Deceit in Darkness: The Collapse of Innocence - A short story

Deceit in Darkness: The Collapse of Innocence

In the hallowed halls of academia, where the pursuit of knowledge was revered and dreams were delicately spun into reality, two young men navigated their formative years side by side - Hein and Juen. Their friendship, born from shared struggles, mutual respect, and youthful innocence, seemed unbreakable to others. Hein, with his contemplative demeanor and unwavering dedication, sought truth and understanding, dreaming of making a difference in the world. Juen, on the other hand, possessed a magnetic charisma, a cunning intelligence masked beneath a veneer of affability, yet beneath that charm lurked an insidious envy - a corrosive desire to surpass and discredit others particularly his closest friend.

Unbeknownst to Hein, Juen’s heart was a cauldron of duplicity, simmering with jealousy and ambition. From the outset, Juen’s ambitions were cloaked in deception; he envied Hein’s integrity and the genuine admiration he received. His mind was a labyrinth of dubious schemes, each more nefarious than the last, crafted with meticulous precision to ensure his ascent at Hein's expense. As the years unfurled, Juen’s duplicity grew more brazen. He clandestinely whispered falsehoods into the ears of mentors and peers, sowing discord and mistrust around Hein. He manipulated circumstances, subtly sabotaging Hein’s academic pursuits - planting doubt where confidence once resided, undermining his reputation with calculated lies. His envy manifested in petty acts of sabotage - misplacing critical documents, spreading false rumors of incompetence, and subtly discrediting Hein’s achievements, all the while maintaining a facade of camaraderie. Hein, trusting and earnest, remained oblivious to Juen’s treacherous machinations. His faith in friendship blinded him to the creeping darkness that encroached upon his life. He believed in the inherent goodness of those around him, convinced that honesty and integrity would prevail. But Juen’s duplicity was a venom lurking beneath his charming exterior, ready to strike at the moment of greatest vulnerability.

As graduation day approached - a pinnacle of hope and achievement - their paths seemed destined to diverge. Hein, with his humble yet unwavering resolve, stepped into the world, clutching his dreams tightly. Juen, meanwhile, harbored his own dark plans - ambitions rooted in envy and a ruthless desire for dominance. However, they decided to continue their academic pursuits by undergoing further training in their alma mater before getting into experimentation of what they have learned over years in the real world. Everything seemed good superficially, yet beneath the jubilant veneer, Juen’s malevolent intentions brewed. There came a breakthrough for Hein, at least he thought so it was, which actually turned wrong and unsuitable for him. While trying to cool off this disappointment, Hein was approached by the venomous Juen, in the shadows of their shared history, with icy disdain. His voice, laced with venom, cut through the air like a slicer - “You think you’re special, Hein? Just a naive fool, deluded by illusions of virtue. You’re nothing but a pathetic dreamer, destined to drown in mediocrity.” His words were a barrage - each syllable deliberately chosen to emasculate, to diminish the man who had once been his closest confidant. It didn't stop there; the snake began to spew more venom! "If you go all into this field, you will be labelled as a lunatic". "Do you have any regard for the hard-earned money? You irresponsible loser"? Juen was pretty sure Hein had been caged in a dark tunnel of despair, gloom and worthlessness and he will remain chained there for a long time! His sly criminal grin echoed his wicked mind's dubious processes that began plotting since years reaching the present targeted point of crumbling Hein's mental peace! Leaving the devastated Hein alone, he alpha-walked towards the exit to get into his vehicle parked on the road side triumphantly. He plucked some leaves from a kerbside small tree, which he used to do often, to follow a pattern for making things happen according to his intentions! Hein’s mind, once a sanctuary of hope, was shattered under the weight of this verbal assault. The words echoed in his consciousness, gnawing at his self-esteem, planting insidious doubts. The relentless verbal barrage was not merely an attack on his reputation but an insidious attempt to fracture his very sense of self. His confidence, fragile and earnest, crumbled under the onslaught. 

The psychological wounds inflicted by Juen’s words festered beneath Hein’s skin, boring into a deep, gnawing despair. The trauma was not ephemeral; it seeped into his core, igniting a dark, relentless depression. His mental fortress, once fortified by ideals and hope, was breached - his mind became a battleground where despair battled resilience. Every passing day became a struggle to maintain composure, a fight against the internal demons of worthlessness and shame. Years stretched into a bleak continuum of suffering. Hein, once a vibrant and ambitious soul, now wandered through life like a nomad—adrift and broken. His days blurred into an abyss of sorrow, his nights haunted by the echoes of Juen’s words. The wounds inflicted by that treacherous friend refused to heal, festering into deep scars that marred his identity. Friends and family watched helplessly as the vibrant boy they knew faded into a shadow of himself - a shell haunted by the ghosts of betrayal.

Meanwhile, Jeun's life was a paradox. Despite his material riches - luxurious mansions, expensive possessions, and social prestige crafted cunningly through charities and cheap donations - his soul was hollow, corrupted by greed, envy, and moral depravity. His dubious schemes had elevated him temporarily, but they also stained his conscience, which he had long since numbed with arrogance and hubris. He believed himself invincible, untouchable - an apex predator cloaked in the veneer of success. Yet, beneath this veneer, a deep-seated insecurity gnawed at him. His envy of Hein’s integrity and potential was a relentless Specter, haunting his every step. His duplicity was driven not only by greed but also by a pathological need to overshadow and destroy the genuine goodness he secretly envied. It must be mentioned here that the kerbside tree was cut off during this time, so there were no leaves available for him to pluck to maintain the winning streak pattern! The exit also became non-existent which broke the pattern beyond repeating ever again! Even the morphology of the road changed! Nature’s play!

As the years passed, Juen's unscrupulous machinations began to unravel. Juen was astutely manipulative. He adeptly sustained a veneer of social propriety through strategic philanthropy, generous donations, and cheap services, exemplifying calculated cunning and duplicity. However, people are no fools; their discernment is implacable and unforgiving. Deception and treachery, no matter how meticulously concealed, are destined to be unmasked by the relentless march of truth. Ultimately, the veneer of duplicity disintegrates, revealing the malevolent core of those who harbor insidious intentions. reputation, built on lies, manipulation, and treachery, started to crumble. Rumors circulated, exposing his duplicity to those who once regarded him with admiration. His wealth, once a symbol of triumph, became a hollow façade - an empty shell masking his moral decay. The culmination of his hubris arrived with a cruel twist of fate. His schemes, once carefully concealed, were laid bare in a public arena. His empire of lies disintegrated, leaving behind a trail of ruined lives and broken relationships. The man who had once believed himself invincible was now a pariah - despised and isolated. He was rumored to be perpetually entangled in licentious pursuits that sullied his reputation. His proclivity for hedonistic indulgences further exemplified his decadent and self-destructive tendencies. Such self-gratifying exploits epitomized his moral depravity and relentless pursuit of transient pleasures.

In his final days, Juen’s life dwindled into obscurity and despair. The riches that had once defined him now felt like chains - reminding him of the moral bankruptcy that had brought him to this point. His health declined, his reputation in ruins, and his conscience - a long-suppressed whisper of guilt - grew louder with each passing moment and that was the most deplorable aftermath of his bad karma. Despite his material wealth, Hein died like a broken animal - neglected, despised, and ultimately forsaken. His death was a tragic testament to the futility of greed and treachery - a stark reminder that moral decay cannot be concealed forever. His riches had failed to buy peace or redemption; they only served as hollow trophies in a life wasted on envy and duplicity.

Hein, meanwhile, endured. Following Juen's betrayal Hein found himself ostracized by the very peers he once shared laughter with. Whispers followed him wherever he went, casting a shadow over his every move. Hein struggled to understand how trust could be so easily broken. The weight of loneliness pressed heavily on his shoulders. Each attempt to reach out was met with cold silence; peers avoided his gaze, their faces veiled by the lingering shadow of Juen’s treachery. It was as if an invisible veil had descended, obscuring the truth from everyone’s sight. Hein’s world grew darker, filled with doubt and despair. Juen employed a range of unscrupulous and underhanded tactics, including reckless, repeated overtaking of Juen's vehicle often and disseminating libelous gossip to undermine Hein's reputation, falsely portraying Hein as delusional. Juen succeeded in enlisting a faction of individuals, some classmates including, to collude with him in disseminating malicious rumors and orchestrating subtle disparagements against Hein. Through manipulative persuasion, he cultivated a clandestine network aimed at undermining Hein’s reputation. This orchestrated campaign of defamation exemplified his adeptness at employing insidious tactics to tarnish Hein’s image. Hein recoiled at the recollection of certain classmates of Juen's team whose condescending demeanor, marked by sneering grins aimed at mocking him. Their patronizing attitude exuded contempt and disdain, intensifying his sense of humiliation. The memory of their derisive behavior evoked a profound sense of disquiet and alienation in Hein. Fed up with a series of setbacks, Hein had to go to faraway places for survival leaving his family behind. Nonetheless, this allowed him to steer clear of Juen and his group for many years. Over time, no one dared to belittle him anymore because his self-esteem grew, and he developed greater inner strength. He became more resilient, and self-assured. Eventually, he also became more assertive and firmer in himself despite the innumerable setbacks he encountered professionally, socially and personally.

In the waning twilight of his existence, Hein cast a reflective gaze upon the tumultuous odyssey that had defined his life - an odyssey irrevocably altered by a singular act of perfidy that shattered his inner tranquility. Decades of peregrination through mental obscurity had relentlessly tried his fortitude, forging an arduous crucible that tempered his spirit through relentless adversity. Yet, amidst the shadows of despair, he discerned an immutable verity: that authentic resilience resides in the capacity to transcend the darkness cast by malevolent forces, to elevate oneself beyond the abyss of despondency. Nevertheless, his odyssey was far from unmarred; it was a labyrinthine voyage fraught with relentless tribulations, punctuated by the indelible imprints of emotional scarring. The process of amelioration was protracted and arduous, requiring years for the deep-seated wounds to attenuate, yet the residual anguish - an insidious specter - occasionally resurfaced, haunting the recesses of his consciousness. Hein’s trajectory was convoluted and labyrinthine, marked by persistent afflictions and enduring emotional scars that refused to fully dissipate, testaments to the arduous resilience of a soul scarred yet unbowed.

The story of Hein and Juen is a testament - a cautionary tale of how duplicity, envious ambition, and moral decay can lead to ruin. Juen's treachery, born from a poisoned heart, not only destroyed his victim’s mental peace but also consumed his own soul. His riches, his schemes, and his duplicity all culminated in a tragic demise - a life squandered in envy and treachery, echoing through the corridors of time as a stark warning. It is regrettable that individuals who discern such insidious manipulative alliances masquerading as friendship seldom issue warnings regarding the same. Their silence in the face of these deceptive associations underscores a profound neglect of moral responsibility. Such apathy allows these insidious bonds to proliferate unchallenged, fostering further exploitation. Ultimately, their failure to alert elders or parents reveals a troubling abdication of ethical duty in the face of duplicity.

In the end, the true victory belonged to those like Hein - those who, despite the wounds inflicted by treacherous friends, find the strength to heal, to forgive, and to forge ahead with integrity. And Juen’s downfall served as a grim reminder of the perils of moral corruption - a lesson etched in the annals of time, warning all of the destructive power of envy and duplicity.

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Why some people pick up only negatives? How to tackle negatives in life? How to be positive?

Negatives and positives are two sides of the same coin. A coin exists with these two aspects and they are part and parcel of it. There is no existence to the coin without these two facets. Everything connected with life, in general, has these two aspects.

We cannot simply turn a blind eye towards the negatives. Likewise, stressing only the negatives also is foolish. In a place where yummy dishes and drinks flow freely somebody may think only of too much Cholesterol and Sugar and may discourage others not to touch anything and that amounts to absolute negativity but a warning not to indulge would be okay and cannot be termed negativity.

Try to analyze the situation. Find out the positives and negatives. Analyze how to balance both. Make a plan to reduce the risks, negatives or take calculated risks. Likewise, the positives also need analysis. Will it tackle negatives? Are these things that we see real positives? Are we taking lightly the negatives and over stressing positives?

Always listen to gut feelings, always...! 
Never, ever ignore this emotion, never!
Listen to inner talk, take some time and listen intently to what our subconscious mind is trying to tell us...!

I am telling you this from my experience. In instances where I ignored what my real inner self was trying to tell me, I had trouble. I am quite sure you all can relate to this fact.

There can be some instances where we can sound absolutely negative and being perceived as pessimistic. This usually happens when someone we trust betrays us when we get trapped in some tricky situations, forced to work with bad employers, when we get bullied, in the presence of manipulative parents, relatives, our loved ones and in front of unjust Authorities. Even naturally positive persons become pathetic in such situations. The manipulators will try to instill negativity in your mind and will accuse you of being negative. This is a cool trick! A person who is of the same league like them will not yield to such cunning tactics, but he/she will not fall prey to such traps in the first place :) They will know what to do to avoid such traps!

Please look at the above scenarios carefully. Almost always, people who get bullied, cheated, trapped etc., are 'soft souls' who perceive the world as only black and white and turn a blind eye towards the grey/shady/dark areas. This world and the people that inhabit here have positives and negatives. Some are crooked, cunning and expert manipulators. They know how to exploit people, how to manipulate them for their gains, how to sugar coat poison, how to satisfy their lust pretending love and in a nutshell, they know 'how to 'manage' ordinary people! They psyche their victims and the poor souls think that everything is their fault. Bullies will target someone emotionally immature than them and soft-hearted. Those they are sure who will not resist or fight back are easy hits. They assume that the target, their parents, relatives, friends or well-wishers are weak/afraid/reluctant to complain or exert resistance. Anger, violence and character assassination are their tools. Those who are bullied think it is all their fault, they are 'psyched' into this attitude by the bullies. Countless examples of such reality situations are there in front of us! Joining a Company which has bad reputation, signing deals with cunning people, falling (often foolishly) in love with crooks, buying a product just by watching a colorful ad, ignoring bullying and not nipping it off from the bud itself, living foolishly allowing ourselves to get exploited by 'relatives', suffering silently in a bad relationship, not asking for help, refusing the help offered, not identifying being abused etc. are some of the examples.

We have to be aware of the fact there are good and bad people in the world. There are criminals, murderers, and cheaters. The so-called 'good' people may turn bad if they allow themselves to fall into the company of bad people. Many people have 'layers'. There are many with no principles, morality or compassion. We live in such a complex society. Be aware of the fact that it is not all black and white everywhere; don't think that others too have the same thoughts of goodwill and pleasant feelings like we have about the things in the world.

• Be assertive. This does not mean that we have to be rude, stubborn or sign up for martial arts. You are a human being like others and you also have equal rights. 

• Listen to your inner voice. 

• Say NO if you would like to say NO. Never say YES if you want to say NO. Need not respond curtly, try to be tactful, diplomatic and cool in saying NO. 

• Join support groups. The internet is loaded with tons of info regarding many such emotional issues. There are so many online counseling sites. Share the problems with a trusted friend and never hesitate to consult a certified Mental health professional, if needed. This is difficult because such issues weaken the person making him/her indecisive. This makes them difficult to go to a professional all by themselves. If the problem is identified early this may possible.

• Rather than getting confined into our own comfort zones, get involved with groups that tackle such issues in the Society. This will help us to know better about them and the peculiar issues. If by any chance we land up in such situations it will help us to face it better.

Such issues are difficult to face all alone. It brings loneliness. They make people totally negative, their vibes become negative, and their friends and well-wishers get repelled from them eventually driving them into much more misery.

If you are a true friend, offer help immediately if you detect such problems in their life. Be with them.

Finally, don't think that the bullies and manipulators are the real winners. They are psychologically sick, they will perish, eventually. What goes around, comes around! Anyone moving against Nature, its laws, its energy will lose, one day or the other, no doubt whatsoever. It is only a matter of time. There are convincing examples of this fact in history, classics, personal experiences and in the present day world as well!

• Getting bullied, exploited and abused cannot be considered as the result of a weak personality. The so-called 'sensitive', 'weak' personality is the result of manipulation, fine-tuning and cunningness by other individuals and situations. Negativity results from encounters with negative people. 

Note: Please read the DISCLAIMER attached to this blog.

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