The Purrfect Match
Episode 1 - A Meow in the Silence
Mark never thought his writing career would reach rock bottom ever since his first book got published.
He never thought he would stay single in his apartment in this busy city. He never thought he would remain jobless and worthless. He never thought his book would flop so badly that even his friends ignored buying it. Also he never thought this would make him feel sad.
It was a usual day for him. He made breakfast for himself and began his journey of searching for jobs to make ends meet. He almost decided to quit writing ever since his first book didn't bring what he expected. Was it because of the story? Or is there something else that he didn't know?
Mark was twenty-six years old and he knew he should get serious. He should definitely look for a job that makes him look settled to society. And, he should get married too. Well…
Mark never became easy with girls of his age. Was it because of his looks? Or is there something else that he didn't know?
Mark never wanted or wished to feel the magic of love from a woman. He just wanted it to occur naturally. He often despises couples who just irritate him on social media. He secretly wished for them to part ways.
He couldn't find his love of life being a writer or being a writer, he couldn't find his love of life? That confused Mark occasionally. Whenever he thinks of a story, he never thinks of a happily ending story. He just kills one of the protagonists or keeps them separated till the end. What would have influenced him to write that way? Personal experiences?
The logic according to Mark was, the audience would shed a tear when they read a happy ending and they would gasp in shock when they read a tragic end. And he definitely loves the audience gasping.
Was that the reason my book flopped?, he wondered. Anyways, Mark will not quit writing as it has become an integral part of his life. He would continue to write more and more.
Mark the writer will shine brighter than ever before. That's what kept him pushing forward.
***
It was 4 pm when he reached the library of his city. He often visits here for a couple of reasons. One, it contained an enormous amount of books and most of them belong to Mark's favourite genres. Two, it became the place for him where he could stay disconnected from the outer world. So that he could stay calm and composed. The one problem associated with Mark was that he finds it complicated to differentiate between Fiction and Reality. He reads fiction often and tries to apply it to reality. He later would realize that both are different. But it would be too late.
He found a couple of books and decided to take it for reading in his home.
The librarian was a middle-aged lady, named Susan and she put up a smile on seeing Mark.
'Two books this time….not bad.' she commented.
Mark forced a smile and said, 'Yeah…I feel so bored nowadays.' he received them. 'I shall return them in a couple of days.' he said and decided to leave.
He stopped near the exit door and turned and looked at Susan. He went closer to her and said, "Umm…sorry to bother you, Susan…can I ask you a question?'
'Sure, young man.' she replied.
Mark looked around and said, 'Did anyone by chance give a read to my book? I gave you a copy last month, you remember?'
Susan looked glum as she said, 'I'm sorry, Mark. I barely saw people giving a look at it.'
'Nah, it's okay.' Mark said and left the place.
***
Mark cursed himself on his way to his home for asking about his book to the librarian. How could he think of people giving his book a read in that big library? Wouldn't people go behind famous ones rather than new ones? How come Mark didn't think of it? The two books he took from the library were, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and WhiteNights by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
He began to fall in love with these two writers. The sun was almost set and he rushed to his home. He told himself that he would finish these two books in a night and finish these authors' works as soon as possible. Meanwhile, he would continue to look for jobs to run his life. And, meanwhile, would he begin to write again? A second book, maybe? Mark had no idea. Would he get a partner in the meantime? No idea.
'Meow'
Mark stopped. Did he just hear a cat? Or was he imagining things?
He waited for another meow but it didn't come. He sighed and moved forward. 'Meow!'
This time it was loud enough to disprove of him imagining things. Okay, then, where's the cat?
He looked around for any signs of cat but he couldn't spot one. He found a bush to his right and he suspected it would be lurking in there. He bent and peeped inside the bush. It was dark and he turned on his mobile flashlight.
He looked around for quiet sometime and the Meow kept on coming.
"Oi, where are you?!", he said.
After a few seconds, a black cat appeared in front of him. It was purely black and it was well grown. Why would it meow at Mark? It came forward voluntarily and brushed his legs and that put on a smile on Mark's face.
"Would you like to come to my place? Wait…are you alone just like me?" Mark spoke to the cat, forgetting the fact that cats couldn't understand human language.
The cat just said meow and he took it as a yes.
"Alright then." he said as he picked the black cat,
"I'm alone too. That ain't a thing to worry, is it? Come on, let's go."
He gently carried the black cat in his hands and went towards his home.
Will a cat's arrival change the course of Mark the writer's life?
***