PRESENT DAY:

It's raining outside, electricity is not there, with the mobile phone in his hands Mike is lying on the bed staring at the ceiling, doing nothing except waiting for a reply to his confession.

“Ahh....hh... waiting is way too hard, who knows she might not talk to me anymore, was it too early?”

'SEEN' was the status of the message he sent, but the reply to it was no where to be seen. He started questioning his decision of confessing to Ana, a girl, he had never seen in real life and had met on social media 8 months ago, when the world was in a total turmoil and people had to stay indoors. Who knows maybe he was attracted to her because she was the first stranger he ever opened up to, on such a platform or maybe he thought they were compatible because they got comfortable with each other without even meeting in the real world. Who knows what was the reason but the things ended on an awkward note...............

8 MONTHS AGO:

NEWS REPORTER: “The country is going to be under complete lockdown, all public places, schools, colleges and offices will be shut down from tomorrow onwards due to the rising cases of the virus.”

“Whew..........now I can get some holiday without even asking the boss. What a lucky year!!” Mike exclaimed.

 PRESENT DAY:

“what a messed up year this is, I can't do anything outside and now my emotions are all jumbled up from the inside........Ah.......god why are you doing this to me.” Mike sighed in anger.

BACK TO OUR FLASHBACK

8 MONTHS AGO:

“Okay, now that I got free holidays let's see what I should do in this situation.. ........... Umm....um... Yup got it, I should take a warm bath first, thinking can be done later”, he decided.

Few moments later, 

“Let's see, *scroll...scroll.....scroll* ......Oh... 'the art guy' is conducting an online competition that is going to last for about 80 days .....hmm .....let's check the newspaper........hmm…yup, I can participate in it. The newspaper says that the lockdown will last for at least 100 days. So now, I can finally work on my art skills, God I haven't touched the sketchbook for like 3 years, this time I can finally go all out. Let's go buy the supplies. ”

In the art store:

The manager of the art store is an acquaintance of mike, she is a middle aged woman and has a daughter named Eva, of similar age as that of Mike's.

 “Look who decided to show up, how many years has it been boy, since you last showed up here?” In a sarcastic tone the manager asked.

 “Hehe..... Good evening ma'am, it has been quite some time but I am back, and have plans to make something with your brushes, like I used to do.” 

    “ Oh.... That's brilliant, if you create some masterpiece like the one you did there (points to his previous painting, nicely framed and hanged on the wall), do give it to us, we will sponsor you as usual, after all you have been our premium artist and I think you still are, aren’t you? ( frowns a little)”

“Uh..... Uh...... Yes ma'am of course, you have been promoting me for a long time. I will surely do my best”  Mike replies nervously. 

 “Good (smiles), so have you got any girlfriend now that you are a grownup or have someone on your mind for marriage?”

“Eh... Eh....... No..... No I hardly get any time for all that stuff and I think these relationship problems are too much for my heart to handle”, he replied with some shyness in his voice. 

“Ha...ha…ha..... That's why I told you to accept my daughter, that way you will have less chances to worry about those things”

(laughing loudly) 

Eva who was standing at a distance, arranging the supplies, she overheard the conversation and started to blush and went to a corner of the store, away from the desk. 

“AHAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Ma'am you haven't changed a bit still pulling my leg like usual, now if you will excuse me I have some things to buy”

“Ha.... Ha.... Ha.. Yes...... Yes...... Sure... Sure....... EVAAA!!!!.... help him”, Listening to her mother's calling Eva took him to the art section. 

 In the art section: 

“These are the new supplies over here and the premium ones are next to that section” Eva guided Mike. 

“So you still haven't told her….um….about him” He asked. 

“I... I.. Couldn't bring myself to tell her about him, and whenever I approached her she would always talk about you”, she spoke mildly.

“ *chuckles*........... So I think I am still in between you two, I am sorry for that” Mike apologized.      

“No... No....... It's not like that” Eva is a little embarrassed.    

 Looking at Eva's uneasy face he quickly selected his supplies and returned to the manager for payment.     

“Well that was quick, did you two fight over something or what? ” manager asked modestly.

“Nothing important ma’am… … it’s just that I can’t wait to try these new supplies… .. Hehe… . Hehe.” And smilingly he tried to avoid the question.

“Oh… that’s right, these are some tempting materials… .. Here is your change… Happy sketching.” manager smiled.     

“Thank you so much, ma’am “ he leaves the store.         

“ *sighs* Well he was never good at lying and he still can’t hide his feelings…at least he is still the same Mike I know”, the manager thought to herself.                                                                         On his way Mike stares at the supplies he just bought and thinks......  

“ How will you know what’s going inside me ma’am……..don’t try to indulge in my trivial emotions, I fear you might lose that jolly nature of yours because of me… … .. As I am very good at complicating simple stuff and messing things up. “ *sighs*                                    Chapter 1 ends.

The next day,

“Have you ever watched the sunset turn into a sunrise or ever wondered, how fast the night changes.” Mike asked while staring at the blank canvas in front of him. He is also cuddling his fluffy little friend cat, called Theo.

“*meow*…*meow*… *sigh*… he is losing his senses again, and becoming a retard…*sigh*…he will never change… *meow*.. … …”

“Hmm…wait… what!?....am I dreaming or did Theo just talk!!” Mike got surprised and sprang from his couch.

At this point, Mike and Theo were on a traditional western stare down(which usually happens before a fierce fight).

“hmmm mmmm mm… … …”Mike glares.

“….*meow*…..” Theo groans.

After 30 minutes of awkward staring competition between Mike and Theo. Mike decides to bring his senses back.

“!!!! Slap!!!!....... Whoa… now I think I am back, and Theo is no longer talking. I should seriously stop imagining stuff, otherwise people will start calling me mad.” Mike relaxed after slapping himself, and he returned back to the real world.

“Now that I am back after wasting a nice amount of time, I think I should get down to some work… … … let’s draw.” Mike started with high spirits.

-----10 minutes later--------

Mike is banging his head on the canvas board,

“I…*bang*… can’t… *bang*… do… *bang*…this...Ahh..Ahh...I have lost my touch, looks like it’s going to take a lot of time to return to my former glories… … … but those were the golden days, spent with my passion… … and… my love…Eva…”,Mike sighs with heavy breath.

“… *meow*…he again lost his senses and got attracted to her, I think men will be men....*meow*...why can’t he just accept the fact, that she loves someone else and he just need to let go of her and give me SOME FOOD!!!...*meow*… …” Theo told Mike.

(according to Mike’s brain)

“You………Come here….you CAT!!!……I can clearly hear you…what sort of magic are you casting on me and what do you mean by ‘he is again getting attracted to her'...huh? … … you were with me the whole time. You very well know that, in order to avoid Eva and let her be with that guy, I switched places and shifted to this apartment, far away from that store. She is just a friend now, and I am not getting attracted to her(Mike shouts at Theo)… … …

… … (speaking softly)… am I?”

Mike retires to his couch once again.

“You are right Theo maybe I am losing it, sorry I shouted at you, wait here let me give you some food.”

Mike gives food to Theo and an idea struck him. He went to his desk and produced a paper with the following message:

“ 1.DON’T CHECK YOUR FRIEND'S RELATIONSHIP STATUS,

2.DON’T WATCH OTHER COUPLES,

3.SLEEP EARLY AND WAKE UP EARLY, 4.DRAW EVERYDAY FOR ATLEAST 10 MINUTES EVERYDAY,

5.DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE TO ENGAGE YOUR MIND SO THAT YOU CAN STOP THINKING ABOUT EVA!!!”

He then went to all of his room, sticking similar notes on every wall of his house so that wherever he looks, he can remember his 'self rule'.

“*meow*… … Now that’s an improvement… *meow*… you should have done that long time ago… *meow*.” Theo thought to himself(according to Mike) while licking his paws.

"Would you….STOP…THINKING…SO….LOUDLY!!!, I can hear everything and it looks like you have developed a very bad habit of mocking me these days." Saying this Mike runs to catch Theo.

"Come here... I got you... I got you... wait!!!!....... *huff*... *puff*... time please... "

"... *meow*... *meow*... "

"Ah.. ha.. got you now, you little ball of fur... where will you go now ... huh?..... hahahah.... "

They both ruin the house’s decorations Mike tries to catch Theo, then he cuddles him and laugh with him.

That day they both watched the sunset turn into a sunrise.

Chapter 2 ends.

After a few days of practice, the day of the competition arrived. Although it wasn’t a big competition, Mike was a little nervous.

“Umm… let’s see…in order to participate, I will have to first make a public account so that everyone can see my  work easily (…ughh… don’t be an introvert you just have to showcase your work).” Mike was trying to convince himself.

“…*meow*….Sometimes I wonder that, he does not even own a laptop, his life is not so exciting, he is boring, so why is he always afraid of opening up… it’s not like that he stole something, for which people might judge him… *meow*… these humans are crazy, they want the attention of others, but don’t want to share their true self… *meow*… I mean we cat just walk up to another cat (with whom we want to talk), and we discuss our whole day as if we have a same owner…and my man over here, can’t even make his account public, I know his selfies are not that good but still, he is making it to show his progression in art, not to showcase his face and that’s all, is it that hard? *meow*…”

Theo was thinking while looking out the window.

“(Takes a deep breath)… …  okay you are just making it to showcase your art, no one is interested in your appearances. Just show the skills you possess.” Mike prepared the account but was still hesitant to click the final ‘make button’.

At this moment Theo came from behind and put a small scratch on Mike’s neck, and in panic Mike clicked the ‘make button’. … .. *dang* ‘CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING A PUBLIC ACCOUNT’.

“Ahhhhhh… … you did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Mike asked in agony.

“… *meow*… of course you dumb human, you always need a certain push, can’t even make an account yourself. So I helped you... *meow*.” Theo said while sharpening his claws.

“…Youuu… !!!”. Mike was unable to reply to Theo’s statement.

“… *meow*… I think the word you are searching for is ‘Thank you’… *meow*…”. Theo said.

“… umm… yeah… thanks buddy”. Mike shamefully answered.

“… *meow*… Your welcome… now get me some food.” Theo ordered him.

After this Mike took on a different mindset, where he just have to appreciate the positive comments he receive and consider the negatives ones while sharpening his skill set.

And the competition started, the goal was to be consistent with your work, no matter how bad the painting is, rewards are based on consistency.

Mike focused on improving his skills, and he slowly improved his style and gained some followers as well, who appreciated his works and helped him get recognized by the organizers.

He realized that by sharing his work he was able to connect to complete strangers and was able to talk to them with ease as if he knew them very well.

There were times when he received some discouraging responses, but he was a changed man. He simply ignored such comments and improved a lot.

This way he learnt to recognize the things which needs his attention and the ones which needs his ignorance.

A transformation was seen in Theo as well, due to the new early morning jogging routine that Mike came up with.

One could say that he was happy,

but ( I know, I know there will always be these ‘but' otherwise how will the story move forward and hopefully you get my point)…

But, we all know that too much of something is bad for health and everything doesn’t work the way you want. So if you are sad then you are soon going to experience happiness and vice versa. And Mike’s happy days were just starting, they will reach a point and the circle will soon start once again and we will be back to square one.