She was sitting on the balcony of their lavishly well-organised flat on the 30th Floor of a complex at the heart of the city. She had a book in one hand and hot coffee on the table. The Glass separating her from the fresh air outside was crystal clear. After a hard day of what she does daily, she finally had some me time. As she turned the page, she was startled by the loud noise of thunder. Looking up, she saw the sky dark with monsoon clouds... It started to rain... the Crystal clear glass was now blurred with droplets. She put down her book.
Fourteen years ago, it was raining like this that day. She was looking out of the classroom window, hoping it would stop soon. She had left her umbrella at home. She had no mobile phone to call her mom. The final bell rang, and she took shelter under the sheds of the school premises. Looking up, she was checking the dark clouds. No sign of stopping, the rain poured, blurring sight at a distance. The streets and school grounds were waterlogged.
" What happened? You won't go home?"
Startled, she turned back. It was her classmate. He was looking for an answer.
" I don't have my umbrella with me, nor do I have my phone, so I am waiting for the rain to stop."
" I have an Umbrella, we can share if you like, I will drop you home."
" No. No. You go along, you will be late."
" It's no issue, it's on the way... Come on."
A bit hesitant, she agreed. She had known this guy for two months, and maybe he was just saying it as a courtesy...
" So, what are your hobbies?" He tried to break the awkward silence.
" Reading... Books on mythology and love stories... and..." He clearly had no idea about books.
" I like cricket too..."
" Really? Who is your favourite currently?"
" Mahi..."
" Captain Cool... I like him too..."
She did not remember the rest of the conversation. They threw puddle water at each other, took away the umbrella to get wet and laughed heartily. It was as though they were friends forever. He was boasting about his cooking skills...
" I can make fabulous cheese omelettes and cheese sandwiches..."
" Really? I can't cook."
" Will bring some one day, you will see my cooking skills!"
He turned away from her doorstep, and she thanked him. They were both dripping wet. She was welcomed home by her mother's scoldings. He had texted that day that he enjoyed it a lot, and she did too...
The noise of the door interrupted her thoughts as Three-year-old Misha walked in.
" Why are you smiling, Mamma?"
" Hey, baby sees the rain, it's so beautiful, right?"
" But it rains like this only, every time." The kid was clueless. After a hug, she ran off.
She looked outside. How many years had passed? Since those moments? Those carefree dances in the rain? Responsibilities and Marriage came in the way of love. He said those moments were their childishness and immaturity. She got up. Sliding open the glass door, she walked out to the open portion of the balcony. She stood there dripping wet.
Meanwhile, Misha came back, dragging her father out of the Living room and into her parents' bedroom.
"Pappa! Pappa! Look, Mamma is going to...."
The father-daughter duo looked stunned at her. She smiled and invited her daughter to join. Letting go of her father's hand, she joined her mother in the happy moment. He looked at them and smiled. After a bath, Misha fell asleep. Tugging her sleeping daughter to bed, she hugged her. He came in to kiss his daughter goodnight. They shared a silent smile. She started writing her diary, filling up today's page with her thoughts like she did every day. He was busy working through his files and laptop, even when she fell asleep, hugging her daughter.
The next morning, she woke at seven am, late by an hour. She jumped up after a glimpse at the clock. Thank god it's Sunday. Misha came in with her grandmom shouting, " Surprise, mamma surprise!"
"What surprises Misha?" She looked confused.
Her mom-in-law interrupted. " Come, Misha, let's go read the Ramayana, we have to know what Surpanakha did?"
" Yes, yes!" She ran out like a gush of wind...
He entered with a plate in one hand and a card in the other. A Card? He never liked giving...
" Sorry, I forgot our anniversary last month"
That made her laugh. It was a month ago, and she had not talked for two days, much to Misha's enjoyment, who went around saying "Pappa forgot anuversareee" She did not even know what it meant.
" It was last month... Wasn't that fight over with that Ice cream?"
" I know... look, I made a Cheese omelette for you!"
" How did you.... oh god! Stop reading my diary, will you?"
She looked at Misha and him playing with his tablet and fighting over it like two little kids. She knew nothing had changed; they just did not show like before. The rain came as a reminder of all that was, their childhood and friendship and innocence, and she thanked the rain gods for giving her these moments of joy!
