THE ONLINE LOVE

NOTE: This story is based on Author’s fiction. It does not apply to any historical references and real-life incidents.

2018

SINGANALLUR, COIMBATORE

A 20-year old Kaviya was living with her parents and one younger brother Ajay in Singanallur, Coimbatore. She was a jolly person and she had a lot of friends and she was very close with her family. In particular, she was very close with her father Ravi. Ravi’s life became prosperous after Kaviya was born. Hence, they were like close friends beyond the father and daughter bonding.

So Kaviya shared everything that happens in her life with her father. However, a sad part happens in her life. Kaviya’s boyfriends who was in a relationship with her for the past two years cheated on her and she came to know about that. Not only from the messages he sent(in Instagram). It’s clear that he doesn’t have any care about her.

Now Kaviya went to confront her boyfriend and questioned whether he cheated on her. But he refused to accept that and stated that he was loyal to her. But Kaviya didn’t believe him. So she immediately broke up with him.

Even though Kaviya broke up with him, she was very much upset about it. So she shared this with her father and started crying. Her father comforted her and said: “Don’t worry ma. Everything will be alright. You will meet the right person soon.”

Likewise, in a few weeks, Kaviya came from her college. When she came home she was totally happy. Seeing this, her father was so shocked. His daughter who was in a depression for weeks, was suddenly happy now. Seeing that, he also felt very happy.

But at the same time he asked Kaviya about the reason for her happiness. For that Kaviya said: “I met another guy dad.” She said: “I liked him very much.”

Kaviya said that she met another boy that day. So her father asked who was it. She said: “Dad. He is 23-year old Shyam Keshavan. He graduated in PSG Tech. It is best college in Coimbatore where the children from various districts and states study. His father is a businessman and owns a construction company in Avinashi. In the future Shyam is going to take over the company.”

She said all these to her father proudly and happily. Ravi was happy that her daughter came out of her depression. But when he asked how did she met him, Kaviya said: “Archana introduced him to me dad.”

Archana is one of the best friend of Kaviya. Shyam was Archana’s ex-boyfriend. But they didn’t date for too long, and they have no feelings between them now. Because of her recent breakup, Archana started looking for a match for Kaviya.

She thought that her ex-boyfriend might be a good match. So she introduced him to Kaviya. Ravi know about Archana very well. She had come to their home very often. Even though she knows that she will do only good for his daughter, he thought that dating her best friend’s ex-boyfriend was not a good idea.

So he asked her daughter Kaviya: “Whether it’s okay for you?” Her father added: “Dating your best friend’s ex-boyfriend will not work out.” But she said: “Archana wanted me to be happy. That’s why she did this, dad. And she and her ex-boyfriend have no feelings between them.” He said him not to worry.

Though Ravi had doubt in this, he kept all that aside and asked for Shyam’s photo. So Kaviya took her phone and showed his photo. In that photo, he saw a handsome and smiling Shyam. But at the same time he saw Archana lying on his shoulder. How did it looked means, it was clear that she was his girlfriend. So her father thought that it was not good and someone is going to get hurt.

But for the next weeks and months Kaviya and Shyam started talking nicely. She always had her phone in her hand and was texting him 24*7 and both of them tried to meet for the first time many times. But whenever they planned to meet, one of them gets into trouble.

So both of them continued to talk on phone instead of meeting. It started to continue like that. They started living on the phone. In a stage, they were comfortable with phone than meeting in person. So both of them felt awkward to meet and felt comfortable to speak in phone.

So the digital only relationship between Kaviya and Shyam continued for the next one year. But everything was until February 2021. Since, a shocking incident happened. Shyam got into a big bike accident, and luckily he was saved in that accident.

But Aariyaan who was sitting behind him died. In the investigation it came to know that, Shyam was driving carelessly. So he was charged with man slaughter. According to this, he was sentenced to two years of jail. It was very shocking to Kaviya, who’s currently working in Future General(a job through placements through her College). Though her father was very shocked and sad about the incident, as a father he was quite relieved.

Since Shyam was sentenced for two years, they won’t be able to contact for the next two years. So her daughter may meet someone good. So that at least her heart might change. Instead of dating her friend’s ex-boyfriend, and always talking in phone, so as a father he thought his daughter to see someone good.

But surprisingly, in a two hours travel from Coimbatore, in a jail, even after Shyam was transferred there to spend his punishment time, somehow his family smuggled a phone inside the prison and gave it to Shyam. So he started texting Kaviya again. They were talking like when they were outside. Because they didn’t meet when they were out and now also they won’t meet.

So they started talking like as they were outside, there was no change in it. But Kaviya’s family didn’t like it. Her brother said: “You are going in a wrong way.” They said that she doesn’t deserve this kind of relationship. But Kaviya doesn’t listen to her family because she was that much into love.

In fact, their relationship started becoming stronger after he went to jail. In 2022, after Shyam came out of jail, they planned to marry immediately and Kaviya was also getting ready for that. She even got her marriage dress on e-bay now itself. She started putting contract for videography, photography and everything.

Like this days went. Then in September 2022, that is before two months Shyam got release. Suddenly an unexpected matter happened. Kaviya’s father received a Instagram text from Shyam. Before this he received no message like this from him. For the first time he received this message.

In that message, it had been put: “Check your daughter’s whereabouts.”

She is going to do something wrong to her. Immediately, Ravi ran to his daughter’s room. There Kaviya was sitting sadly in her bed. Seeing that he was quite relieved. Now he asked his daughter: “Dear. Is everything alright?”

For that Kaviya said: “I am okay dad. I have no problems.” Then, Ravi showed the message she received and asked about it. Now she saw and took a deep breathe. She said to her father that she broke up with him.

Ravi know that it was very hard for his daughter and will take few months to come out of it. But at least now she came out of that relationship. He said to himself, “I didn’t like this relationship from the first.” He relieved that this relationship ended.

He comforted his daughter by hugging and talked with her for sometime. After talking for few minutes, she said: “Okay dad. I have outing plans with my friends. So I will go” and started getting ready.

While Kaviya was getting ready, her father sat on the bed and was looking at her. Now after getting ready Kaviya hugged, kissed and said “I will come soon, dad” to her father and went.

After she went out in a few minutes, Ravi received a Whatsapp text from his daughter’s mobile. Ravi started reading it.

In that message, she texted: “Dad. I am sorry for giving you a huge pain. I love you.” And a lot was written in that message. But Ravi didn’t read it fully. He immediately started calling her. Full ring went and the call was cut. Again full ring went and the call was cut when he called her for the second time.

He understood that she was upset from the break up. Now he texted her daughter to call her back and started waiting. But even after waiting for a long time he didn’t receive any message or call from Kaviya. Now Ravi started getting scared about it. Immediately he called Archana and asked whether she talked to her because she was not taking the call.

For that Archana said she received a strange message from Kaviya. And in that it was typed as, “I love you, sorry.” Immediately both thought that something was wrong. So Archana and Ravi met and started searching Kaviya. They went on a car and searched wherever she goes.

They were searching for hours like this. But they couldn’t find Kaviya. So without knowing what to do, they returned to Ravi’s house again. They went inside the house and sat on chair without knowing what to do. Now Ravi’s wife Bhanu came, and Kaviya’s siblings was also at house.

They were very anxious and called all friends of Kaviya to know her whereabouts. They were thinking what to do next. The time is exactly 9:30 at night. Suddenly they heard a calling bell sound. Everyone thought that it was Kaviya and felt happy and opened the door eagerly.

But everyone in the family was shocked when they opened the door. Because outside there stood a police officer.

The police officer said: “Your daughter’s car was parked in a no parking area. We searched everywhere for the owner, but she was not found anywhere. So we came here to ask why the car is parked there.” Now Kaviya’s family members started getting scared.

Now, Ravi said about the strange text messages. Immediately everyone went to the place where the car was parked. Kaviya’s car was parked in Siruvani hills area. Beyond that hill range was Siruvani waterfalls. Actually that was a tourist place. So they checked all the sides. But she was found no where.

So when they checked the CCTV, they saw Kaviya going to the top of the hills. After that she stood there and send some messages. After that she threw the phone into the waterfalls. It was recorded in the CCTV footage. After that she crossed the fence which should not be crossed and went to the corner of the hills.

Kaviya who went there never returned. She was dead. Her body was not found. But Kaviya’s decision shook her family. Everyone was heartbroken(especially Ravi and Ajay). They thought that the breakup with Shyam is the reason for everything. But to know what exactly happened, Ajay called Shyam. But he didn’t take the call.

So Kaviya’s family requested the police to call the jail and check where Shyam is. The police called the Central jail and asked about him and the officers in the jail checked their register. After sometime they again asked for his name, and the police said his name was Shyam.

“There was no one named Shyam in this jail sir” said the Jail police officers. It was then Ajay, Ravi and the police officers realize that Shyam was not even a real person. Ajay investigated about the account with the help of Kaviya’s best friend Adhithya, who is a professional computer hacker. Also, he is Ajay’s senior in his college.

Adhithya had the experience of falling prey to the fake accounts of Instagram. Then, he came angrily to his house and called his father in the house.

“Why are you shouting like this da? What happened?” Ravi asked to which, Ajay said: “Dad. I found the fake account’s admin.”

“Who’s that?” Holding his son’s shoulder, he asked in tears: “Who’s that da?”

With tears in his eyes, Ajay said: “The one who created it, the one who was texting Kaviya these days, and the one who did everything was her best friend Archana.” The moment he said Archana’s name, Ravi became awe-struck. Tears flew like a river from his eyes. Kneeling down in the floor, he looked at his daughter’s photo. Ajay tried to console his father. But, he cried inconsolably.

 “The one whom we believed so much, the one with whom my daughter loved was the one, who betrayed my daughter. I can’t even believe it da Ajay.” Ravi said in tears with immense pain in his eyes and voice, which made his son emotional. Both of them are awe-struck with depression and agony.

Ajay now said: “Dad. This was the photo which Kaviya sister showed to you. It’s not at all Shyam. It’s an unknown person whom Archana met at a pub. She was the one who texted and acted like Kaviya for these years.”

Adhithya kidnaps Archana when she was going towards her hostel room as per the instructions of Ajay. Bringing her to a dilapidated building, he called Ajay and said: “I kidnapped her da. What next?”

“Brother. Put your phone in video call.” Ajay showed a feared Archana to his father and said: “Dad. Tell me what to do? How should I avenge my sister’s death?”

His father had no words to say. But, he looked at Archana’s frightened face. Because Adhithya holds her at knife-point. He asked him to take the knife from her neck and asked her: “Archana. When I saw your bonding with my daughter, I believed you were like sisters. In fact, I saw you as my own daughter. I never expected that you will do like this.”

Ajay angrily asked her: “Why did you cheat my sister? Tell me, you bloody bastard.”

“Due to possessiveness only da. Because of my possessiveness to your only sister!” Archana said in anger and wiped her tears. She started to narrate how they both met in college(1^st year).

From that time Archana was very possessive at Kaviya. She should always talk with her and should be in her control. Above all, two years ago, Kaviya was in a relationship with Vishwajith. By sending a message Archana made her to believe that he was a cheater. By believing her best friend, she ended her relationship with Vishwajith. Immediately to bring Kaviya out of it, she created a fake character called Shyam and said that it was his ex-boyfriend and gave a number to her. She made her to speak with him.

But Kaviya was actually speaking to Archana only. That is why she cleverly avoided meeting her. After that they totally avoided meeting in person. It became a habit and they started living through message itself. It continued for two years. She fooled Kaviya.

Kaviya also believed that it was a real person and loved him so much. When it was like that, on September 2022, that is 2 months before Kaviya died, she felt that Archana was controlling her too much. She realized that: “Archana is so toxic. She is controlling her so much.” So she decided to end her friendship. Like this, she sent a message to Shyam.

But Archana was the one who was reading that message. By seeing the message, she became very angry. So to take revenge on Kaviya, and to take her into her control again, she took a weapon called break up between Kaviya and her fake character Shyam.

September 5, 2022. That is exactly the day when Kaviya died. The time is 1 in the afternoon. She was eating lunch at her office and a message came to her phone. In that, Shyam texted that he is going to break up with her. Seeing this she was very much shocked and immediately called him.

Because she was happy that she was going to get married in two months. But after seeing this message she doesn’t know what to do. She called Shyam but he didn’t pick the call. After that there was no reply from him.

At present, Vishwajith(who was also in the conference call, shockingly) got to know the truth. He feels guilty and cried inconsolably for failing to save Kaviya.

Now, Adhithya said to Ajay about the latest information that he collected with the help of police. He said: “Ajay. Exactly at afternoon 2:30, in the after days Kaviya called the Central Jail before her death. Who did she talk to and what did they told her nothing was clear. But one thing was very clear. She came to know that Shyam was not in the jail.”

Controlling his tears and emotions, he looked at Ravi and said: “Uncle. As a father, think at being in Kaviya’s spot. How she might have felt. That’s when she realized that, Shyam was not a real person. Or else why did he lie that he was in jail. How many days he has been cheating like this. How fool I am, thinking of it she was heartbroken. That night only, this idiot sent you a message in the name of Shyam. And you had gone to Kaviya’s room to talk with her. But she thought that how fool she was and was ashamed to tell about it.”

Ravi shouted and cried aloud with guilt and remorse upon hearing this from Adhithya. He further told Ravi, “Uncle. Even though she shared everything with you and loved you so much, she was ashamed to say that her life was over and she was fooled. So she hid it from you.”

Looking at the photo of Siruvani hills, Adhithya said: “After that only she dressed, hugged and kissed you to go to that hills.” Holding Archana at knifepoint, Adhithya looked at Ajay and Ravi. He asked them: “Uncle. Tell me what should I do now? As now I am having politicians, police officers and known bigwigs in my contact. These kind of girls shouldn’t be alive. Since, it’s very dangerous to our Indian society.”

However, a police officer, who helped Kaviya’s family and Adhithya stopped him and said: “Adhithya. Please don’t do anything in haste. Archana can’t be charged for Kaviya’s death. Because catfishing is not illegal in our country. Further, it’s not a crime. Since it means talking like an another person on online, and cheating them to be in a relationship or else being intimate with them. Even though Archana did this, it can’t be considered as a crime.”

“So, we can’t do anything for Kaviya’s death right?”

“Yes” said the police officer. While everyone is speaking like this, Archana still didn’t accept that she was responsible for this and she didn’t apologize to Kaviya’s family.

Now, Adhithya returns to his house where, his father Ponnuswamy asked him: “Son. Any problems? Why you are dull today?”

“Nothing dad. Everything is fine.” Adhithya goes inside his room and opened his phone contact to unblock his mother, whom he had chased out so that he and his father can be happier. But, he remembered some dark events that happened in his life upon looking at the town buses, in which he travelled since his childhood days.

Reminding off the betrayal that had been done by his mother and the insults he faced from her, he changes his mind.

FEW WEEKS LATER

A few weeks later, Adhithya and Vishwajith visits the graveyard of Kaviya, where Vishwajith apologized to Kaviya for failing to save her and cried aloud in guilt. While, Adhithya sees a reflection of Kaviya smiling at him and Vishwajith. Meanwhile, Adhithya’s school teacher Gayathri calls him and asks him to come for school. Since, the principal is going to retire in the month of July.

As the correspondent also wished to meet him, he goes for the school, where he meets everyone. Since, Adhithya is working in a reputed company and earns a good salary, he had been asked by the correspondent to share an incident, which affected him deeply to the students. Before that, he introduced him to the students as 2016 batch.

In the mike, Adhithya said: “Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity sir.” At first, he said, “How he was hated by his school friends for his misdeeds and tells, how’s his present life as he realized the world around him.” After this, he shared about the death of his friend Aariyaan, which deeply affected him and took one year to recoup his loss. Then, he opened the death of his friend Kaviya and explained the students how she died.

Tapping the mike, Adhithya said: “Students. The things happened in Kaviya’s life should not happen to anyone’s life. I was very shocked. This will be a great example for today’s generation. Since everything is online now, It’s not a bad thing to search a relationship in online. Once if you decide to be in love, meet them and try to know about them in real life. When you go meet them for the first time, don’t go alone. Take your close friend with you. Also meet them in a public place. Don’t go to a private place if that person ask you. Because we had seen a lot of cases like this. You know about it very well. Only if you meet them in person you will come to know about their real character. In fact, you will know whether it is a girl or boy after that only.”

The students and teachers now applauded Adhithya. His correspondent embraced him in tears and said: “I was worried how you will face this society da. But, you have made me proud.” Hearing this, Adhithya smiled at his correspondent.

EPILOUGE AND QUESTION

So Readers, what do you think about this case? What you felt about Kaviya? I felt so bad for her and still lot of people get fooled like her. But what Kaviya did was not the solution for that. If you lose something, you might get something better. If it is not Dharshini, then go for Janani. Yes, it will be hard. If you had a break up then don’t be alone. Spend time with your friends and moreover try to keep yourself busy. Definitely you can come out of that break up. If you look back after some days, you will feel why you were sad that day. Comment your opinion without forgetting Readers.