in because things like this are bad judgment. Had my own mother not... Okay, I have my bias, but whatever.
"What a load of nonsense. You can't just manipulate someone that easily," I told him stonily. He now looked at me deeply.
"Who said it was easy? They'd been dating for three years. That's more than enough time," he replied swiftly. I rolled my eyes in response, speaking irritably.
"I think you've gotten your brains roasted in the sun because you aren't making sense to me."
"Look, its terrible what happened, okay?" he retaliated, his voice suddenly filled with a strange emotion that took me aback. He continued, unaware that I was staring at him awkwardly.
"And it's frightening... God knows how she'll ever be able to trust anyone now."
"That's there..." I agreed guiltily, but I still couldn't stop the resentment from entering into my voice when I spoke ahead. "I can't believe that people would do such kind of things for love."
"Ishaani, you have no idea..." he began, and there was something... unfathomable that appeared in his eyes that only made me feel worried for me him. Clearly he'd been taking this hard for God knows what reason.
"Love can make people do things that nobody could have even dreamed of them," he added hesitantly, as though as an afterthought.
"Well, atleast I know that the day I'll fall in love, I'll have my priorities straightened out," I boasted promptly, shrugging my shoulders at him with a casual sigh. He gave me a shrewd look in return.
"Easier said than done," he countered pointedly. Somehow, that didn't dampen my spirits at all.
"No, I'm confident about that," I assured him, and he actually chuckled! Moron. But I still continued. "You know how easy it is for me to read people - I'll be able to tell the difference between whether a person is being genuine or fake with me in a minute."
"Naah, I don't think so," he corrected me, his tone now amused. I raised my eyebrow at him sardonically, hoping that it would wipe away that silly smile off from his face. It didn't.
"Then you don't know me at all," I said finally, giving him a dark look.
"I know you better than you know yourself," he countered happily, sticking his tongue out at me as he shut his eyes and enjoyed the pleasant weather. I splashed some water from the pool upon his face and that slapped him out from his reverie rudely.
He scowled at me just as I phrase my next statement carefully.
"You are going to have a hell of time though, you know? You love too intensely... If you aren't careful and fall for the wrong girl, you're certain to have your heart broken," I warned him and he looked at me, stunned. I thought he kind of paled, but it could just be the play of light as well.
"I've fallen for the right girl, I know that much," he let slip absent-mindedly, while I nearly lost my grip on the wall in shock.
"WHAT?!" I shrieked at him as he jumped to his feet, shocked and now definitely pale. I got out from the water quickly, throwing my hair behind and putting my hands on my hips, hoping that my threatening pose would invoke some kind of fear in him. If anything, he only bit his lip in worry.
"You have a girlfriend?! How the hell is it that I don't know anything about this?! I'm supposed to be your best friend! I'm supposed to know you better than you know yourself! This is terrible!" I shouted at him and needless to say, he looked frightened at my outburst. I don't know why I reacted the way I did, but I still feel that my reaction was justified. I was such a fool, I swear.
"See, I told you... you're too naive and trusting," he said slowly after a few minutes, slapping his hand upon his forehead as he laughed. I admit that I was caught by surprise at his reaction. It was kind of... I don't know, out of place.
"Now what's that supposed to mean?" I asked him uncertainly, but he shook his head at me, looking bemused.
"I was joking... I don't have any girlfriend," he clarified, his voice cracking as he begun laughing once again. I could only stare at him dumbly for a minute before I got my senses back. I eyed him suspiciously, while he raised his arms up in surrender.
"Hey don't look at me like that, you can ask anybody," he added confidently, sealing the statement by winking at me playfully. And I blushed. Don't ask me why, but it felt so good that he didn't have a girlfriend... Like really, really good.
Was I getting jealous or possessive? Why was I getting jealous or possessive?
"Yeah, don't give shockers like that," I reprimanded, my heart still reeling from the shock. He only gave me a sweet smile in return and I could not even remain mad at him.
"By the way, just out of curiosity, when you said 'that was terrible', what exactly was terrible? Me having a girlfriend, or you not knowing about it?" he asked me inquisitively, now a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
"Both," I replied evasively, feeling the blush now creep up my neck. This was embarrassing. Since when did I have issues like this?
"Aha, somebody is jealous!" he mimed playfully, and I aimed a punch at him. Missed.
"Shut up," I whispered to him dangerously, and he grinned shamelessly once again.
I had half an urge to throw him into the water, but remembering what happened the last time I tried a stupid prank, I quickly decided against it. Instead, I focus all my attention back upon him and decide to have a verbal revenge.
"And it's not as though you really do have one now, do you?" I asked him childishly, and he gave me a lopsided grin that definitely confused me.
"Ofcourse I don't, but I gave you an example of what I wanted to prove to you," he replied enigmatically. And all I did is give him a blank look. He continued like a teacher explaining a difficult concept patiently.
"You said manipulating and messing with the head wasn't easy, but I think I just did it and you didn't even come to know about it," he emphasized smartly, giving me a suggestive look.
"But that... that's not fair! I believed you because I trust you!" I exploded heatedly, feeling thoroughly outraged.
"Now we're getting warmed up," he stated, a proud smirk upon his face. He sat down once again, dipping his feet into the water while I did the same.
"Okay, now you're just scaring the crap out of me," I said after some time, wondering what was going on in his mind. Ranveer looked at me with a worried look upon his face.
"See... It's very easy for you to sit here and say that the girl was stupid enough to believe the guy, and that people do stupid things in love. People don't do things solely because of love, Ishaani. It's because they trust that person to never hurt them, no matter what," he explained to me.
I shook my head, disgruntled.
"You should become a certified psychologist," I joked, but his expression remained the same. I quickly fell silent and kicked the water around a bit before asking uncertainly.
"So what, are you saying that I should trust no one?"
Ranveer gave me a cryptic look before bursting into a speech.
"No, I'm saying that manipulation is a very, very dirty game. It's a very slow and deliberate process. There are some people who are diabolical puppeteers or manipulators who can control situations as per their whims and desires because they have the skill set to do such kind of a thing. We cannot always be assured that we'll be able to see through them. So don't judge anyone without knowing the scenario."
"I still say that it's a whole lot of codswallop," I argued, shooting him a disbelieving look. He looked annoyed at my lack of understanding. "If manipulation really worked, Baa would be our biggest fans right now," I added carefully, hoping not to piss him off more. It looked important to him that I understand, even though I don't know why.
"Ishaani, you are too much," he exclaimed slowly, smiling in spite of himself. I gave him a shameless grin.
"But still Ranveer, say what you will. How can people go so blind in love that they cannot know or understand anything else?" I asked him after a while, suddenly serious myself.
"Like you told me, you haven't been in love. The day you fall on love, you'll understand," he replied simply, looking uncomfortable now.
"I don't know, Ranveer... I mean, will I ever find love? It's like you can trust no one of this damn world," I confessed to him, looking worried. He, in turn, took my hand into his own and rubbed it soothingly.
"Ofcourse you will find love," he assured, his voice radiating the care that I always love to hear in it.
"Oh yeah, but what about this whole 'art of manipulation' nonsense?" I questioned him, now perturbed.
Ranveer really did come up with the most extraordinary crap at times that made my blood go cold. He was just doing it to make me aware and because he had my best interests in mind, but that didn't mean that it didn't suck. Anyways, he gave me a small smile before speaking confidently.
"Don't worry, I'll be there with you to steer you out of trouble. You may be terrible in understanding it, but I think I'm decent enough to sense deception. So I'll always protect you, don't worry."
"What do you mean to say? That I'm stupid?" I mocked, but somehow there was a strange worry etched across his face now.
"No, you are too trusting and have terrible judgment of people," he retorted blankly, staring at the water, lost in thought. I shook my head in exasperation, understanding what he was referring to.
Ranveer was referring to my recent failures in making friends during our near-five month estrangement. It's not the first time I've tried, but like every time, I trusted the wrong people and well... let it be. Sour wounds; raw wounds.
"Yeah, you're making me reconsider my judgment on being friends with you right now," I said icily, while he chuckled in return.
"Exception to the rule," he corrected proudly. He was so cute at times, it was difficult to pull his legs.
"Pish posh; and just so you know, I'm an excellent mind-reader," I told him defensively and he flashed me an understanding smile.
"Mind reading and seeing through facades are two different things. You're brilliant in the former, no doubt, but you're poor in the latter," he admitted seriously, while I clicked in tongue in disapproval.
"Well, then in that case, how can I believe whatever you're saying is true? You could be 'manipulating' me as well," I remarked stupidly, hoping to rattle him up. Instead, if anything, he looks impressed.
"See, that's what I love about you, Ishaani. You're a quick learner," he replied, looking relieved that I was finally taking him seriously on some level. When I gave him a bewildered look, he cleared his throat and spoke strongly.
"Manipulation is a rarely mastered art that requires great amounts of cunning and resourcefulness. If gotten right, it's nearly impossible to see through, especially if there's a strong foundation of trust. So don't take it lightly and underestimate its power... It could happen to anyone."
"Why are you so stuck up on this?" I prodded, now exasperated. There were times when his stubbornness could even outdo my own.
"Because your innocence worries me, Ishaani," he confessed guiltily. "You know the world for what it is, but you don't know deception because you've never ever come across it. So I just want to make you aware and conscious, that's all," he justified further, looking weary. This time, I rubbed circles at the back of his palm in reassurance.
"But you'll be there with me all the time, so I needn't worry about it," I reminded him confidently, but if anything, he looked even more deeply unsettled.
"What if you fall in love and then push me away?" he questioned suddenly, looking frightened. I could see the thought grow larger and larger in his eyes, the thought too much for him to bear.
"That's never going to happen," I reassure him once again with a loving smile. "I can never push you away," I added further, and it worked like a charm. His features looked slightly relieved.
"Don't be so sure..." he chuckled shakily but stopped abruptly at the murderous look on my face. "Alright, alright fine! I was just kidding, seriously! Sorry!" he added quickly, looking afraid as though I was going to claw out his eyes. Well, I did want to do that, but I knew that he had my best interests in mind.
"You better be," I threatened, waggling a finger at him for theatrical effect. He gave me a sheepish smile and I continued.
"And coming back to what I was saying - you're going to be there with me all the time. You can be like an X-Ray machine, scanning everyone inside out," I joked, and both of us laughed for ten whole minutes.
"You're so silly... but you are right," he spoke finally, gasping for breath as our laughing session finally drew to an end. "I'll be scanning everyone before they reach you as well," he assured me, unable to hide the sly smile that crossed his face.
"Hehe, I know. You are my lucky charm. And don't worry, I'll be scanning all the girls as well before anyone is approved," I quipped back swiftly, the smile smacked away from his face.
"Don't worry, when the time comes, it'll come, okay? Don't get too excited," he replied evasively. I gave him a shrewd look, suddenly speaking out my thoughts even before I could consciously phrase them properly.
"Say what you will, you aren't anything extraordinary either when it comes to tearing apart this art of manipulation nonsense of yours," I remarked, and he gasped in shock.
"Mota Babuji says I've got a very acute sense of-" he began, but I cut him off.
"What Papa means is convincing skill. Manipulation is different," I tried to explain, but he shook his head resolutely.
"No, they are corollaries, or rather have a fine line between them. The fine line being intention. And ofcourse, you need to be cunning and resourceful along with being an excellent actor, liar and bluffer, for starters, to pull off a manipulation," he clarified patiently.
It didn't convince me one bit.
"People say that it takes one with the same skill-set to know the other," I countered, hoping to ease off the tension with the joke. He got the implied meaning of what I was trying to say.
"If you're implying that I'm manipulative-" he started again, but I cut him off, trying to put across my point now.
"No, I'm saying that you have an excellent knowledge on this, but you are no manipulator by nature," I explained, and he gave me a sheepish look.
"In the stock market, it's a warfare. You need to be loaded with manipulative skills, but yes, I do have very high ethical principles that don't allow me to follow a dishonest practice intentionally," he confessed goofily while I ruffled his hair in a loving caress.
"No wonder Papa says that you're going to be an extraordinary trader if you pursue this line of career in the future," I confessed him in confidence, and he flushed red at the compliment. Both of us sat quietly for some time before I spoke up again.
"Ranveer, can I ask you something?" he grunted in response and I continued.
"We were talking about that girl and how she trusted the wrong person and her entire life got destroyed because of that... because of how he manipulated her... Will she ever be the same again?" I implored, now sounding curious. Ranveer sighed, giving my question deep thought before finally giving an answer.
"No, she won't... because she won't be able to trust anymore, to love anymore... it'll leave her broken and devoid of any emotion, perhaps maybe just of loathing and resentment at her wrong judgment. It's not easy, Ishaani, what she must be going through. It'll be as though she's killing herself every day with the fact of what she did, how she wronged her loved ones and how she was cheated and deceived," he explained rather devoid of emotions, even though I could sense an unknown turmoil in his tone.
"Is there any way she can feel better? Maybe revenge or something?" I queried further, the discussion somehow capturing my attention in an unusual way. It was as though we were doing a case study.
"It should work, I guess, revenge... But I don't think it would be worth the void she must have in her heart, neither would it make her whole ever again," he added unsurely, and all I did was sigh tiredly.
"What if she finds someone who loves her genuinely... will she ever be able to love that person back? Would she ever be able to live a normal life?" I asked him once again as this idea struck me. Ranveer gave my question a good thought.
"I don't know, Ishaani..." he replied finally, not sounding entirely convinced. "Maybe, if someone loves her truly, maybe that person could make her love him back. Maybe not. As to living a normal life, again, it depends upon how she picks up the pieces of her life and moves on. It could get as normal as it can, but the void will always remain. She cannot become whole again," he stated, looking at me curiously now.
"That's horrible... won't even finding love again make her whole?" I questioned Ranveer worriedly. I couldn't help but wonder how the world could be so cruel in spite of all my experience.
"I think that'd probably be the only thing that could work..." he answeered absent-mindedly, while I nodded my head in accordance.
"Wow, this is so..." I began but trailed off as words failed me now.
"Bizarre?" completed Ranveer for me, and I smiled in agreement. Well, it certainly was bizarre.
"Atleast I don't have to worry about anything like that and I really thank God for one thing," I said after some time optimistically, shooting him a blazing look.
"What's that?" he asks inquisitively, his eyes meeting my own in a raging battle of sparkles.
"That I have you," I whispered as I got up once again, winking at him to seal my statement.
He coughed awkwardly as he got up and followed me into the house silently, both of us making our way to our respective rooms without another word. Somehow, as I sit here narrating everything to you, the impact of what Ranveer was trying to tell me finally hits me with full force. Imagine - you trust someone so much and all this time, that person has been using you as some kind of cash cow and playing stupid, psychological manipulations with your head for his own benefit.
I've never heard of anything as inhumane and cruel as that. And as much as I deny, I could see the truth in Ranveer's words about how manipulation truly works. Oh it was so easy if done right... Could such a thing happen with me? What if I became prey to this? What if I couldn't trust the right person? What if I couldn't see through the deception until it was too late? Gah, I'd break into a million pieces! Okay, now I'm practically scared out of my mind. Let me meet Ranveer now, and I'll make sure to give him a piece of my mind for filling my head up with such crazy thoughts.
But one thing was certain from our conversation - the art of manipulation was certainly something to be wary of.
Constructive criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for any typos. :D :D
Next chapter:
Epistle 53
Edited by LadyMeringue - 8 years ago
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