The Summer Rain

The Town hall is less than three miles from the city centre and from there it’s just walking distance and how much he meant walking distance was a big question as I could see the roads were still long and seemed like never ending. These terms are relative, depend on the person who say it, and from now on I will never take relative terms for granted. My taxi driver proved to be quite handful and made sure that we are on the right route keeping pace with the unforeseen rain which seemed to throw all the lights out of the way. There were occasional hiccups when the old taxi will go for a sleep and only tint of light would come as and when the clouds break opened. I hate this feeling of wet clothes on my skin so never bothered to get out and help out the driver, who by now was all drenched and finally when we reached my destination the tip which I paid over the meter must have fully paid his adventure as I could see he was willing to wait for me to offer the return trip which I declined, quite politely.

I couldn’t recollect the last time when it rained like this in a summer evening and although it was only quarter to seven it was much darker with the huge clouds hanging around suggesting the worse is yet to come. I could see that the atmosphere was not prepared for the downpour as I noticed the guests with wet formal wears clinging to their bodies and having a quite sheepish smile acknowledging their under preparation whenever they managed to catch my eye as I stood as smart as ever, or should I say smarter than ever?

Jason was my lone companion in what is now termed as the ‘Bachelor’s inn’ as all the others got into their family mould and the guys who once used to carry our hearts in each others pockets were too busy to carry out their new responsibilities and the new life style. Jason and I, the self proclaimed lucky ones, used to pity and discuss the harsh reality of life and even we were sure that our friendship is not going to have a different fate. I pitied Jason, the most lovable idiot I have ever met, as and when I thought of him being alone once I decide to fit myself into the family shoes. But not even once I reflected myself in the same spot and now I got too much time to do that, all alone.

Somewhere I have read why guys should get married, because on this day girls you never know before will stand in queue for a snap with you, they will want others to see them talking to you, they will compete to invite you for a dinner at their place, they will…hey wait...what am I doing? I am getting jealous, whereas I am supposed to sympathize Jason for loosing all pleasures of bachelorhood in exchange of signing on to new restrictions and agreeing to get regulated by somebody. Now he needs to invite me for occasional lunch and then need to pretend how he’s enjoying his new life style and so on.

The centre of attention was enjoying every moment of it and I thought it was the limit when he said ‘Hey man make yourself comfortable’. Now here is the guy who was so shy of public attention that more than once he dropped of from public events and now he is advising me to be comfortable at his party. The air of change has already started telling on him. He turned towards his would-be who exchanged a polite smile but… did she hesitate for a moment? Even I couldn’t very well acknowledge the courtesy smile as I felt I’ve seen her somewhere before. I couldn’t enjoy the grant reception, a day before the marriage, as all the time the thought about the where-about of my friends would-be bothered me.

I left the party quite early promising Jason that I’ll be his best man the next day. I was so lost in my thoughts that I declined the lift offered and when I realised it I was already half way down the distance to town hall. Just after I managed to get the bus to my ‘Batchelor’s inn’ rain which had stopped for a while came down with all its vengeance. It was very much unlike the last so many summers. I always liked this smell of the sand in the air as the bus screamed past the partially flooded roads. I could see a shadow at some distance and bus stopped for the waving young lady and she chose to occupy the empty seat beside me. I was asked to hold her bag while she examined the amount of damage done to her clothes. Tiny droplets of water dripping from her were dropping on my trousers. I could see her shivering lips as she wiped out water from her face and unlocked her hair. She might have seen my irritated look and with an ungrateful glance shifted her position to a now empty seat leaving a pool of water beside me. Little did she know that more than her wet clothes clinging to my body I was hooked by the feeling of not able to recollect the identity of the hostess of today’s party.

Just a couple of days back I proclaimed quitting drinking after having my ‘last drink’ at Jason’s bachelor’s party. I really hate the decision taken at a moment’s slip when compelled by my former drinking partners. I had a glance at the wine stand and was rather annoyed not to find even a single drink in the stand. I even more hate the moment when I arranged to clean the wine stand which was always occupied with three or four different flavours of drinks. I couldn’t help thinking why I am not able to recollect the face which is bothering me this much.

Finally desperation gave way to logical thinking when I started thinking who that could be and started asking questions to myself.

Relative? ...............Hmmm...Nah ….

Class mate? ……………………………………………………………………………
………………..no…

I had to think for a while to reach that conclusion.

Girl friend? No

That was easy. I could remember my lone ex-girl friend even if I am on a high. Well, it won’t take more than a drink for me to reach a high and most of my friends were envious about this luxury which I could afford. Lucky me!!

The thoughts of Anjali did pinch me a bit. But I need to go on.

Colleague?....................………………………..No

Now, even this is getting out of hand. Some time ago, heard somebody saying real life is not always logical. I think I only said it …Oh yeah …you might guess when. It always happens that great thoughts come when your head is light. God, I really hate the moment when I thought of quitting drinking.

It was still raining hard; I could see the struggling roadside vendors through my window. I draw my face back as a sudden gush of wind, pulling away the curtains, sprayed droplets of water on my face. As I wiped the droplets of my face I couldn’t help thinking of the young lady I met today. Even though I was compassionate she has got reasons to think that I was a bit rude. Well, doesn’t matter to me, I don’t believe in showing off my feelings and I don’t mind if people don’t show off their affection to me as long as it’s there.

Couple of weeks back I met this girl on my way to my homeland, who very politely asked me if I could ask the driver to hold on for some time as she was waiting outside for her sick friend who will be there any moment. I was seriously lost in thoughts of my home side’s loss in last day’s match and didn’t pay much attention to this request. She paused there for some time for a reply and then left the place and might have thought what sort of guy this is. Well, who cares? The rest of the passengers appeared empathetic and I thought some gentle man will get up and make the request to driver till I discovered they were too gentle to respect the request. I had to instruct the driver to hold for some time inviting a glare from him and my co-passengers. When the girl finally got-in she was thankful to the driver and didn’t forget to frown at me. That day I had this strange experience of all my co-passengers, including the one for whom I did the favour, unpleasant looks pointed towards me.

Now, I knew why it took so long for me to recollect the face which was haunting me as the meeting couple of weeks back was too short and far from pleasant to remember. There were times when I tried hard to understand what went wrong between me and Anjali. Jason was the one responsible for I meeting Anjali as they were very good friends. In fact Jason had tried hard to bring us together again but always my ego stopped me from taking the first step. I always took all the goodies she had to offer for granted and never bothered to acknowledge.

I was sitting there alone in my apartment wondering why I am thinking all this today.
Did the expression in the eyes of that young lady today in the bus has got something to do with it? I have seen the same expression a couple of weeks back. Again a couple of years back. Has it got something to do with it why I am sitting here alone today? Do I really need to care?

The next morning I was there for the marriage well before the appointed time and did all my duties rather mechanically lost in a sequel of thoughts. I was not surprised to see Anjali there as she’s one of Jason’s close friends. When I saw Anjali I didn’t hesitate to say she looked like a dream that day. I smiled at her even though I was not sure of getting a response but today I was not concerned of getting offended if I didn’t get a response. But, I did get a smile back over her raining eyes!

Unlike the last many summers it was still raining.