Umbrella : A Short Story

I hated rainy season. Although I liked the early monsoon showers and it's petrichor.

I had a broken umbrella which I was planning to mend since few days. Two blocks away from my society, there sits a man on a roadside, who repaired small household items and earned his livelihood.

I took out my jacket and went for a walk holding my umbrella. I wished it didn't rain as morning was cloudy and darkness was gripping my hope. As I reached the man, he asked,

"Yes Sir, how may I help you... ",

I just realized he had all the tools wrapped in a LINE of polythene bags.

"Why are all your items wrapped in those polythene ..."

"Because it seems it will rain heavily today, I do not want my tools to get rusty, the only ones I have..."

"How much would you charge to repair this ?", I handed my umbrella to let him examine.

"30 Rs Sir", to which I agreed. By that time his daughter came running towards him and asked if she can skip her school as it was about to rain. To which he denied and asked her to take the old rusty umbrella he had.

"But father how will you sit here without one ?"

"I'll manage, you go and study well..."

She took the umbrella and went, she didn't want to disappoint her father who was working hard for her education. I saw her turning back and looking at him with worried expression. I felt heavy, my heart was broken.

I could see some tears, sparkle fading from her eyes just when it started to drizzle. She was gone, meanwhile my umbrella was repaired and he asked for 30 Rs in return. He also started checking his tools if they are properly sealed inside polythene bags or not.

I started heading back to my home. After I crossed the first block, It started to rain a little bit more just when I turned back to see him open the umbrella and smile back at me for a humble gesture.

That moment, that exact very moment, I realized I am in love with the rain. I spread both my arms and felt the raindrops drubbing my palms. Fear of getting drenched did not bother me anymore. That feeling of slowly permeating water all across my face which had hidden some of my tears of joy.

I went to repair 'my' umbrella... But 'his' umbrella mended my heart!