This (coronavirus) short story is a work of fiction, happening during the coronavirus outbreak. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual (coronavirus) events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Characters:

Prabaker

Karla

Setting:

Bombay, India

Story Name:

Love in the Time Of Corona – Modern Life is Rubbish

Story:

Prabaker is an assistant in a small company, and one day during the coronavirus outbreak, due to a shortage of employees, he went to an entity to do a task, he usually doesn’t do. While doing that task, a girl was assigned for completing that task for him, and she did it efficiently. In Prabaker eyes, this girl looked decent and pretty. Yet, he had doubts about whether she will be suitable for him or not. He usually likes girls who are married or taken already, or from a different religion, or living far away, or a little older… As soon as he went out, he felt that he wants to see the girl again.

On the next day, Prabaker knew that his boss was going to the same entity, to finish another task. So, he offered to go instead, hoping for only one thing; to see the girl, and if he is lucky enough; she can be the one assigned to finish his task. While waiting for his turn in the entity, he was thinking what will he say to the girl, and what decent words can he use, to ask for her number. An idea popped out; that he had a relative who needed some advice to start her career at a similar entity, and that would be a great excuse to ask for her number. Prabaker imagined this working out, they get to know each other personally, maybe she likes him, and if she does, perhaps they can get engaged! Yeah, Prabaker mind went all the way… He thought if he was assigned to the same girl again, then this is a universal sign, that this girl is the one. A hopeless romantic? Just before his turn, another woman was assigned to the girl he wanted to be assigned to. Suddenly, Prabaker chances of talking to the girl seemed impossible. In his mind, this was clearly the last opportunity he had to be in that entity with a good excuse during the coronavirus outbreak. Again the girl was efficient and finished the woman before her colleagues. Prabaker was so happy; just for getting a chance to deal with the girl he liked again, and as soon as he was in front of her, he could not say a word, felt tense, a little shiver, hid all, acted strong and stable. Prabaker could not even see her face; she was wearing a mask, and the only thing he managed to do was ask for her name, which was Karla, and he finished & left.

Prabaker kept searching for Karla online, and after a couple of hours, he got her name and all her social accounts. As per Karla social accounts; Karla seemed perfect; everything Prabaker was ever looking for, was in her. For example, Karla was pretty, kind-hearted, tender, had a decent family, and lived in the same neighbourhood. Also, her music taste was admirable; with some artists that he loves too. Her written thoughts were so human, and she even liked the same public religious speakers Prabaker admired. Karla seemed conservative, but not too strict. She graduated almost a year ago, his family will love her, and her family will love him… Prabaker was crazy about Karla, and he was so worried he will do something, that will make her hate him, or avoid him. Even though Prabaker already ran out of excuses, to go to the entity where Karla works; he still had no other place to go to, to ask her out. But the coronavirus outbreak was forcing everyone to go nowhere between their work and home. Also, Prabaker thought about trying to locate where exactly her house is; that turned out to be an absolute failure; as her house was not where he thought it was. He took a cruise with his car that night, and could not locate it. Moreover, on the weekend when he ran around, he never found her house nearby. If he ever found her home; he would have run everyday in-front of it, and maybe Karla can see him, while quarantining, from her window; like in the movie Midnight Sun*.

A new day, Prabaker had a plan to finish work, and go to Karla; to ask her, to come with him later that day, or the next day to help him buy his mother a mother’s day gift. Something Prabaker never does; he always tells his mother: I am a present, how can I get a present? But he thought it was a great excuse to ask Karla out, and his mother would have loved Karla even before seeing her for it. As soon as Prabaker arrived at Karla’s workplace; he saw a girl in the garage who was going to her car; he had a strange feeling, but still, he went towards the workplace. He looked from outside, and again he had a feeling Karla was not there. Then, it hit him, maybe the girl he saw in the garage was Karla, leaving early for the coronavirus outbreak. Prabaker had no chance to see her during the weekend.

Later, Prabaker had no choice, added her on social media. He sent her a social request, liked some of the posts(not her pictures) he thought were incredibly beautiful, and waited the whole weekend for a confirmation/denial. Nothing happened. Prabaker was thinking of something crazy, that he ended up not doing. Sending Karla a message that he tested positive for the virus, and he had to find her to warn her since they met twice in two consecutive days. Prabaker removed all the likes, only left one, and sent the social request again. Prabaker got in contact with his sister; a girl, nearly the same age, same background, and of almost the same morals. He asked her as if he was asking for a friend “what will you do if you get a social request from a stranger who only saw you twice in your workplace?” His sister went crazy, is it you or someone who saw me that you are asking for. Prabaker insisted on just answering the questions he was asking. His sister told him that she would not accept the social request, or even answer a message if she got any. Unless that guy looks decent, and have some common friends with her; then maybe(not surely) she will accept the social request, but she would leave it pending, and not ignore it. Even if the probability of receiving a reply, is extremely low. Prabaker’s sister encouraged him, or whoever he was asking for, still to try, and send a message. A couple of texts were exchanged, and she advised him to send a short one.

Prabaker was afraid Karla will block him, and by the end of the day, he regretted sending the message, cancelled the social request, thinking Karla is perfect and angelic; so Karla probably deserves someone much better than him. An hour later, Prabaker started missing Karla again, and he searched for her, but she has already blocked him. Prabaker thought what a smart girl, taking the best decision, but he was so sad for not making the right moves. Prabaker knew social media will ruin his chances, with the only girl, who felt like a puzzle missing piece**. And as always, his heart was broken by his own actions.

On the following day, Prabaker thought of what can he do to make it up for Karla: he believed what he did on social media was so bad that it hurt the girl and that lead her to block him. He thought of sending her a message or a letter on the radio; but how can he know the radio station she listens to, and at what time(s)! Then, he thought of buying her flowers and sending them to her workplace. But he was afraid this romantic gesture, from a stranger like him, might make problems for her in her workplace. For him, any romantic gesture to a girl he doesn’t know too well will be treated as a creepy/weird gesture. He thinks it is enough with the social media block. If he tried to locate where exactly her home is; that will also be creepy/weird. If Prabaker waited for Karla before(after) her working hours, ask her to get out for a minute to talk in person, and say everything he felt. Karla might even feel insecure; talking to him alone, around her workplace. But he was going to do that one last try.

Prabaker headed to Karla’s workplace, and his plan was if the entity is still open, to either go inside and ask Karla for a moment to talk in private, outside. Or if it was closed, to let the security guy ask Karla to come outdoor. Prabaker thought at that time the entity won’t be busy, so it was easier to reach Karla and ask her to come out. However, as soon as he looked inside, he found the place crowded, he went in, but Karla was not there. Prabaker talked to the security guy about nonsense and concluded that Karla is at home; either working from home or taking time off for the coronavirus outbreak. Hopefully, Karla and all her family are healthy and safe. The End.

Moral of the coronavirus short story:

Everything you do, to a person, who doesn’t like you, will seem creepy or weird. (Karla’s version of the same story)

Every effort you put, in trying to know a person who is interested in you will be smart, and romantic.

To-Read: The Selfish Hero - One Story Two Tellers

Credits & Useful links:

Story name is inspired by the book Love in the Time of Cholera, and the movie Modern Life is Rubbish.

*Find more about the movie Midnight Sun.

**From Coldplay‘s song Talk “Do you feel like a puzzle, you can’t find your missing piece?”

Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb, and Books links of goodreads.

Go to: Mylo "Short Stories"