#ColourYourWords Why Mark lost interest in Patsy's Valentine balloons

DISCLAIMER

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this Story are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and unintentional.

Seventeen years ago:

"Red!" exclaimed Patsy, sweetly.

"Red!" exclaimed Mark, clapping.

It was a season of Red.

Red balloons. Red flowers. Red cards. Red chocolates. Red coconut cookies. Red gift-wrapped gifts. Red cake with a red cherry. Red mini-skirts and red tight tops for pretty girls. Red T-shirts and even red-colored pajamas for young boys. Red was the color of the moment.

It was Valentine's Day once again!

Patsy was with Mark, her toddler nephew and both had come to buy a red-colored heart-shaped Valentine Balloon for Mark.

"Red!" exclaimed Patsy, sweetly. Pointing at the balloons hanging in the shop.

"Red!" exclaimed Mark, clapping. Asking for the balloons hanging in the shop.

Patsy noted that all the shops and stores had given themselves a red look. The restaurants had taken special care by preparing a 'Special Valentine menu', while other restaurants were offering 'a romantic candlelit Valentine dinner, with free drinks for the lady'. It was Valentine's Day once again and the shopkeepers and restaurants were doing everything to remind people of the big day, for the big day meant big business, and big business meant big money. Naturally, all were falling over each other to sell their products or to advertise their wares. It is not that only products and balloons were getting marketed. Some smart blokes, usually the marketing degree ones, had started marketing the 'Concepts' too. That is the 'Valentine Concept'. Where there would be contests for the best Valentine poem, the best Valentine slogan, the best Valentine love letter, the best Valentine theme cake. And the list was endless.

They were devising an innumerable number of varieties of contests, rock bands, raps, and jazz musicians to woo the young couples or people who think that they are 'still a young couple'.

Anyway, at least today everyone wanted to be or at least 'feel young'. And certainly, romantic!

For it was Valentine's Day!

'It is such a bliss to be young again' this song radiated the feeling of the majority and created an atmosphere of love and youth.

It is also the day for heartaches! 

On Valentine's Day, if you are alone and without your partner to share your love, you are made to feel as if you are the one who has sadly missed the bus or that you are that person who has been left stranded on the shelf, ignored and neglected or that you have become the person for whom falling in love has already reached expiry date. For not all have sweet, romantic partners on their Valentine's Day. So it is also a day which some people dread a lot. Because it reminds them of their inadequacies, their inabilities to find love or to be loved, their failure at romance. Their losses and incompleteness.

Valentine Fever was in the air, it was present in the whispers and excitement of couples, it was evident in the red banners and red balloons which are fluttering beautifully from every gift shop, it was obvious in the open and unabashed display of romance on the streets or the corners. Valentine Fever was everywhere! So like it or not, it is impossible to miss. Or ignore.

It was during such a time that Patsy was buying Valentine balloons for her nephew Mark. Mark was fast destined to become the only person in the world to whom Patsy would always gift a Red Valentine balloon, every year without fail!

When Mark was one year old:

Patsy remembered the first time when she had gifted the red heart-shaped Valentine balloon to her one-year-old nephew Mark, with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?'

Mark had been 'over-the-moon' seeing the balloon. The bright red balloon! The shape, inscription on the balloon of course just did not matter to him. For they meant nothing to him.

All that mattered to Mark was the bright red-colored balloon, which used to fly in the air and the one-year-old Mark had a hard time chasing it, crawling towards it. He would crawl and crawl towards the floating red balloon the entire day. This went on for at least a month. His mother Jane could not be happier! And Aunt Patsy could not be more pleased!

When Mark was two, three, and four years old:

In the second and third and fourth years also, Patsy the loving aunt had diligently presented the same red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the same cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' to Mark, her only love.

His mother Jane used to hang it above the dining table, where it would flutter in the air, and Mark would enjoy the pretty scene, kept on admiring it for long hours, and subsequently would eat whatever his mother put in his mouth. So eating for Mark and feeding for mom Jane became a pleasurable activity, because of the beautiful fluttering red-colored, heart-shaped Valentine balloon tied over the dining table.

When Mark was five, six, seven years old:

In the fifth and sixth and seventh years also, Patsy the loving aunt presented the same red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' to Mark, her only love.

Mark used to play with it like a football and squeal with delight and pleasure whenever it used to bounce and dance in the air. This activity lasted until the balloon, which was an air balloon really but was being treated like a football, used to burst into pieces and Mark would be in pieces too…………emotionally. Crying his heart out. Till Patsy was left feeling guilty. And would vow that she would never buy the Valentine balloon again for Mark.

Her vow, like the Valentine balloon, would get inflated within months and the next year, Patsy would be seeing scanning the various gift shops for the perfect red-colored, heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' for Mark, her only love. Mark, who had promised his aunt Patsy that he will not cry even if the Valentine balloon would burst, would be thrilled to bits when Patsy would once again present him that perfect red-colored, heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' This went on for three more years, until the time, Mark became ten years old.

When Mark was eleven years old:

When he was eleven years old, Patsy had once again gifted him that Valentine balloon.

Mark had received it with a smiling face and a big thanks on his lips and kept it in his room. Where it lay for a few more days until it was borrowed by his three-year-old neighbor Nysa.

In the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth years also, Patsy the loving aunt presented the same red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' to Mark, her only love.

Mark had received it with a big smile as the previous years, but Patsy noted that there was no excitement in either his face or his eyes. 

'He is growing up……….'Patsy thought to herself and is now a teenager, though, to Patsy, he was still the small one-year-old, cute crawling baby, who used to crawl throughout the house, trying to catch that Valentine balloon flying in the air.

Valentine Day for Patsy now only meant gifting a red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon to Mark, her only love. 

Valentine's Day for Mark now only meant receiving the red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon from his aunt Patsy.

For Mark was the only person whom Patsy ever gifted the Valentine Balloon.

For Patsy was the only person who gifted Mark the Valentine Balloon.

When Mark was fifteen years old:

Mark was now fifteen years old and was turning out to be a very handsome and affable boy. Patsy couldn't love him more and wait for Valentine's Day to gift him the red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' 

Dutifully, as per her routine practice, Patsy bought the red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' and rung the bell to Patsy's home, on Valentine's Day.

Mark opened the door with a boyish smile on his smile and a twinkle of excitement in his eyes.

Which disappeared the moment he caught sight of his aunt Patsy at the door with the red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' for him.

Patsy had noted the change in the color on Mark's face when he first saw her. 

It was an expression of disappointment. 

Patsy knew that Mark loved her to bits and would never be disappointed to see her.

But to see her on Valentine's Day with the red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon was a different thing now for Mark!

Patsy got the feeling that Mark was expecting someone else on Valentine's Day!

And must have been excited to receive that special person. But when he saw that it was his old aunt Patsy and not that special person gifting him the red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon, with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?', his expressions had naturally paled and he wore that look of disappointment all over his young pimpled teenage face.

But Mark, being a well-mannered young boy, had quickly put on an artificial smile to welcome his aunt Patsy. Though the smile was well-crafted and well-timed, it could just not create the desired favorable impact on his aunt Patsy, who had known Mark from day one and could very well see through him, as if he was a transparent glass object.

Both tried their best to hide the disappointment behind veils of 'good manners' and both behaved perfectly socially correct with one another, though Patsy could sense that Mark was not too happy to receive her. Or get that red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' from her.

If it had been his latest crush Priya gifting the red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' to him, Mark would have ballooned with happiness and excitement like never before!

'Well, maybe next time………..' Mark had then thought, wishfully, shrugging off the incidence with his aunt Patsy.

Though no one said anything, Patsy got the feeling that Mark no longer expected her and her red Valentine balloon on Valentine's Day. Though Patsy's love for Mark was constant and unwavering, the fifteen-year-old Mark desired his crush Priya's love and attention more than his aunt's!

'Which was natural, of course, for the wheels of time only move forward!' sighed Patsy, with complete understanding.

-----------------------

When Mark was sixteen years old:

A year had passed and now Mark was sixteen years old.

From what she had been hearing from his mother, Mark had grown to be quite a favorite and a 'sort-after' young man in his college with the girls trying to get his attention.

Oh! The days of youth and of youthful yearnings!

Patsy was toying with the idea of whether or not she should visit Mark to gift him the red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' since she was sure that Mark would be least thrilled to receive it from his aunt.

At his age and stage, he would naturally expect his steady girlfriend Priya to gift it to him

Patsy was almost about to drop the idea of visiting Mark to gift him a red-colored, heart-shaped Valentine balloon as per her routine when her sister called her up and begged her to come for Valentine's Day. Reluctantly, Patsy agreed and with the red-colored, heart-shaped Valentine balloon for Mark, she rang the doorbell, fully expecting Mark to open the door and look at his aunt Patsy with a look of disappointment.

That was exactly what happened!

And this time, Mark did not even have the curtsy to hide his disappointment. Or camouflage it with a false show of happiness.

Mark just opened the door and went off …………..without even acknowledging the red-colored, heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' brought by his aunt for him, as per her routine of sixteen long years!

"He has gone for a Valentine's Day Dance and Dinner Party at a swanky restaurant" Jane informed her sister Patsy, taking the Valentine balloon from her hand and led her inside the house to gossip with her, like old time's sake!

When Mark was seventeen years old:

Mark was now seventeen years old.

So, it would be the seventeenth consecutive year when his aunt Patsy would present him with the red-colored, heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?'. 

But should she? 

Patsy was toying with this thought since, from her previous two year's experiences, she knew that Mark no longer expected to receive the Valentine balloon from his aunt Patsy.

Naturally, he was looking for Valentine's love from his steady girlfriend Priya! 

For how can an aunt's love matter to a 17-year-old handsome boy?

'His aunt might as well be dead, and it would simply not matter to him anymore' thought Patsy bitterly but remembered not to blame poor Mark for it. For she very well knew that it was not Mark, but Time which was the culprit! Which always changed everything and everyone that it touched!

Patsy was nervously fidgeting with herself whether to go to Mark's place or not when her sister once again called her over and requested her to come over for a 'Valentine's Day Party' at her house.

-----------------------

Current Day:

Patsy went to Jane's colony with slow steps and dread that she might not be welcomed as before.

As soon as she got off the bus, she went to a nearby gift shop to buy the customary red-colored, heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' for Mark, her only love, as per her routine and custom.

A routine and custom that she still found very difficult to shake off, despite Mark's lack of interest and enthusiasm in it.

There was a huge crowd of young girls and boys buying their favorite Valentine gifts and chocolates and balloons for their loved ones.

The air was full of excitement and romance. Valentine's fever was fast gripping everyone around!

Patsy could see just one middle-aged lady customer in yellow floral Kurti, apart from herself, buying something for Valentine's Day from that shop.

The rest of the crowd of customers, were of course, all young and hip and trendy!

Suddenly, Patsy felt very old in contrast.

Patsy was looking at the huge display of the red-coloured, heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' on display and did not waste a single moment in deciding on the size or price, for she knew that Mark would anyway not give it even a second glance, now that he was seventeen.

Previously, Patsy remembered the times and the long hours that she would window-shop and seek to see all the big and small varieties of the red-colored, heart-shaped Valentine balloons before buying that very special one, for her darling nephew Mark.

But times had changed. And Patsy had changed a bit. And Mark had changed a lot. 

Things were just not the same between Mark and Patsy as they were years ago!

Without much of a thought, Patsy bought her usual red-coloured, heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' and was just about to leave the shop, when she spotted the middle-aged woman in yellow floral Kurti, still lingering in the shop for she was having a really tough time selecting a Valentine balloon for her son, who was pushing and pulling her roughly, with all his strength and throwing a tantrum, pestering her to buy a particular balloon at all costs.

"Big balloon………………. I want a bigger red balloon…………………red…..balloon" he was babbling away and also sobbing a bit.

Patsy looked at the boy and stood shocked!

The boy throwing the tantrum and crying for the red balloon was at least seventeen years old, just the same age as her Mark, and had a huge tall body, with a light mustache and beard, sprouting on his young face.

He was bawling loudly for a red-colored, heart-shaped Valentine balloon-like any other four-year-old!

Patsy looked closely at the boy.

Suddenly, Patsy realized that he was a small four-year-old boy, trapped in a young man's body!

A four-year-old boy, who had unfortunately just stopped growing after that ………………and though his body had grown proportionally, his brain had remained the 'brain of a four-year old'!

'A 'Special Child'! An autistic child, probably!' thought Patsy at once.

Hence, his tantrum, his interest, his excitement, at buying the best and the biggest red-colored balloon for Valentine!

Instantaneously, Patsy realized how lucky she was to have a normal seventeen-year-old nephew!

And just how lucky she was that Mark, these days did not expect either his aunt on Valentine's Day or the red-colored, heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' from her. 

Patsy looked with pity and concern, at the seventeen-year-old young man, with the brain of a four-year-old.

That 'Special Child' with his 'Special Mother'!

So with the red-colored heart-shaped Valentine balloon with the cursive inscription 'Will you be my Valentine, Sweetheart?' in her hand, Patsy rang Mark's doorbell, fully bracing to be ignored by Mark and being profusely thankful for it………………

Mark's loss of interest in his aunt and her gift of the Valentine balloon meant that he had grown up to become a normal, healthy, young boy……………….. who now needed a young girl's love and attention and certainly not his aunt's………………., especially on a Valentine's Day!