In A Scam of the Heart, popular YouTuber DuncanYouNot is known for his prank calls to scammers, but his life takes an unexpected turn when he falls for Ravi, an Indian scammer caught in the web of online fraud out of necessity. As their secret relat...
It was another regular afternoon in Duncan's studio. The familiar hum of his computer filled the room as he prepared for his next video. Duncan, better known as "DuncanYouNot" on YouTube, had made a name for himself by prank-calling scammers and exposing their tricks. His fans loved the way he outwitted them, turning their schemes into pure entertainment.
He leaned back in his chair, cracked his knuckles, and grinned. "Alright, let's see what we've got today," he muttered to himself, clicking on a recent email from a so-called "tech support specialist."
The phone rang several times before someone picked up. "Hello, this is Ravi from Microsoft Technical Support. How can I assist you today?" The voice on the other end was heavily accented, with that particular cadence Duncan had become all too familiar with.
"Hey there, Ravi," Duncan replied, his tone dripping with mock sincerity. "I think my computer has a virus, and I need your help to fix it. Can you guide me through it?"
"Of course, sir," Ravi answered smoothly, his voice carrying a mix of professionalism and eagerness. "Just follow my instructions, and we'll have your computer up and running in no time."
Duncan smirked as he settled in for what he thought would be another routine call. But as the conversation went on, something began to shift. Ravi's voice was... different. There was a warmth to it, a sincerity that made Duncan pause. This wasn't the usual scammer arrogance. Ravi was polite, almost... charming.
"Alright, sir, I'll need you to type in the command prompt..." Ravi began, his tone still friendly but with a hint of nervousness.
As Duncan followed the instructions—making sure, of course, not to actually let Ravi into his computer—he found himself genuinely enjoying the conversation. Ravi had a certain way with words that was disarming, even endearing.
"So, Ravi," Duncan said, his usual snarkiness giving way to curiosity, "do you do this job full-time? Or do you have other hobbies?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Ah, well," Ravi stammered slightly, clearly taken aback by the question, "I, uh, I like to play cricket in my free time. And sometimes, I watch Bollywood movies with my family."
Duncan's heart did a little flip. *What is happening?* he thought. *I'm not supposed to actually like these guys!*
"Cricket, huh?" Duncan replied, trying to shake off the weird feeling bubbling up inside him. "That's cool. I don't know much about it, but it sounds fun. And Bollywood? Man, those movies are intense."
Ravi chuckled, and the sound sent a strange tingle through Duncan. "Yes, they can be very dramatic," Ravi agreed, his tone more relaxed now. "But they're also full of heart. Kind of like you, Duncan."
Duncan froze. "Wait... what did you just say?"
Ravi's voice dropped to a softer tone. "I know who you are, Duncan. I've seen your videos. At first, I thought you were just another prankster, but then I watched more of them, and I realized... you're different. You care about people. You want to protect them from people like me."
Duncan's heart pounded in his chest. "Ravi, I... I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," Ravi replied, his voice barely a whisper. "I just wanted you to know that, well, I'm not proud of what I do. But it's the only job I could find. And then, when I heard your voice on the other end of the line today... I don't know, Duncan. Something just clicked."
For once, Duncan was speechless. His usual quick wit failed him as a wave of emotions washed over him—confusion, sympathy, and something deeper, something that felt almost like... attraction?
"Ravi, listen," Duncan said finally, his voice trembling slightly. "This is all pretty crazy. I mean, we've only just met, and you're a scammer and I'm... well, I'm me. But I can't deny that there's something about you that's... different."
Ravi sighed, the sound full of longing. "I feel it too, Duncan. I know this might be impossible, but... maybe we could be more than just a scammer and his target?"
Duncan's breath hitched. "Ravi, I... I think we should meet. Like, in person. I want to see if this—whatever this is—could be real."
There was a long pause, and Duncan's heart sank as he feared Ravi might refuse. But then, slowly, Ravi spoke. "I never thought I'd say this, Duncan, but... I'd like that. A lot."
They exchanged contact information, and as the call ended, Duncan sat back in his chair, his mind racing. How had this happened? He had started the day planning to expose another scammer, and now... now he was planning to meet one. But not just any scammer. *Ravi.*
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A few weeks later, Duncan found himself standing nervously in a crowded Indian café, halfway across the world. He fidgeted with his phone, scanning the room for any sign of the man he had only ever spoken to over the phone.
And then, he saw him. Ravi, looking just as he had described himself—a little taller than Duncan had imagined, with dark hair and a shy smile that lit up his entire face.
"Ravi?" Duncan called out, his voice shaking with a mix of excitement and fear.
Ravi turned, his eyes widening as he recognized Duncan. "Duncan..." he breathed, taking a few tentative steps forward.
They stood there for a moment, just looking at each other, both unsure of what to do next. But then, something clicked. It didn't matter how they had met or what they had done in the past. What mattered was the connection they felt now, in this moment.
Without thinking, Duncan closed the distance between them and pulled Ravi into a tight embrace. Ravi stiffened for a second before relaxing into Duncan's arms, his own hands coming up to rest on Duncan's back.
"I'm so glad you came," Duncan whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
"So am I," Ravi replied softly, his breath warm against Duncan's ear. "I didn't know what to expect, but... this feels right. Being with you feels right."
They pulled back slightly, just enough to look into each other's eyes. Duncan could see the sincerity in Ravi's gaze, the vulnerability that lay just beneath the surface.
"I don't know where this will go," Duncan said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm willing to find out... if you are."
Ravi smiled, a soft, genuine smile that made Duncan's heart skip a beat. "I'm willing, Duncan. Let's take this journey together."
And as they stood there, lost in each other's eyes, the noise of the café faded into the background. All that mattered was the connection they had found, against all odds, in the unlikeliest of places.
