This post bagged the Bronze Batom (3rd position)
This post was published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 23; the twenty-third edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The theme for this month was FREE.
Duke led his team into the building's lobby. To onlookers, they seemed like just a group of six backpack-laden executives. But they were more than just that.
They were men on a mission. Six young men determined to get their freedom. Each of them carried a heavy backpack, and had a device held tightly in their fists. Their eyes looked far out into the horizon and their faces were devoid of emotion. It was hard to tell whether it was the look of focus or that of cold remorseless rage.
Duke led his men into the elevator. After having scaled 12 stories, he walked them out to the reception area. He then signaled them to follow him as he walked briskly towards the reception table.
Without a word of greeting, he said to the receptionist, "We wanna meet the Master."
The young lady fumbled for words, "Erm...well...the Master said he shouldn't be disturbed. He's in the middle of a..."
"We demand a meeting with him right now!!!" the six men barked out in unison.
She quickly picked up her phone and punched a digit. "Master, Duke and his team seek to meet you." Clumsily dropping the receiver, she informed them, "You may go in."
The band of six marched in, with Duke walking right in front of them, towards the Master's cabin. Having reached the door, Duke simply pushed it open, without caring to knock.
Inside, they saw the Master sitting with his feet resting on top of the table. His arms were folded behind his head. He was wearing dark sunglasses.
"Well, well. If it isn't my dear Duke and his team of five", the Master said. "Welcome my boys. Dawn says you were desperate to meet me. You shouldn't have scared the poor girl the way you did. She's such a sweet young lady."
"We don't care if she's sweet or tangy. We just came to return these." He pulled off his backpack and dropped it on the Master's table. Ditto with the device that was lodged in his fist. The five aped their leader.
"Not done boys. Just a few months ago, when I gave these to you, you were jumping with joy. What's wrong with these?" the Master enquired.
"We didn't know we'd be parting with our freedom. We've become slaves to these devices. Take these back and give us something else" said Duke. The others nodded in agreement.
The Master swore under his breath. "Very well then. Have these instead." He opened his drawer and pulled out six boxes.
At first quite hesitant to even look at the boxes, Duke and his team jumped like little kids as soon as they found out what they contained.
"Thank you Master." said Duke on behalf of his boys. "We misunderstood you. You have been kind and generous. Sorry for being rude."
"It's okay my boys. Now go out and enjoy yourselves."
After they had left the building, Dawn rushed in. "You okay Master?"
"Yep."
Looking at the pile of devices on his table, she asked, "They've returned their laptops and cellphones? What do we do with these?"
"Give them to the newbies. They'll love them...for a few months at least” he sniggered.
“And what about Duke and his team? Aren’t they gonna work?”
“Relax” said the Master. “I’ve given them Blackberrys.” And he burst out in a sinister laugh that echoed through the building.
We're slaves to devices...even if they're free.
They were men on a mission. Six young men determined to get their freedom. Each of them carried a heavy backpack, and had a device held tightly in their fists. Their eyes looked far out into the horizon and their faces were devoid of emotion. It was hard to tell whether it was the look of focus or that of cold remorseless rage.
Duke led his men into the elevator. After having scaled 12 stories, he walked them out to the reception area. He then signaled them to follow him as he walked briskly towards the reception table.
Without a word of greeting, he said to the receptionist, "We wanna meet the Master."
The young lady fumbled for words, "Erm...well...the Master said he shouldn't be disturbed. He's in the middle of a..."
"We demand a meeting with him right now!!!" the six men barked out in unison.
She quickly picked up her phone and punched a digit. "Master, Duke and his team seek to meet you." Clumsily dropping the receiver, she informed them, "You may go in."
The band of six marched in, with Duke walking right in front of them, towards the Master's cabin. Having reached the door, Duke simply pushed it open, without caring to knock.
Inside, they saw the Master sitting with his feet resting on top of the table. His arms were folded behind his head. He was wearing dark sunglasses.
"Well, well. If it isn't my dear Duke and his team of five", the Master said. "Welcome my boys. Dawn says you were desperate to meet me. You shouldn't have scared the poor girl the way you did. She's such a sweet young lady."
"We don't care if she's sweet or tangy. We just came to return these." He pulled off his backpack and dropped it on the Master's table. Ditto with the device that was lodged in his fist. The five aped their leader.
"Not done boys. Just a few months ago, when I gave these to you, you were jumping with joy. What's wrong with these?" the Master enquired.
"We didn't know we'd be parting with our freedom. We've become slaves to these devices. Take these back and give us something else" said Duke. The others nodded in agreement.
The Master swore under his breath. "Very well then. Have these instead." He opened his drawer and pulled out six boxes.
At first quite hesitant to even look at the boxes, Duke and his team jumped like little kids as soon as they found out what they contained.
"Thank you Master." said Duke on behalf of his boys. "We misunderstood you. You have been kind and generous. Sorry for being rude."
"It's okay my boys. Now go out and enjoy yourselves."
After they had left the building, Dawn rushed in. "You okay Master?"
"Yep."
Looking at the pile of devices on his table, she asked, "They've returned their laptops and cellphones? What do we do with these?"
"Give them to the newbies. They'll love them...for a few months at least” he sniggered.
“And what about Duke and his team? Aren’t they gonna work?”
“Relax” said the Master. “I’ve given them Blackberrys.” And he burst out in a sinister laugh that echoed through the building.
We're slaves to devices...even if they're free.
The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Happy Independence Day!
Will check out this Blog-a-ton stuff soon!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! GOD BLESS!
Hilarious and painful at the same time! You built up the whole plot as if it was some thriller and the ending was hilarious ..At the same time painful because I realize (again) that we are becoming slaves of our gadgets!
ReplyDeleteInteresting one! Haha, it was kind of funny to read the end, simultaneously, it was thoughtful too!
ReplyDeleteNice entry..
here is mine for BAT-23: What Bein Free meant for her..
Interesting post. Let us free from devices. Good luck for Blog-a-Ton. Free... are we?
ReplyDeleteSomeone is Special
lol. I LOVED IT!!!!! :D
ReplyDeleten hello i cant belv ppl wud actually giv up deir laptops fr blackberries.
i get d feelin duke n party r gonna quit real soon.
den again, mayb nt. its free aftr all!
u kno uve actually put my mind to thinkin nonsensical things nw. if its BB fr d present, den wat wat next :o
yeyeei.... i loved ur blog dear...... my talented blogger :-)
ReplyDeleteReally cool concept. You kept the suspense till the end and it was a wonderful twist in the tale. And come to think of it, so true. Great job.
ReplyDelete@Ezazi - Alrite :) Happy reading
ReplyDelete@aativas - Oh well..what do I say? Technology was actually meant to make things simpler, but it's doing the exact opposite :)
ReplyDelete@Animesh - Thanks dude. Will read urs for sure :)
ReplyDelete@SIS - All da best to you too bro :)
ReplyDelete@Sadiya - Of course theyre gonna leave. But the newbies will be ready by then. The Master is good at nurturing talent :P
ReplyDeleteWhat next? Mebbe free Blueberries or Cranberries on Farmville :P
Cheers
CRD
@Jaanu - Ahem Ahem..Log dekh rahe hain :P
ReplyDelete@The Fool - Thanks :) Do visit again. And all the best for the Contest :)
ReplyDeleteCurious punch!I cannot imagine a day without my laptop.
ReplyDeleteAll the best for the contest!
you are one good writer christi !!!!
ReplyDelete@Enchanta - Well, let's assume that Duke and his team were so fed up of constant calls and emails flooding their devices that they were hell-bent on getting rid of them. The burden of carrying heavy laptops in backpacks in heavy traffic can get to you too :P
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you as well
@Rashmi - Thanks Ms Pillai :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful one! :D Loved it! It's getting better and better, keep 'em coming! :D
ReplyDelete@Tara - You mean that? Gee, thanks ;)
ReplyDeleteI loved it... I mean having been in the corporate world, I can totally relate to it!
ReplyDeleteATB for BAT
Do check out my entry at Free? To do what exactly?
Regards
Wandering Thoughts
AMAZING POST. I haven't read something this funny in BAT in a long time. And that just shows how much of a slave I am to my computer! Loved it.
ReplyDeleteAll the best for the BAT.
Hilarious one....Free from devices...lets start with cell phones and laptops at weekends atleast...:):)
ReplyDeleteHe he.. that is one weird story :P .. Nice one though..
ReplyDeleteI get the feeling u own a blackberry...
ReplyDeleteThis was gud!! Loved it yet again.. I hardly follow blogs, but wenever i see sumthing written by you.. have to read it..
ReplyDeleteYou have got me addicted!! But m not complaining.. Waiting for more :)
Cheers!!
@Ashish - Are u in the Mktg department? I dedicate this post to all Marketing and sales execs :P
ReplyDeleteThanks. Have visited urs already :)
@D2 - Glad u liked it bro :)
ReplyDelete@Hema - Easier said than done :P Thanks for the compliment
ReplyDelete@Sunil - Weird is nice :P Thanx
ReplyDelete@Anu - Nope, I don't...yet
ReplyDelete@Ritika - Aww..stop. :P Thanx
ReplyDeletelol.. I was expecting a serious ending.. Good one
ReplyDeletehaha...i liked the twist in the end..all through the post, i thought this was going to be about something else---terrorism, rascism or some other issue like those.
ReplyDeletebut the end put me at ease..loved the idea :)
all the best for BAT-23!
you can view my entry here---
FREE
cheers!!! :)
very interesting n apt for the topic given .
ReplyDeletevery nice...you write really well...
ReplyDelete@Srikanth - So was I...but i got possessed :P
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting :)
@pri - Thank you jee :)
ReplyDelete@some unspoken words - Thanks for visiting :)
ReplyDelete@Sheena - Thanks :) Do visit again
ReplyDeletethats so true.....nice read
ReplyDeletehere is mine
The search for eternal freedom – A Dragonfly’s curse
Hahahahahaha !!!
ReplyDeleteSpot-on ! I just loved the twist at the end.
I am tech-illiterate so please enlighten me-isn't an Iphone more desirable than a blackberry?
@the critics - Man... You made that sound like as if it was a serious post and it enlightened you:P Thanks for the compliment though :)
ReplyDelete@Brijender - Yea..I guess it's better than a BB..but then again, it wouldn't help the MASTER's business..if you know what i mean ;)
ReplyDeleteIts actually so true, we are all slaves to the gadgets, but I guess that is the reality...
ReplyDeleteGood one....
haha..tuely said how we have become slaves to our laptops and cellphones...and even i think everyday to get a blackberry :P..the story was really intersting :)
ReplyDeletemy entry..FREE ..good luck 4 BAT
NIDHI
A hilarious one, cant imagine a single minute without the laptop. Very refreshing and can be related to reality.
ReplyDeleteSlavery for life now for this generation
ReplyDeleteBrilliant post!! amazing way to tell the story! We indeed are slaves of these devices.
ReplyDelete@Vikram Pyati - Yup. Technology drives our lives today...thnx for visiting :)
ReplyDelete@nidhi - Thanks :) Will visit for sure :)
ReplyDelete@Cherry - It sure is close to reality..i have a fnd who's personal and social life has gone to the grind ever since he received a laptop and a second fone...with a dual sim card facility :P
ReplyDelete@Ketan - True. Thanks for visiting
ReplyDelete@Prashant Mehta - Thanks. Do visit again :)
ReplyDeletereading your blog for the first time.. its interesting..loved your entry for BAT btw.. congrats:)
ReplyDeleteI think your narration was your prize worthy! Hilarious! Often at work people work extra hard vying for the freebies but what they forget is exactly this! So glad to have read your post!
ReplyDelete@Sharika - Hey thanks. Do visit again :)
ReplyDelete@Richi - Thanks for the compliment. I'll be glad if you visit again :)
ReplyDeleteFirst time to your blog and I completely loved this post! It's superb!!! :)
ReplyDeleteBTW, thanks for dropping by my blog! :)
ReplyDelete@Namrata - Hey, thanks! Do keep dropping by :)
ReplyDelete