A Blissful Monsoon Moment

Amidst our fast-paced lives, the essence of nurturing our own selves and cherishing moments in solitude has been lost. We are engulfed by a whirlwind of daily responsibilities, racing against time to strike a balance between work and personal life, attending meetings, and meticulously managing schedules. As a consequence, we even neglect to savor our meals properly.

Yet, such is the fabric of modern life, woven with the threads of rapidity. We have lost out old lives in such cobwebs never getting a chance to retrieve our childhood days and cherish them.

Monsoons has arrived. It was my day off.I had just prepared a hot steaming cup of coffee for myself and glanced at the outside weather, dark clouds has accumulated across the sky and there was a heavy downpour. The scenic beauty of the city from a 22nd apartment floor seemed astounding.

Thick fog spread across and I could behold the flying clouds across my glass windows.

The rain outside transported me to my childhood days, when monsoons arrived in our village, people embraced the joy of getting soaked in the rain. Armed with umbrellas or clad in raincoats, they traversed through the rain-drenched streets, often playfully splashing water on one another. The aroma of hot steaming tea accompanied by delectable samosas and fritters tantalized our senses. The rendezvous with friends became even more delightful, accompanied by paper boats floating in puddles and the thrill of splashing mud. The soccer field came alive with the essence of camaraderie, and the fragrance of wet earth weaved a captivating spell upon us. Every aspect of this enchanting season was truly astonishing and mesmerizing.

Amidst the changing seasons, I often found myself oblivious to the things I missed. It wasn't until I sat beside the window, savoring my steaming coffee, that a droplet of rain gracefully kissed the glass pane. In that moment, I realized that the monsoon had really arrived, with dark clouds gently spreading across the sky, as if to veil the earth in secrecy.

Unintentionally, I began sketching images of boats and people on the wet glass, and memories flooded my mind, especially those of my childhood days. I fondly remembered how my friends and I used to walk to our village school, a 15-minute journey through fields and canals.

During the monsoons, puddles and mud became our obstacles. We would often get drenched, creating a fuss as we feared falling sick and missing school the next day. The school building, with its peeling white wash and water-logged walls, couldn't stop our joyous spirits.

After the final bell rang, we rushed towards the water-filled fields, splashing each other and relishing the scent of wet mud. The game of football was our delight, and paper boats flowed along the streams of water. We returned home haggard, facing the scolding and thrashing for dirtying our clothes, bags, and books.

The warmth of hot tea and samosas, lovingly served by our mothers, added to the joy of the season. We would sit next to the chulha, trying to dry off all our belongings. A smile spread across my lips as these memories transported me to the present. My phone buzzed, probably my boss, but I didn't feel like picking it up. Instead, I let it buzz as I watched the rain outside. The coffee had turned cold, and I craved a hot, steaming beverage along with some fried fritters to complete the nostalgia. We were so happy being children!

In the quaint little village ,there was another reason to be happy! My childhood friend, Meera.

The enchanting rainy seasons days went by splashing in puddles and water on each other. Her twinkling & mesmerizing eyes and the beautiful smile and laughter tinkers bells in my ears still. We grew older and our adolescence brought new feelings and emotions, and unknowingly, we found our hearts entwined with first love. In the rainy season, under the romantic drizzle, our first love blossomed like the fresh flowers around us.

The days were filled with stolen glances and stolen moments of laughter under the rain-soaked skies.

The advent of monsoon herald the first raindrops falling upon us, inviting an irresistible urge to dance amidst the raindrops. We danced in the rain, hand in hand, laughing like carefree souls. Walking along rain-kissed paths, we exchanged shy glances, our hearts racing with excitement, cherishing every moment together. As the raindrops fell, so did our inhibitions, and we found comfort in each other's arms, creating memories that would last a lifetime.

However, life had other plans for us. Circumstances changed, and we were separated as their family moved to a different cities.

'Buzzzzzzzzz',boss again, transporting me to present. I really can't understand why do I have no time to cherish my memories!

'Hello boss',I picked up the phone finally. 'Rishi, you need to get this fixed, none of the presenters are available, the client is so very upset, they could arrive in the rain and we could not! How upsetting, they had been complaining! Rishi, it's the matter of our reputation, I am on my way, you have to arrive, NO IFS NO BUTS'

He slammed the phone on my face, without listening to me.

I am the CEO of the company hence its all up to me to save the reputation.

I changed to my best business attire, I don't think it would stop raining today, but seems like it started drizzling, reducing the pressure of the heavy rain,I can still manage but what about the puddles on the road, forget about it! I have to reach the office any how.

My black car was competent enough to fight heavy rains.

I started for the office.

But destiny would have it......

I started off my car, it ran but almost mid way fate intervened when it broke down. The rain had however been a relief, but no garage in sight, I called for the mechanic I usually take my car to....It would take him another hour to reach.....there seemed no other way! What a mess. I called ,my boss, who was frustrated and blamed the catastrophe for the entire chaos.

Slowly and gradually as the heavy rain subsided, the sky cleared, and the sun emerged, casting a gentle glow on the wet surroundings. The rainwater pooled around a bus stop, seeping through the pavement. Unfazed, I sought for a shelter from the lingering drizzle, hurriedly I ran towards the bus stop, carrying my laptop bag above my head to protect me from the remaining drizzles and tried to find a spot where I could stand, away from the accumulated water, and protect myself from any stray droplets. Despite the appearance of the sun, its rays lacked warmth, creating a cool and refreshing atmosphere after the heavy downpour.

My phone buzzed, a mechanic seemed to have arrive from the nearest garage I called for.

I handed over the keys to him and waited for a bus or a taxi to arrive.

There was no one in sight, who would comeout in such heavy rain! I am the only poor guy! I smiled at myself.

Slowly the bus stop started filling up, one-two-three. My eyes suddenly caught a known face, the same serene face, the girl stood alone, her clothes drenched and her face glistening with raindrops. Her troubled eyes betrayed her anxiety as she anxiously glanced at her watch, waiting for the bus.

As the bus approached, my eyes met Meera's, and we both recognized each other instantly. My eyes gleamed with joy, reminiscing about their childhood days. We boarded the bus, and as we exchanged greetings. A shyness, an anxiousness and mixed feelings echoed her restless heartbeats,

The years melted away.The twist and turns of life had brought a huge change in her. She was married now,the red sparkling vermillion on her forehead and the tinkles of her bangles made me realise that. A vacuum seems to be created between us, she was resistance talking to me after ten long years.The face related the stories of the hardships she had been through all these years, she now had a family to look after, and was struggling to find happiness amidst her numerous responsibilities. Despite the burdens she carried, she concealed her troubles with a brave smile.

Slowly she opened up after a few initial chats, Meera updated me about her life and family, her responsibilities, and her challenges and I listened attentively, realizing how much she had endured over the years. She kept her sorrows hidden, but I could sense her unhappiness beneath the surface.

The bus ride seemed to transcend time as we delved into our past, reliving cherished memories of our innocent friendship. We laughed, cried, and held each other's gaze with a mix of nostalgia and longing.

When suddenly the bus halted with a screeching sound, Meera 's stop has arrived. It was time for us to part, I felt if I could hold the time once!

She stepped off the bus, leaving me with a heart full of emotions. While struggling with her bags and umbrella, she glanced back just once at me.

As the bus pulled away, a sense of regret and wonder wobbled around my brain. What if we had stayed together all those years ago? What if circumstances had been different?

My mind wandered to the possibilities of a different life, one where we had never been separated, and had experienced the ups and downs together. The fleeting moment at the bus stop left me contemplating the twists and turns of destiny.

That little piece of magic from a rainy reunion—a reminder of what could have been and what we once were to each other turmoiled my heavy heart.

I couldn't help but wonder if, in another universe, we would live that life we once dreamed of.

Life's twists and turns would remain a beautiful enigma, and I would cherish the memories of the rainy days together forever and perhaps Meera would too.....

With a heavy heart, I continued my journey towards my office, the raindrops tapping once again against the bus window like gentle reminders of their past.

I sighed......as I looked back at her from the running bus one last time!