Raindrops on my Parched Heart
Raindrops on my Parched Heart


Slowly and silently I walked inside,
I could hear the giggles die,
My footsteps were a little too loud,
Maybe interrupting a happy time.
"Who is it?", asked a voice.
I stepped out into the light,
I met ten old but curious eyes.
Their nose scrunched at the smell I brought,
My drenched clothes making them contemplate their decision of the always-open door.
My shoes left puddles,
And their faces screamed disappointment too loud.
"It is raining too hard. The roads are too slippery-" before I could finish a hand was raised,
The old man was now too close to my face.
"Get him clothes", is what he said.
A lady walked inside,
And after 20 awkward minutes, she brought me a bunch of hand me downs.
She pointed to a door and I followed her lead,
Changing into the smelly clothes,
I readily started to miss my home.
I stepped out and the giggles stopped again,
The old man motioned me to come and join the game.
I sat beside him and they started to laugh and chat,
A beautiful group of friends with warmth in the heart.
"A beautiful family you all are!", my silly mouth spoke at last.
Their smiles vanished and they looked at each other confused,
Then I heard a snicker from beside the door.
"We are the hand me downs of the society, so thank you."
He left without another word making others a little amused.
"This is an old age home.", an old woman answered my thoughts,
I looked at her, my face a little too horrified.
"His son left him here on his birthday. Took him on a trip as a gift and gifted him to us instead.", the old man said.
I looked at him,
My eyes demanding him to narrate his story to my curious mind,
But he ignored my curious gaze.
"We all are here because we were not needed anymore. Just like these clothes.", he said and touched the fabric I wore.
I looked around to meet so many sad eyes,
"Do you not hate your kids?", is what I asked.
"How can we? We
can't harbour the pain hatred brings. We still love them. After all, it is human to commit mistakes.",
The old woman with wise words now had tears in her eyes.
"My baby was this small when I held her for the first time. She kicked my face making me smile.", another woman said,
and listening to her words a smile crept on all the sad faces around.
My eyes landed on a woman,
She was lying on the bed.
The old man followed my gaze,
"She has paralysis. Doctors said she might not make it more than 2 years. But her son didn't want to take any risks.", he answered me yet again.
My heart skipped a beat.
I stood up in haste and outside the door, I ran.
A lot of noises followed my escape,
But I just couldn't risk losing everything all over again.
I got inside my car and traced back the steps,
The orchard and the old building coming into sight again.
I saw the bench,
And there she was sitting right there drenched in the pouring rain.
"Mom!", I yelled.
She looked at me,
The relief in her eyes was enough to make my day.
"Are you okay? I thought something happened to you.", she said with tears in her eyes.
She was standing there drenched in the rain,
And yet all she cared about was my well being.
"Mom you first run into the car.", I said picking up her suitcase.
The moment I sat in the car, she held my hand,
"I thought you were never going to come back.", she said.
My eyes couldn't meet hers,
Because her words were true,
I never planned to return.
I was the son,
who wanted to abandon his mother too.
"I will never leave you, mom.", I said building up the courage to look into her eyes.
This was the first honest promise I made.
"I know my son will never leave me alone.", saying this she smiled.
Her smile embracing my guilty self,
I took her hands in mine,
And I spoke in a voice honest but hurt,
"Yes, mom you are the raindrops on my parched heart."