Whispers Of Rain

Aisha rushed under the shed at the bus stop as the rain ambushed the unbeknownst people sauntering about on a rather beautiful Monday evening. She wiped the droplets off her face which was already sporting a frown. She hated the rain and the mess it left behind. And an unexpected downpour like this on Monday - the busiest day of the week, it was infuriating for her.

She glanced at her watch and then looked around for the bus, letting out an impatient sigh when she couldn’t spot one. After a long wait of fifteen minutes, the heavy downpour turned into a soft drizzle. The bus stop crowded with people so far, became more breathable as people walked out of the shelter.

Another fifteen minutes had passed. Aisha was getting more agitated with each passing second. The bus was considerably late. She kept glancing around as if looking at the road would magically bring the bus to her. When no bus appeared even after five minutes of continuous staring, she shifted her focus on the blissful scenery around her. The green leaves looked as if adorned with pearls. The city was already buzzing with gossiping people and blaring horns of impatient drivers. People were enjoying various delicacies on the other side of the road which was a hub of street stalls. Her glance came to an abrupt halt as they landed on one of the stalls. Roasted corn with lime and salt. The most delicious combination ever during monsoons!

Before Aisha could make up her mind to cross over to the other side for a quick snack, the picturesque view in front of her was abruptly disrupted by a couple. The young guy went ahead to place the order while the girl stood behind smiling lovingly at the view around her. Her eyes sparkled with childish curiosity as she ogled at the surroundings. Her companion was back in a while with two cobs of corn, one of which he handed to the girl. The girl said something and the boy chuckled, his gaze transfixed on her. They looked engrossed in their own bubble, blissfully unaware of the strange looks thrown their way by some people. Aisha overheard the aged women standing nearby criticizing the couple and discussing their 'perfect' parenting.

But for Aisha, the sight brought back bittersweet memories.

******

"It's raining yaar, kaise jaayenge.", Aisha exclaimed. The agony was screaming through her words. They had planned to meet after two freaking long weeks. Term-end examinations had just ended and at last, she could take her nose out of those thick books. "It isn't even a light spray.", she complained shifting the phone to the other ear and looking outside the window wistfully. 

Arnav chuckled on the other end. "It's okay naa, kal mil lenge. Let's just video call for now?", he suggested.

"Hmm."

She sounded bleak but relented. Switching to video call they started chatting animatedly, updating each other about the various instances from the past two weeks.

A light tap on her shoulder shook her out of slumber. "Itna paka raha tha ki so hi gayi?", he teased.

Before she could comprehend his presence, he was tugging at her arms.

"Chal, jaldi se ready ho jaa, baarish kam ho gayi hai."

"Yaar, ab mann nahi."

"Throw these tantrums in front of your future hubby. Itni duur se aaya hun, chal ready ho jaa shaanti se.", he said holding the handle of her wardrobe.

"Don't!", she screamed and slapped his arms lightly. He snickered, "Kyun, what are you hiding inside, haan? A secret diary dedicated to the love of your life?"

"Chup kar aur nikal yehan se.", Aisha shoved his arms a little forcefully this time. He moved towards the door chuckling, "Jaa raha hun bahar, get ready within ten minutes."

She barely took time to change into an old pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Gliding the brush once through her messy hair, she unlocked the door within fifteen minutes.

"It's still raining, let's just cancel naa.", she grumbled glancing outside.

It wasn't hard to tell that monsoon wasn't her favourite season. She hated the mud and humidity.

"Don't be a brat. Arnav itni duur se tujhse milne aaya hai. Chali jaa naa. Do week se bahar nahi gayi hai.", Aisha's mother's voice emanated from the kitchen.

Smirking he pulled Aisha towards the door, bidding farewell to her mother on their way out. They stood under the shed for a moment observing the scenery.

"What will we do? Everything is damp, the roads are flooded with water, and we can't even walk comfortably. Let it be. We can just watch some movie inside.", she suggested hoping he'd finally listen to her. But he was in no mood to do anything of the sort.

Opening the umbrella he walked out of the shed. "Follow me and listen to the whispers of the rain?", he forwarded his hand. She followed him under the umbrella apprehensively. They ambled towards the market.

"Look how beautiful everything looks after rainfall. As if the earth itself has been tenderly cleansed and rejuvenated, glistening under the touch of liquid purity."

Aisha chuckled, "Yeah sure, Mr. Arnav Shakespeare. When are you publishing your new play?"

"Or poem, is it?", she taunted playfully.

His smile persisted as he carried on, his tone light, "No, but seriously. How can you detest rain so much? All hopeless romantics love rain."

"I am not a hopeless romantic", she retorted indignantly.

"Indeed," his tone held a hint of amusement, "I'm the one obsessing over imaginary men of about a thousand novels, aren't I?"

She discreetly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear in an attempt to conceal her embarrassment. She had always been a romantic at heart but wouldn't accept that even if her life depended on it. 

As they walked along the rain-drenched streets, Arnav seemed to be on a mission. He pulled Aisha into the heart of the bustling neighbourhood, his eyes gleaming with an infectious eagerness. A group of children were huddled near a puddle. They were giggling as they sailed colourful paper boats, their eyes shining with excitement. Arnav pulled Aisha closer to the group, and they both watched the miniature boats gliding on the makeshift watercourse.

"Isn't it amazing?" Arnav's voice was soft, almost as if he was sharing a secret.

"Look at their ecstatic faces, as if they are the sailors of some real ship and have discovered a treasured jewel.", he continues. Aisha found herself smiling at the sight. The carefree innocence of the children was a stark contrast to her own reservations about the rain.

As they continued their walk, Arnav narrated stories of his own childhood escapades in the rain. Each anecdote was accompanied by his animated storytelling, and Aisha couldn't help but get caught up in the warmth of his memories. Their laughter tingled through the rain-soaked air, creating a melody that blended seamlessly with the pitter-patter of the raindrops. Aisha felt a sense of ease as if the rain was slowly washing away her preconceived notions and dislike for the soggy atmosphere.

The raindrops danced around them, and he looked at her with a mischievous grin. "Ready for a little adventure?" he asked, his voice filled with a playful charm.

Aisha raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Adventure in the rain? What do you have in mind?"

Without giving her a chance to apprehend he jumped in the small puddle in front of him. Laughter bubbled from his lips as he leapt into the water, creating a splatter of droplets that seemed to mirror his infectious delight. Aisha was taken aback by the childish antiques and a noticeable frown appeared on her face for a moment. Despite that, she couldn't help but catch his contagious enthusiasm. With a mixture of surprise and laughter, she followed suit, landing in the puddle with a joyful splash. The cool water soaked through her shoes, and a surprised giggle escaped her lips. The umbrella was long forgotten as their laughter intertwined with each other. They stood there, not caring about the wet clothes or the curious glances of passersby, jumping and splashing, their carefree revelry turning the mundane puddle into a playground of shared merriment.

"Who knew a puddle could be so much fun?" Aisha exclaimed between bouts of laughter.

Arnav grinned, his eyes shining with mischief.

"Sometimes, it's the simple things that hold the most joy.", he mused.

Before she could even settle down after their impromptu adventure, she was tugged to a roadside stall. "Two cobs, please", Arnav told the shopkeeper. They stood there waiting for their order. Aisha was busy observing her surroundings with a new perspective. She still wasn't fond of rain, but she couldn't deny that it had been a fun experience for her. She was looking admiringly at the water glazing the leaves on the small plants on the sidewalk. The whispers of rain had worked their magic on her.

To the contrary, Arnav was busy admiring the gentle curve of her radiant smile. Aisha was vaguely aware of his unwavering gaze. A multitude of emotions surging through her brain. Just then, Arnav extended a cob of corn towards her.

"Here, enjoy this."

Its seasoning glistened with the tang of lemon akin to the twinkle in their eyes. In the backdrop, the sunset had painted the sky with merry hues which seemed to mirror fragments of their hearts. Both were dimly conscious of the narrative taking shape within, each catching faint glimpses of the burgeoning emotions in the other.

******

A loud honk startled Aisha. The young couple was now hidden behind the bus which was finally here. She hurried inside and settled down in an empty seat. Putting on her earphones she looked longingly at the two before they disappeared round the corner.