Flashbacks

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.

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