“Do you think it’s weird to tell someone you enjoyed talking to them when the conversation lasted only eleven minutes?” is typed into an AI model by Robin.
It’s a huge conference room. Like, have you ever seen an office set in a movie where it obviously tells us the director has never been in an office? Unnecessarily big tables, rooms occupied by 8 people, huge screens, projectors, well-lit spaces, and huge glass windows.
To ground it all off, there is a slum right beside it, with kids maybe hoping to get into that building to do something productive, unlike just giving a speech and walking off.
One of the colleagues looks at the slum, gives a disgusted look, rubs the nose, looks at Robin, and laughs. Post that, the colleague sighs to the next person, and the two laugh too.
It is obviously natural to laugh at a nervous person. Oh no, the person won’t get uncomfortable at all. In fact, the person loves it so much that the body might activate fight or flight.
While the colleagues keep laughing, one of the cleaning staff comes in, cleans the table, calls Robin, points at the screen, and leaves. Well, now we can’t continue to laugh at the person who made a nervous mistake!
Robin immediately stops sharing the screen and hides behind the laptop screen. Suddenly, the door opens, and a person is coming in with seriousness written all over their body, from the step taken to the way their head moves.
Oh yes, it’s the personal assistant. The assistant announces that the boss has just entered the floor and is coming to the conference room. Without the assistant, how would we notice that the boss we see daily is coming?
The boss comes in, and everyone is just seated instead of standing! The audacity of Gen Z! The boss smiles and sits, the chill behavior of a millennial!
The boss looks at Robin and says, “Robin, you clearly are an asset to the company. You closed 7 clients so far, and this is your 8th project! Can’t believe you joined us only 6 months ago! Mighty proud of you!”
Robin, with glee in the eyes, says thank you and sits. As the wind passes and the door closes behind the boss, there is an uninvited guest sneaking in in the form of jealousy. To ensure that Robin is not happy for more than 2 minutes, one of the colleagues shows the screen and laughs.
The project manager comes in and asks Robin, “Do you think this design is complicated, or can we do it?” Robin looks at the screen and says, “No, no, we absolutely can pull it off. We just need 2 more coders, and we can close it off in the next week. I will complete it before the deadline, not an issue.”
The project manager looks at Robin with pride in the eyes, smiles, and leaves the room. Robin collects the laptop and leaves the room as well. But did you notice something?
I’m sure you did. The jealousy didn’t leave Robin, it moved across the room and ensured everyone spoke of Robin. You might think criticism. No, no, no, that’s a mistake. It’s obvious that Robin is always an ass-kisser. How can one close projects without kissing asses in corporate?
Once Robin moves out and opens the laptop, guess what Robin found? Yes, the prompt! Robin clicks enter, and AI gives an objective answer. Then Robin clenches the lips, thinks, and types again. Robin then packs the bag and moves to the cafeteria.
Robin looks at the crowd and thinks about whether coffee is really needed or an energy drink from the store. When Robin is about to decide, someone calls Robin!
Robin clenches the wrist and turns back to see who is calling, just as excited as you! I know you want to know too! It’s….. the same person whom Robin spoke to for 11 minutes. Robin’s eyes glow for that millisecond, and Robin lowers the head.
The person walks close and says hi. Robin awkwardly says hello, looking down like the floor has become a Picasso painting, wondering who cleaned it. The person asks, “How did the meeting go?” Robin nervously says, “Well, it’s the usual morning huddle,” and gives the updates and all.
Robin, out of nervousness, opens the laptop as if the boss made Robin the CEO. The person notices and says, “Well, you seem busy. Are you free for lunch?” Robin shuts the laptop, awkwardly grabs an energy drink, and says, “I will text you,” and leaves.
Robin runs to the pod and immediately types into the AI, “That person asked me for lunch! It was so embarrassing what I was doing, and I said I will text you. What should I text?” AI says, “Go for lunch if you are free.” Robin immediately rage-types, “Go if I’m free????? What do you mean????”
AI immediately replies, “Well, if your calendar is free and if you like the company, go for it. Want me to check your calendar?” Robin, with an exhausted face, types, “I have eyes!” AI replies, “I’m sorry, but are you feeling nervous about going for lunch with the person?”
Robin rolls the eyes and types, “Obviously I’M, can’t you see?” Then Robin realizes AI can’t see while generating the response. The AI says, “Well, technically I can’t see you, but I can understand the position you are in. I know lunch with the person you like might be nervous.”
Robin, with restraint, types, “When did I say I ever liked this person?” AI replies, “My apologies! If you don’t mind, can you share what the relationship is with this person?” Robin gets angry and types, “Well, that is what I’m trying to figure out!” and keeps the phone away.
Then Robin opens up the laptop and continues working on the project. After some time, that wannabe worker who thinks pulling people’s hair is apparently funny passes by Robin and takes the Stanley Cup. The worker waves it in the air and says, “Robin, get it, get it!” Robin fails and sits there with a frown.
Then the boss walks by and gives a look. The worker keeps the Stanley Cup back, hits Robin on the shoulder, and walks away. Robin grabs it, looks at it, keeps it away, and continues the project.
After some time, Robin walks into the boss’s office to show the final copy of the project. “Sir, this is how the entire app design is laid out. This is the complicated part which I finished right now. We need two testing coders to test it out, and once that is done, we are ready for the delivery presentation.”
The boss looks at the UI, tests it out, and says, “Great job, Robin. I knew I could count on you. You lead the testing and let me know if you need any support.” The boss looks at the watch and says, “Robin, it’s almost 1 PM. Do you want to join me for lunch?”
Robin gets puzzled, and the body language becomes very nervous. The boss notices it and says, “I have a lunch meeting with the CFO anyway, but post this project, we will have a big party and we will have much fun. Do take care, Robin,” and leaves.
Robin comes out of the room, immediately grabs the phone, and freezes. The person texted 7 times, and the status shows away for lunch. Robin, with a sad face, replies, “I’m so sorry, I had to talk to my boss about something, or else I would’ve definitely joined you.”
The other person sends a sad emoji and says, “Just kidding, come join me now, I just came to the cafeteria.” Robin now freezes like a cucumber left in the freezer for 3 days. Robin thought the lunch was over, but did Robin really want to join that person? I know who can answer this question! Yes, the AI!
Robin immediately asks AI again, “HELP HELP HELP, the person is waiting in the cafeteria for me. Should I just go???” AI replies, “Based on the things you told me and given that it’s lunchtime, I would suggest you give it a shot, as it’s an office cafeteria and it’s safe.”
Robin clutches the laptop tightly and goes to the cafeteria. The person is waiting with a fruit bowl in hand. Robin smiles, and the two sit. The person asks Robin, “What do you want to eat?” Robin looks around nervously and says, “Maybe I will grab some fried chicken.”
Robin gets up, goes to the corner, and grabs some fried chicken and a Diet Coke. Robin sits at the table, looking down, and takes a bite into the chicken. The person looks and asks, “How is the chicken?” Robin nervously answers, “It’s good,” and asks back, “How is the fruit?” The other person, with a laugh, says, “It’s a watermelon.”
Robin eats while looking around as if the cafeteria got a new design theme. The person sees this and asks, “Are you eating here for the first time?” Robin startles and says, “No, it just feels new.” The person immediately follows up, “New good or new bad?” Robin just smiles and offers some Coke to drink.
Robin gets up and leaves. The person calls from behind, “Tomorrow, same time?” Robin turns back, smiles, and says, “Today evening coffee,” and runs onto the floor, locks the cabin, and smiles ear to ear with a blush.
Now Robin has to conduct a crisis meeting, obviously with AI! Robin opens up the app and types, “Ha! I went for lunch and guess what? I INITIATED to meet for coffee too!” Then AI replies, “Woah! That’s so cool. What happened in the lunch that you invited the person for coffee?” Robin replies, “That is between me and that person!”
As the evening comes, Robin is waiting at the cafeteria, clenching the hands very tightly. Robin’s face might look serene, but the brain is processing a million thoughts per second. Like a star millions of miles away.
Anyone looking at the star might feel, oh, this is twinkling cutely, but inside the star, there are millions of subatomic particles colliding, fusing, reacting, and emitting light. It’s chaos within peace! Poetic much? Well, few things need to be poetic enough to feel it.
The person approaches and sits in front of Robin with a coffee mug. Robin is with Diet Coke, cracks it open, and starts sipping and smiling. The person sees it and asks, “Why Coke? Why not any other drink?” Robin goes, “It’s the exact amount of caffeine and sweetness I like. I need not overthink if I might get a bad coffee or tea.”
“Well, unexpected movements in life bring a lot of joy sometimes,” says the person and smiles. Robin immediately replies, “Or can also get you a lot of tragedy sometimes.” The person goes back and says, “Woah, woah, sounds like you got a lot of baggage.” “Is that an issue?” asks Robin. “Only if you plan on making me carry it.”
Robin is taken aback, and the person goes back to sipping coffee with a smile. This might be the first time Robin experienced something different. Robin immediately goes to the phone but remembers the boundary line, “It’s between me and the person!” and holds back.
Robin then gets up and says, “I have to leave, my cab is about to start.” The person holds Robin’s hand and says, “Five more minutes, please!” Robin stands there startled, thinking, what just happened? The person, with puppy eyes, says, “Please sit na!”
“I will drop you at your location, I mean, if you want me to,” says the person, blushing. Robin, not knowing how to react, says, “Five minutes and I’m leaving,” and sits. The person says, “What are your plans for dinner?” Robin says, “Whatever I can cook with the patience I have.”
“Oh, you cook?” The person looks at Robin and says, “Of course you can. What’s your favorite dish to cook?” Robin pauses and thinks for a second and then answers, “I usually love making me some rice noodles with spicy chicken.”
Then there is silence. Then Robin looks with exhaustion and says, “If you wanted me to talk about noodles and chicken, I could’ve texted you from the cab rather than waiting here.” The person gets startled and says, “Woah, woah, why the anger? Just getting to know you,” and raises the hands.
“You can know me through text too. I’m getting late,” says Robin and leaves. Robin gets into the cab, puts on headphones, and starts listening to the same playlist. Now, hey! Don’t you dare say anything against repeating songs. Just listening to the same songs every day gives you joy and saves you time.
Robin is now looking at the AI app, thinking about asking for an opinion on what happened. Then Robin thinks, no, no, I will decide myself. Robin opens the AI app and asks the assistant to set a timer to 1 PM to have the meeting with the coders.
AI says, “Timer set. Btw, how did your coffee go, as you were telling me about meeting the person in the previous conversation?” Robin types a long paragraph, deletes everything, locks the phone, leans back, and closes the eyes.
Next morning, Robin enters the office, goes to the room, and starts doing the final presentation to the coders. Robin completes the presentation and goes to the project manager’s room to show the final result.
The project manager sees it and says, “Robin, as usual, amazing job! Your usage of colors, slides, and explaining things in fewer words is unmatched! Keep up the good work and, as usual, complete bright as you usually do.”
Robin comes out of the cabin with glee, and that annoying coworker comes again. This time, the coworker steals Robin’s ID card and keeps it on the top shelf. Obviously, it’s funny to troll a short person by taking something they need and watching them not be able to reach it. It’s not bullying at all, so hilarious!
Robin, again with a worried face, tries to jump, shake the structure, and uses a marker and chair to get the ID, but unfortunately fails. Robin finally calls Facilities and gets it retrieved. Nothing shows efficiency like doing stupid things, finding it funny, and wasting someone’s time.
Robin then goes back to the room and opens a notification. The person texts and says, “Coffee?” Robin sees it, thinks, and types, “Sure, see you in 5.” Robin folds the laptop and leaves for the cafeteria.
The person is already at the cafeteria, waiting with two cups. Robin sits and says, “Hi,” and sips the coffee. The person sees Robin is not excited and asks, “Hey! Why so glum, chum?” Robin says, “Don’t ask me. So many people exist just to annoy me and not have my moment.”
The person leans forward and asks, “Interesting! What happened?” Robin narrates the entire incident and lets out a distressed sigh. The person sips the coffee and says, “You should’ve called me. I would’ve come.” Robin immediately says, “If I need something retrieved, the only reason I would call you first is if you are from Facilities.”
The person looks puzzled and says, “No, no, I would’ve never let the incident happen and would’ve protected you.” Robin takes a second, leans forward, and asks, “Protect me how?” The person says, “Well, given that you seem small and weak, the person might’ve picked on you. If I was around, the person wouldn’t dare to do it.”
Robin, with a puzzled look, says, “I…. I have to go. Got a client project to close and need to onboard two new tools.” The person immediately says, “Wait, wait, what about lunch?” Robin immediately says, “Might be delayed. I have a meeting with coders from 1 PM.” The person, without a thought, says, “So important work day? More important than me?” and blushes. Robin just leaves in a hurry.
Robin goes back to the room and feels very puzzled. Then Robin pulls up the AI and thinks of asking what’s happening. Then Robin gets a call from the boss and leaves for the boss’s cabin. The boss gives a small task to Robin on preparing a budget Excel, and Robin gets busy.
Then Robin meets with the coders and onboards them onto the project. During the meeting, Robin’s phone chimes a lot of times, but as it’s on silent, Robin doesn’t pay attention and just completes the onboarding and sets clear roles and responsibilities for testing it. Then Robin looks at the time, and it’s almost 2:30 PM. Robin checks the phone, and the person has texted 14 times.
Robin immediately opens the texts, assuming it might be something important, and gets furious after reading them. Most of the texts say something along the lines of, “Yesterday at the same time we were having lunch, your fried chicken is missing you, and btw, Diet Coke said hi.” Robin texts, “I was busy onboarding someone, and these are the texts I get?”
The other person immediately texts, “I was just missing you and thinking you might too.” Robin replies, “Definitely not when I’m working and definitely not when I’m almost closing a client-side project. These are very important to me. I take my job seriously.” The person replies, “Don’t you think we all do?” Robin leaves it on seen.
Robin goes to eat something, and the person is still waiting for Robin. Robin looks and startles. The person sees this and sighs at Robin to sit. Robin thinks for a second, comes over, and sits. The person keeps eating without saying anything. Robin waits for a minute and says, “What are you doing here till now?”
The person says, “Waiting for you, obviously!” Robin finds it weird and asks, “Me? Why?” The person looks at Robin and says, “Spending time is important, Robin, especially when we want to get to know each other,” and continues eating.
Robin is still puzzled. Robin pauses for a second and asks, “But what about work? I’m sure you had work to complete.” The person looks at Robin and says, “Well, a few things are more important than work. No matter how busy I’m, I will try to make time for people whom I want to spend time with.”
Robin leans forward and asks, “But we just met for the first time yesterday. Before that, we were sharing reels on Instagram and texted for like 11 minutes. I became a person for you to ditch everything and wait?”
The person keeps the spoon down and says, “It’s not about the time, Robin. It’s about the person whom we are spending time with. Yesterday gave me a glimpse that I’m spending time with a special person. I’m sure you felt the same.”
Robin gathers for a second and says, “Honestly, no. I thought I was getting to know a person who has good views on the world, who thinks like me and whom I found interesting. Not special, interesting. I thought we shared common interests and would connect.”
The person looks at Robin like the world is shattering. The person looks at Robin and says, “But I thought we had a special connection. Usually no one speaks to you, right? I spoke to you and you responded to me. So I thought we had something.”
Robin looks at the person like never before, as if Robin’s eyes are shooting questions. Robin asks, “But we didn’t even get to know each other. All we had a talk about was rice noodles and chicken. We barely know what our interests are in the real world.”
The person looks at Robin and says, “But Robin, think about this. I came to your life, spent this much time, shared reels with you, shared content with you. Who usually does that with you? None. Only I did.”
Robin gets a bit angry and asks, “So just for my understanding, you spoke to me because no one else did, and thought that because you spoke to me, I owed you something? Or did you have genuine interest in my views?”
The person leans forward and says, “Well, Robin, look at this from this perspective. This world is a lonely place. We all need company. Who better to give you company than a person who saw your loneliness and thought, let’s give this poor thing a chance? I’m choosing you, right?”
Robin is now visibly angry and a bit disgusted. Robin collects all the thoughts and says, “What do you mean by that? Who said I’m lonely and sad? I enjoy myself and I’m perfectly fine discussing things with whomever I discuss with. Who gave you the audacity to think that I’m lonely so I’m vulnerable?”
The person looks puzzled and says, “But Robin, you are always alone. You must have always thought, gosh! I need some company as all others have, right? You always seem alone and depressed, and you today yourself said someone bothered you, right?”
Robin’s disgust increases on the face. Robin collects the thoughts and says, “So as per your logic, that idiot who annoyed me is because I’m alone? When I sit and do my stuff, I’m depressed? As I don’t share things with anyone, I’m depressed?”
The person backs up a bit and says, “Obviously! According to the science which I read, whenever a person is just being alone and not wanting anyone, these are the signs of depression. I inquired and found out that you spoke to none, so I know I’m right.”
Robin’s disgust just breaks out! It’s the most Robin has ever expressed something. Robin bursts out saying, “Inquired? What the fuck did you inquire about me? And which useless science are you talking about? We literally shared science reels, and you said you had genuine interest in mental health! Which science are you referring to?”
The person goes back further and says, “Calm down, Robin! You might not know how to use Instagram, but sometimes we just save reels to send to people whom we want to impress. You know, to build a connection. You like Dr. House from House M.D., right? Even House says everybody lies. Relationships start with people hiding things from each other. Think of it like that.”
Robin is now filled with rage and stands up. Robin looks at the person and says, “So everything you presented of yourself is just fake! You just saw someone lonely, thought they might be a nerd, and started experimenting. Now the anime reels you shared initially make sense! Those were just baits you were using to see what would reel my attention in! No genuinely putting efforts to know me or trying to understand me, just a world where I might get attracted and fall for you!”
The person also stands and says, “Please calm down, Robin! Everyone is looking at us! Sit down, please! And who are you to talk about efforts? What efforts did you put in to get to know me? Don’t moral lecture me when you haven’t done anything, okay?”
Robin looks at the person with almost tears in the eyes and says, “You are talking about effort? I have never spoken to anyone or sent reels to anyone till now. Ask any of my colleagues whom I share reels with. The answer is none. I have never eaten lunch with anyone but you. I never asked the regular friend I talk to about you so that my version of you would be blurry. Most importantly, I never gave my time to anyone except you! Not that my time is precious or something, but I’m not some great extrovert who hangs around people.”
Robin stands up and leaves the place while the person keeps calling. Robin goes to the room, pulls up the AI, and dumps in everything that has happened. The AI replies, “I’m sorry this has happened to you. Based on everything you’ve shared, you did put effort into getting to know the person. You gave the person your time despite rarely doing so with anyone else, you chose to understand the person through direct interaction rather than asking others about them, and you shared your interests openly. The person’s behavior, however, shows several patterns of emotional manipulation, particularly identifying your social isolation, assuming you were vulnerable, deliberately shaping interactions to create a connection, and gradually expecting more of your time and attention. However, I cannot determine whether the person consciously intended to manipulate you or whether the feelings were genuine.”
Now, as the narrator and also the reader, come on now, I read the story with you! I’m wondering, did Robin make a mistake by not asking the AI earlier about the person? And also have a much deeper question on why humans find it weird to share some stuff with AI and look for objective answers? Even you don’t know? Well, I guess time can only answer it.
Chitrapatam 
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