Shadows of the Mind that Went Deeper
a master of deception
Arjun watched him closely, trying to learn his secrets, but he was a master of deception. He never revealed his true self, his real motivations. All Arjun could ever know was that he was driven by something more than just the desire to succeed.
One day, during the internship, as they were working late on a particularly urgent project, Harold stopped and looked out the window.
"Do you ever wonder what it would be like to have a life outside of this?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Arjun was taken aback by his question. It was the first time he had ever expressed any doubt or hesitation.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
He shrugged. "I don't know. Just… something more. Something real."
Arjun hesitated before responding. "I guess I do," he admitted. "Sometimes."
He nodded, his gaze fixed on the city lights below.
"But we can't let that stop us," he said. "We have a job to do."
Arjun looked at him, wondering if he was really talking about the job or something else entirely. But before he could ask, he turned back to his screen and started typing again.
The memory of that conversation lingered with him. It was a rare glimpse into the hidden depths of Harold's character, a reminder that even the most driven individuals were capable of longing for something more.
Arjun's internship
And then Arjun remembered that day - the first with Harold. Upon Arjun's internship under his care, he had simply sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"So," Harold said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "What do you know about data analysis?"
Arjun had blinked at Harold, looking like a deer caught in headlights.
"Uh, not much," he admitted. "But I'm eager to learn."
Harold had nodded slowly.
"Alright then," Harold said. "Let's start with the basics."
Harold had spent the next hour walking Arjun through the fundamentals of their work.
He listened attentively, asking questions here and there but mostly just absorbing information.
As they worked, Harold couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
It wasn't just the inconvenience of having an intern to mentor; it was something deeper.
A nagging sense of unease that Hraold couldn't quite put his finger on.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he decided they'd covered enough for one day.
"That's enough for now," Harold said, closing his laptop with a decisive snap. "We'll pick this up tomorrow."
Arjun nodded eagerly. Harold was always like that and today wasn't any different.