Chapter 4: Friend or Foe?

Maybe he could make you happier than I ever could,”

It started with a message that caught me off guard. Vikram, the "brotherly friend" of Zaki, reached out to me just weeks into my relationship with Zaki. I knew of him, of course—Zaki had spoken of Vikram often, a 27-year-old medical student like himself, someone who was always there, always watching out for him. But I never expected him to reach out to me directly, especially not with the intensity that he did.

"Leave Zaki," his message read, blunt and to the point. "He’s too young, and you're just a distraction to him." I blinked at the screen, feeling a mix of shock and confusion. Who was this man to tell me what to do, to decide what was best for Zaki or for me? But before I could react with anger or frustration, curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to understand why he had reached out, what his real motives were.

I responded carefully, trying to keep my tone neutral. "Why do you think that?" I asked, trying to gauge his intentions. Vikram wasted no time in replying, his words flowing with a strange combination of sincerity and urgency. "Zaki needs to focus on his studies," he insisted. "He doesn’t need distractions, especially not from someone older. You should leave him alone."

I felt a spark of defensiveness flare up in my chest. Who was he to make these judgments about me? About us? But as I continued to engage with him, I sensed something deeper beneath his words—a concern that felt almost genuine, even if it was misplaced. I decided to explain myself, to prove that my intentions toward Zaki were pure and that I genuinely cared about his well-being.

What I didn’t expect was for Vikram to seize the opportunity to turn the conversation on its head. As soon as I had convinced him of my sincerity, he began to reveal his true colors. "I’m interested in you too," he confessed, almost casually, as if this was an ordinary development. "Zaki is immature and just playing around. He only wants a sexual relationship. You deserve better."

I stared at the screen, my heart racing with a mix of surprise and suspicion. Was this some kind of test? A game? And if so, who was playing who? Vikram’s words were smooth, his tone friendly and comforting. He became the ear that listened to my rants about Zaki, the voice that reassured me when I felt confused or frustrated. "Your feelings are valid," he would say, his words like a balm to my insecurities. "You’re just overthinking it."

At first, I felt a strange comfort in Vikram’s attention. It was nice to have someone listen, to validate my feelings when I felt so uncertain about Zaki. He seemed to know exactly what to say, exactly when to say it. I found myself opening up to him, sharing more than I had intended, caught up in the unexpected solace he offered. But even as I began to trust him, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered that something wasn’t right.

The cracks began to show when I posted a picture with a gay colleague of mine—a simple, happy snapshot of two friends enjoying a light-hearted moment. To me, it was innocent, a way of sharing a bit of my day with the world. But to Vikram, it was something more. “Maybe he could make you happier than I ever could,” he snapped, his words tinged with bitterness. I was taken aback, not understanding why he seemed so affected by something so trivial.

“Why does it bother you so much?” I asked, genuinely curious. His reply was defensive, almost petulant. “It’s not about him,” he insisted, “It’s about you—how can I compete when I feel like I’m already losing?”

I felt a twinge of frustration and disappointment. Why was he letting jealousy over something so innocent cloud what had been a growing connection? His reaction seemed exaggerated, irrational even, and I began to see a different side of him—one that was insecure, controlling, and easily threatened.

Then, the truth began to unravel, not by Vikram's words but through Zaki. One day, during one of our calls, Zaki seemed more serious than usual. There was a pause, a hesitation in his voice, and I sensed something weighing heavily on his mind. "I need to tell you something about Vikram," he finally said, his tone a mix of frustration and concern. "He hasn't been honest with you… or with anyone."

My heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?" I asked, feeling a rush of anxiety and anticipation.

“He’s been using a fake picture of himself all along,” Zaki confessed, his voice tinged with a mix of anger and disappointment. "He’s not who he says he is."

A wave of disbelief and betrayal washed over me. I felt my breath catch in my throat as the reality of Zaki's words began to sink in. I had trusted Vikram, opened up to him, and let him into my world, only to find out that he had been deceiving me from the start. My heart sank, the weight of disappointment settling deep in my chest. I felt foolish, played. How could I have fallen for his act?

Zaki’s revelation shook me to my core. I had believed Vikram’s words, taken comfort in his reassurances, and allowed myself to be vulnerable with him, all while he was hiding behind a façade. I felt a mix of anger and shame, realizing how easily I had been manipulated.

And yet, there was a part of me that was grateful to Zaki for telling me the truth. I could hear the sincerity in his voice, the genuine frustration he felt about Vikram’s deceit. It was as if he was trying to protect me, to warn me about the person who had come between us.

But as the dust settled, I found myself questioning everything. Had Zaki told me this out of concern, or was he trying to win me back? Was he truly being honest, or was this another layer of a complex game I couldn’t fully understand? I felt like I was standing on shaky ground, uncertain of who to trust and what to believe.

The final blow came soon after when Vikram, sensing my distance, confessed that he had been a virgin all along but felt too shy for me to be his first. Instead, he had gotten himself a girlfriend and had the audacity to invite me to join them for sex. His words were like a slap in the face, a cruel twist in an already tangled story. I felt a rush of anger and disgust rise up in me. How had it come to this? How had I let myself be pulled into this game of manipulation and deceit?

I knew then that I needed to end things, to walk away before I got further entangled in this web of lies and insecurities. I told him I could never stoop so low, that I deserved better than to be treated like a pawn in his twisted game. I deactivated my Instagram account, cutting off the last thread that connected us, finally taking a step toward reclaiming my peace and dignity.

Moral of the Story: True intentions and honesty are critical in any relationship. Trust and respect cannot be built on deceit and manipulation.

Note to Young Women: Be wary of individuals who manipulate and deceive. Always value yourself and your boundaries. Trust your instincts, and don’t let anyone undermine your worth or make you feel guilty for prioritizing your dignity and self-respect.

Advice to Young Men: Honesty and integrity are the foundations of any meaningful relationship. Avoid deceit and manipulation. Respect the boundaries and feelings of others, and be sincere in your intentions. A relationship built on trust and mutual respect is far more fulfilling than one built on lies and manipulation.