Monsoon shower

May be it was the monsoon rains I was waiting for that Saturday afternoon, staring at the ceiling fan above, almost drowning in humidity, waiting for that illusive something.... to quench an unquenchable something that engulfs me whenever I am alone nowadays.


Uncaring monsoon rains come at will, too early like last year or too late like this year, but none complains when they do come. The smell of joy of the parched land that tasted the first drops of rain and the greenery all around with big wide grins tell one thing very clearly; monsoon rains bring something to cheer about, that they will (even if a myth) solve everyone's problem.

It is still a mystery why AK came to see me that same afternoon. Unannounced, without any reason, but beautiful as usual in a checked shirt with a matching tie, he came in with that smile which once crippled my heart every time it flashed. I gave back what was supposed to be a smile.... which actually turned out to be anything but. After some few pauses of awkwardness, we finally settled down in normal conversation. He told me he finally decided to give up studies and found a job, that's why the formal clothing- he said looking down at his tie. I told him about the new exciting project I was working on. And then after some few more pauses it came…. I told him about my sister’s painful death. His twinkling eyes just a minute ago transformed into this inviting bottomless well of sympathy, where I couldn’t resist jumping into, and I ended up telling him every details of my sister’s last few months and how I felt and still feel about it.

He lends a patient ear holding my hand all the while, and when I ended he drew me close making my head rest on his chest, holding me tightly. Something triggered my tears to flow and I was sobbing ….. a sob over which I had no control. And then, it happened. We kissed. A kissed before which you didn’t think of kissing, a kiss after which you just want to be kissed even more, it was as natural as that. We spoke nothing afterwards as if not wanting to pollute the fragrance that lingered of what just happened with useless words.

Outside, the clouds cracked and the shower that resulted slowly swallowed the humidity. I could feel the happiness of the farmers on the arrival of their trusted friend called monsoon. There is rain and there will be no crop failure- I can almost hear them think. Everything was cheerful and great again!

As it turned out, the next day the meteorology department informed that it was not the arrival of monsoon but a burst of some passing stray clouds. Everybody was happy that it provided some relieve from the unbearable heat at least. I know it was just a kiss and nothing more, but I am thankful that AK provided me ‘that something’ when I needed it the most.