The Lockdown game!

He was bored to death. He had just heard about Lockdown V.3. He was literally locked up inside his house for that last 35 days and now it was further extended. He had no other choice but to connect to the internet through his only companion during lockdown – his mobile phone.

“Interesting games to play online during lockdown” – he googled.

The first link which popped-up was an online game called – “The lockdown game”

To participate in the game, you should pay an amount of $100. The game lasts only for 60 minutes. At the end of the game, if you win, you will get back $140. If you end up in a tie, you will get back $75. If you lose, you lose the whole $100.

The rules are simple. Once you pay and register, a gaming platform would add you to a virtual room – a locked room, in which you are in with two other strangers. As the clock starts ticking down from 1 hour, you will have three chat windows on your screen.

Window 1:  A private chat window with partner 1

Window 2: A private chat window with partner 2

Window 3: A public chat window where all partners can chat with each other.

Along with the chat windows, you also have an option to see the public profile of these strangers to the extent they have published it on the platform. If you choose to, your profile could be linked to your Instagram or Facebook handles, which makes your profile more public and hence more authentic.

What is the objective of the game?

It is a simple survival game, in which you vote out one participant before the end of stipulated 1 hour. You have only one vote to execute. In the course of time of this one hour, using the chat windows, you can chat with your partners publicly or privately. You should ensure that you are safe, by teaming up with at least one of the partners and persuading him/her to vote out the other one. In doing so, you should also ensure that the other two are not teaming up against you. You must be convincing, but also should make sure that you are not persistently overselling yourselves. You can show-off your chatting skills, flirting skills, public profile or whatever to ensure that you surpass at least one of the other two partners.

The possible outcomes:

1.       All 3 ends up voting 1 each against each other like in a tie – You get $75 back. The gaming platform makes $75 dollars - $25 dollars from each.

2.       Time runs out without at least two participants casting the vote against one common player – still counted as a tie. You get $75 back. The gaming platform makes $75 dollars - $25 dollars from each.

3.        You survive along with one another partner. You get back $140. The gaming platforms gets a nominal cut of $10 from each of the winners.

4.       You lose. You lose the whole $100.

“Interesting”, he thought. Other general instructions involved terms and conditions on how to socially behave, code of conduct, blah, blah, blah. He did not even bother to read that.

This was the best thing he could do now to burn time and regain his sanity. He paid $100 and linked his Facebook profile to the account. Within a few minutes, he was inside the lobby of the virtual room.

A message appeared on the screen: “Relax yourselves in the lobby for a minute or two until we find the right partners for you to play this game.”

In a minute, he was inside the room. Boom!

Another message appeared: “You have 5 minutes to go through the profiles of your partners and familiarize about them. The chatting windows will be open in exactly 5 minutes and that’s when the game starts. Enjoy lockdown game!”

 

*****************

Let me introduce myself. My name is Alex Peter (Age 27) and I am from Kerala. Born as a Christian and living as an atheist. Not a health freak but loves cycling and football. Arsenal fan. Straight and currently single. I am not a bad figure to look at – In a self-assessment I would rate myself as an easy 7, in a scale of 1 to 10. Loves reading fiction. I also love watching thriller movies and Netflix series. That’s what I have been doing through the major part of this lockdown - binge-watching. Working as an IT engineer in Cochin. Trapped alone here in my rented apartment for this lockdown, far away from my parent’s house.

That’s what other partners would see when they go through my public Facebook profile which is linked to this game. I had just 5 minutes to go through the other 2 profiles. I noticed the other two profile names.

1. Anita Venkatraman from Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

2. Sonali Sharma from Jaipur, Rajasthan

Both are young single ladies and both are extremely beautiful. While Sonali had a modern outlook in her profile pic, Anita looked more traditional with a typical half-saree attire.

“Stop being judgmental” – I reminded myself and quickly went on to check some of the basic info about both the girls.

Anita: Doing her Masters in engineering from IIT-Madras. Currently trapped inside the college hostel as part of the lockdown. Sure, the girl is brainy. Not much of info available in the public profile.

Sonali Sharma: Freelance journalist and writer. Love for movies and modelling is evident. Love for Aamir Khan can be easily established from various posts. Special love for music, books and travelling.

Difficult to pick one girl for sure – at the very first glance, I liked both.

“This is not a matrimonial site search but a game for survival. You need not like them; they need to like you. What should be my strategy? Whom should I team up with – Anita or Sonali?”

5 minutes went fast and as the 60 minutes clock appeared on the screen, all the 3 chat windows also became active.

Clock started ticking… 60:00, 59:59, 59:58, 59:57….

 

Public chat window:

Sonali: “Hello Anita and Alex”

Alex: “Hello, girls…”. I sent my first message.

Sonali: “How are you all handling the COVID situation?”

Alex: “Doing alright…But I guess we have to be stronger for the time ahead”. Always maintain a positive vibe, especially with girls – I have taught myself on many previous occasions.

Sonali: “Yes, Indeed. Kerala has been doing so good so far”

Alex: “Extremely good in fact. Kerala was top in the list with 500+ cases and today the active count is lesser than 50”

Sonali: “Yea, I am writing a piece about Kerala model of health care.  Need to study a bit more on that. Why Anita is silent?”

Anita: “I am here…”

Alex: “Vanakkam”. I tried to show off my Tamil skills for obvious reasons.

Anita: “Vanakkam you too…but let us keep it in English for the benefit of Sonali” she replied.

I was taken aback by that cold response. Anita was evidently smart. She knew that, if she had to survive, she had to win the trust of Sonali as well.

Private chat window - Anita:

Anita: While we can definitely chat in Tamil here 😉

In came that chat from Anita to me, almost immediately after that first line from her in the public chat window.

Alex: of course, but the only problem being – I am also not very good in Tamil. 😊

I replied. Actually, I lied. I was good at Tamil, but that’s what I felt like replying. Maybe because I did not like the cold response from Anita to start with.

My inclination was definitely towards Sonali at that point. Am I picking sides too fast?

Private chat window – Sonali:

Alex: “Hi Sonali.”

Sonali: “Hey Alex.”

Alex: “Anita is a bit different?”

I was straight to the point. If Anita is different, Sonali and I had more things in common, is what I wanted to put forth.

Sonali: “Sure, she is. I am watching it.”

Sonali was smarter than I thought. She was building the right rapport with me already, which made me already think – will she be doing the same thing with Anita as well? What they both might be chatting right now?

 Alex: Sonali, I was going through your profile

Sonali: And?

Alex: if I don’t tell you this, it would be a criminal offence. You are extremely beautiful.

Sonali: Thank you! So, kind of you to tell me that.

I thought I gained a point there. This is not something Anita might be able to pitch to Sonali. Two beautiful girls cannot gel well that easily. That’s what I thought, or is it my social conditioning which made me think like that?

Public chat window:

Anita: Hello people. We cannot keep the public chat window idle :-P

Sonali: We cannot let us pretend that there are no private chats happening.😉

Alex: Ha ha. No private chat for the next 10 minutes. How about that?

I had to try and show my leadership skills!

Anita: Am in.

Sonali: cool. Let us try that.

The clock was already at 50:15 when that rule was set!

Did I make a mistake by setting that rule? Now, I cannot initiate a private chat for the next 10 minutes, since I made that proposal. If I break the rule myself, that will tarnish my trustfulness.

Sonali and Anita could be chatting – I must make sure that the public chat window is active enough.

Alex: How are you girls managing the food during the lockdown?

Anita: Oh! Don’t even start with that. You know how monotonous the hostel food tastes? My tongue has gone retarded!

Sonali: Lol! I am with my parents. So cannot complain too much!

Anita: You, lucky girl! How about you Alex?

 Alex: Bad! Really bad! I am craving for many things right now. I should not have asked the ‘food’ question.

Anita: What all are you craving for?

Sonali: Beef????

Anita: Surely, he would be, Aren’t you?

 I skipped a heartbeat. I could sense my vulnerability for the first time in the last 15 minutes. I had to answer smartly and suddenly.

Alex: Of course, I am. As much as Anita is missing her mom-made dishes. My mom cooks beef really yum!

Sonali: Anita, do you eat beef as well?

Anita: No! I am a Tamil brahmin.

Sonali: Glad to hear that! Hi-five!

Anita: There you go! Hi-five!

It was becoming obvious and now I was getting a grip of the game plan. Both the ladies are equally threatened as I am the only guy and I will be compelled to choose one of the girls. This is evident to both the girls. This makes both think alike that – instead of trying to team up with me, they both are in a safer land if they team up together. Anita’s remark on ‘Tamil’ to support Sonali and Sonali’s move to sideline me based on ‘beef’ were both motivated from this thought process. By negating me, they are teaming up gradually. I suddenly felt the pressure. The only way to handle this situation was to trigger a divide. I had to plant a seed of divide into their minds!

Alex: But I do like Sambhar and Rasam as well. In fact, Kerala ‘Sadhya’ is a big spread of vegetable dishes which we make during special occasions like Onam. Sonali, do you know what an ‘Avial’ is?

There was no response for about 10 seconds.

This game was not about what you think! This was about, what you should think that your opponents are thinking about what you are thinking…and it can go into many recursive loops like that!

Sonali: Avial? The music band?

Anita: Lol! She googled!

Sonali: Yes girl! I googled…what is wrong in that?

Anita: Chill. Nothing wrong in that, except that it is a veg curry! Lol!

Alex:  A delicious South-Indian mix veg curry. Sonali, you should try it at least once for sure!

Time was 41:35. I was waiting for the 10 minutes mark to start a private chat with Anita. This was the definite time. I had planted my idea already!

Sonali: My bad! Google returns more music kinds of stuff to me than foodstuffs 😊

Sonali was trying her best to patch up that wound. There was a bit of silence again in the chat window which made me anxious again.

Alex: Hey ladies, 10 minutes window is not yet over. There is one more minute to go.

Sonali: Don’t be so paranoid, Alex. 😊

Alex: Haha. Your silence is bothering me.

I sounded desperate to cover up, I know.

Private chat window - Anita:

Anita: Boy, you are so cute!

I should say, I blushed for that.

Alex: like…why?

Anita: The way you made sure that this is North India vs South India… I liked that move!

There are people who state the obvious and make it awkward. This is a common trait with intelligent people. Why cannot they just say silent, if it is so obvious?

Alex: No, it was nothing to do with South vs North. But since you brought it up, why can’t it be?

Anita: See, this is why I told that you are cute. You are handling it neatly and diplomatically. Who are you, Mr Shashi Tharoor?

Alex: Btw, You were 30 seconds early to start the private chat!

Anita: 30 seconds early! I thought usually men are a bit early 😊

I was wrong. Anita was not conservative at all!

Alex: Not me! I make sure that both I and my partner are right on time! 😊 😊

Anita: You playboy!

Just when I was starting my flirting chats with Anita, the other window flashed a message.

Private chat window – Sonali:

Sonali: Before I could respond to the last messages in private, you came in like Modiji at 8 PM and imposed the lockdown.

Alex: What’s that?

I was curious.

Sonali: Glad that you liked my looks. You know I try a bit of modelling as well.

Alex: yes, it is evident from your pics. Stunning, in fact.

Sonali: Thanks again, but what I wanted to mention is that you are also handsome. Especially your smile.

Alex: You should see me now. My cheek is red, blushing 😊

Sonali: Lol!

Private chat window – Anita:

Anita: How are ‘things’ going during the lockdown?  Everything is locked up? :-P

I noticed that, Anita had suddenly taken this ‘sexy’ tone in her talks. Obviously, the best thing to gain a man’s attention.

Alex: Yep. There are means for ‘freedom’ during lockdown too.

Anita: Nice. What are you wearing right now?

Alex: me?

Definitely, this was taking a dirty turn.

Anita: Yes, like right now.

Alex: T-shirt and shorts.

Anita: What colour?

Alex: Red T-shirt and White shorts.

Anita: You know what? I am also wearing red and white.

Alex: You are kidding!

Private chat window – Sonali:

Sonali: So, do you have a girlfriend?

Alex: not right now, I am going through a break-up

Woah! Sonali also had taken the ‘girlish’ step! No Sonali – don’t do that!

This was becoming difficult. I was putting me again in a tight spot by multi-tasking the chat between the ladies. This would mean that the attention is divided and they both could feel threatened. They might pair up eventually.

Man! This game was more wicked than I thought! I had to do something to buy time from both. And more importantly, I had to pick one between Sonali and Anita.

Clock indicated 30:00. A small beep came out from the platform to remind everyone that, it was midway.

Public chat window:

 Alex: Girls, 30 minutes up!

Sonali: Yep. Noticed that!

I was inspired by Anita. I was about to state the obvious and the awkward truth!

Alex: Girls, I have a proposal.

Anita: Again, rule-setter. What is it this time?

Alex: Look, it is apparent. We have only one vote and at the end of this game, we have to cast that.

Sonali: Yes…that’s this game. So?

Alex: Instead of chatting so frantically and sub-optimally, why can’t we divide the next fifteen minutes in a better way?

Sonali: like what?

Anita: I know what he is coming to…

Alex: What is it?

Anita: Split the fifteen minutes into 3 five minutes windows?

Alex: Yes.

Sonali: and?

Alex: first five minutes for a private chat between Anita and Alex. Second five minutes between Sonali and Anita. Third five minutes between Sonali and me.

Anita: Not bad. But I need a bio break now. Can I swap the first five minutes window to last five minutes?

Alex: no problem for me!

Anita was brilliant. She was not taking a break. She was making sure that the last 5 minutes was spend with her so that, she has info and benefit from the previous two sessions. IIT indeed!

Sonali: Sounds Ok. So, the first five minutes is between me and Alex?

Alex: Yep.

Sonali: Time is now 27:00. So, till 22:00, it my private time with Alex. Super!

I don’t know whether this was a good idea or not, but I was getting a hold of the entire situation now!

Anita: Ok guys, carry on. I will be back in 5 minutes.

Private chat window – Sonali:

Sonali: How romantic! Private chat time 😊

Alex: Yea, this should be the shortest date I ever had.

Sonali: Lol!

Alex: Sonali, outside of this, once you are out from this locked room, would you like to chat with me?

Sonali: Hey, are you asking me out for a longer date?

Alex: You bet!

Sonali: Yes, I would love to.

Alex: I will be waiting for this game to get over then.

Sonali: …. but it would also depend on whom you are going to vote against. Isn’t it ?

She was coming to the main topic!

Alex: …yes, and it would depend on your vote as well.

Sonali: I know. But if we are in agreement, why worry then?

Alex: Are we?

Sonali: Aren’t we?

Alex: I guess so.

Sonali: Then we should just do the voting right now and just finish this?

That was a very bold proposal! A few bits of fairness left in me thought against it.

Alex: We had a set a rule for 15 minutes. I think we should stick to that. What do you think?

Sonali: You are right. In fact, I like this trait of integrity in you. Even last time, you never texted me for a private chat for that 10-minute window. I loved that!

Was she really falling for me or was it just a drama? Now, I was really confused. Integrity – my foot!

This was just a game – we all knew that. Then why I am not considering the proposal which Sonali just made? Just do the voting against Anita and get it over? Be happy with the extra $40, which I earned in just 40 minutes.

But, this game was not just about dollars now, isn’t it?

The clock reached 23:30 mark.

Sonali: Ok Alex. I trust you now.

Alex: Yep, even though it is a heavy word, you can trust me. We both are voting against Anita at the end of this 15 minutes and it is a deal!

Sonali: Love you for that!

Alex: Hey girl! Talk to in a while!

And with that, my private chat time with Sonali was over.

Public chat window:

Anita: Ok pals, I am back, and it is time for my private chat with Sonali. Alex, give my girl to me 😉

Alex: She is all yours!

I told and I stood up to take a break! Phew!

When I started this game, I wanted my stress to reduce. Now, this game was serious fucking adrenaline rush! And you know why this game was becoming tougher? It leaves you behind with a very bad feeling. Even in a small group of 3, if you are not good enough to sustain, then what is your real worth? Why shouldn’t you be then called as a loser?

I wanted de-stress - I badly wanted a smoke. I took a cigarette from the pack and went to the balcony and lit up one. And I was in no mood to think about what Anita and Sonali might be chatting for the next 5 minutes - I tried my best not to!  

When I returned to my room, the on-screen clock was showing 17:25

Public chat window:

Alex: Guys, almost time-up.

No response. I waited.

Clock kept ticking.

17:00

Alex: “Enough Girls. Let us stick to the rules”

No response. Heated talk between the girls – I thought.

16:25

Alex: “Hey, That’s enough. My window with Anita is running out”

No response. This time I was a bit bothered.

16:00

Private Chat window – Anita:

Alex: “Hey Anita, stop the chat with Sonali. It is our time now”

No response. This time really felt that something was really going wrong. What could it be? Does Anita know that Sonali and I are already on a pact?

Anita: “Hold-on. Just finishing this” in came a final reply.

Alex: “What? It is already 2 minutes late”

Private Chat window – Sonali:

Alex: “Sonali. What is going on there? Just end that chat.”

No response. This was going bad! Really bad. The idea of dedicated private chat time was mine and this was proving to be costly for me. I was feeling much susceptible than ever before now! Are they teaming up?

I waited, that was the only thing I could do. The clock indicated 12:00.

This meant that, there was only 12 more minutes before we all made a decision, beyond which we all or either one of us fail.

Private Chat window – Anita:

Anita: “Sorry, it took a while to conclude”

I check the clock. 11:37. I was certainly pissed off and irritated.

Alex: “What bitch talk were you girls doing? The first thing we all should have is respect for time” I had already lost this conversation with Anita with that opening dialogue.

Anita: “Watch your language”

Alex: “Oh, really? What are you gonna do otherwise”?

Anita: “Guess you have not read the terms and conditions properly. I can report you now if I want to. But I am not gonna do that. I am not that cheap”

Alex: “Thanks, but we had a rule set. It was you who disregarded the rule in the first place”

Anita: “And what was the need of the rule, if you and Sonali had already decided to vote me out?”

Alex: “Revelation, is it? Yes. That’s what we have decided, and I think I was correct in my decision”

I wanted to end this as soon as possible as I could.

Anita: “We? Are you sure?”

Alex: “Why not? I trust her”

Anita: “You do. Does she…still?”

Alex: “What do you mean? Of course, she does”

Anita: “Well then, all the best!”

Alex: “Well, fuck off!”

That’s when I saw a private chat from Sonali coming in.

Private Chat window – Sonali:

Sonali: “Alex, tell me something…what are you wearing right now?”

Alex: “Sonali, What? Is that important now?”

Sonali: “Yes Alex, it is important. Tell me”

Alex: “Sonali, look…I don’t know what happened in that chat between Anita and you in the last 10 minutes, but we had our decision already. We should stick to that”

Sonali: “We had. But how can I be sure that, you would not do a similar chat with Anita as well?”

Alex: “Sonali…I thought you trust me”

Sonali: “That’s what I had thought. Tell me, what is it you are wearing right now?”

Alex: “I can explain this”

Sonali: “We don’t have that much time left”

She was right. The clock was already at 07:00 mark. The clock was moving really fast and so was my heart rate.

Public chat window:

Anita: “Sonali, did you ask him?”

Sonali: “I did. But he would not respond to that”

Alex: “Sonali, don’t do this. She is playing with us. Let us chat privately”

Sonali: “No, answer me right here. There is nothing more to be hidden.”

Anita: “Ask it again Sonali, I want to hear that”

Sonali: “Alex, tell us. What are you wearing?”

A drop of sweat fell on my screen from my face. My throat was getting dried up. I was feeling the pain of betrayal in my life after a very long time.

With all my courage, I typed.

Alex: “I am wearing a Red T-shirt and white shorts. How does even matter?”

Sonali: “Trust is a heavy word, Alex. It matters”

I was losing it. Anita was pulling it off in the last minute from me.

Anita: “I just did my voting. I have voted against you Alex”

Damn! The final nail on the coffin was blown in! I had to react.

Time was 3:00. Last fucking three minutes.

Alex: “Sonali, think well before you do the voting.”

No response. It was evident. I could feel the pain of selection Sonali was going through. I had no other choice now, but to vote against Anita and wait for the final vote from Sonali.

I was about to click the voting button against Anita, when I saw another private incoming message from Anita.

Private Chat window – Anita:

Anita: “It is evident how Sonali can flip flop. Stick with me. I haven’t done my voting yet. I can vote against Sonali if you agree.”

Alex: “What??? Are you mad?”

Anita: “Welcome to the Lockdown game, babe!”

I felt like breaking down. This was not my expectation when I joined this game. I checked the clock.

02:00. That last 120 seconds and I counted every one of those. Here I am, almost at the end of one hour still undecided on whom I must vote against. Still not sure, whether I will be voted out or not.

Private Chat window – Sonali:

Alex: “Sonali, ‘Avial’ is my favourite Malayalam music band and I am sure that you would like their tracks as well. Once we get out of this lockdown, let us hear some of those songs together. You would love them. Trust me!”

Private Chat window – Anita:

Alex: “I am not able to understand you girl. I am not as intelligent as you are.”

Time was 00:58:00 – last 58 seconds.

Public chat window:

Sonali: Alright guys, I just cast my vote.

Game was not yet over. That meant only one thing - I don’t have 2 votes against me yet.

Really? Was Anita telling the truth or Sonali had voted against Anita? Whom should I believe?

Time was running out. It was 00:30:00 – last 30 seconds.

And then I cast my vote!

Public chat window:

Alex: “So did I. I cast my vote - Just now”. I let others knew about that.

When the clock reached 00:14:00, a message popped-up:

“Congratulations! You are one of the winners and you have won $140”. That meant Anita had done her voting too.

Tears started rolling out from my eyes as I could not control my emotions. Yes, I was one of the winners and I knew who the other winner was. That’s because I knew who the loser was – The one I voted against!

There was one last unread message in my chat screen:

Private Chat window – Anita: “Chill dude. It is just a game and I do love beef!” 😊