The Devil's Sweetheart

Standing in front of the Kortz music store, Enger noticed how the tiny place he used to visit with his mother has evolved into a music retailer and a recording studio. \'\'Things sure change.\'\'

Enger walked into the store and stared at the dais where a boy was singing \'Heart Attack\' by Enrique Iglesias. Probably, the situation suited him, Enger got connected to the song instantly. \'\'You are a real heart breaker, Leena. How long will you make me wait for you, my dear Cutie pie?\'\' He muttered, checking the old song collections placed in the rack. If Winter had not threatened with his secret, he would have approached Leena four years back, and there would be no sign of Devin in her life. Thinking of the man would only heighten his blood pressure.

\'\'Can I help you, sir?\'\' An assistant boy approached Enger, putting a stop to his thoughts.

\'\'Umm..Yeah.\'\' Replied Enger. \'\'Where can I find Vihuelas?\'\'

\'\'Please come with me.\'\' The boy said. \'\'I will lead the way.\'\'

Enger followed him.

The Vihuela\'s arranged to the wall hangers brought back the memories of his mother teaching him to play the instrument when he was young. Enger grabbed a tuned one to check out if he still remembered his mother\'s lessons. 

Watching Enger play the piece, the assistant boy said. \'\'Are you interested in playing at the Dias, sir?\'\'

\'\'Not at all.\'\' Enger handed the instrument to the boy. \'\'I play just for fun.\'\'

\'\'But you seem to be gifted.\'\' The boy said. \'\'There is an event happening in our store where we are raising funds for orphans. I will give you a discount on the items you purchase. Could you please play for the event? You can even dedicate the song to your favorite person.\'\' The boy urged.

The word Orphan triggered Enger\'s week point. Dedicating the song to a favorite person? Seems a good idea. Nothing is a better event than his mom\'s birthday. \'\'Alright.\'\' He agreed.

Stepping into the dias, Enger kept the mobile aside and comfortably settled on the rolled chair. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and began to play the song, remembering his mother.

Wherever I turn up

Everything seems incomplete without you

Wondering why you left me

I spend my time thinking about you

I wish you were here

I miss you, mom...Yeah...I miss you, mom..Yeah...

A lovely tune combined with a beautiful voice caught the attention of the crowd, and people started to gather. Completely oblivious, Enger was involved in the song.

Ruth, who just entered the store, glanced at the dias when the song caught her attention. However, the crowd completely surrounded the stage to get a glimpse of the person playing it.

She went towards the Vihuela\'s rack, and with the help of an assistant, she grabbed one and was off to the counter. 

\'\'That would be Four eighty dollars, madam.\'\' 

\'\'Who is that playing? Is he a star?\'\' Ruth asked, taking the stack of money from her purse. The song and person\'s voice keep attracting her.

\'\'A random customer, madam.\'\' Replied cashier. \'\'Beautiful, isn\'t it?\'\'

\'\'Very beautiful.\'\' Taking a dollar note from her purse, Ruth wrote a message and gave it to the cashier. \'\'Can you pass it to him.\'\'

\'\'Sure, madam.\'\' The cashier stared at the message. [Your voice echoes in my heart. Keep it up]

As she turned to go out, Ruth noticed the pouring rain. Instead of waiting inside the store, Ruth went out to see the rain. Rainy days always remind her of someone close to her heart. 

Her memories flew back to the time her son was around seven years old.

\'\'It\'s raining, son,\'\' Ruth shouted. \'\'You are going to catch a cold.\'\'

\'\'Stop worrying about me, mom.\'\' The little boy dragged her mother out of the house. \'\'I love rain. Isn\'t it cool to play in the rain?\'\'

\'\'Hmmm..what my son wants, he gets.\'\'

\'\'That\'s my mom.\'\' 

The giggles of a little boy echoed in her mind. Ruth slowly opened her eyes.

\'\'Oh man! It\'s raining.\'\'

Ruth turned her eyes to the left. Few steps away, a man was standing, his eyes dark and half of his face covered with a mask. She felt a strange familiarity and was instantly drawn towards the young man\'s eyes. Before Ruth controlled her brain, words followed out of her mouth. \'\'I have a spare umbrella. Would you like to use it?\'\' She cursed herself for starting a conversation with a stranger.

Enger\'s eyes shifted to the woman to his right, whose face was covered except her eyes. For some reason, Enger felt the woman\'s eyes familiar. In an attempt to catch the train, Enger brushed the thought and declined her offer in a polite way. \'\'Thank, but not necessary. I will call a cab.\'\'

Ruth nodded, a smile on her face.

Upon the cab\'s arrival, Enger stepped into it, and not before he reached a meter distance, he remembered he had forgotten the mobile at the store. He asked the driver to take a detour to Kortz again.

\'\'Did you see my mobile?\'\' Enger asked the counter people as he walked towards them.

\'\'Oh, yeah.\'\' He said. \'\'I just found it in the dias. I was trying to contact someone from your phone list, but it\'s locked.\'\'

\'\'Thanks for keeping safe.\'\' Enger thanked him and turned to leave when the cashier called him again. \'\'Excuse me, sir, A customer left you a note.\'\'

\'\'Me?\'\' Enger frowned, taking the note from the cashier\'s hand. His eyes went wide when he opened the note. It was not the message that put him under a shock, but the handwriting that made his brain go numb. He has no doubt that it\'s his mother\'s handwriting. \'\'When did this person come and leave?\'\'

\'\'Not sure, sir, but she left..probably, fifteen minutes back.\'\'

\'\'How does she look?\'\' Enger demanded.

\'\'Well.\'\' The cashier was puzzled at the strange behavior of the man. 

\'\'Tell me!\'\'

\'\'She was wearing a mask. So, I haven\'t quite seen her. The woman came here to purchase a Vihuela.\'\'

Enger raced outside and looked all over, but there was no sign of a woman carrying a bag in her hands.

\'\'Sir, did you see a woman carrying a bag?\'\' He asked the crowd who stood outside the stoor, waiting for the rain to come down so that they can leave.

None seems to be seen, so everybody shook their heads in response.

Like a rampant, Enger went on, asking everyone about a woman with a Vihuela bag. His body was soaking wet, but Enger neither cared nor bothered. All he wanted was to find his mother after two-decades-long. But luck seems to be not at his side.

 \'\'You left me alone again, mom..\'\' Enger collapsed on the road in a mess.