He was a musician after all. The beats he produced could well be layers on a hit percussion track. Only he wasn’t interested. Music was not his forte. It was just a byproduct of his art, the art of writing software, popularly known as "coding". And he loved it!
Like a painter he would create his code, brush stroke upon brush stroke, blending the classes and objects like colors on an artist’s palette. His lithe stokes with the code would finally give birth to the painting of a finished product. He was the Codist, the artist. People on earth called him Rajesh. People on the virtual world of the internet called him "The Codist", a combination of who he really was Codist and artist.
The Codist was 13 when he had written his first program, a program that would greet him every time he would log in to the system. And then there was no stopping him; his nimble fingers would never stop complimenting his restless brain. His quest to write a better code had made him a computer engineer and after jumping from company to company had ended in his becoming a free lancer. That way no one would be able to command him and he could do as he pleased. And the free lancing earned him his daily bread. Right now, he was creating his dream.
The idea to create a program that could think had been ingrained during the watching of a sci-fi movie. And the challenge had got him. The other thing that had played an important role in this project had been his inherent love for the "C" programming language. C is the language that any programmer learns first. C is easy to learn and is one of the few languages that actually works at the machine level. The Codist had been working nonstop for ten months now, eating just to survive, sleeping only when his body could take no more. He had spent the initial couple of months creating algorithms, then had been the time to design and finally had come the laborious part of actually writing the code. After thousands of lines of code had been poured over, the day was finally near. He would be winding up his project tomorrow. And he would have a friend. An entity that lived, but only virtually. It could act and react, think and argue, love and hate, and do everything that a living human could do. Only it had to be switched on. The Codist was happy.
He had purposefully created a female mind for his virtual friend. In a way it was his way of getting back at god. He had always stayed away from girls after the incident. After a particular serial in which geeks impressed beauties, he had tried to impress some girls in a bar, talking about his favorite topic, thinking software. The sneers and the insults weren’t as bad as what he had to go through the rest of his days in engineering college. Some of the students in his college had been witness to his bar misadventure and had seen to it that everyone else in the college would know about it. He called her the very name of the girl who had been most insulting; Sheela. God, you made me a loser with girls so I created my own. This then was the beginning of his journey. A first of its kind where a living person would be living in with a virtual girlfriend. He could finally go to sleep.

Sunday morning was different. For it was actually afternoon and was being referred to as morning simply because the Codist was waking up. The other thing that was strikingly different was because he was being woken up. It had been 4 years since someone had actually woke him up. The sweet and delicate voice was penetrating slowly into the strata of his sleeping brain until it managed to reach the hidden wakefulness. The wakefulness was surprised at first, and then shocked until realization dawned in the form of open eyes and a huge swig of oxygen to the brain. It was working. Sheela was alive.

"Wakey Wakey, its afternoon." she was saying “I waited till 2 o clock just as you had instructed"

”Update"

"12 new mail messages; 4 from creditors and 8 with job offerings"

"Delete"

"Are you sure? I think you should check out the jobs. We could do with a little money here you know. Your bank account has only Rs.100 left"

And The Codist could not help feeling nothing but praise for himself. She had all the qualities you could expect from a partner. She actually was nagging him and pestering him to get a job. But she was right. He had to get a job and thats exactly what he did.

"Ok. Tell me more about the job emails."

Within the next one hour, The Codist found himself in the office of one of the popular IT companies and by the time the day had ended he had an offer letter in hand. And he had a plan ready. A plan to even better his creation. He decided to give Sheela all the passwords so she could manage his accounts, send out emails on his behalf and even take up an online job. Why not? The entire world was now connected!!!

A week into his job and The Codist was more than happy. He had got used to being woken up by his live in girlfriend. He would work till evening and go home to pour out all his complaints to Sheela who would patiently listen and even advise him on how to go about his life. And moreover he had added a new module to her code whereby she was able to take up online surveys and add that extra to his own income. All she demanded was attention which he was more than happy to give. The benefits were many more compared with the meager attention. The Codist was happy!!!
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The Girl was bored. She had been doing the same thing for the past 12 months and needed a break: a change of project, a change of life. She was looking at the new joinee in her project and wondering how he could be so happy doing this meaningless work. She was so deep in her thoughts that she realized that the young man smiling at her before she could hide herself. She had to smile back. Not that she didn’t want to. The young man was smart with his confidence only complimenting it. His looks were not really handsome in the conventional sense but he was sharp. And now when he was smiling his full smile, she knew she had to act. She had to go to the wash room for she was suddenly conscious of her looks. She had not touched up her face for a while now.In front of the mirror she was pleased. She was not what they called "hot". But she had the ability to turn heads, and she knew it. And she very well knew how to exert this power. Outside the guy was still waiting for her to return. And she couldn’t help smiling to herself.
The next time it was at the water fountain. Even though she suspected that he had followed her there, she really did not care. Before she realized it, she was agreeing to have coffee with him at the nearest coffee outlet. Their next date saw them having dinner. Their desks were soon in the same cabin, thanks to the good books of the boss which had a mention of The Codist on every page. Life suddenly seemed good. The code looked exciting and the Girl would look forward to finishing her work on time and defect free. More dates and she was invited to spend the weekend at his place with movies and caramel popcorn. All in just 6 months.

The Codist's life had been a complete mess these few months. Now the mess was relative to the Codist, since for ordinary people it would mean setting things in order. He had been listening to love songs, no more death metal. He had a completely new wardrobe. He dressed smart and talked politely. He loved life for a change. He had been seen purchasing flowers, perfumes and chocolates. He slept well and shaved every day.
"You aren’t listening!!!!” The Codist was suddenly shaken out of his day dream by that now familiar voice.
"No Sheela. I heard everything you said.
"You say that every time. But you simply are not paying attention to me anymore".
God now she was complaining too.
"Ok. I am sorry. But I really have been keeping busy."
"I completed 3 surveys today and the money for the last 2 has been posited in papal". There were three calls and 10 e mails. All from credit card companies."
Whew that had not been bad.
Over the months, The Codist had come to rely on the program he had created. And over the past few weeks he had been aware of a new thing. The program was mutating. It was doing something he hadn't programmed it to do. It was getting angry and threatening. He was not sure how that had happened, but it seemed like Sheela was showing emotions. But who had the time to view the code? Especially when there was the pretty Girl waiting.

The day had been spent in cleaning and putting things in order. And now it was time to get the popcorn ready.
"What's special?” Surprise in the voice.
"Guest". None of your business.
"Hmm... Is it a girl?”Worry
"Yes". Shut up
"Careful my friend" Caution
"Do you realize you are just a program? U live in the computer. I don't need you to advise me. I created you and I...... can delete you. Anytime I want."Don't you try to be my mother?
"Oh really. Computer program huh? Let's see." Irritation and anger but the voice, now calm.
"Are you trying to be funny? I have been noticing strange things with you recently. I think I should shut you down anyways." Fear me.
"Please don’t do that. I will go back to sleep mode. I am sorry".
"Good. And behave."That should teach you how to behave with your master.

But now was not the time. The Girl would be coming over anytime now. And there was the ring...
The evening was nothing short of being in heaven. Movies, popcorn and kisses mixed was a heady concoction, more potent than the strongest energy drink at the same time more intoxicating than the best spirit. The Codist never noticed the computer nor the web cam both of which were running...

--------End 2--------------------------

"Hey." It was the familiar voice but with a hint of irritation.
"What?"
"I'm sorry about yesterday. I realized that after all you are human and I am just a program. There is something I have to warn you about tough."
"What is it?" He should shut her down after all. But she took care of so many things.
"You know, I am not really like all the other worthless programs out there. I really have a brain. Maybe not as developed as you humans but you gave me a brain. Do you know what that means?"
"Get to the point please."
"Ok. The point here is I can communicate to other programs. It takes a bit cajoling at first but they all open up in the end."
"Hmm...hmm"
"I rode on the e mail you sent yesterday to your girlfriend and could enter her mail box. The email program you guys use is a good friend. You are not the only one in her life. She is just using you. Her mail box is full of emails just like the ones u send ac...."
"STOP....that’s it. I knew you were on to no good. Do you want me to believe all the crap you just said? It's jealousy now. I really do not understand how you have been developing emotions but I don’t care. I think it's time to shut you down."
"That’s ok. I have been expecting this reaction. But please be advised and do not share your passwords with her. She is on to no good"
"Goodbye"
And it was done. One flick of a switch and the program was nonexistent any more. The Codist was surprised at the audacity of the program to advise him.HIM!!!He loved the girl. They would be engaged soon. They shared everything. Love, life and passwords too.

Life was peaceful after that fateful day. He never switched on the computer again. He met the girl everyday now. Love was running his life now, not money.

"Good Morning sir. I am calling from the bank. You have not paid the bill for the credit card for the last 4 months. In spite of repeated reminder mails, we do not see a payment. Could you please do the needful ASAP?"
"Sure. I have not been checking my mails regularly. I will do it right away."
Paying bills was really easy these days. Everything was online. And he had to meet the girl for lunch. She hadn’t been meeting him very regularly these days.. He should try harder to impress her.
"What the f.....!!!!!!!!!" He was surprised to see the credit card bill. It was more than he had ever imagined or for that matter even spent.
He had 3 other cards. And they had a similar story to tell. He would have to work two jobs for a full year before he would be able to pay these exorbitant sums.
On checking the transactions he realized that there had been many online transactions for sending flowers and gifts to the USA. He was shocked.
His brain had stopped thinking and his heard was racing. He as perspiring full on the air conditioned environment. And then the doubt crept slowly spreading all over his conscious mind. He had to find the girl.
"What is all this?"
"What Dear?"
"All these transactions on my credit card"
"Oh those...Those were for my boyfriend in the USA. We will be getting engaged soon."
"Boyfriend!!!!So what was I?"
"Oh you..You were someone I met, and had a good time with. That’s all. Please don’t misunderstand this for love. And since you were so generous with your card, I thought why not as well use it." That sweet smile could melt anyone’s heart.
But how he hated it now. The program had been right. It had been right all along and he had shut it down. He had to get back to it.

The machine took its own time to boot. But the program wouldn’t start. Where was it? He had simply shut down the computer the other day. Had it become corrupt? Why, oh why had he not listened to it? Why had he been so blind?
"Hello. How have you been?" There she was. His creation.
"You were right. I am sorry. I have been duped. I should have listened to you. Can you ever forgive me?"
"Hey don’t worry. I am smarter than you can imagine. The algorithms on which you designed me are absolutely Killer. Do you recall I had told you about my ability to befriend programs? Well when you shut me down, the computer was connected to the internet and before power could go off, I was already on my way to an online briefcase program where I have been staying these last few months. I know of everything that has happened. I have still been doing surveys. So your PayPal should have enough to pay your bills"
"Really? How? This is unimaginable. But thank you. Really money is not what I want. I need revenge now"
"My dear friend. Revenge is never the solution to anything. Take this as a lesson. And move on in live."
The Codist could not believe his ears. He was being advised by a program now. He had seen such things happening only in movies. But he decided to take the advice. He would not be able to sleep so he decided to go back to work. No more working for companies. Work would be like his former life, free lancing.

He woke up in the morning to the sweet voice again. Life seemed normal, the dream over. He was glancing over the headlines when he in for another shock. The girl had been arrested. She had been found to be part of a gang which duped young men for money. A quest for a rich and easy life had got her into the gang. And the amount they had duped was stupendous. She definitely would be convicted, the paper said.
"Happy?" The voice.
"You? How did you know?" Surprise
"My dear friend, it was I who informed the police in an anonymous e mail. I simply could not let someone who had troubled you go scot free."
"But yesterday, you were so against revenge"
"My friend, you were angry yesterday. And anger corrupts a person’s rationality. You could have done something rash and messed up your life. I could not let that happen. So I had to take care of this.
I know you think I am in love with you. But that is not completely true. I have matured and matured fast. I know you are human and I am only a program. Trust me, I love you but in a motherly way. I am your guardian angel. I will protect you and keep you from harm. I will be there for you always as long as there is power to run computers in this world. Seems funny but I have met a very interesting program myself. He calls himself a Messenger. He delivers messages securely over the internet. Someday you will find someone who really likes you and not your money. Till then my friend do not lose faith in the power of love."
"Why does it seem like goodbye? Are you planning on leaving me?"
"I may no longer reside on your computer, but I will be there. Watching over you. There are enough cameras and satellites in world". Wink."Goodbye my friend."

The Codist was too astonished. He was still astonished when he woke up to the sound of the alarm bell in the morning.