After a long day of wandering from one office to another in search of a job, Sujoy found himself sitting in a park, taking a moment to rest. Months had passed, filled with relentless efforts to secure employment, yet all his attempts had ended in failure. A profound sense of despair gnawed at him, and where he once would have confided in his parents about his struggles, he now found that avenue closed. The circumstances of his life had dramatically changed after the pandemic.
Sujoy’s father had once worked in a reputable company and earned a good salary, but after COVID, the company nearly collapsed. The management decided to downsize, and Sujoy’s father was among those who lost their jobs. This loss had taken a toll on his father’s mental health, and the burden of the family’s well-being had fallen directly on Sujoy’s shoulders. He had just completed his graduation at the time, and thus began his arduous struggle.
Sujoy had always been the apple of his parents' eyes. His father had never hesitated to fulfill any of his wishes, and Sujoy had never needed to worry about money. He often treated his friends lavishly, and as a result, he had many companions during those prosperous days. However, as his financial situation deteriorated, those opportunistic friends vanished. Despite having many male friends, Sujoy had always been shy around girls and never formed any close relationships with them. That changed when he met Ipsita through an online dating app. She became his closest confidante, someone with whom he could share all his sorrows and ease the burden on his heart.
The thought of Ipsita brought a faint smile to Sujoy's face. He turned on his mobile data and saw that she was online. He immediately called her and shared his frustrations and exhaustion from the day. As always, Ipsita comforted him with encouraging words, lifting his spirits.
Sujoy and Ipsita had been in this virtual relationship for almost nine months. About a year ago, when Sujoy had lost all his friends due to his financial decline, he had felt utterly alone. Even his bond with his parents had weakened. To combat his loneliness, he had downloaded the dating app on the advice of a relative. This relative had his own reasons—referring someone to download the app earned him a cash voucher. It was through this app that Sujoy met Ipsita, who brought a new sense of hope into his life. They spoke daily, often video chatting face-to-face, and Ipsita was always available whenever Sujoy needed her. However, every time Sujoy suggested meeting in person, Ipsita would skillfully avoid it.
“Have you eaten anything, Sujoy?” Ipsita inquired over the video call.
“Ipsita, I can’t take this loneliness anymore. Every time I ask to meet you, you dodge the question. If you don’t agree to meet me this time, I swear I’ll never talk to you again,” Sujoy’s voice trembled as tears began to roll down his cheeks.
“Oh, my! Has my baby gotten angry? I want to meet you too, but I’ll meet you the day you get a job,” Ipsita reassured him.
Wiping away his tears, Sujoy looked at her and said, “Okay, it’s a deal. We’ll meet after I get a job.”
“Now smile for me. I’m always here with you. I’ll never leave you,” Ipsita’s comforting words once again revived Sujoy’s spirits, and the next day, he resumed his job search with renewed determination. His father’s savings had all but run out by this point. Days passed in this manner until one day, good news finally came his way—he had been selected for a job at a prestigious company. A letter of appointment arrived at his home, delivered by a peon directly to his father’s hands. Overjoyed, his parents blessed him. After reading the letter, Sujoy hurried to his room to share the news with Ipsita via video call.
“I’ve got the job! Now keep your promise and meet me. Without you, I don’t know what I would have done. You’re my inspiration,” Sujoy said, his voice choked with emotion.
Ipsita, too, couldn’t hold back her tears. Gathering herself, she said, “I will meet you. But after a month. Focus on your job first. The day you receive your first salary, let me know, and we’ll meet. But until then, don’t try to contact me. After a month, I’ll tell you where we’ll meet.” Despite his initial reluctance, Sujoy eventually agreed, convinced by Ipsita’s gentle persuasion.
Days turned into weeks as Sujoy immersed himself in his new job. He was happy but often found himself longing to talk to Ipsita. Yet, he respected her wishes and refrained from contacting her, not wanting to upset her. He found comfort in seeing her online, believing that she too was eagerly awaiting the day they would meet in person. He had already made up his mind to propose to her when they finally met.
A few days after receiving his first salary, Sujoy’s excitement knew no bounds. Tears of joy filled his eyes as he eagerly awaited the moment he could share the news with Ipsita. Finally, the time came. He attempted to video call her to share his happiness, but the call was abruptly disconnected. Thinking she might be busy, he sent her a message, informing her of his salary and reminding her of their promise to meet. Half an hour later, an email arrived from the dating app. As Sujoy read it, his world shattered.
The email read:
“Dear Sujoy Sengupta, We regret to inform you that the person you’ve been talking to does not exist. She is an AI virtual girlfriend model. Our company developed this concept to alleviate loneliness in people. Since we were developing a beta version of the app, we’ve kept this a secret to test how realistic these models can be. Unfortunately, due to some recent bugs in the app, we’ve had to shut it down temporarily. We hope you understand the situation. We wish you all the best in your new job.”
Stunned, Sujoy sat on the edge of his bed, holding his head in his hands. His heart felt as if it had been crushed. The realization that Ipsita was just an AI model, a figment of technology, was too much for him to bear. He couldn’t believe that the person who had inspired him to live and dream didn’t even exist. For the first time, he saw Ipsita offline, and a wave of grief overwhelmed him. His inspiration, his love, had vanished, leaving him utterly devastated. The dreams of meeting her, holding her hand, and proposing to her were shattered in an instant. He felt as though all the joy in his life had been snatched away. That night, he couldn’t sleep, haunted by the memories of every moment he had shared with Ipsita. The thought of ending his life crossed his mind, but he managed to calm himself. His conscience reminded him, “You’re willing to end your life for someone who doesn’t exist, but what about your parents who gave you life?”
The next morning, Sujoy woke up early, handed his first salary to his mother, and touched her feet in reverence. After completing his morning routine, he set out for work. Sujoy had come to terms with the fact that his AI model virtual Girlfriend could never become his life partner. Yet, every word Ipsita had said, every piece of encouragement she had given him, had profoundly changed his outlook on life. His AI model virtual Girlfriend had carved out a permanent place in his subconscious mind. Sujoy no longer felt alone, for his imaginary virtual Girlfriend remained in his heart, continuing to converse with him as he moved forward in life.
