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"Hi, How are you." I enquired him after so long. "How was your journey. Did you complete your assigned task?"

He looked puzzled. "why are you asking me like an old grandma? He said dipping the french fries in the tomato ketchup. "And why didn't you pick up my call." The crispy french fries between his teeth.

Crunch!
I was caught, unalarmed. "Sorry, i was busy completing my assignments." I said trying to defend myself.

"And you didn't checked your inbox that too for the entire week!" His voice authentic and eyebrows raised high.

I made a face as innocent as a puppy. He didn't look convinced. I tried to shift the topic. "Waiter, one more plate of french fries, please."

He took out a small packet from his bag and kept it on the table. I looked at the packet (confused), them at him (blank) and then again at the packet(curious).
"It is for you and stop shifting your head like that." He was amused.

"What is it?" I asked.

"An atom bomb." He snickered. "Open it stupid, its your faviorite."
Ecstacy filled my breath and could not restrain my self any further. I grabbed the packed and scratched it like a kitten to unwrap it.

"Curiosity killed the cat"

In a flat box i found my faviorite set of paintbrushes. When we recieve something we craved for too long, it either leads to addiction or renunciation. I was not addicted to painting after i left home and i could not renounce the gift he brought for me. The pain between was killing me.

"Where did you get this from?" My voice sober. Black and white motion picture enveloped my mind. The days when we used to paint. My paintbrushes that he once broke. His yellow t-shirt that i took revenge on with my paints and he promised to bring me a new set. All fresh in mind.

"One of the shops in Bengaluru." He said.

I knew he lied. I dont know from where he managed to get those old fashioned paintbrushes but I felt blessed. He remembered me all these years. He could have given me the most expensive things. He was rich and benovolent too. But he left me awestruck and enamoured of his simple yet profound gift.

"Thank you" i said, gratitude coupled with love overflowed in my words. He looked happy. He looked satisfied.
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